Games Like CATharsis

Juniper's Knot is a short (~30 mins) kinetic novel about the meeting of a demon and a boy. A kinetic novel is a game that uses text, sound, and illustrations to tell a story.

Why similar: Visual Novel 53.1%, Casual 20.6%, Indie 17.6%, Anime 7.9%, Singleplayer 0.7%

A heartbreaking kinetic novel about the meeting of a depressed thirty years old man with a lost little girl he takes in his house.

Why similar: Visual Novel 62%, Casual 15.6%, Indie 11.5%, Anime 10.5%, Singleplayer 0.4%

这是一个宅系欢乐电波向恋爱文字游戏。 命运编织的万千繁枝茂叶。化作霎时间的荫蔽， ‘这次，轮到我成为你们的晴荫了。’

Why similar: Visual Novel 45%, Casual 25.2%, Indie 20.2%, Anime 9.6%

In another distant world, there is a kingdom of fire. They who live under the red sky. People with different social classes. Birth with different but changeless fate. Those of nobility bring fortune and power to men, and bring hope.

Why similar: Visual Novel 61.4%, Casual 17.3%, Indie 13.9%, Anime 7.4%

Just because it crashed doesn't mean it's over

Why similar: Visual Novel 49%, Casual 21.6%, Indie 17.3%, Anime 12.2%

Following his mother's death, a young man meets a strange young girl in the Welsh countryside.

Why similar: Visual Novel 52.1%, Casual 26.6%, Indie 21.3%

Taking place months after the reopening of the café, Milk Hall Caramella, the season now shifts to summer. The café is as busy as ever so even Ciel and Koron have come to help out. No longer unsure of what to do, Asaki is steadfast in his goal to protect Caramella.

Why similar: Visual Novel 50.3%, Text-Based 15.6%, Casual 14.7%, Anime 10.3%, Indie 4.5%

--The way it was, Just like it is now, On a bright, bright summer day. "That's a promise, right?" The girl in a white dress said. Sunny sky. A paper plane slid across it, riding on blue winds.

Why similar: Visual Novel 59.3%, Casual 16.6%, Indie 15.1%, Anime 9%

Experience the short story of Alex and Nic as they share memories with each other while climbing a mountain together for the first time. For years, Alex has been going for climbs, and trying to get Nic to join. It’s a chance for them to remember their lives together and know why this climb is so important.

Why similar: Visual Novel 50.6%, Casual 26.6%, Indie 22.8%

A short horror point & click game about a teenager trapped in a dream-like garden. Will Reven be able to escape? It's up to you!

Why similar: Visual Novel 61.5%, Casual 21.7%, Indie 16.7%

One day, as he is walking through this bustling city of monotony, moving through the crowds of people all dressed exactly the same... Something actually stands out—a girl dressed in a traditional school uniform from ages past…

Why similar: Visual Novel 44.8%, Text-Based 19.4%, Casual 19.4%, Anime 10.2%, Indie 5.5%

"Even though I knew this love was forbidden..." While the tragedy is being told, the girl's true love is revealed! Enjoy this crazy pure love drama with beautiful visuals and cute characters!

Why similar: Visual Novel 52.3%, Text-Based 13.6%, Casual 12%, Anime 9%, Indie 3.8%

Gary is caught in a strange dream and now he must overcome the adversities on his path or perish in the attempt. In this adventure you will meet 3 children in dream-like scenarios, next to a mysterious girl who talks about a promise.

Why similar: Visual Novel 65.7%, Casual 13%, Indie 11.6%, Anime 9.7%

Race against the clock to defeat the angry mobs that want to burn you out. Grab virtually anything -- sand dunes, animals, buildings, mountaintops. Then throw everything in your cauldron and turn it into unstoppable engines of pixellated 16-bit terror!

Why similar: Visual Novel 50.5%, Casual 27.5%, Indie 22%

SC2VN is a visual novel about the South Korean StarCraft 2 scene. You play as Mach, a foreign semi-pro trying to make it in eSports who soon learns that success in StarCraft takes more than in-game strategy.

