Games Like A Guidebook of Babel

Eternal Threads is a single-player, first-person story-driven puzzle game of time manipulation, choice and consequence.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 29.5% ★, Time Travel 21.5% ★, Investigation 14.9%, Choose Your Own Adventure 10.9%, Emotional 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: Centers on a butterfly effect mechanic where you manipulate past events to change the outcome of a house fire.

A bombastic puzzle platformer about worlds turned inside out. Shift dimensions at the push of a button, solve brain-twisting logistical riddles, and race through the wilds of the multiverse in a bleakly hilarious (and hilariously bleak) story where everything you know can turn on a dime.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 37.5% ★, Time Travel 29.9% ★, Story Rich 7.9%, Comedy 7.8%, Puzzle 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: Combines time-manipulation puzzles with a narrative-heavy experience and a similar blend of dark humor and emotional storytelling.

The Sexy Brutale — a never-ending masked ball featuring intrigue, murder and the (quite possibly) occult! Relive the same mysterious day where the guests at the casino mansion are being murdered by the staff over and over again...

Why similar: Time Manipulation 44.5% ★, Time Travel 29.9% ★, Puzzle 11%, Story Rich 6.6%, Adventure 4.7%

Why You'll Like It: Features a time-loop mechanic where you must investigate and manipulate events to prevent murders at a mysterious masquerade ball.

Kelvin and the Infamous Machine is a hilarious point-and-click adventure in which you stumble irresponsibly through history to help legendary geniuses complete their masterworks!

Why similar: Time Travel 31.4% ★, Point & Click 15%, Comedy 11.5%, Hand-drawn 10.3%, Puzzle 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: A classic-style point-and-click adventure that uses time travel to fix historical mishaps with a heavy emphasis on comedy.

Make friends, free spirits and make sure that the world doesn’t end! Welcome to Kraken Academy, a technicolor fever dream that for legal reasons can only be described as "technically a school." Join forces with a magical kraken to save the world!

Why similar: Time Travel 44.2% ★, Comedy 15.6%, Funny 15.1%, Story Rich 9.8%, Adventure 5.8%

Why You'll Like It: A funny, time-traveling adventure that captures the same quirky, surreal tone and character-driven humor found in Babel.

Beacon Pines is a cute and creepy adventure set within a mysterious book. Sneak out late, make new friends, uncover hidden truths, and collect words that will change the course of fate!

Why similar: Emotional 29.6%, Point & Click 18.3%, Story Rich 17.2%, Hand-drawn 16.6%, Cute 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-driven game where you rewrite the story by finding key words, echoing the choice-based impact of Babel's pen mechanic.

In this award-winning puzzle adventure game, play as the Traveler on a quest to reunite the Peoples of the Tower. Observe, listen, and decipher ancient languages in a fascinating universe inspired by the Myth of Babel.

Why similar: Puzzle 42.5%, Point & Click 34.5%, Adventure 14.5%, Story Rich 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on puzzle-solving and language deciphering within a beautiful, stylized world that rewards careful observation.

A new kind of detective game that allows you to think and investigate freely. Discover clues surrounding 12 strange and gruesome deaths and build your own theory. Pick your suspect, deduce the motive, unmask the awful truth.

Why similar: Investigation 40.3%, Point & Click 22.7%, Puzzle 13.3%, Story Rich 12.4%, 2D 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: A brilliant detective game that requires piecing together narrative clues across different time periods to solve complex mysteries.

Lost at sea 1803 ~ The good ship Obra Dinn.

Why similar: Puzzle 48.3%, Story Rich 42.8%, Adventure 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: Uses a unique time-manipulation device to investigate the fates of crew members, mirroring the investigative depth of Babel.

Experience a brand new adventure game set amongst a world of weird and wonderful fish planets. Explore beautiful environments, solve intricate puzzles and discover the truth about a mysterious little girl and her mechanical alter-ego, Cubus.

