- #1 Viewfinder
97% matchVery Positive94% of 11,827 reviews2023
Dev: Sad Owl StudiosPub: Thunderful Publishing
Windows
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 4.4 hrs≥1hr: 76%
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: Puzzle Platformer 33.1%, Surreal 21.6%, Puzzle 14.2%, Platformer 11.1%, Atmospheric 9.2%
Why You'll Like It: This game challenges your perception by allowing you to bring 2D photographs into a 3D space to alter the environment, much like the sign-hopping mechanic.
- #2 Superliminal
96% matchVery Positive95% of 32,646 reviews2020
Dev: Pillow Castle
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.0 hrsMean: 5.1 hrs≥1hr: 85%
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 29.2%, Puzzle Platformer 24.7%, Puzzle 21.9%, Minimalist 12.8%, Colorful 6.6%
Why You'll Like It: It forces you to rethink spatial relationships through forced perspective, creating a surreal experience similar to the logic of The Pedestrian.
- #3 Manifold Garden
96% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 8,118 reviews2020
Dev: William Chyr Studio
Windows
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 5.4 hrs≥1hr: 79%
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: Puzzle Platformer 21.9%, Surreal 20.1%, Puzzle 13.1%, Minimalist 11.6%, Mystery 9.9%
Why You'll Like It: This game features non-Euclidean architecture and gravity manipulation that requires the same spatial awareness as navigating the signs in The Pedestrian.
- #4 COCOON
94% matchVery Positive95% of 8,481 reviews2023
Dev: Geometric InteractivePub: Annapurna Interactive
Windows
Median: 4.3 hrsMean: 4.5 hrs≥1hr: 82%
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 Platformer 36.5%, Puzzle 30.1%, Atmospheric 12.5%, Adventure 11.7%, 3D 9.2%
Why You'll Like It: The mechanic of carrying worlds within worlds mirrors the recursive, nested nature of navigating between signs in The Pedestrian.
- #5 FEZ
95% matchVery Positive93% of 16,036 reviews2013
Dev: Polytron CorporationPub: Trapdoor
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 1.3 hrsMean: 4.4 hrs≥1hr: 56%
Gomez is a 2D creature living in a 2D world. Or is he? When the existence of a mysterious 3rd dimension is revealed to him, Gomez is sent out on a journey that will take him to the very end of time and space. Use your ability to navigate 3D structures from 4 distinct classic 2D perspectives.
Why similar: Platformer 35.2%, Puzzle 25.4%, Puzzle Platformer 14.1%, Mystery 8.1%, 2.5D 5.4%
Why You'll Like It: Like The Pedestrian, this game revolves around rotating a 2D world within a 3D space to reveal new paths and solve spatial puzzles.
- #6 Creaks
94% matchVery Positive95% of 5,721 reviews2020
Dev: Amanita Design
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 4.9 hrs≥1hr: 77%
The ground starts shaking, light bulbs are breaking - and something rather unusual is happening right behind the walls of your very room. Equipped with nothing but wit and courage, you slowly descend into a world inhabited by avian folk and seemingly deadly furniture monsters.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 23.3%, Surreal 17.5%, Puzzle 11.5%, Mystery 11.4%, Platformer 9.7%
Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric 2D puzzle-platformer that shares the hand-drawn, cohesive aesthetic and clever environmental puzzle design.
- #7 Taiji
92% matchVery Positive91% of 1,371 reviews2022
Dev: Matthew VanDevander
Windows
Median: 6.1 hrsMean: 9.3 hrs≥1hr: 78%
Solve puzzle panels and uncover the meaning of the symbols within. Explore a dense world where secrets are hidden in plain sight.
Why similar: Logic 19.3%, Surreal 16.5%, Puzzle 15.3%, Female Protagonist 11.8%, Minimalist 11.6%
Why You'll Like It: Focuses on non-linear, logic-based environmental puzzles that require the player to interpret the world's visual language.
- #8 The Witness
93% matchVery Positive85% of 20,427 reviews2016
Dev: Thekla, Inc.
