Games Like A Taste of the Past

Venba is a short narrative cooking game, where you play as an Indian mom who immigrates to Canada with her family in the 1980s. Cook various dishes and restore lost recipes, hold branching conversations, and explore South Indian food in this story about family, love, and loss.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 27.8%, Visual Novel 20.6%, Hand-drawn 17.8%, Stylized 16.7%, Exploration 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: Like the seed game, it centers on cultural identity and family heritage through the intimate, narrative-driven act of cooking traditional meals.

When the Past was Around is an adventure point-and-click puzzle game about love, moving on, letting go, and the joy and pain of everything in between.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 24.4%, Point & Click 19.3%, Hand-drawn 15.5%, Cute 11.1%, Stylized 10.1%

Why You'll Like It: A deeply emotional point-and-click adventure that uses surreal imagery and puzzles to explore the pain of loss and the beauty of memories.

Spiritfarer® is a cozy management game about dying. As ferrymaster to the deceased, build a boat to explore the world, care for your spirit friends, and release them into the afterlife. The Spiritfarer Farewell Edition includes the heartwarming base game and three major content updates.

Why similar: Hand-drawn 36.9%, Exploration 20.4%, Cartoony 16%, Atmospheric 14.8%, Adventure 11.9%

Why You'll Like It: This game perfectly mirrors the themes of managing the afterlife, emotional growth, and helping souls move on through a beautiful 2D side-scrolling format.

In Midnight Ramen, you play as the owner of a late-night ramen stand and his apprentice. You interact with your customers, listen to their troubles, and help them out whenever you can. But as the bowls of ramen are cooked and served, troubles are beginning to brew in your own life as well...

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 26.3%, Visual Novel 23.1%, Immersive Sim 20.6%, Cartoony 15.6%, Atmospheric 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: It shares the cozy, conversation-heavy atmosphere of cooking for others while uncovering their personal stories and emotional burdens.

Embark on an emotional first-person narrative adventure where you control the story—and affect its outcomes—with your real-life blinks. With this innovative technique you will fully immerse yourself in a world of memories, both joyous and heartbreaking, as your whole life flashes before your eyes.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 22.2%, Walking Simulator 20.3%, Hand-drawn 11.7%, Drama 11%, Cartoony 11%

Why You'll Like It: This narrative experience uses a unique mechanic to guide you through a life review, capturing the fleeting nature of existence and the weight of personal history.

A deep, interactive adventure about love and loss, beautifully depicted and offering an intense cinematic experience. What would you do to save the one you love?

Why similar: Drama 29.2%, Walking Simulator 24.5%, Atmospheric 20.1%, Adventure 15.3%, Third Person 10.9%

Why You'll Like It: This emotional, story-rich game explores the themes of grief and the desire to change the past through a beautiful, atmospheric lens.

Florence Yeoh feels a little... stuck. Her life is an endless routine of work, sleep, and spending too much time on social media. Then one day, she meets a cello player named Krish who changes everything about how she sees the world and herself.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 20.7%, Drama 16%, Visual Novel 14.6%, Point & Click 13.2%, Cute 10.6%

Why You'll Like It: A short, interactive story that masterfully uses simple mechanics to convey the complex emotional arc of a relationship and personal growth.

A thoughtful and deeply personal title with stripped-down mechanics. The lack of dialogue or text allows you to create your own narrative through your time with four characters. Each short story will allow players to be swept away by the haunting lyrics of over twenty original, nostalgic songs.

Why similar: Life Sim 17.8%, Interactive Fiction 16.5%, Walking Simulator 16.3%, Point & Click 13.8%, Side Scroller 13.7%

Why You'll Like It: A meditative, short-form narrative experience that captures the quiet, emotional moments of everyday life without the need for dialogue.

A story-driven experience about two doctors traversing backwards through a dying man's memories to artificially fulfill his last wish.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 63.7%, Adventure 18.7%, 2D 9%, Cute 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: A classic narrative-driven experience that focuses on reliving a person's life memories to grant a final wish, mirroring the reflective tone of the seed game.

Old Man’s Journey, a soul-searching puzzle adventure, tells a story of life, loss, and hope. Interacting with the world around you, you'll shape the landscape to create the old man's path forward. Experience heartache and hope as you embark on a heartfelt journey through a sunkissed world.