Why similar: Time Travel 21.3% ★, Point & Click 14.5%, Surreal 14.3%, Hand-drawn 10.2%, Emotional 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: A charming, puzzle-filled point-and-click adventure set in a surreal world that emphasizes visual storytelling.

Explore a magical hand-drawn comic book, travel through time, manipulate characters’ ideas, and solve visual puzzles in this innovative point-and-click adventure to uncover Kai’s fate.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 29.2% ★, Comic Book 20.1%, Point & Click 14.3%, Hand-drawn 11.8%, Puzzle 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: A unique puzzle game where you manipulate the narrative flow of a comic book to change the protagonist's fate.

Two doctors traverse backwards through a dying man's memories to fulfill his last wish. This is To the Moon's standalone sequel, but can also be played first.

Why similar: Emotional 23.4%, Comedy 14.9%, Romance 14.7%, Funny 13.7%, Story Rich 13.4%

Why You'll Like It: A deeply emotional, story-rich adventure that explores the life of a patient through memory manipulation.

A bonkers time-loop tragicomedy murder mystery thriller featuring multiple casualties and a suspicious cat, from the creator of To the Moon & Finding Paradise.

Why similar: Emotional 28.3%, Comedy 18.2%, Story Rich 16.9%, Funny 13.5%, 2D 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal, time-bending narrative adventure that balances humor and tragedy in a way similar to the afterlife journey in Babel.

Solve puzzles, riddles, and embark on an exciting journey of discovery! Join Toto and Gal as they explore dreamscapes and befriend magical creatures. Lost in their imagination, the brother and sister must stick together and solve puzzles to find their way home.

Why similar: Surreal 17.6%, Point & Click 15.2%, Hand-drawn 13%, Comedy 11%, Funny 9.8%

Why You'll Like It: A whimsical, hand-drawn point-and-click adventure that captures the surreal, imaginative puzzle-solving feel of Babel.

The Gardens Between is a surreal puzzle adventure that follows best friends, Arina and Frendt, as they fall into a mysterious world of beautiful garden islands. Manipulate time to solve puzzles and discover the secrets of each island.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 32.1% ★, Time Travel 25.4% ★, Surreal 14.8%, Emotional 10.6%, Puzzle 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: A short, emotional puzzle game centered entirely on manipulating time to navigate surreal, dreamlike islands.

Embark on an emotional journey of losing the love of one's life. Manipulate time, solve puzzles, reshape surroundings as you push forward into the bittersweet recollections of a past life. This is a story about happiness and hardship, joy and sorrow. A story that all of us will one day experience.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 44.3% ★, Surreal 16.7%, Emotional 16.4%, Story Rich 8.6%, Cute 5.8%

Why You'll Like It: An emotional journey that allows players to manipulate time to navigate through the protagonist's life memories.

Can you change Deponia's fate? Do you have what it takes to change Rufus' past, present and future without accidently destroying the whole planet? Fight time itself in this action-packed, platypus-tastic and insanely hilarious story.

Why similar: Point & Click 25.7%, Time Travel 25% ★, Comedy 14.8%, Adventure 8.9%, Story Rich 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: A comedic point-and-click adventure that leans heavily into time-travel tropes and chaotic, puzzle-filled scenarios.

Crime O'Clock is a hidden objects investigation and time exploration game with a deep storyline. Investigate cases through time and evolving maps by unveiling a multi-eras linked story. Will you be observant enough to solve the mysteries? Crime waits for no man!

Why similar: Investigation 20.7%, Comic Book 15.4%, Point & Click 12.2%, Hand-drawn 10.2%, Comedy 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: An investigation game that tasks you with solving crimes across different time periods in a sprawling 2D world.

Oxenfree is a supernatural thriller about a group of friends who unwittingly open a ghostly rift. You are Alex, and you’ve just brought your new stepbrother Jonas to an overnight island party gone horribly wrong.