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 12.3 hrs≥1hr: 77%
You wake up, alone, on a strange island full of puzzles that will challenge and surprise you.
Why similar: Puzzle 45.3%, Colorful 12.1%, Atmospheric 12%, Mystery 10.2%, Surreal 8.8%
Why You'll Like It: A deep, logic-heavy environmental puzzle game that rewards observation and understanding the rules of the world around you.
- #9 Gorogoa
91% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 19,841 reviews2017
Dev: Buried SignalPub: Annapurna Interactive
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.4 hrsMean: 6.0 hrs≥1hr: 86%
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 51.7%, Mystery 17%, Atmospheric 16.5%, Surreal 8.3%, Adventure 6.4%
Why You'll Like It: It uses a unique layered, perspective-shifting mechanic where you manipulate panels to solve puzzles, mirroring the sign-based navigation of the seed game.
- #10 Paper Trail
90% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 853 reviews2024
Dev: Newfangled Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.7 hrsMean: 4.8 hrs≥1hr: 56%
Paper Trail is a top-down puzzle adventure about leaving home, set in a foldable, paper world.
Why similar: Puzzle 28.5%, Atmospheric 19.8%, Female Protagonist 16.8%, Colorful 15.2%, Relaxing 11.3%
Why You'll Like It: The core mechanic involves folding the world to connect paths, which feels like a natural evolution of the sign-rearranging puzzles.
- #11 The Unfinished Swan
91% matchVery Positive84% of 1,918 reviews2020
Dev: Giant SparrowPub: Annapurna Interactive
Windows
Median: 2.3 hrsMean: 5.3 hrs≥1hr: 76%
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: Puzzle Platformer 30.3%, Surreal 21.3%, Puzzle 15.4%, Minimalist 11%, Mystery 10.7%
Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric exploration game that uses perspective and discovery to reveal the environment, matching the sense of wonder found in The Pedestrian.
- #12 Portal 2
89% matchOverwhelmingly Positive99% of 456,665 reviews2011
Dev: Valve
Windows · Linux
Median: 9.0 hrsMean: 29.7 hrs≥1hr: 92%
The "Perpetual Testing Initiative" has been expanded to allow you to design co-op puzzles for you and your friends!
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 35%, Platformer 21.8%, Female Protagonist 18.7%, Puzzle 16.3%, Atmospheric 8.1%
Why You'll Like It: The gold standard for spatial puzzle-solving, utilizing portals to navigate complex environments in a way that feels inherently connected to the logic of The Pedestrian.
- #13 Carto
88% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 9,158 reviews2020
Dev: Sunhead GamesPub: Balor Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 5.6 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Carto is a charming adventure game wrapped around a unique, world-altering puzzle mechanic. Use this power to explore mysterious lands, help a quirky cast of characters, and guide Carto on her journey back to her family.
Why similar: Female Protagonist 17%, Puzzle 16.6%, Relaxing 14.3%, Cute 14.2%, Family Friendly 12.8%
Why You'll Like It: You manipulate the world map itself to create new paths, offering a tactile and satisfying puzzle experience similar to rearranging signs.
- #14 Maquette
89% matchMostly Positive70% of 651 reviews2021
Dev: Graceful DecayPub: Annapurna Interactive
Windows
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 4.5 hrs≥1hr: 79%
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 31.3%, Puzzle 19.5%, Mystery 11.3%, Emotional 11.2%, Adventure 9.4%
Why You'll Like It: This game features a recursive world where objects change size based on their placement, demanding the same type of clever spatial thinking.
- #15 The Gardens Between
87% matchVery Positive94% of 2,728 reviews2018
Dev: The Voxel Agents
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.4 hrsMean: 8.0 hrs≥1hr: 69%
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: Logic 16%, Surreal 15.5%, Emotional 14%, Mystery 10.7%, Female Protagonist 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: A beautiful, short puzzle game that uses time manipulation to navigate surreal, dreamlike environments.
