Games Like Life Codex

You are fragile and the world is dangerous. Explore with care and courage. Solve puzzles, overcome obstacles, in search of something. An outlet? An answer? A hope? A doubt?

Why similar: Soundtrack 30.3% ★, Experimental 21.3%, Puzzle Platformer 9.7%, Philosophical 9.6%, Minimalist 8.4%

Hunted and alone, a boy finds himself drawn into the center of a dark project. INSIDE is a dark, narrative-driven platformer combining intense action with challenging puzzles. It has been critically acclaimed for its moody art style, ambient soundtrack and unsettling atmosphere.

Why similar: Narrative 29.3% ★, Soundtrack 27% ★, Puzzle Platformer 11.5%, Dark 9%, Minimalist 8.3%

Get ready for a mindbending cyberpunk experience! Figure out more than a dozen puzzles through your manipulation of time based clones and try to get the best time in each level! Dive into Déjà Vu, inspired by puzzlers like Braid and The Swapper.

Why similar: Experimental 32.2%, Time Manipulation 31.1% ★, Puzzle Platformer 18.6%, Puzzle 9.1%, Adventure 4.3%

A short and unconventional anthology exploring abandonment, depression, domestic abuse, and acceptance. These strange vignettes made with passion use unique mechanics to tell personal stories that linger. Perfect for players who seek sincere, bittersweet experiences.

Why similar: Narrative 36% ★, Experimental 26.4%, Philosophical 11.5%, Psychological 8.9%, Dark 6.6%

Navigate broken memories in a powerless fantasy fueled equally by nightmares and confessional poetry. A narrative experiment in adapting dreams and poems to the medium of video games.

Why similar: Soundtrack 29.1% ★, Narrative 27.4% ★, Experimental 25.4%, Dark 6.9%, Psychological 6.4%

Consumers have power. A short walking simulator game that makes you think a little about how we usually consume.

Why similar: Narrative 39.4% ★, Experimental 25.7%, Philosophical 13.5%, Text-Based 10.4%, Minimalist 6.7%

A short narrative visual novel about procrastination, family, and the inner dialogue of a creative person. A story about how delaying decisions slowly erodes a life.

Why similar: Narration 31.1%, Experimental 21.5%, Text-Based 13%, Psychological 10.2%, Dark 8.5%

Lost in an intimate snowy town, a palette of individuals are in search of a mysterious artifact said to bring great knowledge and understanding. Lead each character through their quest in this collection of minigames, each with unique personalities and challenges...

Why similar: Experimental 43.1%, Soundtrack 23.1% ★, Psychological 13.1%, Puzzle 12%, Adventure 5.5%

The Flood is a peaceful 5 minute narrative experience in which you pilot a little boat down a river. It's a gentle reminder that sometimes we should stop worrying about our destination and just enjoy the journey.

Why similar: Experimental 32.6%, Narrative 31.7% ★, Soundtrack 28.9% ★, Adventure 3.6%, Indie 2%

Fake Heart is an "Interactive-Visual Novel" game about an episode between elderly fairy tale writer Jade and granddaughter Sarah.

Why similar: Narrative 34.7% ★, Soundtrack 29.2% ★, Text-Based 17.5%, Philosophical 9.6%, Adventure 4.3%

A darkened sky. A blazing fire. A wretched tombstone. And you, here at the end of everything. End of Garbage is a short, first-person puzzle game exploring the dark surreality of endings.

Why similar: Narrative 44.6% ★, Experimental 13.9%, Puzzle 11.1%, Philosophical 10.6%, Minimalist 8.6%

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 47.5% ★, Experimental 27.1%, Philosophical 9.9%, Psychological 7.3%, Adventure 5.3%

Simple space, dynamic jump. 6180 the moon offers a fresh, unseen game play style by connecting the top and bottom of the screen.

Why similar: Soundtrack 34.7% ★, Experimental 31.8%, Puzzle Platformer 13.2%, Minimalist 10.8%, Platformer 4.9%

『Letters of Bernard Thorne』 is a story-driven psychological horror game about trauma. Take a seat in Bernard's motorized wheelchair. Roam around the old man's house. Discover his scarred past. Flee from his sins. Climb up the attic.

Why similar: Narrative 47.9% ★, Text-Based 24.6%, Narration 8.3%, Puzzle 7.2%, Dark 6%

Freeway Fiasco is a time-bending puzzle game. Control multiple cars, one at a time in a shared timeline. Your choices can set off a ripple effect with surprising interactions - past, present and future.

