Games Like Back to Hearth

June 7th, 1995. 1:15 AM. You arrive home after a year abroad. You expect your family to greet you, but the house is empty. Something's not right. Where is everyone? And what's happened here? Unravel the mystery for yourself in Gone Home, a story exploration game from The Fullbright Company.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 62%, Exploration 11.1%, Atmospheric 9.7%, First-Person 8%, Female Protagonist 4.5%

Why You'll Like It: A foundational walking simulator that excels at telling a personal, emotional story through the careful examination of domestic spaces.

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 38.7%, Atmospheric 18.5%, Exploration 12.8%, First-Person 12.2%, Female Protagonist 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: This masterpiece of environmental storytelling captures the same sense of exploring a home filled with the echoes of those who once lived there.

A woman alone in a house. A mystery and a love story. Explore the present to uncover the past, in a short story of love and loss and a life well-lived. A narrative exploration game that examines a world where memories are constantly fading and jumbled.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 39.1%, Exploration 17.5%, Atmospheric 15.9%, First-Person 12%, Adventure 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: This short, first-person narrative focuses on memory and identity, mirroring the intimate and melancholic tone of the seed game.

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 40.9%, Atmospheric 18.8%, Exploration 13.3%, First-Person 13.2%, Adventure 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a deeply atmospheric first-person experience that balances isolation with a compelling, character-driven narrative.

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 42.6%, Atmospheric 20.1%, Exploration 14.8%, First-Person 13.5%, Adventure 4.6%

Why You'll Like It: Like the seed game, it features a beautifully realized, abandoned environment that encourages slow, meditative exploration.

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 57.4%, Atmospheric 15.8%, Exploration 8.6%, First-Person 7.8%, Adventure 4%

Why You'll Like It: This game perfectly mirrors the feeling of wandering through a deserted, atmospheric village while piecing together the stories of its former inhabitants.

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 39%, Atmospheric 18.1%, Exploration 16.4%, First-Person 12.9%, Adventure 5.2%

Why You'll Like It: This title shares the focus on atmospheric exploration and uncovering the mystery of a quiet, abandoned world.

Home is Where One Starts... is a short, first-person exploration game in the same vein as Dear Esther or Gone Home. It’s a story about childhood, hope, and the miracle of memory. You play as a little girl from a broken home somewhere in the American South.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 41.2%, First-Person 14.5%, Atmospheric 13.6%, Exploration 9.1%, Adventure 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: A short, cozy, and atmospheric walking simulator that captures the feeling of reflecting on one's past through a domestic lens.

It's Clara's last day on the island where she grew up. She needs to complete preparations, visit her favorite places, and say her goodbyes before leaving on a journey she may not return from.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 48.7%, Atmospheric 16.5%, First-Person 15.2%, Female Protagonist 9.8%, Adventure 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: A short, atmospheric adventure that captures a similar sense of quiet, contemplative exploration in a first-person perspective.

Hike, climb, and soar through the peaceful mountainside landscapes of Hawk Peak Provincial Park as you make your way to the summit.

Why similar: Exploration 30.6%, Cozy 24.9%, Walking Simulator 20.9%, Adventure 9.7%, Female Protagonist 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: While more vibrant, it shares the cozy, meditative, and short-form exploration focus that makes the seed game so approachable.

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 43.1%, Atmospheric 20.9%, Adventure 14%, First-Person 9.3%, Exploration 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: This game uses exploration to uncover the emotional history of a world, much like the restorative journey in the seed game.

Ether One is a first person adventure that deals with the fragility of the human mind. There are two paths in the world you can choose from. At its core is a story exploration path free from puzzles where you can unfold the story at your own pace.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 41.4%, Exploration 18.4%, First-Person 18.2%, Adventure 9.9%, Atmospheric 9%

Why You'll Like It: It features a unique focus on restoring memories within a first-person environment, aligning well with the theme of rekindling the past.

12 March 1938, Renée, 16, was ripped out of her world, her only fault was that of not knowing her place in the world.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 29.1%, Exploration 24.2%, Atmospheric 17.9%, Female Protagonist 14.9%, Adventure 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a deeply emotional and atmospheric exploration of a desolate, abandoned location that feels heavy with history.

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: Walking Simulator 31.1%, Atmospheric 19.6%, First-Person 17.9%, Exploration 17%, Adventure 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: Set in a cold, isolated environment, it emphasizes exploration and the discovery of a story left behind by others.

A hand-drawn story exploration game set 300 years after the apocalypse. You play an archaeologist named Professor Zay, joined by her companion, ARORA, a centuries-old AI capable of recreating human memories from scanned relics.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 32.4%, Atmospheric 20.9%, Adventure 15.5%, Casual 12.5%, Female Protagonist 11.6%

Why You'll Like It: This game explores the remnants of a lost civilization through a narrative-heavy, first-person lens.