Why similar: Story Rich 72.8%, Adventure 21.7%, 2D 5.5%

Why You'll Like It: Features a supernatural narrative driven by time-manipulation and dialogue choices that significantly impact the story's outcome.

Revisit and repeat the final moments of China's turn of the century in this narrative puzzle adventure. Play a 6th-grade student and greet classmates, explore secrets, play mini-4WD, or just wander around town. Make your choices to create a perfect day for everyone!

Why similar: Time Travel 31.2% ★, Investigation 21.7%, Emotional 14.3%, Hand-drawn 10.9%, Story Rich 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric adventure that explores the complexities of time and choice through a nostalgic, story-rich lens.

McPixel 3 is a mind-blowing save-the-day adventure that sees the titular wanna-be hero avert one disaster after another at every turn using unconventional yet entertaining methods of mayhem.

Why similar: Point & Click 25.4%, Funny 16.2%, Comedy 11.7%, Choose Your Own Adventure 10.5%, Puzzle 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: A chaotic, funny point-and-click game that relies on quick, experimental puzzle-solving in short bursts.

Unravel a thrilling mystery by exploring a strange and twisted mansion, discovering curious clues, interrogating peculiar suspects and solving unique puzzles. Will you be able to uncover the secrets of Tangle Tower?

Why similar: Point & Click 24.6%, Investigation 14.6%, Funny 11.7%, Puzzle 11.5%, Comedy 10.7%

Why You'll Like It: A vibrant, character-driven mystery game that features clever point-and-click investigation mechanics and witty dialogue.

This is a puzzle game that combines text and images. Players use visual illusions to piece together fragments of memories from Alzheimer's patients, in order to reconstruct the truth of the story and witness the passage of time for three generations.

Why similar: Comic Book 18.5%, Emotional 18.4%, Hand-drawn 18.2%, Point & Click 17.4%, Puzzle 11.6%

Why You'll Like It: A hand-drawn puzzle adventure that emphasizes emotional storytelling and atmospheric exploration.

Shanghai Summer is an adventure game set in the millennium. Our protagonist, Baichuan, goes through a series of "anomalies" over the length of twelve days. In his pursuit of the truth, he found that his hopes and regrets from the past finally seem to converge. Will he be able to "fix" it for good?

Why similar: Time Travel 31.3% ★, Investigation 20%, Hand-drawn 11%, Romance 10.3%, Story Rich 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-heavy visual novel that deals with memory and multiple endings, perfect for fans of story-rich adventures.

Enjoy an adventurous vacation to a 1960's parallel universe! A Sci-Fi-Mystery Adventure Game with handmade scenery.

Why similar: Point & Click 36.2%, Adventure 18.4%, Time Travel 14.7% ★, Story Rich 11.5%, Puzzle 9.9%

Why You'll Like It: A point-and-click adventure with a unique, handcrafted aesthetic that focuses on mystery and exploration.

Embark on an adventure with Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson on this surprising and elastic point-and-click game. Grab, pull, and release to help them solve a bizarre investigation full of humor and meta-time travel!

Why similar: Point & Click 21.4%, Investigation 16.3%, Comedy 14.4%, Puzzle 9.9%, Funny 9.8%

Pat the alligator, a (mostly) harmless and (probably) innocent reptile is at the center of a conspiracy that could bring down the biggest, scariest family in Alligator New York City: his own! Explore the city, meet the Family, and try to save Pat before the clock runs out.

Why similar: Point & Click 27.5%, Funny 17.4%, Comedy 15.6%, Hand-drawn 11.5%, Cute 10.4%

Why You'll Like It: A funny, narrative-heavy point-and-click game with a distinct, hand-drawn aesthetic and quirky humor.

NIGHT IN THE WOODS is an adventure game focused on exploration, story, and character, featuring dozens of characters to meet and lots to do across a lush, vibrant world.