Why similar: Point & Click 23.4%, Hand-drawn 19.5%, Adventure 9.9%, Atmospheric 9.2%, Interactive Fiction 9%

Why You'll Like It: A heartfelt, wordless narrative about life, regrets, and reconciliation that uses environmental puzzles to tell a moving story.

What if the physical objects of everyday life, the possessions we hold close, were actual windows to the past? Peer into distant memories and unseen futures in Hindsight.

Why similar: Point & Click 21.2%, Interactive Fiction 14.7%, Drama 13.4%, Visual Novel 12.1%, Exploration 10.5%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on the power of objects to trigger memories, allowing players to explore a lifetime of experiences and the process of letting go.

A Walk with Yiayia is a heartfelt solo-developed, bite-sized adventure game about taking your Greek grandmother on a walk after she's lost her confidence from a scary fall. Connect through engaging conversations, explore a relaxing environment, and complete microquests in this thoughtful adventure.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 21.4%, Interactive Fiction 17.5%, Visual Novel 14.6%, Cartoony 9.5%, Exploration 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: A gentle, walking-simulator style game that focuses on the emotional bond between family members while navigating life's challenges.

A fantasy tea-brewing adventure. Listen to your customers' worries and brew them the tea that they didn't know they needed.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 29.3%, Visual Novel 21.2%, Anime 13.3%, Cartoony 12.7%, Cute 11.7%

Why You'll Like It: This game blends light management and conversation to create a cozy, narrative-heavy experience centered on serving others.

Unpacking is a zen puzzle game about the familiar experience of pulling possessions out of boxes and fitting them into a new home. Part block-fitting puzzle, part home decoration, you are invited to create a satisfying living space while learning clues about the life you’re unpacking.

Why similar: Life Sim 34.1%, Point & Click 23.3%, Cute 21%, Atmospheric 8.6%, Colorful 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: It tells a life story through the simple, meditative act of organizing belongings, mirroring the way the seed game uses small tasks to build a narrative.

Guide brush strokes and solve a variety of puzzles to help an aspiring artist complete her masterpiece amid her brusque neighbor’s gaze and his pesky cat. As her painting starts to take shape, uncover an emotional tale of chance and artistry revealed behind unrelated yet familiar moments.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 19.5%, Point & Click 16.7%, Hand-drawn 14.1%, Drama 13.1%, Anime 11.6%

Why You'll Like It: A visually stunning narrative game that focuses on the intersection of art, memory, and the emotional journey of an aspiring artist.

Forgotten Fields is a game about yearning and nostalgia. Play as Sid - a struggling writer who travels back to his childhood home one last time before it's sold off. Visit old friends, relive memories and play through sections of Sid's book in this warm game about the passage of time.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 24.6%, Walking Simulator 21.9%, Visual Novel 12.1%, Drama 10.5%, Stylized 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-focused game about a writer struggling with his past and his creative process, capturing a similar sense of melancholic reflection.

The Heroes Around Me tells a story of a family of 3: the hard-working and quiet father – Nan, his daughter Lili, and their pet dog Sesame. Players will experience the harshness and warmth in the simpler time of the 1990s, where lots of stories are untold.

Why similar: Life Sim 16.4%, Visual Novel 16.1%, Interactive Fiction 15.9%, Walking Simulator 14%, Immersive Sim 12.9%

Why You'll Like It: A touching, story-rich game that uses pixel art to explore family dynamics and the emotional weight of growing up.

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: Life Sim 15.7%, Interactive Fiction 15.2%, Hand-drawn 13.5%, Point & Click 12.8%, Drama 12.7%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric puzzle-adventure that uses hand-drawn art to tell a story of exploration and emotional discovery.

这是一个关于遗憾与成长的故事。男生的思绪不断回到17岁的夏天，在一次次回忆与抉择中徘徊，是去尝试弥补遗憾？还是在释然间体会成长的意义?回忆中的她会在那等我吗？

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 18.4%, Visual Novel 16.6%, Hand-drawn 16%, Drama 14.2%, Stylized 11.2%

Why You'll Like It: An emotional visual novel that captures the bittersweet feeling of a final summer, echoing the reflective themes of the seed game.

Coffee Talk is a coffee brewing and heart-to-heart talking simulator about listening to fantasy-inspired modern peoples’ problems, and helping them by serving up a warm drink or two.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 36.4%, Visual Novel 33.2%, Anime 16.9%, Atmospheric 13.5%

Why You'll Like It: This game emphasizes the role of a listener who provides comfort and warm beverages to patrons, creating a similar cozy and reflective atmosphere.