Why similar: Soundtrack 31.3% ★, Time Manipulation 29.2% ★, Narration 22.1%, Philosophical 8.6%, Puzzle 7.4%

The Wandering Duelist is a single-player, narrative-driven adventure game that tells a story of love, conflict and reckless actions. The story takes place on a small and lively planet, where its residents carry on their daily activities that often pose dangers and obstacles for the player.

Why similar: Narrative 70.7% ★, Narration 14.2%, Adventure 7%, Drama 4.4%, Indie 3%

Forever Someday is a short narrative experience about dealing with depression and the end of a relationship, with a surreal and dream-like aesthetic.

Why similar: Narrative 40.8% ★, Experimental 38.1%, Psychological 7%, Puzzle 5.4%, Adventure 4.4%

"blu," is a narrative collection of video games that were each developed by a different person. From genres that range from action-packed FPS to calming platformer, "blu," has every genre of a game anyone could ever want. Well, at least I think it does. I'm not really one of the developers.

Why similar: Narrative 28.4% ★, Experimental 22.3%, Philosophical 11.8%, Puzzle Platformer 9.5%, Adventure 8%

Destiny Island is a very short computer game. You play a man who visits his memories. You can walk and talk to mannequins about 7 sins. Associate essence with anything comes to your mind.

Why similar: Experimental 47.9%, Narration 26.8%, Philosophical 12.3%, Minimalist 8.7%, Adventure 2.3%

A short puzzle game with a big story to tell. Dive in to reveal the mysteries of Amy's past.

Why similar: Experimental 39.6%, Narration 34.8%, Puzzle 11.9%, Puzzle Platformer 11.3%, Singleplayer 1.3%

Eyes Over Us is a surreal procedurally generated narrative strategy game were you will play as a Lovecraftian entity watching over two humans being experimented with. The power to change everything it's on your hands..wait? do you even have hands?...tentacles?

Why similar: Narrative 29.1% ★, Experimental 24.1%, Text-Based 16.7%, Dark 9.5%, Minimalist 8.5%

Employee 925 is a short psychological horror game about compliance and the quiet erosion of self in the workplace.

Why similar: Narrative 38.2% ★, Experimental 23.6%, Philosophical 13.1%, Psychological 9.4%, Minimalist 6.8%

Wield extraordinary powers born from forgotten memories to escape a subconscious on the brink of collapse. Team up with Proxy, a living archive of your family’s history, as you slow time, bend gravity, and manifest memories in a coming-of-age adventure where technology and imagination collide.

Why similar: Narrative 39.2% ★, Soundtrack 34.8% ★, Puzzle Platformer 13.2%, Adventure 4.1%, Platformer 3.3%

Collaborate with your past self to change the present and influence the future. Only your vision affects the world.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 37.7% ★, Experimental 23%, Philosophical 16.5%, Puzzle 9.3%, Psychological 7.1%

Murky is a bizarre narrative adventure where you cast spells, manipulate time, and shift between parallel realities to escape a collapsing world.

Why similar: Narrative 43.9% ★, Time Manipulation 40.6% ★, Puzzle 8.9%, Adventure 3%, Emotional 2.2%

Genre: Suspense. A simple novel with only screen transitions. A game for people who like novels.

Why similar: Experimental 47.6%, Text-Based 28.6%, Dark 20.7%, Indie 1.8%, Singleplayer 1.4%

A forensic challenge – find out who the owner of the USB stick was and reconstruct their story.

Why similar: Narration 41.8%, Experimental 24.6%, Text-Based 14.7%, Puzzle 7.3%, Minimalist 6.4%

After her passing, a grandmother’s home holds decades of untold memories. Step into a heartfelt narrative journey through objects, voice acting, and beautifully crafted environments.

Why similar: Narrative 46.1% ★, Narration 31.8%, Philosophical 6.5%, Drama 6.5%, Adventure 3.7%

My dream is a Lost Memory is a short interactive story about having Déjà vu, realizing that this Déjà vu came to you because of a dream, and then wondering if that dream is actually a memory. It's a story about work, limitations and self-respect.

Why similar: Narrative 33.1% ★, Experimental 28.8%, Philosophical 13%, Minimalist 11.6%, Dark 11.1%

Life of Fly features 12 short stories each revolving around the life and weird thoughts of another fly. Be prepared to experience some very unusual content, some interesting thoughts that go way beyond the normal life of a fly, and some entertaining short stories with a twist.

Why similar: Narrative 33.5% ★, Narration 23.9%, Philosophical 21.3%, Experimental 19.7%, Indie 1.2%

A short mystery and psychological visual novel. Hook in to a state-of-the-art gaming machine capable of creating whole virtual experiences based on your imagination. But be careful, the other testers might be there with a different plan in mind.