- #16 Hue
86% matchVery Positive92% of 11,146 reviews2016
Dev: Fiddlesticks GamesPub: Curve Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 1.0 hrsMean: 10.5 hrs≥1hr: 50%
Hue is a vibrant, award-winning puzzle-adventure, where you alter the world by changing its background colour.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 33.3%, Platformer 18.5%, Puzzle 18.5%, Side Scroller 11%, Colorful 7.8%
Why You'll Like It: A color-shifting platformer that forces you to change the environment to progress, requiring quick thinking and spatial awareness.
- #17 Metrico+
86% matchMostly Positive72% of 218 reviews2016
Dev: Digital Dreams
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 30 minMean: 5.7 hrs≥1hr: 33%
Explore this unique world of infographics: All the bar charts, line diagrams and pie charts react to what you are doing. Metrico+ is a combination of exploration, skill, experimentation, but most of all: thinking outside of the box. Are you smart enough to solve all the mysteries?
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 20.7%, Side Scroller 16.2%, 2.5D 11.9%, Minimalist 10.2%, Puzzle 8.6%
Why You'll Like It: An abstract puzzle-platformer where the world reacts to your movements, requiring careful planning and spatial logic.
- #18 Aspire: Ina's Tale
84% matchVery Positive83% of 419 reviews2021
Dev: Wondernaut StudioPub: Untold Tales
Windows
Median: 2.0 hrsMean: 3.7 hrs≥1hr: 61%
Set out on a mystical adventure of self-discovery against the backdrop of fantastical landscapes of The Tower. Meet its dwellers and unravel their stories. Manipulate spirits to solve puzzles, and lead Ina on her path to freedom.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 23.1%, Surreal 17.9%, Female Protagonist 12.7%, Platformer 11.8%, 2D Platformer 9.7%
Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric puzzle-platformer that shares the visual charm and environmental puzzle focus of the seed game.
- #19 A Monster's Expedition
84% matchVery Positive95% of 1,579 reviews2020
Dev: Draknek & Friends
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.3 hrsMean: 9.1 hrs≥1hr: 76%
An adorable and relaxing open world puzzle adventure for monsters who love to learn about humans!
Why similar: Surreal 20%, Puzzle 18.2%, Family Friendly 15.2%, Relaxing 12.3%, Cute 10.8%
Why You'll Like It: A masterful open-world sokoban game that rewards spatial reasoning and creative pathfinding.
- #20 Semblance
85% matchVery Positive85% of 398 reviews2018
Dev: NyamakopPub: Good Shepherd Entertainment
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.2 hrsMean: 3.0 hrs≥1hr: 52%
Semblance is an innovative platformer with deformable terrain, set in a beautiful minimalist world. It’s a game that asks, what if you could deform and reshape the world itself? Semblance takes the idea of a ‘platform’ in a platformer and turns it on its head.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 20.4%, Side Scroller 15.2%, Platformer 11.1%, Minimalist 9.6%, Puzzle 8.5%
Why You'll Like It: A puzzle-platformer where you can deform the world itself, offering a unique take on environmental interaction.
- #21 Patrick's Parabox
82% matchOverwhelmingly Positive99% of 5,385 reviews2022
Dev: Patrick Traynor
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 5.3 hrsMean: 9.8 hrs≥1hr: 79%
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: Logic 45.3%, Puzzle 28.2%, Minimalist 26.5%
Why You'll Like It: A recursive sokoban-style puzzle game that explores the concept of infinite space in a very clever, minimalist way.
- #22 Antichamber
83% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 17,576 reviews2013
Dev: Alexander BrucePub: Demruth
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.4 hrsMean: 4.4 hrs≥1hr: 75%
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: Puzzle 41.3%, Surreal 39.8%, Minimalist 7.7%, Atmospheric 4.3%, Adventure 3.7%
Why You'll Like It: A non-Euclidean puzzle game that constantly subverts your expectations of space and geometry.
- #23 The Last Campfire
80% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 18,750 reviews2021
Dev: Hello Games
Windows
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 5.8 hrs≥1hr: 83%
The Last Campfire is an adventure, a story of a lost ember trapped in a puzzling place, searching for meaning and a way home.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 19.2%, Emotional 16.5%, Puzzle 15.4%, Relaxing 10.9%, Family Friendly 9.5%
Why You'll Like It: A charming, puzzle-heavy adventure that focuses on environmental interaction and atmospheric storytelling.
