Games Like Arctic Awakening

Firewatch is a single-player first-person mystery set in the Wyoming wilderness, where your only emotional lifeline is the person on the other end of a handheld radio.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 24.6%, Mystery 13.4%, Story Rich 10.4%, Atmospheric 9.4%, Open World 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: Like Arctic Awakening, this game features a central, evolving relationship with a companion via radio in a remote, atmospheric wilderness.

Rethink human’s dominion in The Invincible: a story-driven adventure set in a hard sci-fi world by Stanisław Lem. Discover planet Regis III as scientist Yasna, use atompunk tools looking for a missing crew and face unforeseen threats. Make choices in a philosophical story that’s driven by science.

Why similar: Dialogue Heavy 19.6%, Robots 17.5%, Walking Simulator 13.9%, Thriller 11.3%, Choices Matter 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: This sci-fi narrative adventure mirrors the first-person exploration and philosophical mystery found in the Arctic setting.

Uncover the mystery of Thalassa, a first-person psychological drama set under the sea. Ill-fate has fallen on your former crew and friends and it’s up to you to find answers onboard the wreckage. Experience the melancholic underwater journey of human stories facing life and loss.

Why similar: Emotional 19.4%, Narrative 13.8% ★, First-Person 12.7%, Atmospheric 10%, Walking Simulator 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-focused mystery that emphasizes emotional storytelling and first-person exploration in a remote location.

Northern Canada, 1970. A strange blizzard ravages Atamipek Lake. Step into the shoes of a detective to explore the eerie village, investigate surreal events, and battle the elements to survive. Kona is a chilly interactive tale you won't soon forget.

Why similar: Survival 18.8%, Walking Simulator 17.2%, Open World 15.7%, First-Person 10.3%, Atmospheric 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: Set in a snowy, isolated landscape, this game shares the investigative mystery and atmospheric tension of the Arctic setting.

The Moon has gone dark, cutting off Earth’s last source of energy. As a lone astronaut, you’ll explore abandoned lunar bases, solve intricate puzzles, and navigate stunning zero-gravity environments. Operate advanced vehicles, uncover hidden truths, and survive in this gripping sci-fi thriller.

Why similar: Sci-fi 19.6%, Adventure 13.7%, Mystery 11.7%, Walking Simulator 10.2%, Story Rich 10.1%

Why You'll Like It: This title captures the feeling of being a lone protagonist in a desolate, sci-fi environment trying to solve a global mystery.

Tacoma is a sci-fi narrative adventure from the creators of Gone Home. Set aboard a high-tech space station in the year 2088, explore every detail of how the station’s crew lived and worked, finding the clues that add up to a gripping story of trust, fear, and resolve in the face of disaster.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 27.2%, Sci-fi 14.1%, Story Rich 10.2%, Narrative 9.6% ★, Mystery 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: It features a strong focus on uncovering a mystery through environmental storytelling and interacting with an AI companion in a isolated sci-fi setting.

Deliver Us Mars is an atmospheric sci-fi adventure taking you on a suspense-fuelled, high-stakes mission to recover the ARK colony ships stolen by the mysterious Outward.

Why similar: Robots 23.4%, Thriller 20.7%, Emotional 15.5%, Sci-fi 13%, Story Rich 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a similar blend of high-stakes sci-fi exploration, narrative-driven puzzles, and harsh, unforgiving environments.

From the creators of Amnesia: The Dark Descent comes SOMA, a sci-fi horror game set below the waves of the Atlantic ocean. Struggle to survive a hostile world that will make you question your very existence.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 19%, Psychological Horror 15.7%, Sci-fi 12.5%, Mystery 9.2%, Story Rich 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: This game masterfully combines deep sci-fi themes, isolation, and a narrative-heavy first-person experience.

Stan, a professional diver in the North Sea, is struggling to overcome a life-changing loss during an extended mission underwater. Stuck in his self-imposed solitude, he starts to experience strange events and will have to make the most significant choice of his life...

Why similar: Narrative 20.1% ★, Exploration 14.7%, Story Rich 13.5%, Sci-fi 13.2%, Atmospheric 11.4%

Why You'll Like It: This game captures the feeling of isolation and emotional narrative depth while exploring a vast, dangerous environment.

Event[0] is a sci-fi narrative exploration game where you build a relationship with a lonely spaceship computer to get home to Earth.

