Games Like Before Your Eyes

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: Story Rich 32.9%, Walking Simulator 26.2%, First-Person 11.6%, Emotional 11.3%, Mystery 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: It masterfully uses first-person exploration to tell a series of deeply emotional and surreal short stories about a family's history.

An immersive, narrative videogame that retells Joel Green’s 4-year fight against cancer through about two hours of poetic, imaginative gameplay that explores themes of faith, hope and love.

Why similar: Emotional 40.8%, Story Rich 18.6%, Walking Simulator 17.1%, Surreal 8.4%, Indie 5.6%

Why You'll Like It: This deeply personal and autobiographical game captures the raw, heartbreaking reality of loss in a way that mirrors the emotional weight 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 31.3%, Story Rich 26.5%, First-Person 14.1%, Mystery 11.9%, Adventure 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: It excels at building a strong, dialogue-driven connection between the player and a distant character within a beautiful, atmospheric environment.

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: Walking Simulator 21.9%, Story Rich 18.5%, Emotional 18%, Philosophical 9%, First-Person 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: A meta-narrative experience that offers an intimate, first-person look at the life and creative struggles of a developer.

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

Why similar: Emotional 40.5%, Story Rich 30.1%, Interactive Fiction 11.6%, Indie 6.2%, Psychological 4.7%

Why You'll Like It: A classic narrative experience that explores the entirety of a person's life through their memories to fulfill a final wish.

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: Narrative 40% ★, Story Rich 13.1%, Interactive Fiction 12%, Emotional 10.4%, Indie 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: A short, interactive story that uses simple mechanics to perfectly capture the highs and lows of a young woman's first love.

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: Emotional 42.9%, Story Rich 15.6%, Surreal 13.1%, Cute 6%, Colorful 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: It tells a life story through time-manipulation mechanics and emotional landscapes that reflect the protagonist's memories.

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: Narrative 39.5% ★, Walking Simulator 33%, Story Rich 8.2%, First-Person 5.9%, Emotional 4.4%

Why You'll Like It: An intimate exploration of a house that serves as a vessel for uncovering a deeply personal and emotional family story.

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: Emotional 53.4%, Story Rich 20.6%, Hand-drawn 10.8%, Cartoony 6.2%, Indie 5.2%

Why You'll Like It: A poignant management game that focuses on the themes of life, death, and the emotional process of saying goodbye to loved ones.

Explore the ancient, mysterious world of Journey as you soar above ruins and glide across sands to discover its secrets.

Why similar: Narrative 40% ★, Walking Simulator 20.9%, Story Rich 10.3%, Adventure 7.3%, Indie 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: A wordless, atmospheric adventure that evokes a profound sense of connection and emotional catharsis through its world design.

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: Story Rich 23%, Hand-drawn 20.9%, Surreal 13.9%, Indie 12.6%, Walking Simulator 11%

Why You'll Like It: A visually stunning game that uses its environment and music to represent the stages of grief and healing.

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

Why similar: Walking Simulator 26.1%, Cute 22.7%, Indie 17%, Adventure 15.2%, Family Friendly 13.4%

Why You'll Like It: A brief, beautiful, and emotionally resonant journey that captures the feeling of a meaningful summer memory.

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 41.8%, Surreal 12.9%, Cute 11.4%, Indie 9%, Choices Matter 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: A meta-narrative game that breaks the fourth wall to create a uniquely personal bond between the player and the protagonist.

A fateful meeting sets off a chain reaction, upending Mark's life. People disappear and memories prove unreliable. Uncover a hidden truth with Mark and his friends in this narrative adventure and race to unravel the mystery before it's too late.

Why similar: Emotional 43.3%, Interactive Fiction 17%, Story Rich 15.9%, Psychological 12.5%, Mystery 5.3%

Why You'll Like It: A grounded, emotional narrative set in a high school environment that deals with life, loss, and the passage of time.

Guide two brothers on an epic fairy tale journey from visionary Swedish film director, Josef Fares and top-tier developer Starbreeze Studios. Control both brothers at once as you experience co-op play in single player mode, like never before.

Why similar: Emotional 52.2%, Story Rich 25.5%, Adventure 9.8%, Indie 6.2%, Walking Simulator 3.1%

Why You'll Like It: It uses unique, dual-character control mechanics to convey a powerful emotional journey without the use of traditional dialogue.

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: Narrative 48.4% ★, Emotional 21.4%, Story Rich 7.7%, Hand-drawn 5%, Family Friendly 3.7%

Why You'll Like It: A nostalgic, hand-painted narrative that explores childhood memories and the connection between past and present.

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: Story Rich 32.8%, Emotional 22%, Walking Simulator 15.7%, Indie 9.8%, Adventure 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: A touching, emotional puzzle game that explores the desperate desire to change the past to save a loved one.

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: Emotional 21.2%, Story Rich 16.1%, Interactive Fiction 13.9%, Walking Simulator 11%, Hand-drawn 10.8%

Why You'll Like It: A beautiful, wordless story about life regrets, reconciliation, and the long road to finding peace.