A walking simulator about dear memories, overcoming obstacles, and finding your path. Experience a story inspired by finno-karelian folklore.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 41.2%, Exploration 16.3%, Atmospheric 15.6%, First-Person 13.7%, Adventure 3.4%

Why You'll Like It: A first-person walking simulator that prioritizes atmospheric exploration and a sense of quiet, story-rich discovery.

Your husband is dead and you want to visit his grave. There is an abondoned house in a village, and in that house you will find a red rose. You don't want to go to your husband's grave empty handed.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 32%, Atmospheric 14.4%, Exploration 13.1%, First-Person 12.7%, Female Protagonist 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: A purely meditative walking simulator that emphasizes the beauty of the environment and the act of moving through it.

A quiet game of life and loss. One by one, everyone left the village for the city. Everyone, except Talma. Approaching her final years, she maintains a simple way of life tending to her homestead, surviving, subsisting, whilst increasingly disturbing letters arrive from her family in the city.

Why similar: Atmospheric 28.5%, Adventure 18.5%, Female Protagonist 15.9%, Exploration 13.5%, Point & Click 10.3%

Why You'll Like It: It is a quiet, melancholic, and cozy game that focuses on the simple, repetitive acts of life in a lonely, rural setting.

A beautiful, 3rd-person exploration game centered around two parallel stories: a fox trying to find her missing family, and a son reconnecting with his estranged father in Alaska. Uncover artifacts from the son's life as he becomes intertwined in the fox’s journey towards The First Tree.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 40.8%, Atmospheric 23.8%, Exploration 17.4%, Adventure 7.5%, Story Rich 3.1%

Why You'll Like It: This emotional, narrative-driven exploration game focuses on themes of loss and memory in a way that resonates with the seed game's tone.

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: Walking Simulator 57.6%, Atmospheric 24.4%, Adventure 10.2%, Story Rich 5.9%, Singleplayer 1.9%

Why You'll Like It: This narrative-focused adventure captures the melancholic, reflective mood of someone looking back on their life and surroundings.

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 43.2%, Exploration 12.7%, First-Person 11.8%, Atmospheric 10.4%, Female Protagonist 9.8%

Why You'll Like It: It utilizes a first-person perspective to explore the remnants of a space, focusing on the stories of people who are no longer there.

You are a traveling painter, exploring the island of Eastshade. Capture the world on canvas using your artist’s easel. Talk to the inhabitants to learn about their lives. Make friends and help those in need. Visit cities, scale summits, unearth mysteries, and discover forgotten places!

Why similar: Exploration 28.9%, First-Person 26%, Atmospheric 25.7%, Adventure 10.7%, Story Rich 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: A cozy, exploration-heavy game that encourages players to appreciate the beauty of their surroundings in a meditative, low-stress way.

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 38.3%, Atmospheric 17.7%, Exploration 16.6%, First-Person 16.1%, Adventure 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: This game captures the essence of a first-person, atmospheric walking simulator centered on uncovering a hidden, emotional narrative.

Embark on an unique and unforgettable journey and guide Sable through her Gliding; a rite of passage that will take her across vast deserts and mesmerizing landscapes, capped by the remains of spaceships and ancient wonders.

Why similar: Atmospheric 30.2%, Exploration 30.1%, Female Protagonist 19.7%, Adventure 10.4%, Story Rich 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: This game offers a vast, meditative, and atmospheric world to explore, emphasizing the journey and the personal experience of the protagonist.

Spirit of the North is a single-player 3rd-person adventure game inspired by the breathtaking and mysterious landscapes of Iceland. Play as an ordinary red fox whose story becomes entwined with the guardian of the Northern Lights, a female spirit fox.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 32%, Exploration 21.2%, Adventure 18.1%, Atmospheric 12.9%, Casual 10.6%

Why You'll Like It: It relies on atmospheric exploration and environmental storytelling to convey an emotional journey without the use of dialogue.

Explore the remains of a fallen world from fascinating perspectives! Slip into the role of different animals to uncover the fate of an ancient world. Dive into deep waters, fly at lofty heights, dig underground as a mole or even climb steep cliffs with a mountain goat, there are lots of ways of getting around.

Why similar: Cozy 33.2%, Walking Simulator 25.7%, Atmospheric 13.1%, Exploration 13%, Female Protagonist 7.1%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a relaxing and atmospheric exploration experience that focuses on the beauty of a world reclaimed by nature.

