Games Like Quern - Undying Thoughts

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: Walking Simulator 13%, Investigation 12.2%, Mystery 12%, Puzzle 10.7%, Surreal 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: As a modern remake of a classic, it shares the same deep, interconnected puzzle-solving and sense of place that defines Quern.

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 21.5%, Exploration 16%, Adventure 12.1%, First-Person 10.5%, Mystery 9.9%

Why You'll Like It: The definitive inspiration for the genre, providing a lonely, atmospheric island filled with intricate mechanical puzzles.

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: Walking Simulator 14.2%, Mystery 14.1%, Puzzle 14%, Surreal 11.9%, Exploration 9.8%

Why You'll Like It: Created by the developers of Myst, this game features the same style of immersive, first-person exploration and logic-based progression.

Firmament is a new puzzle-adventure game by the legendary game studio behind the best-selling games Myst and Riven. Featuring deep storytelling and world-building, discover the story of this seemingly abandoned world as you explore and unlock the mysteries of 3 unique Realms… and beyond!

Why similar: Steampunk 15.2% ★, Walking Simulator 11.8%, Mystery 11.2%, Narration 9.5%, Soundtrack 8.9% ★

Why You'll Like It: This title captures the grand, mysterious atmosphere and tactile puzzle mechanics that fans of Quern will find immediately familiar.

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

Why similar: Puzzle 24.3%, Walking Simulator 14.1%, Open World 12.3%, Exploration 11.3%, First-Person 10.8%

Why You'll Like It: It emphasizes non-verbal communication and environmental observation to solve puzzles within a beautiful, open-world setting.

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: Puzzle 35.4%, First-Person 15.6%, Story Rich 12.8%, Atmospheric 12.6%, Exploration 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a sophisticated blend of philosophical narrative and complex, first-person environmental puzzles that challenge your logic.

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: Narration 12.1%, Investigation 11.8%, Puzzle 10.9%, Mystery 10.9%, Walking Simulator 10.8%

Why You'll Like It: Set on a mysterious island, this game balances a strong narrative with satisfying, logic-based puzzles in a first-person perspective.

The disappearance of an ambitious engineer and his high-society wife provokes a hunt for a precious artefact. The trail leads you to the attic of their home, and the discovery of an old, peculiar dollhouse. What secrets lie within these walls?

Why similar: Puzzle 26.6%, Mystery 25%, Point & Click 16.2%, Adventure 6.3%, Story Rich 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: It features incredibly tactile, intricate puzzle boxes that require the same level of attention to detail as Quern's mechanical challenges.

Haven Moon will transport you to a mysterious world where you have to explore abandoned islands and solve their secrets to find a treasure. In this Myst-like game inspired by Jules Verne’s universe, use your senses and intelligence to find your way through secret passages and curious machinery.

Why similar: Steampunk 25% ★, Investigation 13.5%, Mystery 12.5%, Point & Click 10.3%, Walking Simulator 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: A short but evocative adventure that pays direct homage to the Myst-style of exploration and puzzle design.

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: Walking Simulator 14.4%, Surreal 13.7%, Mystery 13.3%, Puzzle 11.1%, First-Person 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: This first-person puzzle game uses light and shadow mechanics to create a meditative, atmospheric experience similar to Quern.

You died. Welcome to XING: The Land Beyond, an atmospheric first-person puzzle adventure for desktops and virtual reality. Enjoy your peaceful escape from the chaotic world of the living, and travel the lands of the dead.

Why similar: Puzzle 24.9%, Adventure 22.8%, Relaxing 17.8%, Atmospheric 15.2%, Story Rich 14.6%

Why You'll Like It: A first-person puzzle adventure set in a beautiful, atmospheric afterlife that focuses on environmental manipulation and exploration.

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: Walking Simulator 24.5%, Puzzle 19.1%, First-Person 13.2%, Story Rich 12.7%, Mystery 12.7%

Why You'll Like It: This sequel expands on the original's puzzle mechanics with even more expansive environments and deep, thought-provoking themes.

Investigate an infamous cold case in the eerie, abandoned town of Painscreek. Search for evidence, connect the dots and uncover who killed Vivian Roberts. Can you expose the truth behind this town’s dark secrets?

Why similar: Investigation 19.4%, Mystery 13.8%, Walking Simulator 12.1%, Puzzle 7.6%, Narration 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: While more investigative, it shares the same focus on exploration and piecing together a story through environmental clues.