Why similar: Visual Novel 66.5%, Anime 12.6%, Casual 11.4%, Indie 9.5%

"Life is like a waiting room, except people don't leave in the order they enter." Narcissu is a thought provoking visual novel series about terminal illness, living, dying, and the relationship between those leaving and those left behind. There are no miracles, no heroes, no villains in this story.

Why similar: Visual Novel 64%, Casual 11.1%, Indie 10.6%, Anime 8.2%, Story Rich 5.7%

It's a 15-minute experimental visual novel about a love affair as weak as tea. Story consists of two chapters, formed by a mixture of four clues. It tells a love story about the sibyl and the prince.

Why similar: Visual Novel 46.6%, Casual 29.1%, Indie 24.3%

Dysfunctional Systems: Orientation is a kinetic novel and a prequel to Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos. It uses text, sound, and illustrations to tell a story and follows Winter Harrison during her first week at mediator school.

Why similar: Visual Novel 48.4%, Casual 28.7%, Indie 23%

Unravel the mystery behind two catgirls who want to be your girlfriend. An ASMR visual novel experience, best enjoyed through your headphones!

Why similar: Visual Novel 41.1%, Casual 15.3%, Anime 12.7%, Cats 12.7%, Text-Based 12.6%

This is an Visual Novel game. It's a story about time leap.

Why similar: Visual Novel 45.4%, Casual 29.9%, Indie 24.7%

Learn the story of an ordinary girl Dokkaebi who decided to become a miner and farm the crypto currency

Why similar: Visual Novel 70.9%, Casual 15.8%, Indie 13.2%

Max and his girlfriend Ann are very happy together. They have no arguments, they enjoy spending time with each other, they are in love. What else can they wish? Well, Max, you will get a big surprise this evening...

Why similar: Visual Novel 72.4%, Indie 17%, Anime 10%, Singleplayer 0.6%

Being able to control fate would be a blessing for many. To Miyon, it is her greatest curse.

Why similar: Visual Novel 65%, Indie 18.2%, Anime 12.1%, Story Rich 4.7%

A heart-warming comedy of living with adorable kittens! A visual novel that leaves you feeling thoughtful. Would you care to watch over the boy's daily life with his new heartwarming family?

Why similar: Visual Novel 62.1%, Casual 16.2%, Indie 12.9%, Anime 8.8%

Let’s Split Up is a visual novel with 24 completely different endings that change not only the outcome but also the beginning, the setting and the characters themselves.

Why similar: Visual Novel 75.2%, Casual 24.8%

This tale began five years earlier, in the spring of 2231. Mankind has evolved a new kind of communication ability called “telepathy”.

Why similar: Visual Novel 53.2%, Casual 23.4%, Indie 19.6%, Story Rich 3.8%

"AQK" is a job interview simulation game where you, a job seeker, face off against a series of eccentric interviewers in pursuit of that coveted job offer.

Why similar: Visual Novel 52%, Text-Based 23.6%, Casual 17.8%, Indie 5.7%, Singleplayer 0.9%

In the not-too-distant-future, Roman is a newly-minted employee at a classy jazz club. He must contend with his past as a new hire (and former co-worker), Eris, makes him question if quitting his old job was the right thing to do.

Why similar: Visual Novel 76.9%, Indie 23.1%

Welcomed by the fluttering of cherry blossom, the main character, Brian, starts a new high school life in Japan. Brian soon starts to get along with two girls in the same class after they start to talk to him. With their help, Brian gradually learns Japanese culture and customs.

Why similar: Visual Novel 59.2%, Casual 15.6%, Anime 14%, Indie 11.2%

You're going to work by train, but strange things happens on the way: the train stops, the pink fog appears outside and the man who came off the train immediately dies. The main characters turned out to be locked in the train without any clues about what's happening...

Why similar: Visual Novel 82.1%, Casual 5.8%, Indie 5.6%, Choose Your Own Adventure 2%, Anime 1.6%

VOID is a visual novel themed around espionage and revenge. You play as Arthur Woods, a man seeking revenge from the death of his loved one, forging himself into a deadly assassin. Along the way, you will meet people who may (or may not) be your allies, as you try to untangle the web of lies and intrique surrounding your girlfriends...