Why similar: Narrative 47.8% ★, Text-Based 17%, Dark 12.9%, Psychological 9.8%, Adventure 8.9%

NOSTOI is a narrative 3D puzzle and platformer game with a gameplay mechanics based on the physics and time manipulation. The game is about a boy who tries to escape his psychological trauma.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 54.1% ★, Puzzle Platformer 19.8%, Puzzle 13.6%, Platformer 6.6%, Indie 5.9%

A lone man's journey through a strange world. Dimension switching mechanic - switch between the dimensions to traverse the world and solve puzzles.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 47.4% ★, Puzzle Platformer 18.3%, Dark 14.2%, Puzzle 10.6%, Platformer 3.7%

Mirrormind is a 3D Puzzle Platformer in a lo-fi dithered style, where you can shift perspective into any person you can see. Journey through a series of worlds to explore different points of view.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 27.3% ★, Puzzle Platformer 19.9%, Text-Based 18.3%, Philosophical 15.7%, Puzzle 10.7%

Enter a macabre and comical silent world filled with mischief, time travel and delicious pie. Includes Steam Achievements, Cloud, and Leaderboards!

Why similar: Time Manipulation 44.7% ★, Puzzle 17.3%, Puzzle Platformer 16.1%, Platformer 8.5%, Adventure 7.5%

A short work of interactive horror fiction, about bright minds, and the end of all things. Feel the ink on your skin, return to the woods, and escape the small town that you've never called home.

Why similar: Experimental 42.2%, Text-Based 26.4%, Narrative 22.8% ★, Drama 4.5%, Emotional 1.9%

Été (summer) is a relaxing painting game set in Montréal. Color the city to explore, create artworks on canvas, collect stamps in your album, decorate your studio, fulfill commissions from your neighbors, and unleash your inner artist!

Why similar: Narrative 39% ★, Soundtrack 32% ★, Minimalist 11.5%, Puzzle 9%, Adventure 5.2%

All Whispering Tome is a reading adventure game about exploring stories. The hidden stories in the game are unfold while you read multiple seamingly unrelated stories. May you discover what the All Whispering Tome, whispers to you.

Why similar: Narrative 31.1% ★, Narration 21.4%, Text-Based 20.9%, Minimalist 10.4%, Puzzle 7.2%

In this logic based puzzle game, switch between Orbs to solve puzzles and light up your world. Play co-op with yourself, freeze time, fly drones, play with sound… and overcome the evil shadow interfering with your quest.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 39.1% ★, Experimental 28.6%, Puzzle Platformer 14.9%, Puzzle 9.7%, Adventure 3.3%

Power Of Language is a suspense text game mainly featuring dialogues. The game is about a case caused by a certain mental illness in the future, and you’d act as a hypnotist to talk to prisoners for investigations that eventually lead to the truth.

Why similar: Text-Based 30.6%, Narration 27.7%, Puzzle Platformer 21.8%, Puzzle 14.9%, Singleplayer 2.9%

An abstract visual novel about a girl dealing with the challenges of having ADHD while trying to complete a school assignment before the deadline.

Why similar: Narrative 45.1% ★, Experimental 23.6%, Text-Based 16.1%, Philosophical 6.8%, Psychological 3.8%

Elio is a boy who deals with reality through imagination. He finds himself trapped in a dark dungeon mirroring his thoughts. This wordless puzzle platformer tells a story through memory shards. Only by gathering them, he hopes to break free.

Why similar: Narrative 52.8% ★, Puzzle Platformer 16.9%, Puzzle 9.2%, Psychological 5.7%, Platformer 4.6%

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: Soundtrack 40.6% ★, Narration 34.7%, Narrative 13.9% ★, Adventure 3.7%, Emotional 3.3%

enter a dark 2d platform style game with choices to speak the truth and the lie it will only depend on the path you want to follow and beware of the ending you will achieve

Why similar: Experimental 51.3%, Narration 20.1%, Minimalist 14.2%, Adventure 7.8%, Drama 3.5%

A cat-pushing puzzle game where narratives are puzzle levels. With an emotional story and a little bit of 4th wall breaking. By pushing the cat, you are pushing the cat to think, to remember why they are stuck in this game...

Why similar: Narrative 39.3% ★, Narration 22.8%, Text-Based 13.9%, Puzzle 8.2%, Minimalist 8%

Something is wrong with the world — or with the boy walking through it. A surreal pixel adventure across two parallel realities, about fear, memory, and a mind that sees everything differently.

