Games Like Actual Sunlight

Explore a strange world full of colorful friends and foes. When the time comes, the path you’ve chosen will determine your fate... and perhaps the fate of others as well.

Why similar: Indie 50.2%, Story Rich 49.8%

Why You'll Like It: A profound psychological RPG that masterfully explores themes of depression, trauma, and isolation through a surreal, hand-drawn lens.

A short story about what sort of challenges everyday little things can be. Help the girl buy milk, be the first not to disappoint her.

Why similar: Visual Novel 48%, Adventure 25%, Indie 13.2%, Story Rich 11%, Singleplayer 2.8%

Why You'll Like It: A short, intense, and highly intimate experience that captures the fragmented and difficult internal reality of living with mental health struggles.

The miserable journey of a broken man...

Why similar: Dark 43.5%, Indie 18.9%, Adventure 17.6%, Story Rich 15.8%, Singleplayer 4.2%

Why You'll Like It: An RPG that delves into the darkest corners of human nature, loss, and trauma within a bleak, post-apocalyptic setting.

OneShot is a surreal top down Puzzle/Adventure game with unique gameplay capabilities. You are to guide a child through a mysterious world on a mission to restore its long-dead sun. The world knows you exist.

Why similar: Story Rich 36.2%, Indie 34%, Adventure 23.4%, Singleplayer 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: A meta-narrative experience that builds a deep, emotional connection between the player and the protagonist in a dying world.

The Cat Lady follows Susan Ashworth, a lonely 40-year old on the verge of suicide. She has no family, no friends and no hope for a better future. One day she discovers that five strangers will come along and change everything...

Why similar: Dark 36.1%, Adventure 22%, Indie 19.7%, Story Rich 19.2%, Singleplayer 3%

Why You'll Like It: A dark, gritty, and deeply psychological adventure that tackles depression and existential dread with a mature, uncompromising narrative.

Set out on a cross-country journey to win back the love of your life and endure the hardship of making story-defining choices that affect your life and the lives of those around you.

Why similar: Indie 56.1%, Story Rich 25.8%, Adventure 10.9%, Singleplayer 3.6%, Visual Novel 3.5%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the mundane, difficult, and often painful choices of adult life, mirroring the grounded realism of the seed game.

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

Why similar: Story Rich 40.6%, Indie 36.8%, Adventure 18.4%, Singleplayer 4.2%

Why You'll Like It: A poignant, story-driven RPGMaker classic that explores the weight of memories and the desire to change one's past.

Depression Quest is an interactive fiction game where you play as someone living with depression. You are given a series of everyday life events and have to attempt to manage your illness, relationships, job, and possible treatment.

Why similar: Indie 50%, Dark 19.8%, Visual Novel 19.1%, Singleplayer 7.4%, Story Rich 3.6%

Why You'll Like It: A direct, interactive fiction experience that simulates the daily struggles and limitations of living with clinical depression.

The Beginner's Guide is a narrative video game from Davey Wreden, the creator of The Stanley Parable. It lasts about an hour and a half and has no traditional mechanics, no goals or objectives. Instead, it tells the story of a person struggling to deal with something they do not understand.

Why similar: Indie 29.5%, Story Rich 28.1%, Dark 22.4%, Adventure 15.2%, Singleplayer 4.7%

Why You'll Like It: A short, meta-narrative exploration of a creator's psyche that feels deeply personal and introspective.

Classic Zork meets Existential Crisis. A modern text adventure that explores themes of control, isolation and mental health while levelling up the genre with beautiful pixel art.

Why similar: Adventure 42.8%, Story Rich 40.5%, Singleplayer 10.9%, Indie 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: Captures the feeling of being trapped within a system and the isolation of digital communication.

A sequel to Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk. Dive into demented and bizarre world once again and help the girl become a little happier.

Why similar: Visual Novel 50.3%, Indie 23.2%, Story Rich 22.4%, Singleplayer 4.1%

Why You'll Like It: Continues the surreal, uncomfortable, and deeply empathetic exploration of mental health found in its predecessor.

An experimental short from the creator of To the Moon & Finding Paradise: A simple & surreal 1-hour interactive animation about a boy and an injured bird, told without dialogues.If you're looking for To the Moon-like experience, I'd suggest playing Finding Paradise first.

Why similar: Indie 34.4%, Story Rich 28.2%, Adventure 22.6%, Visual Novel 10.2%, Singleplayer 4.6%

Why You'll Like It: A short, dialogue-free narrative that captures feelings of loneliness and the quiet search for connection.

