Games Like The Beginner's Guide

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is an expanded re-imagining of 2013's The Stanley Parable. You will play as Stanley, and you will not play as Stanley. You will make a choice, and you will become powerless. You are not here to win. The Stanley Parable is a game that plays you.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 51.2%, First-Person 13.2%, Story Rich 12.3%, Emotional 7.4%, Atmospheric 4.8%

Why You'll Like It: Created by the same developer, this game shares the same sharp meta-narrative wit and exploration of player agency.

The Stanley Parable is a first person exploration game. You will play as Stanley, and you will not play as Stanley. You will follow a story, you will not follow a story. You will have a choice, you will have no choice. The game will end, the game will never end.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 43%, Psychological 16.1%, First-Person 12.6%, Story Rich 7%, Surreal 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: This foundational meta-narrative experience directly mirrors the experimental and self-aware tone of the seed game.

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 36.9%, Story Rich 22.9%, Atmospheric 10.7%, Great Soundtrack 8.2%, First-Person 8%

Why You'll Like It: An essential narrative experience that uses unique, shifting gameplay mechanics to tell a deeply personal and emotional story.

In a creaky old tavern, in a forgotten corner of the video-game universe, a storm is raging. An anonymous caller suggests that there is a murder plot. Six video game protagonists are the only plausible suspects...

Why similar: Story Rich 32.5%, Great Soundtrack 20.9%, Indie 16.9%, Dark 8.6%, Psychological Horror 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: A brilliant meta-narrative game that explores the lives and struggles of game developers through various genre-bending segments.

This surprising first-person story tells the tale of a heist gone wrong. Encounter high-flying schemers, lovelorn criminals, and more stray kittens than you can shake a stick at.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 29.7%, Experimental 21.2%, Surreal 11.2%, Story Rich 10.5%, First-Person 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: A masterclass in short-form, experimental narrative that uses environmental storytelling to convey complex emotions without dialogue.

Pony Island is a suspense puzzle game in disguise. You are in limbo, trapped in a malevolent and malfunctioning arcade machine devised by the devil himself. It is not a game about ponies.

Why similar: Experimental 29.8%, Great Soundtrack 18.7%, Story Rich 11.6%, Indie 10.1%, Psychological Horror 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: A psychological meta-game that constantly breaks the fourth wall and challenges the player's understanding of the software they are interacting with.

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 68.1%, Story Rich 8.4%, Atmospheric 6.5%, First-Person 6.1%, Great Soundtrack 3.7%

Why You'll Like It: A quintessential walking simulator that excels at intimate, environmental storytelling within a single, detailed location.

An immersive, narrative videogame that retells Joel Green’s 4-year fight against cancer through about two hours of poetic, imaginative gameplay that explores themes of faith, hope and love.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 29.9%, Story Rich 16.2%, Emotional 12%, Great Soundtrack 10.2%, Surreal 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: A deeply personal and emotional narrative game that explores the developer's own life experiences through an interactive medium.

A dark/sad/weird/funny first person exploration game. You play a man on his last night alive as he obsesses over a mysterious painting. More of a story game in that it emphasizes mood and character over gameplay. Takes ten minutes to play and has "next-gen" features like a shrimp tank.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 42.7%, First-Person 12%, Dark 10.7%, Psychological Horror 9%, Indie 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: A short, surreal, and unsettling experience that focuses on psychological depth and abstract storytelling.

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 42.2%, Story Rich 17.8%, Atmospheric 11.8%, First-Person 9.4%, Great Soundtrack 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: Features a strong, character-driven narrative that relies on dialogue and atmosphere to build a compelling mystery.

A 15 minute heist game by Crows Crows Crows & Directed by William Pugh (The Stanley Parable). Slip into the soft-soled shoes of the mastermind responsible for the greatest heist- oh god I can’t do this any more, i’m joining the strike. good luck writing the steam description. -tina

Why similar: Walking Simulator 49.2%, First-Person 17%, Experimental 11.1%, Story Rich 7.7%, Indie 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: A short, hilarious meta-narrative experience that pulls back the curtain on game development in a way similar to the seed game.

Stories Untold is a compilation tape of four experimental adventures, including a remaster of the original hit episode “The House Abandon”.

