Games Like Lake

Even the smallest person can make a big difference. Join Alba, as she sets out to save her beautiful island and its wildlife. And possibly start a revolution.

Why similar: Cozy 31.1%, Wholesome 30.4% ★, Female Protagonist 12%, Open World 11.9%, Story Rich 7%

Why You'll Like It: Like Lake, this game emphasizes a wholesome, job-like objective within a small, community-focused environment.

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

Why similar: Relaxing 25.1%, Cozy 17.9%, Open World 17.9%, Walking Simulator 13.3%, Female Protagonist 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: It captures the same sense of cozy, low-stakes exploration and personal discovery in a beautiful, contained natural setting.

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: Open World 19%, Female Protagonist 17.5%, Relaxing 17%, Walking Simulator 16.1%, Story Rich 11.9%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on the meditative act of documenting a world through exploration and quiet, narrative-rich interactions.

It's Mail Time! As a newly trained Mail Scout, put on your pack, grab those letters, and deliver them across Grumblewood Grove! The forest animals eagerly await the sight of your mushroom hat in this cozy, cottagecore light-platformer adventure!

Why similar: LGBTQ+ 20.5%, Open World 15.4%, Female Protagonist 14.9%, Relaxing 14.3%, Story Rich 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: It shares the core premise of delivering mail while exploring a cozy, vibrant world at your own pace.

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: Choose Your Own Adventure 16.5%, Open World 13.9%, Female Protagonist 12.4%, Multiple Endings 11.8%, Relaxing 10.7%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a similarly contemplative, non-violent journey focused on coming-of-age and exploring a vast, atmospheric landscape.

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 37.4%, Story Rich 17.1%, Open World 14.2%, Atmospheric 12.3%, Adventure 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: It features a similar job-based narrative structure where you explore a beautiful, isolated wilderness while building relationships through dialogue.

Wayward Strand is a heartfelt story told in a curious way. Hop aboard an airborne hospital and meet its fully-voiced cast of eclectic characters. As time passes for everyone on board, explore the interwoven lives of the patients and staff; discover something new on each and every playthrough.

Why similar: Cozy 20.8%, Wholesome 20.7% ★, Choose Your Own Adventure 11.2%, Female Protagonist 9.7%, Relaxing 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: This game features a unique, time-sensitive narrative structure set in a contained location that rewards observing and interacting with the local community.

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

Why similar: Choose Your Own Adventure 23.6%, Choices Matter 20.4%, Multiple Endings 18.6%, Story Rich 15.4%, Atmospheric 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: This narrative-driven road trip game emphasizes the importance of your choices and encounters with a diverse cast of characters.

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: Relaxing 39.7%, LGBTQ+ 21.5%, Story Rich 14.4%, Female Protagonist 14.3%, Atmospheric 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: This game tells a deeply personal, quiet story through the simple, meditative act of organizing a living space.

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: Open World 29.2%, Relaxing 24.3%, Story Rich 17.3%, Atmospheric 11.8%, Exploration 8%

Why You'll Like It: It is a peaceful, open-world exploration game where you interact with quirky locals and complete tasks in a beautiful, painterly environment.

Tell Me Why is the multi-award winning episodic adventure game from Dontnod Entertainment in which twins use their supernatural bond to discover the truth of their troubled past.

Why similar: LGBTQ+ 17.6%, Choices Matter 17.5%, Walking Simulator 14.6%, Choose Your Own Adventure 13.9%, Story Rich 11.7%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a grounded, character-driven story set in a small town where your choices significantly influence the narrative outcome.

Alex Chen hides her 'curse': the psychic power of Empathy, the ability to absorb the emotions of others. When her brother dies in a so-called accident, Alex must embrace her power to find the truth.

Why similar: LGBTQ+ 17.3%, Choose Your Own Adventure 15.4%, Choices Matter 14.3%, Female Protagonist 12.5%, Multiple Endings 11.6%

Why You'll Like It: It features a small-town setting with a strong focus on character relationships, emotional storytelling, and impactful choices.

