Steam Drops Near-Perfect Free Detective Game With 98 Percent Positive Reviews
Paul Farrelly is a Contributing Writer for Screen Rant’s Gaming section and the founder of GeekGasm.org, a site dedicated to celebrating all things gaming, from triple A blockbusters to weird and wonderful indie hits. Based in Louth, Ireland, Paul has spent years writing about games, pop culture, and tech, turning his lifelong love of gaming into a career that lets him talk (probably too much) about what makes this industry so endlessly fascinating.
He’s previously written and collaborated with several entertainment outlets, including LADbible, gaining a wide perspective on how gaming fits into today’s pop culture conversation. His work blends genuine enthusiasm with thoughtful analysis, exploring how design, storytelling, and community have made gaming one of the most creative mediums around.
When he’s not glued to a controller or keyboard, Paul’s usually spinning vinyl, plotting his next horror marathon, or debating which Resident Evil entry really reigns supreme.
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With hardware costs and triple-A games now costing an arm and a leg, it's refreshing every once in a while to get something for free. Steam is the gift that keeps on giving, and often we see free games popping up on the platform. Not all free games are made equally though, and finding one that is worth your time, can sometimes be tricky. Thankfully, the latest detective free game on Steam is an absolute banger and fans are raving about it since launch on September 10, 2026.
With a very positive rating on Steam and glowing reviews that would make a small indie developer blush, this latest courtroom drama game ticks a lot of boxes for many sleuthing fans out there. Taking popular VTubers we all know and slapping them in a game that wears its inspirations on its sleeve, this free-to-play 'highschool who dunnit' might just scratch the old grey matter and keep you hooked until the end. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to the Ace Attorney series, this gem of a game really stands out.
HoloTrials: Case Covered Is Free To Play
HoloTrials: Case Covered takes place in Holohigh and sees rival classes reach boiling point. A graffiti artist has openly mocked the student council president and your best friend, Gawr Gura, has literally been caught red-handed. It's up to you to prove that they've been framed and secure their freedom in a case that wouldn't seem amiss in a Sherlock Holmes investigation. As Amelia Watson (yes Watson), it's up to you to investigate the scene, gather the facts and defend your friend's honor in a court case trial for the ages.
The visuals of HoloTrials: Case Covered are cutesy and cartoonish but also heavily influenced by the art style and visual flair of the Ace Attorney trilogy. Everything from dramatic finger pointing to comic-style dialogue overlays are in full flow as the developer clearly wishes to pay tribute to Capcom's classic games of the past, the Ace Attorney trilogy. HoloTrials: Case Covered includes mini-games, puzzles to solve and even a tongue-in-cheek gacha game to bring a smile to your face.
HoloLive Characters Brought To Life
Well-known characters from HoloEN’s Myth and Council feature in the game with beautiful hand-drawn animations that add a level of charm to HoloTrials: Case Covered. The game features one full case to solve which you'll explore over the course of two days. It is a perfect blend of side-scrolling adventure, crime scene investigation and courtroom drama where you'll cross-examine witnesses and try to uncover the truth through a sea of lies and misinformation. It's truly amazing that htis game is free for all on Steam.
The amazing expressive art style coupled with a razor sharp and humorous script elevate HoloTrials: Case Covered well above most other free-to-play games on Steam. This game has no right to be this good and yet it is. Well worth a couple of hours of your attention if you're a fan of the Ace Attorney series or indeed, just a fan of HoloLive. HoloTrials: Case Covered is the perfect distraction as the clock ticks down to Grand Theft Auto VI's launch date. So, should you pass on this free indie gem? Not on my watch!
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.