A short atmospheric adventure game about finding meaning in a meaningless world.

Why similar: Adventure 59.5%, Indie 34.2%, Singleplayer 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: A philosophical, atmospheric game that explores the search for meaning in a repetitive and bleak existence.

Fran Bow is a creepy adventure game that tells the story of Fran, a young girl struggling with a mental disorder and an unfair destiny.

Why similar: Dark 39.4%, Story Rich 20.8%, Adventure 18.4%, Indie 18.1%, Singleplayer 3.3%

Why You'll Like It: A dark, psychological adventure that uses surrealism to explore trauma and the perception of reality.

A reverse-detective adventure, where you control your character's face

Why similar: Visual Novel 59.2%, Story Rich 40.8%

Why You'll Like It: A unique psychological horror game that focuses on facial expressions and internal states to explore identity and isolation.

A surreal post-life adventure

Why similar: Indie 30.4%, Adventure 28.2%, Dark 25.8%, Story Rich 12.9%, Singleplayer 2.8%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal and existential RPGMaker experience that feels deeply personal and disconnected from traditional game tropes.

Enter a bizarre and idiosyncratic world! Adventure into the unknown, and defeat horrid monsters! A story of Love, Loss, and the end of the Multiverse.

Why similar: RPGMaker 68.6% ★, Indie 16.3%, Adventure 15.2%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric RPGMaker game with a focus on surreal, dark storytelling and character-driven drama.

Late Bird is a short interactive story about birds, movies, suicidal thoughts and not growing up in time.

Why similar: Dark 49.1%, Visual Novel 30.4%, Indie 16.9%, Singleplayer 3.6%

Why You'll Like It: A quiet, interactive story that captures the feeling of modern ennui and the struggle to find purpose.

“I’m the Batter. I’ve been entrusted with a sacred mission.” -- One of the most influential RPGs of the last 20 years is finally coming to Steam. Take control of the Batter as he seeks to purify an uncanny and hopeless world haunted by specters, guided by a cryptic, grinning cat called The Judge.

Why similar: Story Rich 36.9%, Indie 36.9%, Dark 18.3%, Singleplayer 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal, dark RPGMaker classic that uses abstract imagery to explore existential and nihilistic themes.

A short point & click narrative adventure inspired by the real life experience of a struggling solo indie game developer. A story about everything and hence nothing at all. Discover what truly matters to you.

Why similar: Dark 54.5%, Adventure 26.1%, Visual Novel 19.3%

Why You'll Like It: A short, point-and-click experience that deals with existential nihilism and the feeling of being adrift.

Your Future Self is a 1-2 hour long story-driven experimental text adventure with unique conversational mechanics, time loop based gameplay, and an emotionally gripping time travel mystery set against the backdrop of a darkly realistic vision of our world ravaged by climate change.

Why similar: Indie 36.7%, Adventure 35.9%, Story Rich 12.1%, Visual Novel 12.1%, Singleplayer 3.2%

Why You'll Like It: A text-based, psychological exploration of regret and the passage of time through a conversation with one's older self.

This is a game in which you traverse the extremely dark world inside a dream.

Why similar: Dark 47.2%, Indie 29.1%, Adventure 18.9%, Singleplayer 4.8%

Why You'll Like It: Explores the dark, subconscious mind through surreal, dream-like environments that emphasize isolation.

Snow, dullness, depression. Constant dissatisfaction with work and superiors and feeling like there is no escape. Is this what life will always be? Perhaps… but I can always hope for change to be just around the corner!…

Why similar: Indie 53.4%, Visual Novel 19%, Adventure 15.4%, Story Rich 8.4%, Singleplayer 3.9%

Why You'll Like It: A short, melancholic visual novel that fits the somber, introspective mood of the seed game.

Thanks to next generation AI technology, BUDDY SIMULATOR 1984 simulates the experience of hanging out with a best buddy! Your buddy learns from you, constantly adapting to your interests and personality. But most importantly, your buddy can play games with you!

Why similar: Indie 39.7%, Story Rich 30.8%, Adventure 23.3%, Singleplayer 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: A meta-psychological game that explores the nature of loneliness and the desperate need for companionship.

My Light In The Dark is a short story about a girl who lives with her abusive mother. The girl finds out some dark secrets about her mother, and she has to find a way to escape the house.

