Games Like Some Distant Memory

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: Walking Simulator 23.3%, Story Rich 21.5%, Mystery 16.2%, Atmospheric 13.3%, Female Protagonist 9.9%

Why You'll Like It: Like the seed game, this title masterfully uses interactive vignettes to reconstruct the memories and history of a family's past.

Tacoma is a sci-fi narrative adventure from the creators of Gone Home. Set aboard a high-tech space station in the year 2088, explore every detail of how the station’s crew lived and worked, finding the clues that add up to a gripping story of trust, fear, and resolve in the face of disaster.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 21.6%, Sci-fi 17.3%, Story Rich 11.9%, Female Protagonist 11.8%, Adventure 11.5%

Why You'll Like It: You explore a deserted space station and use an AR system to replay past events, mirroring the memory-reconstruction mechanics of ARORA.

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: Walking Simulator 27.4%, Mystery 19.8%, Adventure 15.9%, Atmospheric 13.2%, Indie 11%

Why You'll Like It: A short, poignant exploration of memory and identity that shares the intimate, character-focused storytelling of the seed game.

A post-apocalyptic adventure game from the publisher that brought you Primordia, Gemini Rue and Technobabylon! A young woman stricken with a deadly plague searches for a cure in a hostile world.

Why similar: Post-apocalyptic 33.5%, Female Protagonist 16.6%, Adventure 16.6%, Mystery 9.4%, Indie 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: A post-apocalyptic point-and-click adventure that captures the same sense of searching for hope in a ruined world.

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: Mystery 27.5%, Story Rich 17.5%, Sci-fi 16.5%, Adventure 15.3%, Atmospheric 12.8%

Why You'll Like It: This game centers on archaeological exploration and uncovering the mystery of a lost civilization through environmental clues.

Rocket of Whispers is an award-winning post-apocalyptic adventure that follows two survivors on a journey to launch a space burial for the lost souls of their desolate world. Help them search the snowy wasteland for supplies and the courage to say goodbye.

Why similar: Post-apocalyptic 26%, Female Protagonist 15.4%, Story Rich 14%, Sci-fi 13.7%, Adventure 11.6%

Why You'll Like It: A deeply emotional post-apocalyptic story that focuses on the quiet, melancholic search for remnants of a lost world.

A daring space archaeologist has just unearthed the ancient resting place of a long lost A.I. god known as Grace. Adventure with various fractured A.I. personalities as you uncover the great mystery of why she was shut down all those years ago.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 34.4%, Sci-fi 21.2%, Mystery 16.7%, Story Rich 15.1%, Adventure 11.6%

Why You'll Like It: This sci-fi adventure features a persistent AI companion and focuses on uncovering the mystery of a long-abandoned lunar facility.

Observation is a sci-fi thriller uncovering what happened to Dr. Emma Fisher, and the crew of her mission, through the lens of the station’s artificial intelligence S.A.M.

Why similar: Adventure 30%, Indie 19.2%, Sci-fi 18.9%, Story Rich 7.5%, Mystery 7.1%

Why You'll Like It: You play as the AI of a space station, providing a unique perspective on the narrative that parallels the role of ARORA.

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 28.2%, Mystery 27.9%, Atmospheric 15.7%, Adventure 11.2%, Story Rich 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: It features a detective-like investigation where you reconstruct past events through visions, capturing the investigative feel of Professor Zay.

Whispers of a Machine is a Sci-Fi Nordic Noir that tells the story of Vera, a cybernetically augmented detective in a post-AI world, who investigates a string of murders and unravels a dark conflict over forbidden technology.

Why similar: Adventure 18.5%, Sci-fi 16.9%, Post-apocalyptic 15%, Female Protagonist 13.2%, Mystery 12.2%

Why You'll Like It: A sci-fi detective story that balances mystery and character development with a focus on technology and human history.

Rethink human’s dominion in The Invincible: a story-driven adventure set in a hard sci-fi world by Stanisław Lem. Discover planet Regis III as scientist Yasna, use atompunk tools looking for a missing crew and face unforeseen threats. Make choices in a philosophical story that’s driven by science.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 23%, Sci-fi 18.9%, Mystery 16.1%, Adventure 14.6%, Female Protagonist 14.5%

Why You'll Like It: A hard sci-fi narrative that emphasizes archaeology and the mystery of an alien planet through slow-paced, atmospheric exploration.

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: Female Protagonist 24.6%, Story Rich 20.9%, Adventure 16.3%, Casual 15.7%, Atmospheric 13.2%

Why You'll Like It: This game uses objects to trigger memories and explore the past, directly mirroring the memory-reconstruction theme of the seed game.

Marie's Room is a short story exploration game about an unconventional friendship between two classmates. You play as Kelsey, remembering Marie's room as it was twenty years ago. But something’s off. What happened to Marie?