Why similar: Atmospheric 26.8%, Story Rich 21.8%, Indie 12.6%, Great Soundtrack 12.5%, Psychological Horror 11.1%

Why You'll Like It: An experimental anthology that uses retro aesthetics and meta-narrative elements to create a chilling, psychological experience.

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 28%, Abstract 22.2%, First-Person 20.2%, Indie 8.2%, Psychological 5.1%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal, abstract first-person game that challenges the player's perception of space and logic through non-Euclidean geometry.

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 25.7%, Psychological 24.4%, Story Rich 18.5%, First-Person 17.1%, Psychological Horror 4.8%

Why You'll Like It: A perspective-based puzzle game that uses surreal, dream-like environments to explore themes of perception and reality.

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: Walking Simulator 32.5%, Abstract 21.5%, Surreal 12.5%, Atmospheric 10.6%, First-Person 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: A highly abstract and atmospheric exploration game that focuses on scale and architecture to create a unique sense of place.

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 55.6%, Great Soundtrack 13.3%, Atmospheric 9.2%, Story Rich 9.2%, First-Person 5.2%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric, narrative-driven experience that allows players to piece together a story through environmental clues and ghostly echoes.

Embark on an emotional first-person narrative adventure where you control the story—and affect its outcomes—with your real-life blinks. With this innovative technique you will fully immerse yourself in a world of memories, both joyous and heartbreaking, as your whole life flashes before your eyes.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 21.8%, Story Rich 18.5%, Emotional 17.9%, Philosophical 9.3%, First-Person 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: An experimental, emotional narrative that uses unique input methods to tell a poignant story about the passage of time.

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

Why similar: Walking Simulator 34.2%, First-Person 17.6%, Atmospheric 10.8%, Philosophical 9.5%, Surreal 6%

Why You'll Like It: An abstract, meditative, and highly intellectual first-person exploration game that rewards curiosity and observation.

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 37.5%, Story Rich 21.9%, Great Soundtrack 11.5%, Atmospheric 10.7%, First-Person 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: A short, intimate narrative experience that focuses on uncovering the history of a relationship through environmental exploration.

EPONYMOUS: In Which a Work Is Known by Its Reading is a short-form narrative about unreliable infrastructures.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 24.3%, Abstract 16.5%, Surreal 12.9%, Psychological 12.2%, Atmospheric 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal and abstract psychological experience that mirrors the experimental nature of the seed game.

The Literature Club is full of cute girls! Will you write the way into their heart? This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.

Why similar: Story Rich 27.5%, Great Soundtrack 23.7%, Psychological Horror 17.1%, Dark 13.4%, First-Person 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: A psychological meta-narrative that subverts player expectations and genre tropes in a deeply unsettling way.

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 21.3%, Psychological 15.4%, Surreal 15.2%, Experimental 11.3%, First-Person 11.3%

Why You'll Like It: An experimental puzzle game that allows players to reshape reality using photographs, focusing on surreal and creative mechanics.

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: Abstract 22.2%, Experimental 20.6%, Surreal 16.5%, Philosophical 14.2%, First-Person 10.3%

Why You'll Like It: An abstract, meditative exploration game that features impossible geometry and a focus on perspective.

Explore the mysterious Hotel Norwood in this surreal first-person adventure. Curious characters, forgotten secrets, and head-nodding music await your arrival.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 29.5%, Surreal 16.8%, Great Soundtrack 15.4%, First-Person 11.4%, Atmospheric 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal, music-focused exploration game that feels like stepping into a strange, dream-like narrative world.

Inscryption is an inky black card-based odyssey that blends the deckbuilding roguelike, escape-room style puzzles, and psychological horror into a blood-laced smoothie. Darker still are the secrets inscrybed upon the cards...

Why similar: Story Rich 25.5%, Experimental 20.3%, Psychological 18.9%, Surreal 15.3%, Dark 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: A genre-bending meta-narrative that hides a deep, dark story beneath the surface of a card game.

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

Why similar: Walking Simulator 39.1%, Great Soundtrack 29.2%, Indie 14.5%, Adventure 10.6%, Singleplayer 4.6%

Why You'll Like It: A brief, atmospheric, and heartwarming exploration game that focuses on the joy of discovery and personal journey.