Why similar: Sci-fi 15.7%, Mystery 14.7%, Choices Matter 13.1%, Walking Simulator 11.9%, Atmospheric 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: It centers on a unique, text-based relationship with an AI companion, mirroring the core dynamic of the therapy bot in the seed game.

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 26.1%, Story Rich 16.4%, Mystery 13.3%, Atmospheric 10.4%, First-Person 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: The gold standard for narrative-driven walking simulators that focus on uncovering a deep, personal mystery through exploration.

A story-driven, first-person adventure game offering a cinematic experience. Embark on a journey to HaustVille, an abandoned settlement in a post-apocalyptic world. Explore your surroundings and uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of the last survivors.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 21.1%, Mystery 15.5%, Emotional 11.5%, Story Rich 8.9%, Atmospheric 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: A mystery-focused walking simulator that prioritizes atmosphere and story-rich exploration.

The Fidelio Incident is a single-player, first-person thriller set off the coast of Iceland. Inspired by Beethoven's only opera Fidelio. After a violent plane crash, Stanley must search a desolate frozen island in search of his wife Leonore while covering up any traces of their bloody Irish past.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 36.6%, Thriller 16.5%, Mystery 11.2%, First-Person 8.2%, Exploration 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: A first-person narrative adventure that focuses on survival, mystery, and the psychological state of the protagonist.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a first-person story-driven mystery. Purchase this game to get both the original and the Unreal Engine 4 remaster called The Vanishing of Ethan Carter Redux.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 27.3%, Mystery 19.7%, Atmospheric 10.7%, First-Person 9%, Exploration 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: A beautiful, narrative-heavy mystery game that relies on environmental storytelling and first-person investigation.

Observation is a sci-fi thriller uncovering what happened to Dr. Emma Fisher, and the crew of her mission, through the lens of the station’s artificial intelligence S.A.M.

Why similar: Sci-fi 17.9%, Adventure 14.8%, Thriller 14.3%, Indie 10.6%, Psychological Horror 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: You play as an AI station system, offering a unique perspective on a sci-fi mystery that aligns with the AI-companion themes.

The Shattering is a first-person, story-driven, psychological thriller. Its defining features are the dynamic environments, beautiful aesthetic and intriguing story. The gameplay is meant to submerge you in the mind of John, as you take each step forward into the twisted mystery of what happened.

Why similar: Thriller 32.3%, Adventure 16.9%, Indie 11.4%, Walking Simulator 10.2%, First-Person 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: A psychological thriller that uses first-person exploration to delve into the protagonist's memories and narrative arc.

Quarantined inside an airlock. No memories. No way out. The remaining crew thinks there’s something wrong with you, but the Voice says it’ll help you escape. Navigate volatile conversations & unravel mysteries in this narrative adventure about trust, self-destruction, & shifting identities.

Why similar: Narrative 32.8% ★, Dialogue Heavy 18.8%, Mystery 11.2%, Choices Matter 7.8%, Sci-fi 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-heavy exploration game that focuses on uncovering secrets in a mysterious, isolated setting.

An atmospheric first-person narrative adventure set in a surreal seascape locked between ice and rock. Following an incident, you and a friend must find power, defeat strange and deadly creatures, and decipher what mysterious forces are attempting to prevent your escape. Escape together or die alone.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 34.6%, Choices Matter 14.4%, Story Rich 14.2%, First-Person 12%, Atmospheric 11.9%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric, narrative-driven adventure that focuses on the isolation of an underwater environment.

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: Mystery 18.1%, Open World 13.8%, Exploration 13.5%, Story Rich 10.8%, Sci-fi 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: While more open-ended, it shares the core loop of exploring a mysterious, dangerous environment to piece together a larger narrative puzzle.

THE LONG DARK is a thoughtful, exploration-survival experience that challenges solo players to think for themselves as they explore an expansive frozen wilderness in the aftermath of a geomagnetic disaster. There are no zombies -- only you, the cold, and all the threats Mother Nature can muster.

Why similar: Survival 33.5%, Open World 22.3%, Exploration 10%, First-Person 9.2%, Atmospheric 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: It provides the definitive Arctic survival experience, focusing on the harsh reality of the cold and the necessity of careful exploration.

Moons of Madness is a first-person, story-driven cosmic horror game where the scientific exploration of Mars meets the supernatural dread of Lovecraft.