Why similar: Visual Novel 52.7%, Casual 17.3%, Indie 14.2%, Anime 7.7%, Story Rich 5.3%

This is a Galgame about pure love which takes place in the summer, produced by Galgame Department of Jinan University's unnamed cartoon club in 2015 and re-optimized three years later.

Why similar: Visual Novel 48.5%, Casual 18.6%, Indie 14.9%, Anime 9.2%, Cats 8.9%

Last Stanza is a slice of life, dramatic visual novel that deals with the consequences of a tragic event from different perspectives.

Why similar: Visual Novel 58.2%, Casual 13.8%, Anime 12.7%, Indie 11.6%, Story Rich 3.7%

This is a sumptuous palace built for the seven princesses. It is a "birdcage" glorified with the name "garden"… Irell Reis was once a famous general leading thousands of soldiers. However, the defeat three years ago cost him everything. Now, he is summoned by the Emperor of Celantu again...

Why similar: Visual Novel 58.2%, Anime 16.4%, Indie 13.1%, Casual 12.2%

『Pathmaster』 is a free fantasy visual novel with multi endings and various heroines.

Why similar: Visual Novel 62.1%, Casual 15.5%, Indie 10.3%, Choose Your Own Adventure 5.9%, Story Rich 4%

Vinty returns on her third adventure, this time in Singapore and Malaysia!

Why similar: Visual Novel 62.7%, Indie 24.4%, Anime 12.9%

Spring has come, and yet Juliane is more than happy to let it pass from the comforts of her bedroom. But how will her indoor nature survive when the world decides to boot her as far away as possible?

Why similar: Visual Novel 42.4%, Casual 19%, Indie 16.1%, Anime 13.9%, Cats 8.6%

This is a story of disease and suffering; of medication and adverse effects; of thoracotomy scars and cellular poisons; of the living who cannot help but to die and of the dying who cannot help but to live; of a resting place other than "on 7F" or "at home".

Why similar: Visual Novel 75.3%, Anime 12.7%, Indie 5.7%, Story Rich 3.5%, Casual 2.4%

«Lionessy story» is a visual novel that tells a story of a lion cub living out his carefree days in a lion pride reigning over the great African savannah. But life in the wilderness is never easy, and after a terrible tragedy yanks him out of his pampered lifestyle, the young cub has to face the dangers of the real world where anything...

Why similar: Visual Novel 80.1%, Indie 19.9%

This visual novel game tells the tale of a cute little Santa Clause appearing

Why similar: Visual Novel 64.5%, Anime 14.4%, Casual 11.5%, Indie 7.6%, Story Rich 1.7%

《茉莉之夏》是传统的视觉小说形式文字冒险游戏，画风精致的本格的恋爱模拟视觉小说，没有白学和胃疼的温馨日常佳作。目前版本包含有1幕，50万字左右内容。

Why similar: Visual Novel 62.6%, Casual 21.3%, Indie 16.2%

Delve further into the world of CLANNAD and experience the stories beyond the original visual novel adventure. Known as CLANNAD Hikari Mimamoru Sakamichi de in Japan, This Steam version features high resolution assets and is translated into English for the very first time.

Why similar: Visual Novel 71.2%, Casual 15.4%, Anime 8.7%, Story Rich 4.7%

《TrymenT—献给渴望改变的你—》是由2016年被誉为业界年度黑马，并荣获了萌系游戏大赏剧本金奖的作品《Re;LieF～致亲爱的你～》的原班人马所打造的共享世界观与游戏角色，并以群像剧视角重新演绎的全新作品。本作拥有令人一见倾心的顶级场景绘画，以及拥有余音绕梁般魔力的优秀配乐。

Why similar: Visual Novel 63.8%, Casual 21%, Anime 11.4%, Story Rich 3.9%

Return as the unhacker to take on Program X and her clone army!

Why similar: Visual Novel 57.5%, Indie 23%, Anime 13.4%, Story Rich 6.1%

Follow three stories set in a world where the dead linger, and things far worse wait beyond the veil.

Why similar: Visual Novel 69.3%, Casual 15.7%, Indie 15.1%

一份工作，让秦幽羽的父亲从此失踪，紧接着又是母亲的突然离去。虽然从未放弃过寻找，可是事情却毫无进展，直到那天……

Why similar: Visual Novel 53.4%, Casual 25.9%, Indie 20.7%

Driftwood is a visual novel following Marcus Feick and his new life on Marthas Vineyard.