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: Interactive Fiction 28.6%, Drama 20.7%, Hand-drawn 19%, Atmospheric 12.4%, Exploration 11.4%

Why You'll Like It: This game captures the nostalgia and choices of youth, offering a deep, narrative-driven look at personal history and growth.

A short, emotional visual novel following a grieving man who relives memories of days long gone. An exploration of loss presented honestly and kinetically.

Why similar: Visual Novel 22.7%, Interactive Fiction 22.2%, Drama 21.8%, Hand-drawn 18.3%, Text-Based 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: A story-rich visual novel that focuses on mystery and drama, appealing to fans of the seed game's narrative-first approach.

Gris is a hopeful young girl lost in her own world, dealing with a painful experience in her life. Her journey through sorrow is manifested in her dress, which grants new abilities to better navigate her faded reality.

Why similar: Hand-drawn 28.3%, Atmospheric 24.8%, Walking Simulator 12.1%, Adventure 9.3%, Colorful 9%

Why You'll Like It: A stunning 2D platformer that serves as a powerful metaphor for the stages of grief, focusing on emotional expression through art and movement.

Anxiety Puppy is a 2D interactive narrative game that focuses on anxiety. In the game, anxiety is personified as a little puppy. Players will explore its story and try to coexist with it. Go find its traces and give it a hug.

Why similar: Text-Based 18.5%, Interactive Fiction 16.9%, Drama 15.5%, Visual Novel 13%, Cute 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: A short, text-based adventure that tackles emotional themes with a cute aesthetic, similar to the wholesome yet heavy tone of the seed game.

A heartfelt story of ambition, struggle, and friendship told from the perspective of a young boy in fictional 90s rural India. Explore ancient palace ruins, set up your garden, cook Indian food, run errands for quirky characters, and learn about your history by making art.

Why similar: Life Sim 52.3%, Exploration 17.2%, Hand-drawn 15.5%, Adventure 9.1%, 2D 6%

Why You'll Like It: A life-sim that incorporates cooking and exploration, providing a relaxing and culturally rich environment to experience a story.

The meditative journey game about a tram driver. He is a sincere but humble dreamer who loves his job. And he also knows how to show love and sensitivity, like reading other people's desires. But what to do about it?

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 32.9%, Immersive Sim 26.2%, Hand-drawn 22.8%, Adventure 9.5%, Atmospheric 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: This game shares the thematic focus on a journey through a transit-based setting to explore emotional and narrative themes.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a collection of strange tales about a family in Washington state. As Edith, you’ll explore the colossal Finch house, searching for stories as she explores her family history and tries to figure out why she's the last one in her family left alive.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 45.8%, Atmospheric 15.4%, Exploration 13.3%, Drama 10.8%, Visual Novel 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: A masterclass in narrative exploration that focuses on the history of a family and the emotional weight of their collective memories.

Carto is a charming adventure game wrapped around a unique, world-altering puzzle mechanic. Use this power to explore mysterious lands, help a quirky cast of characters, and guide Carto on her journey back to her family.

Why similar: Hand-drawn 24.2%, Cute 16.6%, Stylized 13.2%, Exploration 13.1%, Colorful 10.6%

Why You'll Like It: A cozy, puzzle-adventure game that focuses on exploration and discovery, offering a lighthearted but meaningful journey.

Don't Let Me Fade is an interactive adventure about memory, identity, and loss. Piece together fragments of a life - even if a simple teddy bear is the last symbol of connection to oneself in a world without time.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 27.5%, Point & Click 21.7%, Visual Novel 17.4%, Text-Based 12.3%, Adventure 10.6%

Led by her new friend, Mr. Voice, Misfortune ventures into the woods, where mysteries are unraveled and a little bad luck unfolds.

Why similar: Point & Click 43.4%, Interactive Fiction 18.7%, Cute 14.8%, Adventure 10.4%, Atmospheric 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: A dark but deeply emotional narrative game that explores a child's perspective on life and death through a unique, stylized world.

When humans get too lonely, they turn into monsters… Set sail across a beautiful and evolving world of darkness and light, and discover what it means to be human.