Why similar: Sci-fi 14.1%, Thriller 13.7%, Walking Simulator 12.2%, Psychological Horror 10.7%, Survival 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: It blends sci-fi horror with narrative-driven exploration, perfect for those who enjoy the mystery elements of the seed game.

The Fall of Lazarus is first person exploration and puzzle game. A deeply narrative scifi mystery game based on the exploration of an abandoned cargo spaceship about redemption and second chances.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 18.3%, Sci-fi 15.3%, Mystery 15%, Exploration 9.1%, First-Person 9%

Why You'll Like It: A sci-fi narrative adventure that focuses on exploration and uncovering the truth behind a mysterious event.

Join Norah, a woman plagued by a mysterious illness, in her search for her missing husband in this adventure puzzle game set on a lush island paradise. Immerse yourself in stunning visuals and unlock forbidden secrets in a moving tale of mystery and love.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 16.7%, Mystery 14.9%, Emotional 12.4%, First-Person 12.4%, Story Rich 11.8%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-driven adventure that balances puzzle-solving with a personal, character-focused mystery.

The Silent Swan is a contemplative first-person narrative experience across a megalithic, derelict world. Mixing elements from both walking simulator and open levels.

Why similar: Thriller 15.7%, Walking Simulator 15.6%, Open World 11.1%, Mystery 10.5%, Emotional 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: A story-rich, atmospheric adventure that emphasizes the journey through a desolate, ruined world.

Deep Beyond Is a first-person interactive thriller about a sea explorer and the mystery behind her father’s disappearance.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 20.5%, Thriller 18%, Emotional 12.8%, Mystery 8.8%, Story Rich 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: A puzzle-adventure game that emphasizes exploration and narrative progression in a mysterious setting.

Silence, cold, solitude… What lies ahead? A small atmospheric adventure about a robot lost in a frozen wasteland.

Why similar: Robots 28.7%, Walking Simulator 17.8%, Exploration 11.3%, Atmospheric 11.3%, Mystery 9.2%

Deep in international waters, Tesla’s Helios stands still. An unbound utopia for scientific research, Rose Archer steps aboard in search of her sister, quickly to discover not all is as it seems. A single word covers the entrance… QUARANTINE!

Why similar: Walking Simulator 49.2%, First-Person 17.2%, Adventure 15.8%, Indie 10.1%, Atmospheric 5%

Why You'll Like It: A first-person narrative thriller set in a confined, dangerous location that emphasizes story over combat.

Unveil the truth in a genre-blending sci-fi mystery. Awaken from cryogenic slumber you find your shelter damaged by unknown circumstances. Scavenge your surroundings, repair the shelter and explore the ruins in hopes of uncovering – or perhaps avoiding – the uncomfortable truth of what has transpired.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 31.5%, Sci-fi 18.7%, Mystery 18.6%, Adventure 12.3%, Story Rich 10.4%

Why You'll Like It: A short, sci-fi mystery game that uses environmental storytelling to convey a sense of isolation and discovery.

Featuring a beautiful, detailed open-world and a haunting soundtrack, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture is non-linear storytelling at its best.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 45%, Atmospheric 10.3%, Open World 7.7%, Story Rich 7.5%, First-Person 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: A quintessential walking simulator that excels at building a sense of mystery and narrative depth through environmental discovery.

Northern Québec, 1970. A bizarre mist —the Brume— is disconnecting a rural mining village from its quiet reality. Step into the shoes of Detective Carl Faubert as he unfolds the mysteries haunting the region while battling for his own survival.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 19%, Mystery 17%, Exploration 10.4%, Open World 9.8%, Sci-fi 9.7%

A survival journey through a harsh world without rules or judgement. Only your choices matters in the face of moral dilemmas. Manage your party, food & equipment in this non-linear narrative survival sim with 34 possible endings.

Why similar: Narrative 36% ★, Survival 14.5%, Choices Matter 11%, Dialogue Heavy 8%, Mystery 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: A survival-focused narrative game where choices matter, mirroring the decision-making aspects of the seed game.

REVEIL is a narrative first-person psycho-thriller game that focuses on story, puzzles and exploration. Find out what’s going on inside Walter Thompson and what his dark past at the Nelson Bros Circus has to do with it.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 24.7%, Mystery 14.8%, Psychological Horror 14.7%, First-Person 10.7%, Exploration 8.7%

Dive into a realistic, single-player, first-person journey through the harsh northern latitudes as you sail endless waters, searching for a way back to your loved ones. Will you follow the light?