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: LGBTQ+ 23.4%, Relaxing 20.2%, Multiple Endings 15.5%, Choices Matter 14.8%, Story Rich 14%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a relaxing, slice-of-life narrative experience where you connect with locals by listening to their stories while performing a simple job.

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: 1980s 35.6%, Female Protagonist 21.7%, Choices Matter 16.6%, Story Rich 13.2%, Atmospheric 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: A short, narrative-focused game that uses cooking and conversation to explore themes of family and cultural connection.

Embark on a new narrative journey by the creators of Life is Strange. Film your summer of 1995 and create memories of a lifetime with your new friends. 27 years later, confront the dark secrets that made you all promise to never speak again after that fateful summer.

Why similar: LGBTQ+ 20.6%, Choices Matter 14.7%, Female Protagonist 14.4%, Romance 13.2%, Multiple Endings 13.1%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-driven, choice-heavy game that explores character dynamics and personal history in a nostalgic setting.

Repair old-school objects in this cozy puzzle game. Join antique-restorer Maria, as she arrives in the sun-soaked town of Bellariva and set out on a journey of helping the townsfolk reconnect.

Why similar: Relaxing 26.1%, Cozy 25.9%, Female Protagonist 22.8%, Story Rich 14.6%, Atmospheric 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: A relaxing, story-rich experience about fixing broken items and mending relationships within a small community.

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 56.2%, LGBTQ+ 13.4%, Female Protagonist 8.4%, Story Rich 7.5%, Atmospheric 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: This intimate, narrative-focused exploration game excels at telling a personal story through the environment and everyday objects.

Set off on a delightful expedition and use your photographic eye to uncover the mysteries of the magical TOEM in this hand-drawn adventure game. Chat with quirky characters, solve their problems by snapping neat photos, and make your way through a relaxing landscape!

Why similar: Cozy 36.9%, Wholesome 33.5% ★, Relaxing 13.6%, Atmospheric 6.2%, Exploration 4.6%

Why You'll Like It: A wholesome, photography-based adventure that encourages players to explore and help the residents of a charming, hand-drawn world.

This Bed We Made is a third-person mystery game in which you play as a maid in a 1950s hotel and snoop around strangers' rooms to uncover their deadly secrets. Discover what links guests together in this tale of love, heartbreak and murder!

Why similar: LGBTQ+ 20%, Walking Simulator 17.7%, Female Protagonist 15.2%, Choose Your Own Adventure 12.5%, Story Rich 11.2%

Why You'll Like It: A mystery-focused narrative game that captures a specific period atmosphere through exploration and character interaction.

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: Female Protagonist 26.9%, Walking Simulator 25.7%, Story Rich 19.7%, Atmospheric 11.1%, Adventure 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-focused adventure with a strong sense of place and mystery that encourages players to explore at their own pace.

Submerged is a third-person combat-free game in which you explore a mysterious flooded city and discover the beauty of desolation in vast outdoor environments. You take on the role of Miku, a young girl who has brought her wounded brother to the city in their small fishing boat.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 24.7%, Female Protagonist 16.5%, Relaxing 16.3%, Open World 15.4%, Third Person 9%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a relaxing, non-violent exploration experience in a beautiful, flooded world that emphasizes atmosphere over challenge.

A neon-noir story in a rain-drenched cyberpunk metropolis. It’s your first night on the job working for the Cloudpunk delivery service. Two rules: Don’t miss a delivery and don’t ask what’s in the package.

Why similar: Driving 22.4%, Open World 16.9%, Walking Simulator 16.1%, Female Protagonist 12.2%, Story Rich 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: It features a job-based narrative structure where you explore a city and interact with its inhabitants, similar to the delivery mechanics in Lake.

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is a fantasy adventure about an aspiring witch who delivers packages to the townspeople of a small island. Explore every cranny and soar through the sky with your magic broom.