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: Story Rich 49.2%, Atmospheric 24.4%, Indie 14.1%, Singleplayer 7.9%, Puzzle 3.5%

Why You'll Like It: Uses the simple act of unpacking boxes to tell a subtle, emotional, and intimate life story.

Jazzpunk is a comedy adventure set in an alternate reality Cold War World, plagued with corporate espionage, CyberCrime, and sentient martinis. Gameplay is inspired by spoof comedy films and cartoons of yesteryear, with a focus on weird gadgets, exotic locales, and open-world style exploration.

Why similar: Surreal 37.6%, Walking Simulator 20.5%, First-Person 12.8%, Indie 11.2%, Adventure 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal, comedic, and highly experimental game that prioritizes bizarre interactions and world-building over traditional objectives.

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: Atmospheric 18.2%, Story Rich 18.1%, Experimental 17.1%, Great Soundtrack 14.9%, Indie 10.4%

Why You'll Like It: An artistic, abstract puzzle game that uses unique panel-shifting mechanics to tell a wordless, evocative story.

When the Darkness comes is a walking simulator whose glitchy and dark tale tries to illustrate the hardships of depression and anxiety through a variety of imaginary digital landscapes.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 42.3%, First-Person 10.6%, Psychological 7.6%, Psychological Horror 7.5%, Story Rich 7.2%

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 48.9%, Story Rich 11.6%, First-Person 11.1%, Great Soundtrack 8%, Atmospheric 7.9%

A "Blind" simulator that lets you experience a new perspective and immersive sensory journey. Step into a world of darkness using your guide cane.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 32.9%, Experimental 16.2%, Story Rich 13.1%, Psychological 12.1%, Emotional 10.6%

Dream is an exploration game that takes place within the subconscious mind of Howard Phillips, a young man whose waking hours are tedious and dull, but whose dreams are lucid and powerful.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 45.3%, Atmospheric 9.8%, First-Person 9.7%, Indie 8.4%, Great Soundtrack 7.6%

The Space Between is a surreal short narrative experience in three acts about the walls we build for us.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 29.2%, Experimental 19.6%, Surreal 12.2%, Psychological 7.6%, Emotional 7.5%

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 49%, First-Person 14.9%, Story Rich 12.3%, Indie 7.8%, Adventure 6.8%

An experimental short from the creator of To the Moon & Finding Paradise: A simple & surreal 1-hour interactive animation about a boy and an injured bird, told without dialogues.If you're looking for To the Moon-like experience, I'd suggest playing Finding Paradise first.

Why similar: Story Rich 26.8%, Great Soundtrack 25.7%, Walking Simulator 15.7%, Indie 8.4%, Emotional 6.4%

Pleh! is a short psychological horror walking simulator that tells the story of a depressed game developer, his intrusive thoughts and his dark mysterious secrets.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 33.4%, Story Rich 13.8%, Psychological 12.7%, Emotional 10.4%, Atmospheric 6.6%

An uncanny liminal space themed walking-simulator.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 36.3%, Abstract 15.9%, Psychological 12.6%, Emotional 11.2%, Atmospheric 8.1%

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 44%, Atmospheric 11%, Surreal 9.5%, Story Rich 8.7%, First-Person 8.1%

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 39.3%, Story Rich 12.9%, Atmospheric 12.7%, First-Person 11.7%, Great Soundtrack 10.4%

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 34.3%, Story Rich 16.9%, Great Soundtrack 15.2%, Atmospheric 10.1%, Adventure 6.5%

OneShot is a surreal top down Puzzle/Adventure game with unique gameplay capabilities. You are to guide a child through a mysterious world on a mission to restore its long-dead sun. The world knows you exist.

