Games Like Manifold Garden

Antichamber is a mind-bending psychological exploration game where nothing can be taken for granted. Discover an Escher-like world where hallways wrap around upon each other, spaces reconfigure themselves, and accomplishing the impossible may just be the only way forward.

Why similar: Surreal 21.9%, Puzzle 18%, Abstract 15.4%, First-Person 9.8%, Nonlinear 9.8%

Why You'll Like It: It shares the same DNA of non-Euclidean geometry and mind-bending spatial puzzles that defy traditional logic.

Perception is reality. In this mind-bending first-person puzzler, you escape a surreal dream world through solving impossible puzzles using the ambiguity of depth and perspective.

Why similar: Surreal 23.8%, Psychedelic 19.8%, Puzzle 14.3%, Puzzle Platformer 11.8%, First-Person 9.9%

Why You'll Like It: This game masterfully plays with forced perspective and scale, mirroring the surreal architectural shifts found in Manifold Garden.

Challenge perception, redefine reality, and reshape the world around you with an instant camera. Viewfinder is a new single player game offering gamers hours of interesting and fun experiences while uncovering the mysteries left behind.

Why similar: Abstract 21.5%, Surreal 17.2%, Puzzle Platformer 15.8%, Experimental 11.9% ★, Puzzle 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: It uses a unique photography-based mechanic to manipulate the environment, perfectly capturing the feeling of altering reality through observation.

Hyperbolica is a whimsical Non-Euclidean adventure with mind-bending worlds full of games, puzzles, mazes, and secrets! Immerse yourself in reality-warping geometries where lines can never be parallel, horizons are curved, and space grows exponentially.

Why similar: Experimental 24% ★, Surreal 22.9%, Psychedelic 21.1%, Puzzle 9.6%, First-Person 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: Set in a world of non-Euclidean geometry, this game forces you to navigate spaces where the rules of distance and curvature are fundamentally different.

Maquette is a first-person recursive puzzle game that takes you into a world where every building, plant, and object are simultaneously tiny and staggeringly huge.

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 24.4%, Puzzle 20.3%, First-Person 15.9%, Mystery 8.3%, Adventure 7.2%

Why You'll Like It: The recursive world-within-a-world mechanic creates a sense of scale and spatial complexity that feels like a direct cousin to Manifold Garden.

From Jeppe Carlsen, the lead gameplay designer of LIMBO and INSIDE — COCOON takes you on an adventure across worlds within worlds. Master world-leaping mechanics and solve intricate puzzles to unravel a cosmic mystery.

Why similar: Puzzle 31.1%, Puzzle Platformer 28.6%, Exploration 15%, Atmospheric 10%, Adventure 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: Its brilliant use of recursive, world-within-world puzzles provides a satisfying sense of logic and spatial interconnectedness.

NaissanceE is an obscure and magical first person exploration game, a philosophical trip and an artistic experience. The adventure takes place in a primitive mysterious structure and the game mainly consists to explore and feel the deep and strong ambiance of this atemporal world.

Why similar: Abstract 27.2%, Surreal 18%, Exploration 10.9%, First-Person 8.4%, Puzzle Platformer 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: This game offers a similarly abstract, minimalist, and monolithic architectural experience that emphasizes the feeling of being small in a vast, alien space.

You wake up, alone, on a strange island full of puzzles that will challenge and surprise you.

Why similar: Puzzle 23.5%, Difficult 10.9%, First-Person 10.8%, Exploration 10.2%, Philosophical 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: It shares a focus on environmental observation and nonlinear exploration, requiring players to learn the rules of the world through silent discovery.

A mind-bending recursive puzzle game about boxes within boxes within boxes within boxes. Learn to use infinity to your advantage as you explore a deep and elegant system.

Why similar: Abstract 39.9%, Puzzle 21.6%, Minimalist 19.7%, Difficult 14.3%, Indie 2.3%

Why You'll Like It: The recursive box-pushing mechanics offer a deep, logical challenge that echoes the infinite, self-referential nature of the seed game.

I can see the signs in my sleep now, always guiding me closer. Will this really work? Have we almost achieved the impossible?

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 22.9%, Surreal 19.7%, Puzzle 13.5%, Minimalist 11.4%, Mystery 9.6%

Why You'll Like It: It cleverly uses perspective and 2D-to-3D transitions to solve puzzles, creating a unique spatial experience that feels very fresh.