Why similar: Visual Novel 62.1%, Casual 16.9%, Indie 12.9%, Anime 8.1%

Japan, 2030 A.D. Memories can now be digitized and archived, allowing people to communicate with the deceased. With only one week left before his best friend’s memories are deleted, can Hiroki uncover the truth behind Sorano’s death?

Why similar: Visual Novel 65.3%, Anime 14.4%, Casual 9.5%, Indie 7.9%, Story Rich 2.9%

​Vinty is off to Melbourne to meet her idol, Excelia!​ Will Vinty learn the star's secrets and finally blossom into a celebrity? (hint: no)

Why similar: Visual Novel 61.9%, Indie 19.2%, Anime 13.1%, Story Rich 5.9%

Taking place on the unluckiest day of the year, the protagonist and his/her friends get an invite to "The Beach". Mistaking this for a private beach party, they are sorely disappointed when instead of everyone being able to have fun, they have to instead search for three parts of a missing sword.

Why similar: Visual Novel 65.7%, Casual 15.9%, Indie 12.3%, Anime 5.5%, Singleplayer 0.5%

Follow the story of a young boy, Cantus as he meets Maris, the mysterious girl by the sea - an experience that will change his life forever.

Why similar: Visual Novel 66.6%, Anime 16.3%, Casual 8.7%, Indie 6.7%, Story Rich 1.2%

It's been a year since Semyon returned from "Sovyonok" and met the girls from the camp in the real world. But it's New Year at hand! And it needs to be celebrated!

Why similar: Visual Novel 66.9%, Anime 16%, Indie 8.5%, Casual 8.2%, Singleplayer 0.4%

Embers of Magic is a short, adventure visual novel that tells the story of Liana the witch. She takes an airship down to the surface of the dangerous and corrupt earth beneath her flying city home.

Why similar: Visual Novel 68.1%, Casual 17%, Indie 14.8%

A short kinetic visual novel, independently written by Redewaan Duckett, giving an alternative take on the Welcome To... Chichester series

Why similar: Visual Novel 65.8%, Casual 16%, Indie 12.4%, Anime 5.4%, Singleplayer 0.4%

From the author of Spice and Wolf, Isuna Hasekura, comes WORLD END ECONOMiCA. This is the first episode out of three part sci-fi/economic thriller visual novel set on the moon.

Why similar: Visual Novel 81.2%, Anime 12.5%, Indie 5%, Story Rich 1.1%, Singleplayer 0.2%

The Last Birdling explores Bimonia and Tayo's struggle to remain friends against all odds.

Why similar: Visual Novel 62.5%, Indie 19.3%, Anime 12.2%, Story Rich 6%

The latest visual novel by Tomo Kataoka, the author of Narcissu 1st & 2nd, has arrived! An empty world with endless rain and only one person. Here there is no hunger, sickness or even death. Just what story does this world's one occupant have?

Why similar: Visual Novel 62.5%, Anime 16.3%, Indie 11.5%, Casual 4.8%, Story Rich 3.8%

Written in the style of a children’s book, Mhakna Gramura and Fairy Bell is a Cinematic Novel about two children named Mhakna and Sebiarno that escape the wretched Mullbear Orphanage with the help of a Fairy named Bell, who promises eternal happiness as long as they agree to never grow up.

Why similar: Visual Novel 47.2%, Casual 18.5%, Indie 14.8%, Anime 10.4%, Story Rich 6.1%

When a human is destined to die, the demons ferry their souls to the afterlife. ‘The Reject Demon: Toko’ is the story of Toko herself, a demon who has been kicked out of hell. Toko cannot ferry human souls to the underworld, and every day she stays on earth has her becoming increasingly human.

Why similar: Visual Novel 65.6%, Casual 12.6%, Anime 11.3%, Indie 10.4%

Missing Stars is a visual novel that aims to depict mental disorders and the people who live with them in a realistic, but sensitive and respectful light.

Why similar: Visual Novel 46.5%, Casual 15.8%, Text-Based 14.2%, Anime 8.4%, Story Rich 5.5%