Why similar: Walking Simulator 21.5%, Emotional 15.2%, Thriller 11.5%, Mystery 9.9%, First-Person 9%

Satellite Odyssey: Prologue is a short first-person story-driven adventure with horror elements. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of classic science fiction and retro-futurism inspired by Soviet sci-fi films. Your partner is Zarya, the artificial intelligence.

Why similar: Thriller 19.8%, Robots 17%, Walking Simulator 16.4%, Sci-fi 9.9%, Psychological Horror 9.1%

Atmospheric first person adventure game focusing on immersion and exploration. Meet strange characters, discover secrets and try to unfold the mystery of the Fragmentation.

Why similar: Dialogue Heavy 37.3%, Mystery 12.5%, Choices Matter 9.1%, First-Person 9.1%, Exploration 8.6%

1975. Disaster strikes the Beira D oil rig off the coast of Scotland. Navigate the collapsing rig to save your crew from an otherworldly horror on the edge of all logic and reality in this 3x BAFTA Games Award-winning narrative horror experience.

Why similar: Narrative 19.9% ★, Walking Simulator 17.2%, Psychological Horror 13.8%, Thriller 9.1%, First-Person 8.1%

They have no names, only serial numbers. They have no freedom, no memories from the past. You are one of them. Explore the last center of civilization on a shattered Earth to understand what is really going on.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 32.2%, Mystery 20.5%, Exploration 14.8%, Adventure 12.5%, Atmospheric 12.1%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-driven walking simulator that focuses on atmosphere and the mystery of a strange, isolated environment.

OPUS: Prism Peak is a narrative adventure where you play as a weary photographer stranded in the Dusklands, traveling with a girl who's lost her memories. Together, you'll uncover the mysteries of this land through your camera and find your way home.

Why similar: Narrative 28.5% ★, Walking Simulator 15.9%, Emotional 14.5%, Mystery 9.7%, Story Rich 7.1%

Survival simulator in extreme conditions. The game takes place in the Arctic ocean. The pilot of a cargo plane makes a hard landing on the water. To survive, the player will have to search for a cargo washed up on the shore.

Why similar: Survival 37.5%, Open World 32.7%, First-Person 17.4%, Adventure 8.4%, Singleplayer 3.9%

INFRA puts you into the boots of a structural analyst on a routine mission. Quickly though, your task turns into a fight for survival, all caused by deep-rooted schemes of the past. Your tools are simple: your camera and the wits to navigate a labyrinth of debris.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 24.5%, Mystery 14%, Exploration 12%, First-Person 11%, Atmospheric 10.7%

A psychological horror short story. Explore the untouched wilderness of rural Wales as you uncover the forgotten remains of a mysterious facility and find the truth behind the missing villagers of Hearth.

Why similar: Narrative 26.7% ★, Walking Simulator 14.4%, Thriller 10.7%, Psychological Horror 9.6%, Mystery 7.9%

A realistic open-world survival experience. After a harrowing plane crash, you find yourself stranded in the wilderness. Battling freezing temperatures and hunger, you face an unknown virus that slowly paralyzes muscles, leaving its victims motionless and at the mercy of the unforgiving cold.

Why similar: Survival 20.1%, Open World 19.3%, Walking Simulator 18.2%, Exploration 10%, First-Person 9.8%

In the wake of catastrophe find the means to make your family whole again.

Why similar: Narrative 31.5% ★, Emotional 19.4%, Sci-fi 9.4%, Atmospheric 9.4%, Story Rich 9.1%

Go on a voyage of discovery following the traces of a mysterious culture. Discover diverse landscapes, investigate abandoned artifacts, and wake strange machines from their slumber.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 21.2%, Mystery 11.9%, Open World 11.4%, Sci-fi 9.3%, First-Person 8.6%

Step into the shoes of a researcher in the depths of the antarctic and uncover the mysteries behind Project Hailstorm.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 23.4%, Narrative 19.1% ★, Mystery 11.3%, Sci-fi 10.9%, First-Person 9.9%

ROUTINE is a First Person Sci-Fi Horror set on an abandoned lunar base designed around an 80s vision of the future. Explore and investigate your surroundings as you survive against unknown threats.