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: Exploration 22.7%, Mystery 21.9%, Puzzle 19.5%, First-Person 12.1%, Atmospheric 12%

Why You'll Like It: While more exploration-focused, it captures the same sense of wonder when uncovering the physics and secrets of a mysterious, clockwork universe.

The Talos Principle 2 is a thought-provoking first-person puzzle experience that greatly expands on the first game's philosophical themes and stunning environments with increasingly mind-bending challenges.

Why similar: Philosophical 34%, Puzzle Platformer 21.7%, Puzzle 16.6%, First-Person 11.9%, Exploration 9%

Why You'll Like It: This title offers deep, philosophical puzzles set within beautiful, atmospheric environments that reward careful observation.

Lingo is a first person word puzzle game with a large, abstract world to explore. With its epiphany-driven gameplay and impossible geometry, Lingo provides a unique and nonlinear experience.

Why similar: Abstract 19.8%, Surreal 18.1%, Nonlinear 14.7%, Puzzle 11.4%, First-Person 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: This first-person exploration game features a surreal, minimalist world where the environment itself is the puzzle.

Relicta is a first-person physics-based puzzle game where you need to creatively combine magnetism and gravity to unravel the secrets of Chandra Base.

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 37.8%, Puzzle 19.2%, First-Person 17.3%, Exploration 15.2%, Colorful 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: This physics-based puzzle game centers heavily on gravity manipulation and magnetism, closely mimicking the core movement mechanics of the seed game.

Portal™ is a new single player game from Valve. Set in the mysterious Aperture Science Laboratories, Portal has been called one of the most innovative new games on the horizon and will offer gamers hours of unique gameplay.

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 41.8%, Puzzle 32.7%, First-Person 17.6%, Atmospheric 3.6%, Singleplayer 2.8%

Why You'll Like It: As the gold standard for first-person physics puzzles, it provides a similar sense of satisfaction when mastering spatial navigation.

Enter the lost world of Kairo. Explore vast abandoned monuments. Bring strange and ancient machinery back to life. Slowly uncover the true purpose of Kairo and fulfil a great destiny.Kairo is an atmospheric 3D exploration and puzzle solving game.

Why similar: Abstract 24.9%, Surreal 20.1%, Puzzle 16.1%, Exploration 9.9%, First-Person 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: This minimalist, abstract puzzle game focuses on atmosphere and exploration within strange, geometric structures.

Explore a dense, interconnected labyrinth, and unravel its many secrets. Collect items to manipulate your environment in surprising and meaningful ways. Encounter beautiful and unsettling creatures, as you attempt to survive what lurks in the dark. There is more than what you see.

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 21.5%, Surreal 16.2%, Nonlinear 13.9%, Puzzle 13.2%, Exploration 10.6%

Why You'll Like It: This game features a dense, interconnected world where exploration and puzzle-solving are inextricably linked through clever environmental design.

Discover the truth about Quern’s past, unfold the mysteries of its present, and be the explorer who shapes its future. Quern introduces reusable puzzle mechanics to the classic genre, making the player think about the game as a whole, and not just as a series of individual challenges.

Why similar: Surreal 22.9%, Puzzle 16.9%, Mystery 14%, First-Person 11.6%, Exploration 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a classic, atmospheric first-person puzzle experience that rewards players for interacting with complex, mechanical environments.

The "Perpetual Testing Initiative" has been expanded to allow you to design co-op puzzles for you and your friends!

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 39.8%, Puzzle 25%, First-Person 21.2%, Atmospheric 9.8%, Singleplayer 4.2%

Why You'll Like It: It expands upon the physics-defying puzzles of the original with a deeper narrative and more complex environmental interactions.

Solve puzzle panels and uncover the meaning of the symbols within. Explore a dense world where secrets are hidden in plain sight.

Why similar: Nonlinear 22.3%, Surreal 17.2%, Difficult 15.1%, Puzzle 12.9%, Minimalist 9.6%

Why You'll Like It: A nonlinear puzzle game that relies on environmental clues and observation, perfect for fans of the 'learn by doing' approach.

Ilamentia is an experimental abstract puzzler where you must first discover the level mechanics before solving them. Delve into mysterious mind-bending levels that each have unique mechanics to explore that will test the limits of every facet of your cognitive faculties.