Why similar: Hand-drawn 30.7%, Story Rich 25.5%, Funny 21.2%, Adventure 12.1%, 2D 10.5%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on character-driven exploration and narrative depth, capturing the atmospheric, slightly melancholic feel of Babel.

The Gnosia lie. Pretending to be human, they’ll get in close, trick and deceive, and then eliminate one victim at a time...

Why similar: Time Travel 72.8% ★, Story Rich 18.9%, Adventure 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: A social deduction game set in a time loop that emphasizes narrative investigation and character interaction.

Named Game of the Year 2019 by Giant Bomb, Polygon, Eurogamer, and The Guardian, Outer Wilds is a critically-acclaimed and award-winning open world mystery about a solar system trapped in an endless time loop.

Why similar: Story Rich 44%, Puzzle 36%, Adventure 20%

Why You'll Like It: A masterpiece of time-loop investigation that rewards curiosity and piecing together a complex, unfolding story.

A dead man hired you to solve his own murder. You have one day. Fourteen suspects. And as many attempts as it takes. A hand-drawn noir mystery set in 1937 Rio de Janeiro, where every suspect has a life, a schedule, and something to hide.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 32.4% ★, Time Travel 20% ★, Investigation 14.9%, Point & Click 10.5%, Comedy 7.1%

Donut County is a story-based physics puzzle game where you play as an ever-growing hole in the ground. Meet cute characters, steal their trash, and throw them in a hole.

Why similar: Funny 28.9%, Puzzle 21.6%, Cute 16.5%, Comedy 12.7%, Story Rich 11.4%

Why You'll Like It: A whimsical, physics-based puzzle game that uses a humorous narrative to frame its unique gameplay mechanics.

Detective Oliver Beebo has been invited to a party by an ex-Rich man in the middle of nowhere. Snacks included. Unravel the mystery of the party, the guests, the house and the strange phenomena that's causing you to forget... something important? Surely it won't affect your love life.

Why similar: Time Travel 29% ★, Point & Click 16.5%, Romance 11.8%, Comedy 11.6%, Emotional 10.1%

Embark on an interplanetary adventure as the first robo reporter for the Times & Galaxy, the solar system’s most trusted holopaper. You’re just an intern, but if you can get the scoop, write great stories, and impress your colleagues, maybe you'll get to keep your job!

Why similar: Comic Book 16.9%, Investigation 16.7%, Point & Click 12.7%, Choose Your Own Adventure 12.4%, Hand-drawn 10.3%

The Bookwalker is a narrative adventure in which you play as Etienne Quist, a writer-turned-thief with the ability to dive into books. Use your powers to journey between reality and book worlds, and steal legendary items like Thor's Hammer and Excalibur to restore your ability to write.

Why similar: Surreal 28.9%, Point & Click 23.5%, Story Rich 14.2%, Funny 13.3%, Puzzle 12.1%

A narrative puzzle game with themes of love, fate and time. Follow the life stories of the two main characters and influence their destinies through interactions and choices. The game combines hand-drawn style and an immersive interactive experience to explore a profound journey of love and choice.

Why similar: Comic Book 24.2%, Hand-drawn 19.2%, Emotional 16.6%, Romance 11.8%, Puzzle 11.2%

In the heart of Verice Bay, a brilliant idea takes shape in the hands of an eccentric inventor and an eclectic artist. Follow Margaret and Hector in a point-and-click graphic adventure that will take you to the edge of space and time to help them avert imminent danger.

Why similar: Point & Click 19.3%, Surreal 19.3%, Time Travel 16.4% ★, Comedy 13.5%, Funny 9.2%

Guard Duty is a comedy adventure about love, loss and the end of the world. Experience an unforgettable story spanning across two radically different time periods.

Why similar: Time Travel 25% ★, Point & Click 20.4%, Surreal 19.2%, Fantasy 9%, Comedy 8%

Quirky, top-down puzzle adventure game. You’re trapped in a 12-minute time loop. Try to save yourself and a small town from destruction from a meteorite. Solve intuitive puzzles, interact with the people of the town, and discover the secrets of the town. Discover the 15 different endings!