Why similar: Walking Simulator 20.8%, Story Rich 17.9%, Atmospheric 11.6%, Female Protagonist 11.3%, Mystery 10.9%

Why You'll Like It: A short, narrative-heavy experience that focuses on piecing together the events of the past through objects in a room.

The Fall of Lazarus is first person exploration and puzzle game. A deeply narrative scifi mystery game based on the exploration of an abandoned cargo spaceship about redemption and second chances.

Why similar: Sci-fi 18.7%, Mystery 16.3%, Walking Simulator 14.5%, Adventure 12.8%, Female Protagonist 12.5%

Why You'll Like It: A sci-fi mystery set on a derelict ship that requires the player to piece together what happened through exploration.

Decades have passed and the Actress, Ella, returns to the abandoned theatre to uncover a preserved collection of extraordinary performances. Explore a variety of magical, hand-painted worlds as you collect the lost pieces of the past.

Why similar: Mystery 16.7%, Walking Simulator 16.7%, Female Protagonist 13.5%, Adventure 11.5%, Story Rich 11.4%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric exploration game that uses theatrical performances to tell the story of a forgotten artist's life.

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: Adventure 29.9%, Indie 17.3%, Mystery 15.1%, Female Protagonist 14.9%, Walking Simulator 10.9%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-driven puzzle game that focuses on uncovering the secrets of a mysterious estate through exploration.

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 33.5%, Post-apocalyptic 14.1%, Atmospheric 10.9%, Adventure 8.7%, Story Rich 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric walking simulator that tasks you with uncovering the final moments of a community through echoes of the past.

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: Adventure 30.3%, Walking Simulator 25.1%, Story Rich 18.3%, Atmospheric 14.4%, Indie 12%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal exploration game where you enter the memories of others to understand the history of a world that has ended.

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 25.3%, Mystery 18.9%, Adventure 15.7%, Story Rich 15.7%, Atmospheric 13.7%

Why You'll Like It: While set in a forest, the game relies heavily on dialogue with a remote companion and uncovering a mystery through environmental storytelling.

Intruder In Antiquonia is a narrative mystery adventure that will immerse you in the Internet-hostile town of Antiquonia. Sarah does not remember who she is and how she got there. Help her solve the mysteries of her past while exploring beautiful hand-drawn environments.

Why similar: Mystery 24.3%, Female Protagonist 17.6%, Adventure 16.3%, Story Rich 16.2%, Atmospheric 12.6%

Why You'll Like It: A mystery-adventure game that emphasizes puzzle-solving and uncovering the secrets of a strange town.

Experience the surreal story of Elea. In this first-person Sci-Fi adventure you play as a space scientist recovering your lost husband. Venture out on a curious interstellar journey, full of devastating memories and startling secrets.

Why similar: Adventure 20.7%, Sci-fi 14.8%, Female Protagonist 12.9%, Indie 11.9%, Mystery 11.2%

Why You'll Like It: A sci-fi narrative game that deals with memory, loss, and the search for answers in a futuristic, atmospheric setting.

Home is Where One Starts... is a short, first-person exploration game in the same vein as Dear Esther or Gone Home. It’s a story about childhood, hope, and the miracle of memory. You play as a little girl from a broken home somewhere in the American South.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 24.9%, Adventure 20%, Female Protagonist 13%, Indie 12%, Atmospheric 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: A short, evocative walking simulator that focuses on childhood memories and environmental storytelling.

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 21.8%, Mystery 16.7%, Sci-fi 14.8%, Adventure 13.6%, Story Rich 10.3%

Why You'll Like It: A puzzle-adventure game focused on exploring ancient ruins and deciphering the technology of a lost culture.

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 18.9%, Mystery 17.8%, Female Protagonist 15.1%, Atmospheric 11.9%, Adventure 10.9%

Why You'll Like It: A supernatural mystery that uses dialogue and radio frequencies to uncover secrets, sharing the investigative and atmospheric tone.

To find their way home, two survivors journey to unravel the mysteries of the past.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 20.2%, Mystery 16.1%, Sci-fi 15.2%, Adventure 13.8%, Female Protagonist 11.6%

Why You'll Like It: A beautiful, hand-drawn cooperative adventure that focuses on exploration and discovery without the need for combat.

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: Sci-fi 27.5%, Story Rich 17.4%, Atmospheric 15.1%, Post-apocalyptic 13.4%, Adventure 9.8%

Why You'll Like It: A philosophical puzzle game that explores the nature of AI and human history within a ruined, atmospheric setting.

A surreal first person walking sim about the end of humanity. Explore magnificent sky-bound ruins, and learn why they were built.

Why similar: Post-apocalyptic 28.1%, Walking Simulator 27.5%, Adventure 13.7%, Casual 11.9%, Atmospheric 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: A casual, atmospheric adventure that focuses on a journey through a surreal world, emphasizing discovery and mood.