An atmospheric exploration game set in a Dark Fantasy world. Explore the ruins of an ancient civilisation and uncover it's forgotten past through a short nonlinear story with timeless retro graphics.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 38%, Exploration 16.5%, First-Person 11.7%, Atmospheric 10.2%, Adventure 9.5%

Undusted: Letters from the Past is a casual game in which you clean and restore dirty items. What is her story as she returns to a long-neglected house? Enjoy the satisfying audiovisuals featuring sensually designed sounds and graphics.

Why similar: Cozy 60.7%, Atmospheric 15.5%, Female Protagonist 10.1%, 3D 5.1%, Casual 4.5%

From the creators of What Remains of Edith Finch. Enter the surreal world of The Unfinished Swan and explore a mysterious, hidden kingdom by splatting paint to reveal the world around you.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 30%, Exploration 27%, First-Person 14.4%, Adventure 10%, Atmospheric 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: Its artistic approach to first-person exploration creates a unique, meditative experience that values discovery and atmosphere.

The Station is a first-person sci-fi mystery set on a space station sent to study a sentient alien civilization. Assuming the role of a recon specialist, players must unravel a mystery which will decide the fate of two civilizations.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 45.8%, Atmospheric 21.6%, First-Person 15.6%, Adventure 11.5%, Story Rich 5.5%

Why You'll Like It: A first-person exploration game that tasks the player with uncovering the mystery of an abandoned space through careful observation.

Pine Hearts is a wholesome and tender adventure about nostalgic journeys, overcoming loss, and helping others. Embark on a cozy hiking expedition to the sprawling Pine Hearts nature reserve and scale the mountain your father never managed to climb.

Why similar: Cozy 37.3%, Walking Simulator 30.4%, Exploration 17.2%, Adventure 5.9%, Casual 4.6%

Forgotten Hope is a short, single-player narrative-driven video game presented through the eyes of a teenage girl who is trying to reconnect with her past to find answers.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 26.2%, Exploration 15.9%, Atmospheric 15.6%, First-Person 14.6%, Female Protagonist 9.4%

Bright Lights of Svetlov is a short, story-focused first person quest about a Soviet family facing harsh trials. Set in a fictional provincial town, it carefuly recreates the atmosphere and vibe of mid 1980s.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 41.9%, Atmospheric 17.9%, First-Person 16.3%, Exploration 14.3%, Adventure 5.6%

A first-person point-and-click exploration adventure set in a mysterious post-apocalyptic swamp filled with giant insects and abandoned robots. Observe your surroundings, find the right objects, and progress through the ruins in this 3–4 hour atmospheric journey.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 31.4%, Exploration 18.3%, Atmospheric 17.6%, First-Person 16.1%, Point & Click 8.8%

Guide a herd of mysterious creatures on a stirring and beautiful journey into the mountains… and beyond.

Why similar: Atmospheric 26.3%, Exploration 25.2%, Female Protagonist 16.7%, Adventure 9.3%, 3D 7.7%

A lovely adventuring RPG where you journey as a brave princess. Dark smoke has veiled your town and its people have fled. Explore picturesque corners, gather supplies at your own pace, perform heartwarming deeds, and restore lost peace to your kingdom.

Why similar: Cozy 48.2%, Exploration 20%, Point & Click 11%, Atmospheric 9.7%, Female Protagonist 4.6%

Virtual Cottage gives you a comfy place to rest and be productive without any distractions. Open the game, set yourself a goal and enjoy the atmosphere.

Why similar: Cozy 68.1%, Atmospheric 16.8%, Female Protagonist 7%, Casual 6.2%, Singleplayer 1.9%

A cozy, retro-inspired hearth to warm your screen and your spirit.

Why similar: Cozy 69.1%, Retro 20.2%, Casual 5.2%, 3D 4.3%, Singleplayer 1.1%

"Your place is here." - "Cyan's Snow House" is a dialogue-free, short indie game set in a snowy village, offering a universal, heartwarming experience in just 10 minutes. Enjoy tranquil moments with Cyan and her animal friends, leaving a lasting impression.

Why similar: Cozy 60.7%, Atmospheric 15.9%, Casual 8%, Adventure 7.6%, Female Protagonist 6.6%

Embark on a heartwarming journey as a home cleaning specialist.

Why similar: Atmospheric 41.9%, Exploration 31.2%, Casual 14.6%, Adventure 10.5%, Singleplayer 1.9%

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 53.8%, Exploration 22.3%, Adventure 9.2%, 3D 7.7%, Casual 7%

Get lost beneath the fog in The Wild Eternal, a reflective first-person exploration game. Embark on a meditative journey to heal the scars of your past. Can you escape the cycle of reincarnation?