Why similar: Time Travel 39.1% ★, Time Manipulation 14.8% ★, Investigation 9.6%, Choose Your Own Adventure 9.1%, Funny 8.7%

A Better World Company is hiring! We’re looking for a skilled new recruit to alter the past and reshape the future! Use our Computer to travel back in time, and make game-changing choices to make the world a better place! You decide what to do… as long as you follow our internal policies.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 40% ★, Time Travel 31% ★, Choose Your Own Adventure 12.3%, Funny 8%, Story Rich 7%

Play as a witch living in secret among villagers in this hand-drawn narrative puzzle adventure. An attempt to change fate traps her in a time loop. Help the witch and her cat escape without getting caught by the inquisition. Your choices shape the outcome.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 34.4% ★, Time Travel 16.4% ★, Nonlinear 14.6%, Point & Click 13.4%, Puzzle 8%

Rue Valley is a narrative adventure about a man trapped in a time loop, surrounded by a colorful cast with complex emotional stories, each hiding unexpected secrets. Dealing with mental challenges, the main character must delve into the anomaly to uncover its enigmatic origins.

Why similar: Time Travel 27.7% ★, Surreal 15%, Point & Click 14.3%, Choose Your Own Adventure 13.8%, Emotional 13.3%

A hand-drawn adventure blending visual novel storytelling with point-and-click puzzles. Explore the corrupt oasis city of Shirin as an apocalyptic prophecy looms. Meet unforgettable characters, craft solutions with your Tool Belt, and unravel intricate puzzle-dungeons.

Why similar: Point & Click 20.5%, Emotional 18.2%, Hand-drawn 17.5%, Story Rich 12%, Puzzle 11.6%

Escape a time loop as an overworked office employee by solving cryptic puzzles with alternate reality game elements.

Why similar: Time Travel 25.3% ★, Nonlinear 21.8%, Investigation 15.6%, Puzzle 10.2%, Story Rich 8.2%

It is an adventure game with multiple endings. An original script written by a well-known light novelist with a total of 400,000 words. With reasoning, suspense, love, and science fiction elements, it allows players to embark on a highly immersive journey of salvation on the submarine train.

Why similar: Time Travel 40.7% ★, Investigation 22.1%, Romance 13.5%, Story Rich 10%, Puzzle 9.4%

A hand-drawn adventure blending visual novel storytelling with point-and-click puzzles. Explore a vibrant yet dangerous oasis city where humans and animals live side by side. Meet unforgettable characters, trade and combine quirky items, and solve challenging puzzle-dungeons filled with mystery.

Why similar: Point & Click 20.7%, Hand-drawn 17.6%, Emotional 16.6%, Story Rich 12.2%, Puzzle 11.7%

A relaxing puzzle escape game! Make your way through a variety of hand-crafted 3D dioramas, look for useful objects, find hidden clues and solve fun puzzles! Unravel this mysterious adventure about chaos, order and the surreal.

Why similar: Time Travel 41.3% ★, Point & Click 27%, Puzzle 16.4%, Fantasy 8.1%, Adventure 7.2%

A space station nestled in the clouds of Jupiter. A bizarre bazaar where a young, worried woman crafts entire universes in the palm of her hand. A mysterious cultist who's stripped the flesh from his bones in order to reach enlightenment. Here, there's a universe for sale. You buying?

Why similar: Time Travel 25.4% ★, Point & Click 21%, Comic Book 18.2%, Hand-drawn 17.7%, Cute 5.3%

The Rewinder is an adventure puzzle game based on Chinese mythology. You play as Yun, the last known Rewinder, who can communicate with spirits and explore other people's memories to alter the past.