Go on a voyage of discovery following the traces of a mysterious culture. Discover diverse landscapes, investigate abandoned artifacts, and wake strange machines from their slumber.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 19.5%, Mystery 12.3%, Puzzle 12%, Open World 8.3%, Exploration 8%

Why You'll Like It: A first-person puzzle adventure that tasks you with uncovering the secrets of an ancient civilization through environmental logic.

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: Surreal 23%, Puzzle 16.4%, Mystery 14.1%, First-Person 11.7%, Exploration 10.3%

Why You'll Like It: It features mind-bending, non-Euclidean geometry and physics-based puzzles that encourage a fresh way of looking at the environment.

INFRA puts you into the boots of a structural analyst on a routine mission. Quickly though, your task turns into a fight for survival, all caused by deep-rooted schemes of the past. Your tools are simple: your camera and the wits to navigate a labyrinth of debris.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 22.4%, Puzzle 14.4%, Mystery 14.3%, Exploration 11.3%, Atmospheric 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on exploration and environmental puzzle-solving within a decaying, industrial setting that feels grounded and mysterious.

Embark on a quest for identity through time, as you piece together the puzzle of two lives.

Why similar: Steampunk 19.7% ★, Narration 11.2%, Cinematic 10.6%, Investigation 9.9%, Mystery 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: Offers a rich, story-driven experience with intricate puzzles that are deeply integrated into the world's lore.

Welcome to the Museum! Machinika Museum is a mystery game where you discover beautiful and mysterious machines of extra-terrestrial origins in an atmospheric galaxy-spanning 3D puzzle game. Will you be able to understand their stories and discover what happened to their previous owner?

Why similar: Investigation 17%, Mystery 15.6%, Narration 13.9%, Point & Click 12.7%, Puzzle 11.5%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the tactile, mechanical aspect of puzzle-solving as you repair mysterious artifacts in a sci-fi setting.

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: Narration 23.8%, Surreal 18.8%, Puzzle 13.5%, First-Person 11.4%, Exploration 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: It introduces a unique perspective-based mechanic that challenges how you perceive and interact with the game world.

The stage is set. Imagine an old baroque manor, perhaps a hotel or a museum, somewhere in central Europe. A woman wanders in search of answers.

Why similar: Puzzle 28.5%, Mystery 24.4%, Exploration 14.8%, Adventure 14.5%, Story Rich 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: A non-linear, surreal mystery game that rewards players for connecting disparate clues and solving complex, layered puzzles.

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: Narration 33.2%, Puzzle 16.2%, First-Person 14%, Exploration 13.8%, Story Rich 12.5%

Why You'll Like It: A physics-based puzzle game that requires players to manipulate gravity and magnetism to navigate a mysterious, isolated facility.

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

Why similar: Mystery 18.2%, Open World 13.6%, Puzzle 12.8%, First-Person 10.3%, Relaxing 10.3%

Why You'll Like It: A massive, open-world puzzle game that encourages exploration and discovery across diverse, floating landscapes.

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

Why similar: Mystery 15.1%, Walking Simulator 14.8%, Puzzle 13.2%, First-Person 10%, Surreal 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: A first-person puzzle game that focuses on color-based logic and environmental interaction.

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 30.9%, Puzzle 16.1%, First-Person 14%, Exploration 12.6%, Adventure 12.1%

Why You'll Like It: A first-person exploration game that allows you to solve puzzles at your own pace while uncovering a fragmented narrative.

Explore a beautiful and Enigmatic Victorian Manor with a dark secret, In this gothic horror story first person exploration puzzle game filled with fine art, secret passages and mysterious mechanical puzzles playing as the executor of the last will from the enigmatic Railroad Magnate Hadley Strange.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 17.5%, Narration 16.3%, Mystery 13.1%, Puzzle 9.9%, Investigation 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: An escape-room style game that focuses on exploring a grand estate and solving its many hidden mechanical secrets.

Neyyah is a first-person point-and-click adventure game from Defy Reality Entertainment. You are thrown into a strange secretive world called Neyyah. Use careful observation and logic to uncover the mysteries entwined within Neyyah's peculiar landscapes and bizarre cultures.

Why similar: Steampunk 19.2% ★, Mystery 13%, Cinematic 12.4%, Point & Click 11%, First-Person 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: A classic-style first-person adventure that emphasizes exploration and intricate, logic-based puzzles on a mysterious island.