Why similar: Walking Simulator 33.8%, Atmospheric 15.3%, Exploration 14.9%, First-Person 13.7%, Female Protagonist 10.4%

Play as Boris, a curious baby boar who must learn how to use his nose to reunite with his family after a forest fire. Explore beautiful landscapes, track scents, and uncover secrets as you slowly reconnect with nature in this cozy animal adventure.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 29%, Cozy 21.1%, Exploration 19.1%, Atmospheric 17.3%, Casual 4.6%

Winter Burrow is a cozy woodland survival game about a mouse returning home to restore their childhood burrow. Explore, gather resources, craft, knit warm sweaters, bake pies and meet the locals.

Why similar: Cozy 59.8%, Exploration 19.7%, Atmospheric 11.5%, Casual 4%, Adventure 3.8%

Marie's Room is a short story exploration game about an unconventional friendship between two classmates. You play as Kelsey, remembering Marie's room as it was twenty years ago. But something’s off. What happened to Marie?

Why similar: Walking Simulator 35.5%, Atmospheric 16.7%, Exploration 12.7%, First-Person 10.3%, Female Protagonist 7.9%

Humanity Trashed the Earth and left for Mars. Only few remained. EXPLORE the world. Clean the environment, CRAFT with recycled resources. Domesticate animals. Rebuild your village. Restore environment and run your own post-apo FARM as there is No Place Like Home!

Why similar: Exploration 50.6%, Female Protagonist 32.8%, 3D 16.6%

'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: Cozy 49%, Female Protagonist 15.8%, Point & Click 10.7%, Casual 9%, 3D 8%

Explore the remains of a fallen world from fascinating perspectives! Slip into the role of different animals to uncover the fate of an ancient world. Dive into deep waters, fly at lofty heights, dig underground as a mole, climb steep cliffs with a mountain goat, and many more!

Why similar: Walking Simulator 42.8%, Exploration 20.1%, Female Protagonist 12.8%, Atmospheric 10.4%, 3D 7.3%

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: Cozy 26.4%, Exploration 19.1%, Atmospheric 13.6%, Female Protagonist 12.3%, Point & Click 9.3%

Welcome to Botany Manor, a stately home in 19th century England. You play as inhabitant Arabella Greene, a retired botanist. Explore your house and gardens, filled with research, to figure out the ideal habitat of forgotten flora. Grow each plant to discover the mysterious qualities they hold…

Why similar: Walking Simulator 38.9%, Exploration 19.7%, First-Person 15.8%, Female Protagonist 11.7%, 3D 6.5%

Immerse yourself in a unique narrative experience and explore the thousand summer colors of Dordogne as you revisit your childhood to uncover lost family secrets in this touching formative journey.

Why similar: Exploration 27.7%, Atmospheric 25.6%, Female Protagonist 18.8%, Adventure 10%, Casual 8.9%

Lilly was spirited away to a mysterious island. As her memories fade, everyone seems to know her and her quest for her missing sister. It’s time to establish a homestead, meet your friendly Everfolks, then learn their secrets and solve the mystery of Everholm, in this open-ended minimalist RPG!

Why similar: Cozy 61.5%, Exploration 16.5%, Female Protagonist 13.6%, Casual 7%, Story Rich 0.9%

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: Cozy 48.8%, Walking Simulator 34.3%, Point & Click 8%, Casual 4.9%, Story Rich 2.6%

A meditative experience that invites players to explore the serene beauty of a living, breathing cemetery as it changes with the seasons.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 40.5%, Exploration 19%, First-Person 15.1%, Atmospheric 10.3%, 3D 6.9%

a small dream explorer.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 40.3%, Exploration 18.3%, Atmospheric 17.9%, Female Protagonist 9.8%, 3D 5.6%

A calm and atmospheric "walking'n'watching simulator" about the beauty of nature. Use your gaze and attention in diverse gameplay experiences: Connect the stars, watch the grass grow, fly with the birds and remember many more of the wonders surrounding us each day.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 37.5%, Atmospheric 34.6%, Adventure 11.5%, Casual 9.2%, Story Rich 4.1%

The August Before: Chapter One is the first chapter in a meditative narrative 3D puzzle about cleaning up, sorting out and packing up your life before moving on. Clean up and don’t forget your old belongings on your way to the new life!

Why similar: Cozy 52.4%, Atmospheric 15.5%, Female Protagonist 11.6%, Casual 6.5%, Exploration 5.1%

Walk as Lula, on the path you choose, as she journeys to discover the meaning of the Genie and fulfill her destiny.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 32.9%, Exploration 14.3%, First-Person 12.9%, Atmospheric 12.7%, Female Protagonist 9%