| Game | How |
|---|---|
| Case Closed: The Mirapolis Investigation (2007) | Players explore a theme park, gather evidence, and use motion controls to uncover a murder plot. |
| Detective Conan: Phantom Rhapsody (2014) | Players use reasoning to battle suspects and solve pre-written murder mysteries. |
| Detective Conan: Skateboard Run - Kaitou Kid and the Mysterious Treasure (2019) | An action game where the player races on a solar-powered skateboard to collect points and avoid obstacles. |
| LifeSim | You type a description for an original character and live a daily routine in a real simulation of Tokyo. |
Is there a Detective Conan game where you can live as a sleuth in Tokyo?
Detective Conan life simulator
Yes. LifeSim places your character directly on a 3D map of the real streets in Tokyo. The artificial intelligence people around you keep memories of your actions and send you text messages. You pay nothing to play it in a web browser or through the iPhone app.
High school detectiveUnofficial and fan-made. LifeSim is not affiliated with or endorsed by Shogakukan and TMS Entertainment. You play original characters inspired by Detective Conan, not the official story.
The real streets behind Beika Ward
The mystery manga features a fictional district called Beika Ward. The creator based this location heavily on the actual Shinjuku Ward in Tokyo. In LifeSim, you start your life directly on the actual streets of Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. The 3D map shows real buildings and roads from the Earth around Tokyo.
You can search for actual locations from the story. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department sits in Kasumigaseki. You can stand outside the headquarters and plan your next investigation. The National Museum of Nature and Science operates in Ueno Park. The real building inspired the targets of famous phantom thieves in the manga.
The famous Shibuya Crossing sits right next to the fictional district in the anime storyline. You can take your character to this intersection to meet a contact. Shinjuku Station acts as a massive hub for travel and daily routines. The game lets you pick these exact spots for group outings or secret meetings.
Who you can be
A high school detective
You attend classes and investigate local mysteries around Shinjuku in your spare time. You set a goal to find clues and share them with the police.
A phantom thief
You plan elaborate heists at the National Museum of Nature and Science. By night, you write a story of clever escapes and leave puzzle cards for your rivals.
A private investigator
You run a small agency near Shinjuku Station and accept cases from citizens. Clients text your phone with tips about suspicious behavior in the ward.
A police academy recruit
You train at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Academy in Fuchū. Your daily routine focuses on fitness tests and preparing to join the main detective force.
A secretive agent
You dress in black and work quietly in the shadows of the Tokyo metropolis. You gather a network of informants and set meetings near Tokyo Dome.
A sample life: a teenage sleuth in the city
Hiroshi, 16, starts his second year at a local high school in Shinjuku. He wants to become a famous private detective. He sets a life goal to solve ten neighborhood mysteries. His daily to-do list includes reading mystery novels and passing his school exams.
One afternoon, a notification appears on the map for a public argument outside a nearby cafe. Hiroshi goes there and meets a local shop owner. He talks to the man and uncovers a story of a missing family heirloom. In LifeSim, the citizens of Tokyo keep a journal of past events.
Two days later, the shop owner texts Hiroshi with a new clue. Hiroshi plans an outing to a park in Shinjuku and invites the owner. The game updates Hiroshi's local relationships and records the meeting in a daily recap. He eventually solves the mystery through the story he types.
How official detective games compare
There are official mystery and adventure games for this series. Case Closed: The Mirapolis Investigation came out for the Wii. Players explore a theme park and use motion controls to solve puzzles. Detective Conan: Phantom Rhapsody for the Nintendo 3DS lets players use reasoning to battle suspects.
These official games focus on a set story and specific puzzles. LifeSim provides an open simulation where you decide the plot. You create your own character and write your own mysteries. The game does not have pre-written quests or a combat system.
Another official release is Detective Conan: Skateboard Run. It is an action game where the player races on a solar-powered skateboard. In LifeSim, you walk through the real city at a normal pace. You focus on talking to people and living a daily routine in Tokyo.
Investigating the Tokyo wards
Detectives in Tokyo spend time moving between different districts. You can use the search function in LifeSim to find specific neighborhoods. Tokyo Dome appears in several storylines involving large concerts. You can travel there to observe the crowds or attend a baseball game.
The weather in Tokyo changes with the seasons. Summer brings heavy rain, while winter is generally dry and cold. You select warm clothing for cold winter stakeouts. You change their clothes in the menu to blend in with the local population.
The real Tokyo Metropolitan Police Academy sits in Fuchū. This facility serves as the real main setting for the Wild Police Story spin-off. You can place your character there to roleplay a rigorous training regimen. The artificial intelligence instructors react to your written progress and daily discipline.
High school and secret identities
Many characters in the anime balance their secret work with normal high school life. The Japanese high school year begins in April. Students often stay late for their after-school clubs. You can set a daily routine that includes morning classes and afternoon club activities.
A teenager might hide a secret identity as a phantom thief. LifeSim does not have a built-in disguise system or magic powers. Your secret identity is part of the story you write. You tell the characters who you are, and they react to that information.
Your phone tracks your conversations with classmates and fellow detectives. Group text threads allow you to coordinate investigation plans without meeting in person. If you miss school to solve a case, your friends might text you. They remember your absences and your past explanations.
Official Detective Conan games and LifeSim
Start a Detective Conan life
How it works
- Pick a life above, or describe your own character in one text box. Name Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan in the text.
- The game reads the place from your text and starts your life there, on a 3D map of the real streets.
- Live day by day. Talk to people in your own words. They remember what you said and did.
Questions
Is there an official Detective Conan life simulator?
There is no official life simulator for the anime that we know of. There are official adventure games for older Nintendo consoles. Fans use LifeSim to create original characters and live as sleuths in Tokyo.
Can I play as a phantom thief in LifeSim?
Yes. You can describe your character as a phantom thief. You can plan heists in real places like the National Museum of Nature and Science. The people in the city will react to your story.
Is it free?
Yes. You pay zero money to solve cases or explore the map. The entire game runs directly in a computer browser or through the iPhone app.
Can I visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department?
Yes. You can search for the real Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on the map. Your character can walk there and interact with the police officers outside.
Can I form a secret crime syndicate?
Yes. You can describe your character as an agent of a secretive crime syndicate. You can gather informants and meet them at Tokyo Dome. The story you write determines how your organization operates in the city.