- #24 Braid
82% matchVery Positive93% of 9,899 reviews2009
Dev: Number None
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 1.7 hrsMean: 4.3 hrs≥1hr: 61%
This is the original version of Braid from 2009, which may not work well on newer systems. For an updated version of the game with nicer graphics, more levels and a large amount of developer commentary, see Braid, Anniversary Edition.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 47.9%, 2D Platformer 17.7%, Platformer 16%, Puzzle 13.9%, Side Scroller 2.6%
Why You'll Like It: A classic puzzle-platformer that uses time-bending mechanics to solve spatial challenges, sharing the intellectual satisfaction of The Pedestrian.
- #25 The Talos Principle
81% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 32,657 reviews2014
Dev: CroteamPub: Devolver Digital
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 14.9 hrs≥1hr: 87%
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 60.7%, Atmospheric 22%, Mystery 11.1%, Adventure 6.2%
Why You'll Like It: A complex environmental puzzle game that blends philosophical themes with intricate spatial mechanics.
- #26 Monument Valley 3
77% matchVery Positive93% of 1,911 reviews2025
Dev: ustwo games
Windows
Median: 2.8 hrsMean: 40.3 hrs≥1hr: 78%
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: Puzzle Platformer 22.7%, Surreal 19.1%, Puzzle 12%, Relaxing 11.8%, Female Protagonist 11.7%
- #27 Thomas Was Alone
81% matchVery Positive94% of 9,347 reviews2012
Dev: Bithell Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.5 hrsMean: 3.1 hrs≥1hr: 57%
Guide a group of rectangles through 120 levels, using their different skills together to overcome a series of obstacles in each environment. Discover the human-made story of the first sentient artificial intelligences with Danny Wallace’s BAFTA-winning narration.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 20.3%, Side Scroller 18.1%, Platformer 13.6%, 2D Platformer 12.5%, Mystery 8.8%
Why You'll Like It: A minimalist, narrative-driven platformer that uses simple shapes to create a deeply engaging and clever puzzle experience.
- #28 Baba Is You
79% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 23,702 reviews2019
Dev: Hempuli Oy
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 13.3 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Baba Is You is a puzzle game where the rules you have to follow are present as blocks you can interact with. By manipulating them, you can change how the game works, repurpose things you find in the levels and cause surprising interactions!
Why similar: Puzzle 39.9%, Logic 37.3%, Cute 11.3%, Minimalist 6.5%, Surreal 3.6%
Why You'll Like It: A logic-based puzzle game that forces you to rewrite the rules of the game, providing a similar 'aha!' moment to The Pedestrian.
- #29 Unpacking
78% matchVery Positive93% of 39,045 reviews2021
Dev: Witch BeamPub: Balor Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 5.2 hrs≥1hr: 86%
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: Relaxing 28.7%, Puzzle 17.3%, Cute 16%, Female Protagonist 13.4%, Family Friendly 9.2%
Why You'll Like It: While different in genre, it shares the satisfying, tactile nature of organizing space to solve environmental puzzles.
- #30 Monument Valley
77% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 8,203 reviews2022
Dev: ustwo games
Windows
Median: 2.6 hrsMean: 10.9 hrs≥1hr: 76%
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 Platformer 18.3%, Puzzle 17.9%, Relaxing 16.1%, Female Protagonist 15%, Emotional 14.8%
- #31 Ever Forward
79% matchVery Positive82% of 278 reviews2020
Dev: Pathea Games
Windows
Median: 1.3 hrsMean: 2.6 hrs≥1hr: 57%
A girl trapped in a strange world somewhere between reality and imagination. Help her find her way in this adventure puzzle game.
Why similar: Adventure 23.9%, Puzzle 22.1%, Female Protagonist 20.3%, Platformer 8.7%, Mystery 7.5%
Why You'll Like It: A clean, atmospheric puzzle-platformer that emphasizes logic and environmental navigation.