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: Puzzle 20.1%, Surreal 18.2%, Exploration 13.3%, Walking Simulator 10.8%, Atmospheric 10.5%

Why You'll Like It: A minimalist, atmospheric puzzle game that relies entirely on environmental cues rather than text or dialogue.

Investigate. Interrogate. Descend into a world of intrigue to untangle the Mystery of the Malign.

Why similar: Investigation 23.1%, Mystery 21.6%, Puzzle 13.6%, Story Rich 9.9%, Atmospheric 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: A mystery-focused puzzle game that encourages careful observation of the environment to uncover the truth.

MIND: Path to Thalamus is a First Person Puzzler that throws you into a fantastic and surreal environment. You will bend the natural elements to your will in order to progress in this emotive, mindbending tale. Now also in Virtual Reality!

Why similar: Walking Simulator 28.9%, Surreal 20.8%, Puzzle 16.7%, Atmospheric 10%, First-Person 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal, first-person puzzle game that uses environmental manipulation to explore the protagonist's psyche.

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: Puzzle 26.2%, Adventure 21.5%, Mystery 20.2%, Walking Simulator 17.8%, Atmospheric 11.5%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-driven puzzle game set in a mysterious, atmospheric forest that emphasizes exploration and discovery.

Released in 2014, experience one of the first 3D adaptations of the renowned puzzle-adventure game Myst! Each discovery you make, every puzzle you solve, will bring you closer to reversing a wrong that has gone unchecked for ages.

Why similar: Puzzle 17.6%, Point & Click 15.7%, Mystery 15.5%, Adventure 10.2%, Exploration 10%

Explore an abandoned building, encountering puzzles and clues to discover what happened, as you try to escape in both your nightmares and the waking world. Be immersed in the hauntingly beautiful 3D atmosphere in this puzzle exploration mystery game.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 22.5%, Mystery 16.3%, Puzzle 15.5%, Atmospheric 13.4%, Exploration 11.5%

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 16.6%, Investigation 14.9%, Mystery 13.7%, Cinematic 11.2%, Drama 7.5%

The Old City: Leviathan is an experiment in first person exploration that focuses entirely on story. All that exists is you and the world. Set in a decaying city from a civilization long past, The Old City: Leviathan puts the player in the shoes of a sewer dwelling isolationist.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 35.5%, Surreal 13.8%, Atmospheric 12.7%, Exploration 12.6%, First-Person 9.7%

This story-driven adventure follows a mystery of death and despair from reality into the surreal realms of objective memories and subjective experiences. Search the mind, solve puzzles, and unravel the dark truth in this psychological thriller.

Why similar: Investigation 21.9%, Walking Simulator 17.8%, Surreal 16%, Mystery 12.4%, First-Person 6.9%

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 29.6%, Adventure 15.7%, Story Rich 14%, Atmospheric 12.5%, Surreal 8.6%

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 20.1%, Mystery 12.4%, First-Person 8.4%, Exploration 8.1%, Atmospheric 7.9%

Atmospheric first person adventure game focusing on immersion and exploration. Meet strange characters, discover secrets and try to unfold the mystery of the Fragmentation.

Why similar: Mystery 20.6%, Investigation 18.2%, First-Person 13.1%, Exploration 12.9%, Atmospheric 11.1%

Dear Esther immerses you in a stunningly realised world, a remote and desolate island somewhere in the outer Hebrides. As you step forwards, a voice begins to read fragments of a letter: 'Dear Esther...' - and so begins a journey through one of the most original first-person games of recent years.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 19.4%, Narration 13.8%, Investigation 10.5%, Puzzle 9.2%, Exploration 7.9%

Door2:Key - breathtaking and mysterious door-puzzle game in which any little thing could be a key to the solution

Why similar: Walking Simulator 20.2%, Mystery 15.8%, Adventure 15.1%, Puzzle 11.4%, Open World 11.3%

Can you escape from Waterfall Tower? A puzzle-focused escape room game, made in the vein of the classic graphic adventures of old.

Why similar: Narration 16.2%, Walking Simulator 15.4%, Investigation 13.4%, Point & Click 10.2%, Mystery 9.1%

The Silent Swan is a contemplative first-person narrative experience across a megalithic, derelict world. Mixing elements from both walking simulator and open levels.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 16.2%, Narration 15.5%, Mystery 12.4%, Drama 10.3%, Open World 9.1%

Submachine is a hand-drawn puzzle adventure game. You find yourself in a vast network of desolate locations containing puzzles, secrets, notes and items to collect to help you along the way. Follow the story of a banished lighthouse keeper to discover his descent into ruins.