Why similar: Adventure 40.7%, Atmospheric 33.7%, Stylized 25.6%

Why You'll Like It: A deeply personal game that uses a 2D-influenced 3D world to explore the emotional landscape of loneliness and mental health.

本游戏主旨绿色健康阳光积极向上充满正能量，无不良导向。

Why similar: Walking Simulator 17.7%, Interactive Fiction 17.6%, Point & Click 15.1%, Visual Novel 12.2%, Drama 9.7%

A short story point-and-click visual novel about the afterlife.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 27%, Visual Novel 21.3%, Hand-drawn 13.3%, Adventure 10.5%, Drama 8.9%

Until Oblivion is an atmospheric narrative game that follows 17 year old nobody Emma Wilson as she tries to rekindle a dying relationship in a dying world. Join her in an increasingly nightmarish Halloween party and find out if anything (or anyone) is worth anything at all.

Why similar: Text-Based 14.7%, Interactive Fiction 14.5%, Walking Simulator 13.6%, Side Scroller 11.2%, Visual Novel 10.1%

Is one life worth the price of another? A bittersweet visual novel about life and death, trust and bonds, and promises made. Brought to you by popular Japanese bishojo game developer SWEET&TEA. Winner of the Moe Game Awards 2016's "New Brand Award"!

Why similar: Visual Novel 21.5%, Interactive Fiction 16.8%, Anime 16%, Drama 14.7%, Hand-drawn 11.4%

Find friendship, love, and pastries in the most unexpected places in this cute visual novel about baking a home.

Why similar: Visual Novel 27.7%, Interactive Fiction 17.4%, Cute 16.6%, Anime 13.5%, 2D 8.1%

'Pieces of the Past' is a cute, sentimental adventure where you restore family keepsakes to uncover touching stories. Blend puzzle-solving with the joy of preserving memories in this delightful journey!

Why similar: Point & Click 37.7%, Cute 22.3%, Stylized 20.7%, Colorful 19.2%

Narrative through Interact Button. In The Rural Village of Nagoro is a short, side-scrolling game with minimalist gameplay 'Interact button’ to tell a fate that falls on Nagoro village. Explore and press ‘F' button’ to greet all cheerful neighborhoods.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 29.5%, Immersive Sim 22%, Hand-drawn 14.7%, Anime 12.5%, Exploration 9.7%

Embark on a heartwarming journey as a home cleaning specialist.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 28.2%, Visual Novel 19.6%, Atmospheric 11%, Exploration 10.4%, Cute 8.6%

a short but incredibly touching experience.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 17.6%, Point & Click 15.8%, Side Scroller 15.3%, Visual Novel 13.2%, Drama 8.1%

Relax in the world of Kemono Teatime, where animal ears are a normal part of everyday life. Here in Melodius, you can whip up whatever blends of tea you desire in your favorite cafe as you play through an adorable story. Come now and live out your bestest and cutest life—down to the last drop.

Why similar: Immersive Sim 34.3%, Visual Novel 32.5%, Cute 20.9%, Adventure 12.3%

Single-player puzzle adventure with a beautiful, distinctive art style and a genuinely emotional story. As a lonely dog wandering the afterlife searching for his dead master, 'Don't Disturb' explores traditional Asian views on death and the underworld.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 18.7%, Side Scroller 18%, Point & Click 16%, Hand-drawn 9.1%, Anime 8.8%

A slice-of-life adventure game set in fictional 90s rural India. Explore ancient palace ruins, set up your garden, cook Indian food, run errands for quirky characters, and learn about your history by making art.

Why similar: Life Sim 33.7%, Hand-drawn 20.5%, Immersive Sim 17.1%, Exploration 11.5%, Colorful 8.2%

Make up for lost time with Once Again, If you could travel through time, who’s the first person you’d meet? An interactive story about a boy who spends his summers wandering between past and present... After meeting her, summer will never be the same again...Who is she, and what journey awaits you?

Why similar: Visual Novel 24.7%, Drama 20%, Hand-drawn 17.7%, Colorful 14%, Interactive Fiction 12.4%

From the creator of Coffee Talk and What Comes After, comes a slice-of-life adventure set in modern Jakarta about love, loss and finding your own way forward. Step into the shoes of Rama, a young musician struggling to move on with life after the death of his girlfriend, Cinta.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 22%, Hand-drawn 20.1%, Visual Novel 17.2%, Drama 14%, Anime 11.1%

Find the adorable cats amidst the tragic love story of Emperor Xuanzong and Consort Yang!