Why similar: Point & Click 28.4%, Puzzle 19.2%, Comedy 17.6%, Story Rich 14.8%, Adventure 11%

Become a ghostwriter and write on the behalf of others--everything from love letters to apologies! There's just one catch in this crazy adventure game: the most important words in your writings are decided by roulette.

Why similar: Point & Click 19.9%, Choose Your Own Adventure 18.6%, Funny 14.6%, Comedy 11.4%, Romance 10.2%

A time travel adventure spanning two hundred years! Dive into the past with time agent Fia Quinn as she embarks on seven trips through time. History is up for grabs, from the speakeasies of Prohibition to the vicious gangs of the Gilded Age to the World Trade Center on September 10, 2001.

Why similar: Time Travel 24.6% ★, Investigation 19.8%, Point & Click 19.3%, Emotional 14.8%, Fantasy 8.2%

Storyteller is an award-winning puzzle game about building stories. Start with a title, settings and characters and create a story that fits the story’s description. Play with stories of love, intrigue, crime, monsters, betrayal, and more!

Why similar: Point & Click 19.5%, Nonlinear 15.4%, Hand-drawn 13.4%, Puzzle 13.4%, Choose Your Own Adventure 10.5%

A Tower Full of Cats is a hidden object game where you need to gather cats through the whole history of catkind... and beyond!

Why similar: Time Travel 32.2% ★, Point & Click 22.6%, Puzzle 12.9%, Story Rich 10.8%, Hand-drawn 10.4%

Pages of Time: Prologue is a 2D platformer puzzle game. Play as the witch who controls the magic of time, in a beautiful and magnificent magic academy, utilize the skills of recording and rewinding time, solve all kinds of puzzles, and look forward to the adventure of the future.

Why similar: Hand-drawn 29.2%, Puzzle 23%, Story Rich 16.3%, Cute 13.5%, Adventure 12.3%

There is no game. So don't go messing things up by clicking everywhere. You don’t want to be kicked out of your video game world, do you? Of course not!

Why similar: Parody 22.8% ★, Point & Click 18.7%, Comedy 13.3%, Funny 11.3%, Puzzle 10.5%

A magical adventure about two high school sweethearts set at the end of their school days - and the end of the world. Explore a crumbling town and help friends face their inner demons, which could be the key to stopping reality itself disintegrating. And don’t forget to pet the cats.

Why similar: Emotional 31%, Surreal 23.7%, Story Rich 19.4%, Puzzle 14%, 2D 6.1%

Welcome to a world of intrigue and suspicion. Where humans and robots contend with escalating tensions and mutual distrust. And where gangster felines scheme their way to the top of the food chain. Welcome to the Tales of the Neon Sea!

Why similar: Parody 25.4% ★, Investigation 18.9%, Surreal 13.5%, Point & Click 13%, Emotional 10.2%

Help the cursed souls of Limbo escape their endless time loop in the afterlife. As Kulebra, a newly-deceased snake, witness their grief and guide them toward closure through point-and-click puzzles, light stealth, and empathy-driven boss encounters.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 49.7% ★, Emotional 19%, Story Rich 10.7%, Puzzle 10.2%, Adventure 5.4%

What do you do if you are the only one left aboard a spaceship? Your team has embarked on a mysterious expedition a few years ago, the ship’s machinery has started acting up and it seems there are ghosts wandering about. Luckily, the black hole above you doesn’t pose any problems…yet.

Why similar: Time Travel 23.1% ★, Point & Click 17.9%, Investigation 15.1%, Hand-drawn 9%, Comedy 8.5%

Do you like adventure, comedy, and dime store detective novels? Then boy have we got the game for you! Join Voodoo Detective in a hand-drawn, point-and-click noir where you’ll pit your wits and hoodoo know-how against a sinister evil that’s taken root on beautiful Zo Wanga Isle.

Why similar: Investigation 21.2%, Point & Click 16.3%, Hand-drawn 14%, Comedy 10.8%, Story Rich 8.8%