Why similar: Dark 58.7%, Adventure 26.2%, Story Rich 11.7%, Singleplayer 3.4%

Why You'll Like It: A short, dark RPGMaker game that mirrors the somber, introspective tone of the seed game.

There is nothing Joe wouldn't do for his wife. But as they try to save their marriage with a romantic getaway, things go from bad to worse, and from worse... to insanity...

Why similar: Adventure 27.4%, Indie 26.1%, Dark 25.4%, Story Rich 18.7%, Singleplayer 2.3%

Why You'll Like It: A dark, psychological horror game that explores the depths of despair and the consequences of one's actions.

Smuggle contraband VHS tapes across the border. Discover the remnants of illicit industry. Prepare for an assassination. This is Paratopic, an atmospheric retro-3D horror adventure through a cursed fever dream.

Why similar: Indie 41%, Dark 30.5%, Adventure 27%, Singleplayer 1.5%

Why You'll Like It: A short, surreal, and unsettling experience that prioritizes atmosphere and mood over traditional gameplay mechanics.

halfmoon is a short adventure game set in an information center for the dead before they move on.

Why similar: Visual Novel 35.5%, Story Rich 22%, Adventure 19.6%, Indie 18.4%, Singleplayer 4.5%

A game about the short journey of a boy who left home. Experience a dense story in around 2 hours, along with rhythm gameplay and music puzzles. Enjoy live acoustic sounds and a story that feels like a musical film!

Why similar: Dark 38.3%, Visual Novel 18%, Story Rich 16.5%, Adventure 13.2%, Indie 12.7%

It's a short interactive story, about Alex, an ordinary loser. He lives a dull life, full of alcohol and misery, but deep in his soul, he always wanted to be a hero. One day, then he leaves his house, Alex accidentally teleported in mystery temple. Temple, the exit from which you should find!

Why similar: RPGMaker 81.2% ★, Adventure 18.8%

Why You'll Like It: A short, grounded narrative experience that focuses on personal struggle and the quiet moments of life.

A dark conversation with a girl during a nightly car trip. A short multi-ending novel game where you try to understand this girl and her pain.

Why similar: Adventure 32.9%, Dark 28.4%, Visual Novel 20.9%, Indie 9.6%, Story Rich 6.8%

A short story-driven experience about love, loss, and the choices we make.

Why similar: Adventure 50.9%, Indie 49.1%

TOMORROW DON'T COME is a contextual puzzle game about depression and how it feels to be stuck.

Why similar: Dark 36.6%, Indie 23.7%, Adventure 22.7%, Visual Novel 13.6%, Singleplayer 3.4%

Alone With You is a bittersweet sci-fi adventure game that goes right for the heart. Escape a doomed space colony with the help of your troubled AI companion and four chatty holograms in this unique blend of adventure & visual novel storytelling.

Why similar: Adventure 34.7%, Indie 34.5%, Visual Novel 15.5%, Story Rich 12.1%, Singleplayer 3.2%

Explore a deeply emotional story about love and sacrifice, and the hope that exists in us all.

Why similar: Adventure 35.3%, Indie 34.1%, Visual Novel 19.8%, Story Rich 10.8%

An RPG set in a distant, lonely future. Follow Arem, a young man lured from his small island community to explore the desolate megastructure beneath it: “The Well.” With the simple goal of finding the exit, Arem will burden himself with something more terrible than he ever thought possible.

Why similar: Dark 62.1%, Visual Novel 37.9%

The Red Strings Club is a cyberpunk narrative experience about fate and happiness featuring the extensive use of pottery, bartending and impersonating people on the phone to take down a corporate conspiracy.

Why similar: Story Rich 34.4%, Indie 24.8%, Adventure 20.8%, Visual Novel 15.8%, Singleplayer 4.2%

Explore a mysterious world as the protagonist in this short adventure game with pixel graphics.

Why similar: Dark 54.7%, Story Rich 18.3%, Adventure 13.9%, Indie 10.5%, Singleplayer 2.5%

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

Why similar: Adventure 38.8%, Dark 28%, Visual Novel 25.8%, Singleplayer 7.4%

"Story: Heaven & Hell" - this is a interactive fiction about good and evil.

Why similar: RPGMaker 63.5% ★, Dark 10.4%, Adventure 9.4%, Indie 7.1%, Visual Novel 5.5%

A short 10 minute visual novel about being a fragment in the universe and trying to find a way out of the ****.