The Moon has gone dark, cutting off Earth’s last source of energy. As a lone astronaut, you’ll explore abandoned lunar bases, solve intricate puzzles, and navigate stunning zero-gravity environments. Operate advanced vehicles, uncover hidden truths, and survive in this gripping sci-fi thriller.

Why similar: Adventure 27.1%, Sci-fi 19.6%, Indie 14%, Mystery 10.7%, Story Rich 9.6%

Why You'll Like It: A sci-fi thriller that tasks the player with uncovering the mystery of a lunar base to save a dying Earth.

Peregrin is a story puzzle game. A solitary traveller undertakes a perilous voyage through the haunted ruins of a lost civilisation. Seeking to fulfil an ancient prophecy, she will have to use her arcane powers to solve puzzles and survive battles - if she is to find a way to restore the fallen world of Peregrin.

Why similar: Casual 34.6%, Adventure 30.7%, Indie 18.1%, Female Protagonist 16.6%

Why You'll Like It: A puzzle-adventure game that uses unique mechanics to explore a ruined world and its ancient history.

Step into a quiet, abandoned Ukrainian village, left empty after the Calamity. In this short, meditative, and melancholic journey, you’ll rekindle the hearths of deserted homes, restoring warmth and hope to the families who once lived here.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 32.4%, Atmospheric 21%, Adventure 15.3%, Casual 12.5%, Female Protagonist 11.6%

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

Why similar: Walking Simulator 30.5%, Female Protagonist 22.8%, Post-apocalyptic 17.6%, Atmospheric 14.1%, Adventure 12.7%

An archaeologist uncovers a lost history in an ancient space Nebula. Award-winning narrative adventure game with hieroglyphic language puzzles, from the creators of 80 DAYS.

Why similar: Mystery 21.8%, Sci-fi 20.1%, Female Protagonist 16.6%, Adventure 14.7%, Atmospheric 10.3%

STARDROP is an interactive sci-fi cinematic experience.

Why similar: Sci-fi 14.1%, Mystery 12.5%, Walking Simulator 12.3%, Female Protagonist 12.2%, Adventure 11.9%

A classical science fiction point and click adventure which takes you into a deep story and murky atmosphere, while solving logical puzzles. Accompany Tessa Carter and her talking robot as she finds out about herself and searches for a way to survive.

Why similar: 2.5D 25.8%, Sci-fi 16.2%, Female Protagonist 14.4%, Mystery 13.1%, Story Rich 10.5%

Between Horizons is a narrative 2.5D sci-fi detective adventure. 33 years into the Zephyr's journey, its mission is suddenly jeopardized. Can you find the culprit before it's too late? Experience an enthralling story set in a semi-open world that branches and ends based on your choices.

Why similar: 2.5D 32.2%, Sci-fi 21.8%, Female Protagonist 17.5%, Story Rich 14.4%, Adventure 14%

A throw-back, retro-inspired, point and click adventure with chunky and beautiful pixel art

Why similar: Female Protagonist 28.1%, Sci-fi 25.8%, Story Rich 18.9%, Adventure 14.8%, Indie 8.5%

Play as an Artificial Intelligence guiding a stranded xenobiologist through a beautiful and mysterious alien ocean. A non-violent sci-fi story, enter a world of wonder, fear and vulnerability, unraveling the history and ecology of an impossible planet. What will you discover together?

Why similar: Adventure 22.8%, Indie 14.8%, Story Rich 13.5%, Atmospheric 12.3%, Mystery 12%

Forgotten Hope is a short, single-player narrative-driven video game presented through the eyes of a teenage girl who is trying to reconnect with her past to find answers.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 18.2%, Female Protagonist 15.8%, Story Rich 15.7%, Atmospheric 12.7%, Casual 12.1%

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: Post-apocalyptic 27.1%, Mystery 18.4%, Walking Simulator 18.2%, Story Rich 11.2%, Atmospheric 9.9%

A short, atmospheric experience set inside a handcrafted dream. You are a small, solitary citizen drifting through augmented memories. Boot up your LonelyOS and let the robots guide you.

Why similar: Adventure 28.6%, Female Protagonist 26.1%, Atmospheric 23.1%, Story Rich 18.5%, Indie 2.4%

Clinging to the memory of her vanished sisters, an isolated woman wanders a dying reality.

Why similar: Female Protagonist 25.3%, Story Rich 21.7%, Atmospheric 20.7%, Adventure 16%, Mystery 14.7%

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

Why similar: Post-apocalyptic 44%, Mystery 23%, Adventure 15.7%, Casual 13.1%, Singleplayer 4.3%

Explore strange and wonderful islands and dark labyrinths below in this narrative puzzle platformer. Guide young mechanic Mo on her quest to repair a world on the brink of collapse. The powerful Omni Switch at your disposal may not be enough to fix the damage that hides beneath the surface...