Why similar: Cozy 28.9%, Wholesome 24.8% ★, Female Protagonist 12.2%, Relaxing 11.5%, Open World 10.4%

Why You'll Like It: A cozy, relaxing exploration game about a young protagonist delivering packages in a charming, lighthearted world.

Step into the shoes of Lyric, the humble innkeeper in a quiet mountain village, as she reflects upon a lifetime of poignant memories, heartwarming friendships, and bittersweet choices — proving along the way that you don't have to slay dragons to be the hero of your own story.

Why similar: Female Protagonist 13.9%, Choose Your Own Adventure 13.3%, Choices Matter 13.1%, Romance 12.9%, Relaxing 12.2%

Why You'll Like It: This emotional, narrative-driven life simulation focuses on the personal growth and choices of its protagonist.

The small town of Basswood will be changed forever by ex-investigative journalist Sam Higgs in this thrilling narrative experience from award-winning studio DON'T NOD. Will you find the truth – no matter the cost?

Why similar: Choices Matter 22.5%, Choose Your Own Adventure 22.4%, Story Rich 16.8%, Third Person 12.5%, LGBTQ+ 11.8%

Why You'll Like It: A detective-style narrative game that focuses on personal history, character relationships, and the consequences of your decisions.

Immerse yourself in an enchanting narrative experience as Fortuna, a fortune-teller Witch condemned to exile on her asteroid home. Craft your own Tarot deck, regain your freedom, and shape the fate of the cosmic Witch society.

Why similar: LGBTQ+ 33.7%, Female Protagonist 26.7%, Choices Matter 19.1%, Story Rich 13.3%, Adventure 4.9%

Why You'll Like It: A deeply narrative-driven game where your choices and interactions with characters shape the direction of the story.

🚗 Take part in a roller coaster of emotions with Louise embarking on a road trip of a lifetime through the late 1960s USA, trying to show her son Mitch how to navigate the often cruel modern world. Your choices matter! ✅

Why similar: Wholesome 33.6% ★, Female Protagonist 15.4%, Multiple Endings 14.3%, Choices Matter 14.1%, Story Rich 10.4%

Why You'll Like It: An emotional, choice-driven narrative that focuses on the relationship between a mother and son during a pivotal road trip.

Strange Horticulture is an occult puzzle game in which you play as the proprietor of a local plant store. Find and identify new plants, pet your cat, speak to a coven, or join a cult. Use your collection of powerful plants to influence the story and unravel Undermere’s dark mysteries.

Why similar: Cozy 35.4%, Relaxing 13.5%, Multiple Endings 12.9%, Choices Matter 11.4%, Story Rich 10%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a cozy, atmospheric mystery that rewards quiet observation and methodical, low-stress gameplay.

The saga of Max and Chloe, and the fate of Caledon, is yours to decide! Play as both Max and Chloe as an all-new story builds towards an epic climax. The fire will force Max and Chloe to make devastating decisions. Can they find a future together… Before everything burns?

Why similar: LGBTQ+ 22.9%, Choose Your Own Adventure 17.7%, Choices Matter 12.9%, Female Protagonist 11.7%, Romance 7.1%

On their last night together, three friends embark on one final adventure. Play through a mixtape of memories, set to the soundtrack of a generation.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 39.4%, LGBTQ+ 17.6%, 1980s 13.1%, Female Protagonist 12.3%, Third Person 5%

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 29.2%, Open World 26.8%, Story Rich 14.1%, Atmospheric 13.1%, Adventure 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric, first-person mystery set in a cold, isolated environment that emphasizes exploration and narrative discovery.

Boat, climb, interact and explore in the beautiful ruins of a sunken world.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 27.1%, Open World 17.8%, Female Protagonist 17.3%, Relaxing 17.1%, Atmospheric 7.5%

When Max Caulfield finds her friend Safi dead in the snow, she tears open the way to a parallel timeline. Here, Safi is still alive - and still in danger! With her new power to Shift between two timelines – can Max solve and prevent the same murder?