- #32 Monument Valley 2
76% matchVery Positive93% of 3,902 reviews2022
Dev: ustwo games
Windows
Median: 1.9 hrsMean: 14.0 hrs≥1hr: 83%
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 26.7%, Puzzle 14.2%, Emotional 13.7%, Mystery 11.3%, Female Protagonist 9.4%
- #33 Q.U.B.E. 2
78% matchVery Positive84% of 1,718 reviews2018
Dev: Toxic GamesPub: Trapped Nerve Games
Windows
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 5.0 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Q.U.B.E. 2 is the sequel to the hit first-person puzzle game Q.U.B.E. You are Amelia Cross, a stranded archaeologist who has awoken among the ruins of an ancient alien landscape. With the distant help of another survivor you must solve the puzzles of this mysterious world and find a way back home.
Why similar: Puzzle 34.8%, Adventure 21.2%, Female Protagonist 21%, Puzzle Platformer 11.6%, Atmospheric 6.7%
Why You'll Like It: A first-person puzzle game that requires manipulating the environment to create paths, similar to the sign-based logic.
- #34 The Almost Gone
76% matchVery Positive80% of 1,195 reviews2020
Dev: Happy VolcanoPub: Playdigious Originals
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.4 hrsMean: 3.5 hrs≥1hr: 65%
Experience the intricate dioramas and connections of your life, and the ripples we all make, in this award-winning narrative puzzle game about death, loss, and mental health.
Why similar: Mystery 17.4%, Puzzle 15.3%, Minimalist 12.7%, Emotional 12.6%, Surreal 11.6%
- #35 Lost in Play
72% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 8,176 reviews2022
Dev: Happy Juice GamesPub: Joystick Ventures
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.3 hrsMean: 5.7 hrs≥1hr: 83%
Solve puzzles, riddles, and embark on an exciting journey of discovery! Join Toto and Gal as they explore dreamscapes and befriend magical creatures. Lost in their imagination, the brother and sister must stick together and solve puzzles to find their way home.
Why similar: Mystery 19.9%, Surreal 18%, Puzzle 17.2%, Female Protagonist 15.1%, Family Friendly 10.3%
- #36 In My Shadow
75% matchVery Positive81% of 70 reviews2021
Dev: PlaybaePub: Alcon Interactive Group
Windows
Play with shadows using your imagination to solve brain twisting platforming puzzles as you unfold a journey of loss, nostalgia and acceptance.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 15.1%, Logic 13.3%, Side Scroller 12%, Emotional 8.4%, 2D Platformer 8%
- #37 With My Past
71% matchVery Positive95% of 344 reviews2024
Dev: Imagine Wings StudioPub: Edigger
Windows
"How should I face my past in my ever-changing life? "Collaborating with the shadow of the past to unravel allegorical puzzles, confront inner struggles, and explore the path of self-growth.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 27.8%, Side Scroller 15%, Female Protagonist 14.2%, Platformer 11.5%, 2D Platformer 11.4%
- #38 LEGO® Builder's Journey
73% matchVery Positive83% of 4,251 reviews2021
Dev: Light Brick StudioPub: LEGO® Games
Windows
Median: 1.9 hrsMean: 2.7 hrs≥1hr: 62%
LEGO Builder’s Journey is an atmospheric, geometric puzzle game that asks us to sometimes follow the instructions… and sometimes to break the rules.
Why similar: Building 17.9%, Puzzle 15.8%, Relaxing 15.8%, Family Friendly 13.9%, Cute 12.4%
- #39 A Short Hike
72% matchOverwhelmingly Positive99% of 21,505 reviews2019
Dev: adamgryu
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.3 hrsMean: 6.3 hrs≥1hr: 75%
Hike, climb, and soar through the peaceful mountainside landscapes of Hawk Peak Provincial Park as you make your way to the summit.
Why similar: Relaxing 33.5%, Cute 24.1%, Female Protagonist 15.7%, Family Friendly 13.9%, Adventure 12.8%
- #40 Somerville
74% matchMostly Positive70% of 1,808 reviews2022
Dev: Jumpship
Windows
Median: 3.8 hrsMean: 4.2 hrs≥1hr: 73%
In the wake of catastrophe find the means to make your family whole again.