Why similar: Dark 75.7%, Story Rich 12.7%, Adventure 7.4%, Indie 3.2%, Singleplayer 1%

A dark comedy RPG set in streets and psyches.

Why similar: Adventure 39.7%, Story Rich 27.1%, Indie 26.1%, Singleplayer 7.1%

A psychological interactive novel about a floppy disk with a mysterious program. Help Elliot cope with his mental issues and uncover the secret of the floppy disk.

Why similar: Indie 41.6%, Visual Novel 33.9%, Story Rich 24.4%

Short visual novel. A 24-hour romance at its worst; a 24-hour escape at its sweetest.

Why similar: Dark 64.6%, Visual Novel 35.4%

A story about dreams. Explore a weird house and find the truth. A short game with mild puzzles and some psychological horror elements.

Why similar: RPGMaker 52.7% ★, Adventure 26.8%, Indie 16.2%, Singleplayer 4.2%

This is a story of light - of Gleam, in a world of glass stained in darkness.

Why similar: Indie 50.1%, Adventure 48.4%, Singleplayer 1.5%

Tales Across Time is a story-driven RPG experience from the creator of 8-Bit Adventures: The Forgotten Journey. It uses the classic short-story format to tell the tale of three different characters...

Why similar: RPGMaker 72% ★, Indie 11.9%, Adventure 11.7%, Story Rich 3.4%, Singleplayer 1%

A haiku platformer. It's short and vague.

Why similar: Adventure 35.7%, Story Rich 32.9%, Indie 25%, Singleplayer 6.3%

A Mortician's Tale is a short, story-driven game about a mortician tasked with running a funeral home.

Why similar: Dark 37.9%, Indie 29.7%, Visual Novel 15.3%, Story Rich 12.8%, Singleplayer 4.3%

Solstice is a dystopian mystery visual novel about small personal disasters that turn into great catastrophes.

Why similar: Dark 40.9%, Visual Novel 26.9%, Story Rich 20.7%, Indie 8.3%, Singleplayer 3.2%

A story-driven adventure game about a haunted bed & breakfast. A dead & breakfast!

Why similar: RPGMaker 65.9% ★, Indie 15.3%, Adventure 13.3%, Story Rich 5.6%

A short story about a parasitic sunflower and her loyal son. Eat everything you can. Enjoy the sunshine. Do whatever it takes to make her happy. This is a prequel to Siren's Call: Escape Velocity.

Why similar: Dark 31.1%, Visual Novel 23.4%, Adventure 20.9%, Story Rich 13%, Indie 10.2%

A linear visual novel about five short stories, unrelated at first glance. Be prepared for mysticism, gloomy atmosphere and light psychological horror. Not recommended to play if you are experiencing depression or severe psychological state.

Why similar: Dark 45.5%, Visual Novel 19.8%, Adventure 16.6%, Story Rich 14.2%, Singleplayer 3.8%

A game about starting a relationship while working part-time at a convenience store

Why similar: Visual Novel 30.2%, Indie 23.1%, Adventure 21.1%, Story Rich 20.7%, Singleplayer 4.9%

A Short Handcrafted Pixel Art Platformer that follows Sheepy, an abandoned plushy brought to life. Sheepy: A Short Adventure is the first short game from MrSuicideSheep.

Why similar: Indie 46.5%, Adventure 43.3%, Singleplayer 10.2%

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: Indie 35%, Adventure 34.6%, Story Rich 26.7%, Singleplayer 3.7%

Be the light.

Why similar: RPGMaker 60.6% ★, Story Rich 14%, Adventure 12.7%, Indie 10.2%, Singleplayer 2.6%

Embark on the journey of Robbery Cold, a former soldier of the Kingdom of Thaltas, now living as a mercenary since a terrible tragedy struck his life, with his wife dying due to an incurable disease.

Why similar: Indie 43%, Adventure 40%, Story Rich 13.4%, Singleplayer 3.6%

"Same encounter, different world." Moon is a young woman who lives an ordinary city life as an office worker. However, because she suffers from depression, she reacts and deals with things in a way that is very different from regular city folk.

Why similar: Adventure 39.2%, Story Rich 27.2%, Visual Novel 23.2%, Indie 5.6%, Singleplayer 4.8%

The story of a soldier left alone in a bunker.

Why similar: RPGMaker 78.9% ★, Adventure 10.7%, Indie 7.9%, Singleplayer 2.4%