Why similar: Point & Click 18.7%, Steampunk 16.4% ★, Puzzle 15.5%, Mystery 14.4%, Exploration 11.6%

REVEIL is a narrative first-person psycho-thriller game that focuses on story, puzzles and exploration. Find out what’s going on inside Walter Thompson and what his dark past at the Nelson Bros Circus has to do with it.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 20.1%, Surreal 14.1%, Mystery 13.6%, Puzzle 9.3%, First-Person 8.7%

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 29.6%, Story Rich 14.3%, Adventure 12.4%, Atmospheric 12.1%, Mystery 11.5%

Cradle is a sci-fi first-person-view quest designed for the player to explore the surrounding world. The story is built around the relations of the protagonist and a mechanical girl who by quirk of fate found themselves amidst the desert.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 17.2%, First-Person 13.4%, Adventure 13.2%, Puzzle 12.6%, Atmospheric 12.3%

Step into the mind of John Morley, a 1940s detective on his final case. Explore shadowed places long forgotten by time, and piece together crime scenes in a narrative adventure steeped in mystery, unexpected twists, and a truth buried for decades.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 21.2%, Mystery 15.7%, Puzzle 11.6%, Exploration 9.6%, First-Person 9.4%

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: Surreal 18.3%, Puzzle 15.4%, Mystery 12.7%, Exploration 12.2%, First-Person 10.2%

Zof is a first person point and click puzzle game with a difference. The solutions are always simple, but hidden more and more carefully as the game goes on.

Why similar: Investigation 25%, Point & Click 14.9%, Puzzle 13.6%, Steampunk 11.9% ★, First-Person 9.2%

Mechanism - - an adventure game about a lonely robot. Dive into a depressive steampunk world which has been infected with a strange disease called "Phlegm".

Why similar: Steampunk 34.2% ★, Walking Simulator 10.4%, Puzzle 9.5%, Mystery 8.6%, Adventure 8.4%

The Uncertain is an story-driven adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Experience the mysterious vibe of each of carefully explored locations, solve diverse puzzles, make fateful decisions and discuss intriguing matters to find out the whole truth being kept from you.

Why similar: Point & Click 20.9%, Puzzle 19.6%, Adventure 16.8%, Atmospheric 16.4%, Story Rich 13.2%

The classic Myst experience with point and click controls, released as a remaster to the original in 2000. Enter a world where nothing is as it seems... and adventure knows no bounds!

Why similar: Point & Click 18.5%, Adventure 15.1%, Puzzle 13.3%, Steampunk 12.8% ★, Mystery 10.3%

A land of discovery stretches out before you. Explore the beautiful, rugged world of RiME. Armed with your wits and a will to overcome—and the guidance of a helpful fox—you must explore the enigmatic island, reach the tower's peak, and unlock its closely guarded secrets.

Why similar: Puzzle 22.6%, Exploration 16.9%, Atmospheric 15%, Adventure 12.2%, Open World 8.8%

Become the custodian of a store dealing in occult antiquities. Explore the quaint and gloomy town of Undermere, where strange goings-on and dark mysteries abound. Find and identify arcane artefacts, use your collection to aid the townsfolk with their unusual problems — and remember to pet your cat!

Why similar: Investigation 21.1%, Mystery 16%, Point & Click 12.5%, Puzzle 10.6%, Relaxing 8.5%

BLACKSHARD is a first-person exploration game. Wander through a strange megastructure, the Labyrinth, to unravel its mysteries... Your behavior within the Labyrinth will define the outcome of your journey. What path will you choose to take?

Why similar: Walking Simulator 25.6%, Narration 18.4%, Surreal 13.4%, Mystery 12.5%, Exploration 6.9%

N.E.R.O. is a wonderful journey in a world of incredible beauty, a story driven first-person game with puzzles and intuitive controls where the environment is connected to the characters and their past. The world of N.E.R.O. is magical and varied, making exploring an ongoing challenge.

Why similar: Narration 27.4%, Walking Simulator 25.3%, Puzzle 15%, Adventure 10.2%, Atmospheric 10%

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: Walking Simulator 18.2%, Cinematic 13%, Investigation 12.6%, Point & Click 10.1%, First-Person 7.7%

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 20.6%, Surreal 20.4%, Puzzle 12.2%, Investigation 10.7%, Exploration 8.9%

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 26.3%, Mystery 21.5%, Atmospheric 10.8%, First-Person 8.6%, Exploration 8.3%