Why similar: Psychedelic 21.2%, Surreal 19.1%, Abstract 16.1%, Puzzle 10.5%, First-Person 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal and psychedelic first-person experience that leans heavily into the abstract, dreamlike qualities of the seed game.

A new sci-fi adventure from Cyan, the creators of Myst. Abducted far across the universe, you find yourself on a broken alien landscape with odd pieces of Earth. Explore, uncover, solve, and find a way to make it home.

Why similar: Surreal 21.6%, Puzzle 18.7%, Exploration 12.2%, Mystery 11.5%, First-Person 11.2%

Why You'll Like It: Created by the developers of Myst, this game offers a surreal, otherworldly environment filled with intricate, logic-based puzzles.

A strange signal... an alien craft... an interplanetary, gravity-defying journey through space and time.

Why similar: Psychedelic 26.6%, Philosophical 26.3%, Exploration 11.8%, Relaxing 11.8%, Atmospheric 10.5%

Why You'll Like It: It focuses on momentum and gravity-based movement through surreal, atmospheric landscapes that feel like a meditative journey.

Embark on a journey of forgiveness through impossible environments and illusionary puzzles. Experience this meditative and calming puzzle game by manipulating monuments and creating evolving paths to explore new, surreal, and mysterious worlds.

Why similar: Puzzle 26.9%, Puzzle Platformer 20.4%, Relaxing 20.2%, Exploration 14.2%, Adventure 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: The game is built entirely around impossible geometry and perspective shifts, directly inspired by the art of M.C. Escher.

Uncover a story of intrigue, betrayal, and a civilization teetering on the brink of collapse as you solve intricate puzzles to unlock the secrets of Riven. Built from the ground-up and expanded from the award-winning original game released in 1997.

Why similar: Philosophical 16.3%, Surreal 15.7%, Puzzle 14.5%, First-Person 11.1%, Exploration 9.9%

Why You'll Like It: This remake of the classic puzzle-adventure game features deep, interconnected world-building and challenging environmental logic.

Welcome to Myst: a starkly beautiful island, eerily tinged with mystery and shrouded in intrigue. Built from the ground up to play in 2D & VR, explore Myst in a whole new dimension! Journey to the Ages, unravel puzzles, and be a part of the surrealistic adventure that will become your own.

Why similar: Puzzle 30.2%, Exploration 20.4%, First-Person 15.1%, Adventure 9.2%, Multiple Endings 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: The definitive classic of atmospheric, first-person puzzle exploration that established the genre of uncovering secrets in isolated worlds.

The Sojourn is a first-person puzzle game set in an immersive colour-drenched world of light and darkness. Think your way through dozens of puzzles as you traverse parallel worlds, awaken mysterious artifacts and overcome challenging obstacles on an unforgettable journey.

Why similar: Philosophical 18.7%, Surreal 16.7%, Puzzle Platformer 12%, Puzzle 9.8%, First-Person 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: It features a beautiful, atmospheric world where players must shift between parallel realities to solve perspective-based puzzles.

Gorogoa is an elegant evolution of the puzzle genre, told through a beautifully hand-drawn story designed and illustrated by Jason Roberts. Winner of Debut Game at the 2018 BAFTA Games Awards, as well as Best Mobile Game and the Innovation Award at the GDC 2018 Choice Awards.

Why similar: Puzzle 39.4%, Experimental 18.4% ★, Atmospheric 9.8%, Mystery 9.1%, Surreal 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: Its unique mechanic of shifting and layering panels to solve puzzles creates a sense of spatial wonder similar to the seed game.

Traverse mirrors as if they were natural extensions of space to solve puzzles and uncover secrets. Reshape your perspective to perform gravity-shifting acrobatics as you jungle-gym through a sprawling environment. You'll never look in a mirror the same way again.

Why similar: Surreal 16.9%, Puzzle Platformer 15.8%, Abstract 15.2%, Nonlinear 13.2%, Puzzle 8.6%

Moncage is a unique puzzle adventure game where you explore a fascinating world trapped inside a mysterious cube. With each face displaying a unique scene, you’ll have to leverage the illusions and discover the hidden links to solve the puzzle.