Why similar: Story Rich 30.2%, Great Soundtrack 25.4%, Atmospheric 13.2%, Surreal 11.1%, Indie 7.3%

Proteus is a game about exploration and immersion in a dream-like island world where the soundtrack to your play is created by your surroundings. Played in first-person, the primary means of interaction is simply your presence in the world and how you observe it.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 51.1%, Experimental 18%, First-Person 7.6%, Indie 6.4%, Great Soundtrack 5.4%

“Thing-in-Itself” is a short interactive story about the struggles of understanding another human being. Using Immanuel Kant’s concept as a framework, it leads the player through stages of a relationship, exploring how perceptions may clash and surroundings can alter.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 28.3%, Philosophical 16%, Psychological 13.6%, Story Rich 11.2%, Emotional 11.1%

A game for the ones we lost on the way. Memento Mori is a surreal walking simulator that combines a minimalistic art style and a show don't tell story, focused on dealing with loss.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 40.8%, Surreal 16.3%, Abstract 15.2%, Emotional 7.1%, Atmospheric 5.9%

From the creator of The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide comes Wanderstop, a narrative-centric cozy game about change and tea.

Why similar: Story Rich 48.3%, Adventure 16.2%, Indie 13.4%, Great Soundtrack 9.5%, Psychological Horror 6.4%

wandering into the uncanny concept of liminality, captured in DV tape format you explore what seems to be another dimension, lost in an endless space that looks human-made but isn't.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 49.6%, Psychological 18.7%, First-Person 13.8%, Atmospheric 12.2%, Indie 4.1%

Enter a world that’s utterly surreal and eerily familiar. Escape the mundanity of your existence in an experience that will stay with you. Mosaic is a narrative-driven modern adventure game with a story that lasts about 2-3 hours.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 41.6%, Indie 22.7%, Adventure 16.1%, Atmospheric 13.5%, Dark 6.1%

KENTUCKY ROUTE ZERO is a magical realist adventure game about a secret highway running through the caves beneath Kentucky, and the mysterious folks who travel it.

Why similar: Surreal 25%, Atmospheric 19.5%, Story Rich 17.2%, Great Soundtrack 12.4%, Indie 8%

A short and surreal meta-narrative experience. Explore the gallery and find a way to push The Button...

Why similar: Walking Simulator 30.7%, Psychological 14.2%, Surreal 13.8%, Great Soundtrack 13.5%, Atmospheric 8.4%

A slow burn walking sim with an interactive soundtrack and horror vibes. You explore abstract locations and create your own unique sound for each of them by moving around and using Monoliths.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 44.3%, Surreal 18.3%, Atmospheric 10.8%, First-Person 8.6%, Psychological Horror 5%

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 38.8%, Atmospheric 16.2%, Great Soundtrack 14.4%, First-Person 12.6%, Indie 5%

You are trapped in an endless underground passageway. Observe your surroundings carefully to reach "The Exit 8".

Why similar: Walking Simulator 46.4%, Surreal 13.5%, First-Person 13.3%, Psychological 12.3%, Atmospheric 7.1%

A contemplative experience where you’ll wander through the dreams, memories and fantasies emerging from a dialogue between a grandfather and his grandchild.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 28.5%, Experimental 18.8%, Surreal 12.3%, Story Rich 11.8%, Psychological 10.3%

Emporium is a short interactive vignette. Exploring notions of escapism, loss and a fragmented sense of self in the wake of a personal tragedy.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 18.4%, Experimental 16.9%, Philosophical 13.5%, Surreal 10.2%, Great Soundtrack 9.8%

Lost at sea 1803 ~ The good ship Obra Dinn.

Why similar: Story Rich 27%, Great Soundtrack 17.8%, Atmospheric 16.9%, Walking Simulator 13.6%, First-Person 9.5%

You are on a bleak, cold, windy island. And you seem to be alone... but fires and candles still burn. As you explore, a story of guilt, loneliness, and faith begins to take shape. And it becomes obvious that something is hunting you...

Why similar: Walking Simulator 38.6%, Story Rich 12.5%, Great Soundtrack 12.1%, First-Person 10.4%, Atmospheric 7.9%

Caligo is the darkness everyone descends into one way or another, and to each of us it's something different. For some it's a short but exciting adventure, some will see it as a place to relax. Yet others will be reminded of their worst nightmare, while for a few, it might come as a revelation.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 37.1%, Great Soundtrack 11.4%, Story Rich 9.8%, Psychological 9.1%, Atmospheric 7.8%

Hitchhiker is a mystery game set along lost highways, where your goal is to solve the puzzle of your own backstory.

Why similar: Story Rich 15%, Philosophical 13.3%, Walking Simulator 13%, First-Person 9.7%, Atmospheric 9.6%