A short, fully voiced, story-first adventure across two worlds. Rearrange words into platforms in Izzy’s diary, then wield word magic to shape your path in the fantasy she writes. Gentle puzzles, watercolour wonder, and a bittersweet story of family, loss, and healing.

Why similar: Narrative 47.4% ★, Emotional 30.7%, Story Rich 10.8%, Choices Matter 3.8%, Colorful 3.6%

Why You'll Like It: It uses unique word-based mechanics to tell a touching, personal story about coping with grief.

Hitchhike your way to freedom in this crazy procedurally generated road trip. No one's road is the same!

Why similar: Emotional 32.5%, Story Rich 17.9%, First-Person 14.5%, Interactive Fiction 14.3%, Colorful 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: A procedural narrative adventure where your choices shape the journey and the emotional outcome of your escape.

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: Emotional 41.3%, Walking Simulator 22.7%, First-Person 9.8%, Mystery 8.4%, Indie 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: A short, intimate exploration of identity and memory loss that feels very similar to the reflective nature of the seed game.

The Last Campfire is an adventure, a story of a lost ember trapped in a puzzling place, searching for meaning and a way home.

Why similar: Emotional 41.4%, Philosophical 17.2%, Story Rich 15.9%, Cute 6.6%, Family Friendly 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: A gentle, atmospheric puzzle game about finding purpose and helping others move on to the next stage of their journey.

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 43.3%, Mystery 15.3%, Walking Simulator 12.6%, Choices Matter 12.4%, Indie 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: A dialogue-heavy, atmospheric game that focuses on character relationships and the supernatural weight of past mistakes.

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: Story Rich 40.1%, Cute 21.7%, Family Friendly 11.8%, Indie 10.2%, Colorful 10.1%

Why You'll Like It: A meditative game that tells a life story through the simple, intimate act of unpacking belongings across different stages of life.

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: Narrative 31.7% ★, Emotional 30.4%, Story Rich 13.7%, Interactive Fiction 9.9%, Stylized 4.6%

Why You'll Like It: A game focused on the weight of memories and the physical objects that anchor us to our past.

What if you lost all your memories? An emotional family drama seen through the eyes of a woman with Alzheimer's disease. As Annie’s life slowly unravels, uncover memories of her deceased brother as her past bleeds into the present.

Why similar: Narrative 30.3% ★, Emotional 24.6%, Story Rich 9.5%, Walking Simulator 8.4%, First-Person 6%

From the creators of Before Your Eyes — You are Isaac, a 6-month-old baby, developing mysterious psychic powers. What you want most is to be loved and accepted by your family, but a secretive tech corporation wants you for their own.

Why similar: Narrative 29.3% ★, Emotional 22.3%, Interactive Fiction 10.2%, Story Rich 8.6%, First-Person 5.3%

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 20.4%, Philosophical 19.7%, Surreal 15.6%, Story Rich 14.3%, Hand-drawn 9.8%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal, emotional point-and-click game that uses music and imagery to tell a story about moving on from love.

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: Emotional 78.4%, Adventure 11%, Stylized 5.7%, Singleplayer 4.8%

Why You'll Like It: It explores the emotional depths of loneliness and mental health through surreal, metaphorical environments.

I have some memories of saying goodbye that I don't want to forget, so I turned them into 11 minigames and backed them up in this collection.

Why similar: Narrative 42.5% ★, Emotional 14.2%, Interactive Fiction 9.5%, Story Rich 9%, Philosophical 6.8%

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: Narrative 24.2% ★, Surreal 18.2%, Walking Simulator 14.4%, Story Rich 10%, First-Person 9.6%

Why You'll Like It: A unique, first-person narrative experience that focuses on the wonder of discovery and the unfolding of a story.

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 36.4%, Mystery 18.5%, Story Rich 18.1%, First-Person 16.1%, Adventure 4.9%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric, narrative-driven mystery that focuses on piecing together memories of a tragic past.

Leave home for the first time to collect memories before a mysterious cataclysm washes everything away. Ride, record, meet people, and unravel the strange world around you in this third-person meditative exploration game.

Why similar: Narrative 31.2% ★, Emotional 20%, Philosophical 12.5%, Interactive Fiction 11.1%, Story Rich 8.4%

Uncover secrets, experience history, solve puzzles and understand one another. Immerse yourself and explore a surreal and colorful world in this short, first-person adventure.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 28.7%, Surreal 26.6%, First-Person 13.3%, Colorful 8.2%, Adventure 7.9%

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: Narrative 38.2% ★, Emotional 24.2%, Psychological 10.5%, Story Rich 9%, Walking Simulator 8.3%

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: Narrative 40.5% ★, Emotional 26.6%, Story Rich 11%, Interactive Fiction 10.1%, Mystery 4.9%

A "Blind" simulator that lets you experience a new perspective and immersive sensory journey. Step into a world of darkness using your guide cane.