Why similar: Experimental 20.3% ★, Abstract 18%, Puzzle 15.7%, Surreal 15.6%, Puzzle Platformer 8.5%

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: Surreal 25.1%, Puzzle Platformer 21%, Minimalist 14.2%, Puzzle 12.2%, Relaxing 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: This game uses time manipulation to solve puzzles in a surreal, dreamlike environment that emphasizes visual storytelling.

Explore a unique and connected world. Understand its fragile balance, uncover its deepest questions, and find more than just the answers.

Why similar: Puzzle 14.6%, Surreal 14%, Minimalist 12.8%, First-Person 11.6%, Nonlinear 10.5%

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: Surreal 24%, Puzzle Platformer 19.9%, Puzzle 13.5%, Exploration 9.9%, Minimalist 9.6%

Seek out and solve 10,000+ puzzles at your own pace across this sublime puzzle game.

Why similar: Philosophical 21%, Nonlinear 17.5%, Puzzle Platformer 15.6%, Puzzle 8.8%, Mystery 7.7%

A story rich narrative puzzle game in which an artist comes to terms with their grief. Explore an infinitely recursive world of strange fractal beauty and solve mind-bending puzzles. Confront the ineffable and chat with your cat in a search for meaning and hope.

Why similar: Experimental 15.5% ★, Abstract 15%, Puzzle Platformer 13.8%, Surreal 13.1%, Philosophical 12.9%

A Surreal Puzzle Shooter Adventure Fueled By Madness!

Why similar: Abstract 14.3%, Surreal 13%, Psychedelic 12.4%, Philosophical 10.6%, Nonlinear 10.5%

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: Surreal 23%, Abstract 20.5%, Psychedelic 16.4%, Puzzle 10%, Exploration 6.7%

Pneuma: Breath of Life forces you to think outside the box through a narrated story of self-discovery, whilst exploring the ontological mystery of the breath of life. Features award winning voice actor 'Jay Britton' as Pneuma.

Why similar: Puzzle 43.7%, First-Person 31.2%, Adventure 14.6%, Indie 10.6%

Why You'll Like It: A first-person puzzle game that explores philosophical themes through the manipulation of the environment based on the player's perspective.

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

Why similar: Relaxing 25.1%, Atmospheric 23.7%, Exploration 23.4%, Adventure 10.7%, Mystery 8.6%

Walk on walls. Manipulate gravity. Discover secrets. In this first-person puzzle game, delve deep into an ancient labyrinth of intricate conundrums, seeking an imprisoned god at the centre.

Why similar: Surreal 22%, Puzzle Platformer 20.5%, Difficult 15.2%, Puzzle 12.3%, First-Person 11%

Lingo 2 blends word puzzles and impossible geometry, with brand new puzzle mechanics and a large, colorful world to discover. Welcome back!

Why similar: Nonlinear 20.2%, Abstract 19.6%, Puzzle 12%, Surreal 9.2%, First-Person 7.9%

The Talos Principle is a first-person puzzle game in the tradition of philosophical science fiction. Made by Croteam and written by Tom Jubert (FTL, The Swapper) and Jonas Kyratzes (The Sea Will Claim Everything).

Why similar: Philosophical 36%, Puzzle 24.5%, First-Person 11.3%, Atmospheric 6.9%, Difficult 5.3%

A first-person puzzle game. Simply walk to the door.

Why similar: Abstract 20.4%, Surreal 15.6%, Puzzle 14.1%, Puzzle Platformer 11.2%, Minimalist 11.1%

In this award-winning puzzle adventure game, play as the Traveler on a quest to reunite the Peoples of the Tower. Observe, listen, and decipher ancient languages in a fascinating universe inspired by the Myth of Babel.

Why similar: Puzzle 38.9%, Puzzle Platformer 10.2%, Colorful 9.9%, Atmospheric 7.9%, Adventure 7.1%

Platonic is a first-person puzzle adventure game. Explore five unique worlds. Solve logical challenges. Gather clues and think outside the cube.

Why similar: Nonlinear 17.1%, Philosophical 14.5%, Difficult 14%, Puzzle 11.2%, Exploration 8%

A surrealist indie first-person adventure game based on art and derealization. Explore the idea of a mind losing its grasp with reality, as reality turns into a dream, and that dream turns into a nightmare.

Why similar: Experimental 20.9% ★, Surreal 17.4%, Psychedelic 17.3%, Philosophical 16.3%, Puzzle 6.2%

Think in reverse. Outsmart the impossible. A mind-bending first-person adventure where you solve ingenious and complex puzzles by rewinding objects through time.