Why similar: Post-apocalyptic 29.9%, Mystery 18.2%, Story Rich 12.7%, Adventure 10.8%, Female Protagonist 10.1%

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 28.1%, Mystery 23%, Story Rich 17.6%, Female Protagonist 17.5%, Atmospheric 13.8%

A mysterious plot about a film student who finds herself lost in the world of the dead, the Posthumous Lands. Alongside a purple-haired woman, Coralina must decipher Human Alchemy in this retro adventure with cinematic touches!

Why similar: Mystery 29.7%, Adventure 26.4%, Female Protagonist 25.3%, Atmospheric 18.6%

Explore an archeological site long lost to the ages. Use your time-reversing equipment to reveal the past and discover the secrets amidst the frozen wasteland.

Why similar: Female Protagonist 30.6%, Adventure 28.5%, Atmospheric 19.9%, Mystery 14.2%, Singleplayer 6.8%

The Great Perhaps is a time travel puzzle game about an astronaut returning to Earth destroyed by natural cataclysms. There, among the ruins he finds an unusual artifact — an old lantern, in the light of which you can see glimpses of another time and travel to the past.

Why similar: Post-apocalyptic 24.5%, Adventure 16.7%, Casual 13.6%, Sci-fi 11.4%, Indie 9.9%

A fractured dream of a girl who tried to make something beautiful, and was silenced before she could finish it. Now, her voice resurfaces. A quiet story of memory, loss, and reclaimed authorship—told through fragmented exploration and stark, fragile spaces.

Why similar: Post-apocalyptic 24.5%, Mystery 18.2%, Sci-fi 15.5%, Female Protagonist 13.5%, Atmospheric 10.6%

Enter the pages of the hand painted world of Journal. A journey through the life of a young and troubled girl as she tries to face up to the choices and responsibilities that come with childhood. An experience that questions the reliability of how we choose to remember events and explores the truths hidden within our dreams.

Why similar: Adventure 27.7%, Female Protagonist 22.6%, Walking Simulator 20.1%, Indie 18.4%, Casual 9.2%

In a place called Wind Peaks, mysteries happen, help the scouts find all the missing objects in this fun and relaxing adventure of treasure hunt

Why similar: Sci-fi 23.6%, Female Protagonist 23.1%, Adventure 13.1%, Atmospheric 12.7%, Story Rich 12%

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: Female Protagonist 21.4%, Story Rich 17.9%, Adventure 17.9%, Casual 15.2%, Atmospheric 13.8%

A minimal point and click adventure, designed to take the player on a short but memorable journey.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 34.5%, Adventure 30%, Indie 18.1%, Sci-fi 15.3%, Singleplayer 2.2%

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: Mystery 15.9%, Female Protagonist 15.9%, Adventure 15.3%, Story Rich 13.4%, Walking Simulator 13%

The Uncertain is a story-driven adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Humanity disappeared from the face of the Earth and has been replaced by robots. Together with Emily, one of the survivors, you will have to witness how people try to live in a world ruled by robots.

Why similar: Sci-fi 19.4%, Walking Simulator 17.7%, Female Protagonist 14.8%, Story Rich 14.6%, Adventure 12.9%

Explore the remains of a fallen world from fascinating perspectives! Slip into the role of different animals to uncover the fate of an ancient world. Dive into deep waters, fly at lofty heights, dig underground as a mole or even climb steep cliffs with a mountain goat, there are lots of ways of getting around.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 27.7%, Story Rich 18.9%, Atmospheric 17.5%, Female Protagonist 17.2%, Adventure 13.4%

Retro Machina is a single-player action and exploration game set in a retro-futuristic universe. Experience the journey of a little robot as it solves intricate puzzles and begins unraveling the mysteries of a world long forgotten.

Why similar: Post-apocalyptic 47.3%, Story Rich 16.3%, Adventure 16.1%, Indie 13.7%, Singleplayer 6.6%

BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION is an isometric, point & click adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic future. Explore an unscene landscape, solve puzzles, meet new friends and make powerful enemies, mediate conflicts and fight for your life as you unravel the secrets of the desolate world around you.

Why similar: Post-apocalyptic 28.8%, 2.5D 19.8%, Sci-fi 12.6%, Mystery 12%, Adventure 9.6%

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: Sci-fi 22.2%, Female Protagonist 21.7%, Story Rich 18%, Adventure 17.4%, Atmospheric 16.1%

A short lore exploration puzzle game inspired by walking simulators such as Gone Home, Dear Esther, and Layers of Fear.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 36.7%, Female Protagonist 25.1%, Adventure 23.9%, Atmospheric 14.3%