Why similar: Emotional 39.9%, Walking Simulator 20.9%, Story Rich 16.7%, Psychological 15.6%, Indie 3.7%

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 54.1%, Story Rich 18.1%, First-Person 10.2%, Indie 7%, Adventure 4.7%

Why You'll Like It: A slow-paced, atmospheric reflection on the final moments of a community and the lives that were lived there.

The prequel to Road 96. Play Zoe and Kaito where it all started. Change their destinies!

Why similar: Narrative 30% ★, Emotional 18%, Interactive Fiction 12.9%, Walking Simulator 11.9%, Story Rich 8.5%

A first-person narrative adventure game, telling the story of a sick child playing a 2D platformer. Made in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity!

Why similar: Narrative 41.6% ★, Emotional 14.1%, Walking Simulator 8.9%, Interactive Fiction 8.1%, Story Rich 6.6%

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: Narrative 45.9% ★, Emotional 18.6%, Interactive Fiction 11.6%, Walking Simulator 10.5%, Story Rich 6.8%

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: Narrative 36.4% ★, Emotional 26.5%, Story Rich 11.3%, Hand-drawn 6%, Interactive Fiction 5.8%

A song from years ago triggers a flood of memories for champion swimmer Miriam. Embark on an evocative journey through her turbulent childhood and the complicated relationship she shared with her devoted mother.

Why similar: Emotional 41.1%, Interactive Fiction 27.6%, Story Rich 12.6%, Adventure 8.3%, Colorful 5.4%

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: Narrative 42.2% ★, Emotional 15%, Interactive Fiction 11%, Walking Simulator 9%, Philosophical 8%

Alone in the forest glade he shared with his wife, a woodworker struggles to accept her passing. Help him hold on to cherished memories of their life together as he struggles to care for himself and his now empty home. Pine is a single-serving game focused on telling a beautiful, emotional tale.

Why similar: Emotional 30.4%, Narrative 28% ★, Interactive Fiction 11.4%, Story Rich 11.1%, Hand-drawn 7.7%

Spiral is a third-person narrative exploration game that shares a poetic vision of cognitive degeneration. Step into the shoes of Bernard as you help him and support him while braving his unravelling mind and reliving his most treasured moments.

Why similar: Emotional 36.1%, Narrative 18.7% ★, Walking Simulator 15.8%, Story Rich 15.2%, Stylized 4.4%

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: Story Rich 45.1%, Hand-drawn 17.5%, Emotional 14.2%, Indie 10.4%, Colorful 7.7%

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: Narrative 54.2% ★, Interactive Fiction 13.3%, Story Rich 11.7%, First-Person 7.7%, Hand-drawn 7.3%

Rediscover gravity and explore an Escher-esque world of impossible architecture. Witness infinity in first-person and master its rules to solve physics-defying puzzles. Cultivate a garden to open new paths forward, where an eternal expanse awaits.

Why similar: Philosophical 29.6%, Surreal 24.3%, First-Person 17.9%, Mystery 9.9%, Colorful 6.8%

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 39.9% ★, Emotional 23.6%, Walking Simulator 10.3%, Story Rich 9.5%, First-Person 5.8%

Experience the intricate dioramas and connections of your life, and the ripples we all make, in this award-winning narrative puzzle game about death, loss, and mental health.

Why similar: Emotional 36.6%, Story Rich 18.2%, Mystery 12.4%, Surreal 10.1%, Stylized 6%

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 40.5%, Interactive Fiction 17.3%, Story Rich 16.1%, Psychological 15.4%, Cute 4.7%

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 39.7%, Mystery 23.4%, First-Person 16.7%, Adventure 8.6%, Indie 7.3%

Hitchhiker is a mystery game set along lost highways, where your goal is to solve the puzzle of your own backstory.

Why similar: Emotional 19.2%, Philosophical 14.4%, Story Rich 13.5%, First-Person 8.8%, Interactive Fiction 8.7%

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 39.1%, Interactive Fiction 17.6%, Story Rich 15.7%, Hand-drawn 7%, Colorful 6.2%

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: Emotional 24.3%, Walking Simulator 16.7%, Story Rich 15%, Psychological 10.3%, First-Person 9.8%

What Comes After is a side-scrolling adventure and a short heartwarming story about learning how to love yourself. Help Vivi in her journey on the train to the afterlife and back.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 32.8%, Emotional 25.1%, Cartoony 12.5%, Philosophical 12.1%, Story Rich 9.5%

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

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 32.4%, Surreal 22.8%, Story Rich 21.2%, First-Person 15.8%, Choices Matter 7.7%

Summerland is a first-person narrative game about morality and the afterlife. You take control of Matthew, a detective reliving the events of his past, being questioned on his morals along the way. In every door lies another memory, and every memory unlocks another door.

Why similar: Philosophical 18.4%, Walking Simulator 17.9%, Story Rich 15.4%, Interactive Fiction 15.2%, Emotional 14.6%