Why similar: Thriller 18.7%, Walking Simulator 16.6%, Psychological Horror 13.6%, Sci-fi 12%, Atmospheric 7.5%

A story-based exploration game about the very far future. With the help of two Artificial Intelligences, explore a universe conquered by humanity, uncover your purpose in it, and try to stop it from falling apart.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 31.9%, Sci-fi 20.4%, Exploration 14.7%, First-Person 8%, Atmospheric 6.1%

Northern Lights is an open world survival simulation set in the extreme conditions of the arctic tundra. Clinging to life, you must use real-life survival techniques to gather resources, craft, and hunt while tending to your health and sanity. Can you survive your way out of the mysterious island?

Why similar: Walking Simulator 19.6%, Survival 18.2%, Open World 18%, Exploration 9.9%, Mystery 9.5%

In a lonely station atop a mountain, a train rumbles its precious cargo to places unknown. Now is your shift. Keep the pace. Uncover a mystery. Fight for your last breath. The air is thin up here.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 18.5%, Thriller 16.4%, Psychological Horror 13.2%, Choices Matter 10.6%, Mystery 9.6%

An adventure about searching for a missing hunter and meeting with alien beings! Explore wild nature, climb on a rock, lure out a boar, meet a wolf, survive in a rockfall. Heal a deer and trick a creature! Meet the Unknown and find mystery!

Why similar: Walking Simulator 32.9%, Sci-fi 16.9%, Story Rich 15.2%, Exploration 12.8%, Atmospheric 10.5%

As a young soldier returning to an eerily deserted home, you'll explore enigmatic rooms and uncover a haunting, tragic story. Experience an atmospheric journey filled with suspense, mysterious encounters, and a deep narrative.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 20.2%, Thriller 13.7%, Mystery 12.6%, Emotional 12.2%, Story Rich 9.1%

The Solus Project is a single player exploration adventure with survival elements. The adventure is set on a mysterious planet and is the spiritual successor to The Ball - 2010 PC Gamer Action/Adventure Game Of The Year...

Why similar: Survival 23.3%, Sci-fi 12.9%, Walking Simulator 11%, Exploration 9.7%, First-Person 7.5%

Cradle is a sci-fi first-person-view quest designed for the player to explore the surrounding world. The story is built around the relations of the protagonist and a mechanical girl who by quirk of fate found themselves amidst the desert.

Why similar: Sci-fi 18.9%, Walking Simulator 15.1%, First-Person 11.9%, Open World 11.6%, Atmospheric 10.4%

Live the perfect day, break the cycle, and discover the truth about yourself in this short, quirky sci-fi mystery about freedom, choice, and loneliness.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 22.3%, Emotional 17.3%, Choices Matter 13.6%, Sci-fi 11.4%, Mystery 10.8%

While searching for the anomaly, you find yourself trapped inside a facility on a remote sub-Arctic island. What is this place? Who built it? Why was it left abandoned? Explore the uninhabited complex you now find yourself trapped in, but be warned: you might not be as alone as you think...

Why similar: Thriller 39.8%, Exploration 17.6%, Adventure 15.5%, First-Person 12.4%, Story Rich 8.8%

Empathy: Path of Whispers is an atmospheric and story-driven adventure game where you explore a seemingly abandoned world through the emotions and memories of the people who once inhabited it, trying to restore the world’s lost balance by journeying through its past.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 34.9%, Story Rich 17.3%, Adventure 14.2%, Atmospheric 14%, First-Person 7.8%

Imagined Leviathans is a narrative survival game set in a frozen British village. Explore the countryside and unite the survivors to face down your Leviathans together.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 19.9%, Mystery 14.8%, Open World 11.2%, Choices Matter 10.8%, First-Person 9.8%

Investigator is a first-person exploration game with horror elements, where the events take place in a world of extreme weather cataclysms.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 47.4%, Atmospheric 18.3%, Adventure 14.6%, Indie 9.4%, First-Person 7.7%

In 2097, life is discovered on Mars. When your mission of first contact becomes trapped by a cave-in, you must master the alien ecosystem to survive. Soon you stumble upon more than anyone expected, and with time running out, you will make a decision that determines the fate of a lost planet.

Why similar: Sci-fi 37.4%, Exploration 20.2%, Adventure 12.3%, Story Rich 10.1%, Atmospheric 9.8%

Stranded at an abandoned Antarctic research base with no hope of rescue, you must battle a deadly blizzard in a desperate fight to find your way home.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 21.9%, Survival 16.9%, Open World 12.1%, First-Person 11.4%, Psychological Horror 9.7%