Why similar: LGBTQ+ 21.1%, Choose Your Own Adventure 16.7%, Choices Matter 14.8%, Female Protagonist 13.9%, Romance 9.4%

Draugen is a single-player, first-person Fjord Noir mystery set in 1920s Norway. Explore a forgotten coastal village in your search for your missing sister, accompanied by your independent and enigmatic young ward. Norwegian Game of the Year 2019.

Why similar: Story Rich 40.9%, Atmospheric 28.2%, Adventure 12.9%, Exploration 11.8%, Singleplayer 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-heavy, atmospheric exploration game set in a remote location that focuses on uncovering the truth through quiet observation.

inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories is a cozy slice-of-life game about running a small-town convenience store, inspired by early 1990s Japan. Meet regulars, stock shelves, and watch quiet, everyday moments turn into meaningful stories.

Why similar: Cozy 35.3%, Female Protagonist 14.6%, Relaxing 14.5%, Choices Matter 12.4%, Story Rich 10.1%

Leave everything behind and open a tiny bookshop by the sea in this cozy narrative management game. Stock your tiny bookshop with different books and items, set up shop in scenic locations, and run your cozy second-hand bookshop while getting to know the locals.

Why similar: Cozy 45.7%, Relaxing 17.7%, Choices Matter 13.8%, Story Rich 12%, Romance 10.8%

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

Why similar: Walking Simulator 26.2%, Choose Your Own Adventure 25%, Multiple Endings 14.8%, Choices Matter 14.2%, Story Rich 10.1%

Coming back to the family hotel after years, a young woman finds herself trapped with the ghosts from her past and an old cellular telephone as the only way to unveil a terrible truth.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 31.4%, Female Protagonist 16.8%, Open World 16.7%, Story Rich 13%, Atmospheric 9.8%

Embark on a journey across vast landscapes in Caravan SandWitch, a captivating narrative-driven exploration adventure.

Why similar: Driving 31.8%, 1980s 25.9%, Choose Your Own Adventure 19.4%, Third Person 10.2%, Exploration 5.9%

Go on a summer vacation to the Cloudy Valley archipelago! Swim, climb, and explore the different islands at your own pace. Discover treasures or enjoy a cozy and relaxing atmosphere by the waves...

Why similar: Wholesome 21.9% ★, Walking Simulator 17.6%, Relaxing 16.4%, Open World 15.7%, Female Protagonist 11%

A poignant narrative-driven game about rejection, belonging and the meaning of home. It follows the story of a newly adopted shelter cat whose space in the home is taken by a copycat. Bring the tissues.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 33.7%, Story Rich 20.3%, Atmospheric 12.7%, Third Person 9.4%, Female Protagonist 7.8%

An exploration game about emotional ties that transcend even death. Riley is faced with a headstrong ghost, urging her on an adventure across atmospheric shores, uncovering the island's tragic secret. Choices in dialogue shape the bond between the two, ultimately deciding Riley's fate.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 25.4%, Romance 13.8%, Story Rich 12.6%, Female Protagonist 12.5%, Atmospheric 9.6%

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 35.8%, Wholesome 21.9% ★, Female Protagonist 14.5%, Relaxing 11%, Story Rich 7.2%

Experience the BAFTA award-winning story of Life is Strange now beautifully remastered with enhanced visuals and vastly improved animation using mocap technology.

Why similar: LGBTQ+ 20.2%, Choices Matter 17.6%, Female Protagonist 15.3%, Multiple Endings 14.9%, Story Rich 12.3%

Lake Ridden is a story-driven, first-person puzzle game! A cozy supernatural adventure where you unravel a mysterious past, trying to find your sister. Luckily, you are not alone...

Why similar: Female Protagonist 32.8%, Walking Simulator 28.2%, Adventure 21.3%, Atmospheric 15%, Singleplayer 2.7%

Be Flint, who is doing his best to keep his grandma's park up and running and make it a place for the campers to enjoy. Learn the camper's wishes and build whatever their hearts desire to attract even more quirky characters and look forward to whimsical conversations and quests.