Why similar: Point & Click 35.4%, Side Scroller 30.1%, Exploration 14.5%, Colorful 8.6%, 2D 6%

The dragon is already dead. Help what's left of humanity learn how to live in this post-apocalyptic fantasy visual novel.

Why similar: Visual Novel 29.2%, Anime 22.4%, Cute 16.7%, Colorful 13.3%, Adventure 10.3%

A visual novel about figuring out life with the help of an AI. //TODO: today is a pastel colored slice-of-life story that let's you freely choose your pronouns and romantic preferences!

Why similar: Visual Novel 44.7%, Cute 19.1%, Adventure 13.2%, Colorful 12.9%, Anime 10.1%

A slice-of-death visual novel about making friends, cracking cat puns, and waiting for eternity to pass.

Why similar: Point & Click 29.5%, Visual Novel 27.9%, Hand-drawn 22.1%, Cute 14.8%, Adventure 3.2%

Become the God of Harvest, explore the world of food and adventure, plant, trade, and spread deliciousness to create your own path to prosperity!

Why similar: Hand-drawn 29%, Drama 28.7%, Exploration 16.7%, Cute 13.1%, Adventure 12.4%

You wake up on a floating island with no idea how you got there. Find ways to reach new and strange islands and meet other survivors all while uncovering the story of how you all got there.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 22.1%, Walking Simulator 22.1%, Drama 14.4%, Cute 8%, Colorful 8%

Memory note is a slice-of-life visual novel with meaningful player choices, several endings to explore, and a story that will touch your heart.

Why similar: Visual Novel 42.9%, Adventure 25.2%, Cute 17.4%, Atmospheric 14.5%

A hand drawn style obstacle avoidance game. How to deal with rainy days if don't like it?

Why similar: Hand-drawn 36.6%, Cute 14%, Atmospheric 13.8%, Drama 12.8%, Adventure 11.9%

The End of You is a short, emotional narrative game about love lost, the ghosts of the past, and the painful crawl towards closure.

Why similar: Life Sim 29.9%, Walking Simulator 22.3%, Drama 21.6%, Immersive Sim 17%, Atmospheric 9.2%

"Chill with You : Lo-Fi Story" is a sound novel game where you work alongside Satone, a girl who loves writing stories. Customize lo-fi music, ambient sounds, and landscapes to create a focused environment. As you deepen your bond with Satone, you may discover a special connection with her.

Why similar: Life Sim 16%, Immersive Sim 14%, Visual Novel 11.4%, Point & Click 11.1%, Drama 9.9%

This is the prologue chapter of "When the Past was Around", an upcoming adventure point-and-click puzzle game about love, moving on, letting go, and the joy and pain of everything in between.

Why similar: Point & Click 35.9%, Hand-drawn 30.1%, Cute 14.9%, Adventure 9.8%, Atmospheric 9.3%

Closer the Distance is a slice-of-life sim that tells a deeply emotional story about the connections between family and friends in the face of tragedy. Unearth long kept secrets, repair strained relationships, and help your loved ones move on.

Why similar: Life Sim 36.9%, Point & Click 25%, Drama 22%, Stylized 9.8%, Atmospheric 6.2%

Welcome to Awkward Valley! Plan your day, tackle strange activities, and unlock bizarre new options as you go. Gym? Therapy? Vending machine snacks? It’s up to you! Featuring Awkward Yeti’s weird and wonderful characters in a totally normal town.

Why similar: Life Sim 24.6%, Point & Click 19.8%, Immersive Sim 19.4%, Side Scroller 14.8%, Colorful 6.7%

Dullpain is a side-scrolling, interaction, and storytelling game. Playing as Jingwen, a young boss of a long-established repair shop, you need to repair not only everyday items, also memories. You can enjoy dull-pain and breathtaking stories in different time and space and redefine the end of story.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 28.8%, Visual Novel 19.4%, Drama 18.3%, Anime 14.2%, Exploration 7.2%

An experience filled with stories and music See the world through the eyes of jazz pianist, Morris. takes you through a dream-like adventure through jazz and love, and failure.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 16.8%, Side Scroller 14.3%, Interactive Fiction 14.1%, Drama 13.3%, Hand-drawn 12.2%