Why similar: Narrative 45.1% ★, Philosophical 13.6%, Psychological 10.4%, Puzzle 10.2%, Dark 9%

Candle, your path is full of puzzles. Can you handle it? Hurry, your time is already melting away.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 33.9% ★, Narration 23.6%, Puzzle Platformer 16.6%, Dark 12.2%, Adventure 4.7%

Leila is a heartfelt, hand-animated narrative game about the small yet significant struggles we all face. Solve story-driven puzzles, relive fragile memories, and discover a deeply personal journey that may feel more familiar than you expect.

Why similar: Narrative 39.9% ★, Soundtrack 30.3% ★, Psychological 9.7%, Puzzle 8.7%, Adventure 4.9%

A puzzle game, narratively grounded around architecture, adventure and elevators. Follow architectural writer Liz on a journey through Africa to uncover the secrets of a lost and forgotten Architect. Using your problem solving skills, overcome each puzzle and slowly unwrap the story of a lifetime.

Why similar: Narration 40.8%, Soundtrack 25.5% ★, Puzzle 20%, Minimalist 12.4%, Singleplayer 1.3%

A very short tap-and-jump game that brings along some personal complaints.

Why similar: Experimental 47.6%, Narrative 43.3% ★, Drama 6.4%, Indie 1.3%, Singleplayer 0.9%

A mystifying puzzle game that weaves a profound tale exploring the essence of life and family bonds. Immerse yourself in the narrative, as it unfolds through the eyes of Nala, a young girl trapped within a haunted house, accompanied by an unexpected ally, Mr. G.

Why similar: Narrative 49.7% ★, Puzzle Platformer 18%, Dark 7.7%, Narration 7.3%, Puzzle 6.3%

It's a meta game that previously only existed in the imagination, allowing you to break window boundaries and interact in multiple game windows.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 48.3% ★, Puzzle Platformer 18%, Puzzle 11.6%, Minimalist 8.8%, Adventure 6.5%

A narrative-focused crooked cop game. Manipulate death investigations and file false evidence to reap ill-gotten gains in a dystopian future. Save yourself.

Why similar: Narrative 36.7% ★, Narration 29.1%, Dark 16.9%, Minimalist 6.5%, Puzzle 5.4%

TMOY is a series of interactive art installations hidden inside a first person adventure game. Explore the “museum” and the surreal void space it resides in, make choices, discover new worlds, play (or suffer through) a variety of strange minigames - it’s up to you. It is your museum, after all.

Why similar: Narrative 23.4% ★, Experimental 20.1%, Philosophical 16.8%, Text-Based 15.1%, Minimalist 10.4%

Fight against the evil King's poltergeists and propaganda in Palace Perils, a hand-drawn narrative-driven platformer with roguelite elements. You'll play as Ser Sideshow, a knight whose true story has never been told.

Why similar: Narrative 58.4% ★, Soundtrack 33.5% ★, Adventure 3.3%, Platformer 2.7%, Indie 1%

Immerse yourself into unstable reality. In order to get out you must exploit glitch in a world around you. You can be sure of one thing, any rules you known no longer exist!! Do you have a courage to dip in it?

Why similar: Experimental 39.9%, Puzzle Platformer 15.6%, Time Manipulation 12.7% ★, Psychological 10.3%, Minimalist 8.9%

"ChronoRecorder" is a 3D puzzle game. Players can manipulate time and gravity. And you have to use that ability to solve problems. You might think this game is difficult if you don't use your brain.

Why similar: Time Manipulation 53.6% ★, Puzzle Platformer 28.8%, Puzzle 14.3%, Indie 1.9%, Singleplayer 1.3%

Mother Seed is an experimental point and click horror game about a woman moving through a series of increasingly unsettling encounters. Explore surreal environments, interact with disturbed characters, and uncover what’s expected of you.

Why similar: Experimental 51.8%, Narrative 31.9% ★, Dark 10.3%, Adventure 5.4%, Singleplayer 0.6%

Wake up in a cubic world, contrasting with what you represent. Follow Norman's voice, the universe itself, in a vibrant journey towards your fate. Will you fit in?

Why similar: Soundtrack 49.4% ★, Puzzle Platformer 17.8%, Minimalist 9.7%, Psychological 7.3%, Platformer 5.7%

Behind every brilliant invention, hides a magical story. Guide a troop of tin soldiers through a magical toy-filled world, in this immersive narrative puzzle adventure game from members of the team that brought you Fable.

Why similar: Narrative 27.9% ★, Soundtrack 24.7% ★, Time Manipulation 21.2% ★, Puzzle Platformer 10.2%, Puzzle 5.9%