Why similar: Cozy 30%, Wholesome 25.9% ★, Open World 14.2%, Relaxing 13.1%, Third Person 6.8%

The August Before is 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 24.9%, Wholesome 24.7% ★, Female Protagonist 13.3%, Relaxing 11.2%, LGBTQ+ 7.8%

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: Story Rich 26.6%, Atmospheric 17.7%, Third Person 15.6%, Adventure 15.2%, Exploration 13.1%

Killer Frequency is a first-person horror puzzle game set in 1987, that puts you in the role of a late-night radio talk show host in small town America whose callers are being stalked by a mysterious killer.

Why similar: 1980s 24.5%, Walking Simulator 20.4%, Multiple Endings 11.2%, Choices Matter 10.9%, Story Rich 8.9%

Explore the entangled lives of two families across thirty years in an original interactive drama from INTERIOR/NIGHT. Starting in 1998 with a robbery-gone-wrong, the character's lives depend on the choices you make.

Why similar: Choose Your Own Adventure 30.1%, Choices Matter 24.9%, Multiple Endings 19.9%, Story Rich 17.6%, Adventure 5.5%

Join Tara on a heartfelt journey to become a witch in Wylde Flowers. Farm by day, and cast spells by night as you craft your cottagecore life and bond with your coven. Come to know and love the fully voice acted characters of Fairhaven, as you unravel a local mystery.

Why similar: Cozy 41.2%, LGBTQ+ 17.7%, Female Protagonist 13.1%, Relaxing 9.1%, Romance 7.9%

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: Female Protagonist 26.2%, Relaxing 25.8%, Romance 20.6%, Story Rich 15.2%, Atmospheric 9.7%

Beyond Blue is a single-player narrative adventure that takes you deep into our planet’s beating blue heart. Explore the awesome wonder and unbounded mystery that exists within the world’s ocean.

Why similar: Female Protagonist 18.7%, Exploration 16.6%, Story Rich 14.6%, Open World 14.6%, Adventure 14.4%

A visual novel about emotional survival in an automated world. Play as Lina, the last human cab driver. It’s your first night driving the lonely streets of Los Ojos, and your best friend has just disappeared. Stay on the road. Stay on the search. Stay human.

Why similar: Multiple Endings 29.2%, Choices Matter 26.8%, Story Rich 21.1%, Atmospheric 14.9%, Adventure 5.6%

Enjoy meditative vibes in Jusant, an action-puzzle climbing game. Scale an immeasurably tall tower and ascend to new heights alongside your watery companion. Master your climbing tools, find your way up through diverse biomes, and piece together the tower’s past.

Why similar: Relaxing 34.9%, Third Person 20.8%, Atmospheric 19.3%, Exploration 11.7%, Adventure 9.7%

The Gardens Between is a surreal puzzle adventure that follows best friends, Arina and Frendt, as they fall into a mysterious world of beautiful garden islands. Manipulate time to solve puzzles and discover the secrets of each island.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 34.6%, Relaxing 20.7%, Female Protagonist 18.5%, Story Rich 16%, Atmospheric 10.3%

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: Romance 34.1%, Female Protagonist 28.3%, Story Rich 24%, Adventure 10.6%, Singleplayer 3%

A mutant soap opera where small-town gossip meets the supernatural. Explore the Mutazione community as Kai as she cares for her ailing grandfather. Discover magical gardens, new friends & old secrets. They can survive an apocalyptic meteor strike, but can they survive their small-town drama?

Why similar: Walking Simulator 29%, Relaxing 19.8%, Female Protagonist 17%, Story Rich 13.9%, Atmospheric 9.5%

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: Female Protagonist 26.3%, Relaxing 25.9%, Story Rich 19.4%, Atmospheric 17.2%, Exploration 7.9%

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: Wholesome 39.9% ★, Female Protagonist 15.8%, Relaxing 15.4%, Story Rich 10.7%, Atmospheric 7.4%