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 21.2%, Puzzle 20.6%, First-Person 17.1%, Difficult 16%, Exploration 9.7%

Set sail for a world-changing adventure as you guide Noor in their quest through a series of mind-bending illusions and atmospheric puzzles. Can you unlock the secrets of the mysterious world – and the meaning behind the Sacred Light?

Why similar: Abstract 26.3%, Surreal 20.7%, Puzzle Platformer 14.5%, Puzzle 10.3%, Relaxing 8.5%

Fly between incomprehensible galaxies in this experimental micro game!

Why similar: Abstract 16.4%, Puzzle Platformer 15.9%, Surreal 15.8%, Philosophical 10.7%, Psychedelic 8.7%

Rhombus is a first-person puzzle game where you build your path through panels controlling platforms. Explore and find your way through a compact environment in this small metroidbrainia.

Why similar: Abstract 21.7%, Puzzle Platformer 17%, Minimalist 9.5%, Puzzle 9%, Nonlinear 8.6%

Control a herd of charming creatures called Trebhum and explore an unforgettable alien world filled with exotic lifeforms and surreal environments. Discover dozens of mutations to overcome puzzles, explore new biomes, and survive on a dangerous planet.

Why similar: Surreal 29.5%, Puzzle Platformer 19.8%, Psychedelic 14.2%, Exploration 10.1%, Puzzle 8.8%

The Bridge is a logic puzzle game that forces you to reevaluate your preconceptions of physics and perspective. It is Isaac Newton meets M. C. Escher. Manipulate gravity to redefine the ceiling as the floor while venturing through impossible architectures.

Why similar: Surreal 30%, Puzzle Platformer 24.3%, Puzzle 13.1%, Abstract 8.4%, Difficult 8.4%

Rememoried is an independent video game, a virtual place where memories change to dreams and the only possible way is forgetting, which becomes a mechanism for proceeding to the next layer of dreams. The Surrealist explorative first-person adventure game.

Why similar: Abstract 15.7%, Surreal 14.5%, Experimental 14.3% ★, Psychedelic 14%, Minimalist 5.9%

Tandis is a puzzle game where you discover mind-bending geometric shapes.

Why similar: Experimental 25.3% ★, Abstract 22.2%, Psychedelic 21.3%, Puzzle 8.9%, Minimalist 7.2%

Travel through an overgrown megastructure, and discover what lies beyond it. Metal Garden is a short, atmospheric singleplayer FPS game.

Why similar: Mystery 22.9%, Atmospheric 18.7%, Exploration 17.7%, First-Person 16.3%, Puzzle 10.4%

Delve into an environmental puzzle platformer built on exploring and understanding gravity-shifting structures. You are a voiceless being that has just been born into a world where a bodiless voice awaits your arrival. Go forth and seek your purpose.

Why similar: Philosophical 19.8%, Puzzle Platformer 17.1%, Experimental 12.5% ★, Minimalist 11.1%, Puzzle 10.2%

Discover illusionary pathways and delightful puzzles as you learn the secrets of The Sacred Geometry. Follow the heart warming story of Ro in her journey through motherhood. Rediscover independence through manipulating monuments and evolving paths to explore new, surreal, and mysterious worlds.

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 29.7%, Puzzle 21.3%, Exploration 13.6%, Mystery 11.9%, Relaxing 10.2%

Starseed Pilgrim is a game about tending a symphonic garden, exploring space, and embracing fate.You are a gardener, tending to empty noise and empty space to fill them both with colour.You are a refugee, building your own world away from the spreading darkness.You are an explorer, discovering new places, new rules, and new fascinations.

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 20.9%, Puzzle 20%, Minimalist 19.7%, Difficult 9.8%, Exploration 9.5%

Spread decks of cards to solve challenging spatial puzzles and progress through dream-like landscapes in this award-winning title. Traverse beautifully crafted, isometric puzzles that give way to a wordless coming-of-age story, that invites you to reflect on the formative moments of your own life.

Why similar: Experimental 22.8% ★, Abstract 14%, Philosophical 14%, Surreal 11.9%, Difficult 9.5%

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: Abstract 22.2%, Experimental 20.6% ★, Surreal 16.6%, Philosophical 14.1%, First-Person 10.2%