Why similar: Emotional 25.4%, 2.5D 23.3%, Puzzle 16.6%, Atmospheric 15.4%, Adventure 6.8%
- #41 Call of the Sea
73% matchVery Positive88% of 5,866 reviews2020
Dev: Out of the Blue GamesPub: Raw Fury
Windows
Median: 4.8 hrsMean: 6.0 hrs≥1hr: 75%
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: Female Protagonist 17.8%, Puzzle 17.1%, Mystery 14.9%, Surreal 13.5%, Emotional 10.5%
- #42 The Sojourn
74% matchMostly Positive72% of 217 reviews2020
Dev: Shifting TidesPub: Iceberg Interactive
Windows
Median: 3.8 hrsMean: 4.8 hrs≥1hr: 83%
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: Puzzle Platformer 18.9%, Surreal 15.5%, Mystery 12.1%, Puzzle 11.6%, Relaxing 9.5%
- #43 The Looker
70% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 15,436 reviews2022
Dev: Subcreation Studio
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.2 hrsMean: 3.2 hrs≥1hr: 65%
You wake up, alone, on a strangely familiar island full of puzzles that will frustrate and annoy you.
Why similar: Puzzle 48.3%, Atmospheric 21.5%, 3D 14.4%, Colorful 11.5%, Adventure 4.3%
- #44 Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
69% matchVery Positive94% of 2,911 reviews2024
Dev: SimogoPub: Annapurna Interactive
Windows
Median: 8.0 hrsMean: 12.3 hrs≥1hr: 83%
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 34.9%, Mystery 26.1%, Female Protagonist 17%, Adventure 13.2%, 3D 8.8%
- #45 Moncage
70% matchVery Positive92% of 5,496 reviews2021
Dev: OptillusionPub: XD
Windows
Median: 2.1 hrsMean: 3.1 hrs≥1hr: 69%
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: Puzzle 29.5%, Surreal 23.3%, Puzzle Platformer 21.5%, Atmospheric 10.4%, Adventure 9%
- #46 Niko: Through The Dream
75% matchMostly Positive73% of 229 reviews2015
Dev: Studio Paint
Windows
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 4.9 hrs≥1hr: 82%
Niko is a spiritual journey through the dreams, where adventure, puzzles and mysteries come together in an oneiric and minimalist world. Dare to dream!
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 32.8%, Puzzle 22.8%, Minimalist 20.1%, Adventure 15.1%, Atmospheric 9.2%
- #47 TOEM: A Photo Adventure
69% matchOverwhelmingly Positive99% of 10,219 reviews2021
Dev: Something We Made
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.7 hrsMean: 5.3 hrs≥1hr: 73%
Set off on a delightful expedition and use your photographic eye to uncover the mysteries of the magical TOEM in this hand-drawn adventure game. Chat with quirky characters, solve their problems by snapping neat photos, and make your way through a relaxing landscape!
Why similar: Puzzle 22.8%, Relaxing 20.4%, Family Friendly 18.2%, Cute 15.8%, Atmospheric 14.3%
- #48 Curyeux
68% matchVery Positive95% of 107 reviews2025
Dev: Campus ADN 2024-2025Pub: Campus ADN
Windows
Dive into the mind of Lucienne, a tormented painter. Leap through emotional memories, solve puzzles where shapes deceive and emotion leads the way. A dreamlike platformer where each painting brings you one step closer to yourself.
Why similar: Surreal 18.1%, Puzzle Platformer 16.3%, Emotional 11.2%, Female Protagonist 10.7%, Family Friendly 10%
- #49 There The Light
73% matchMostly Positive79% of 108 reviews2019
Dev: CasualBebop
Windows · Mac
Explore an unknown and abandoned world. Each step, each puzzle, brings you closer to discovering the history and secrets of a lost civilization. Can you find the light?
Why similar: Mystery 25.2%, Emotional 20.7%, Relaxing 16.4%, Puzzle 13.7%, Atmospheric 11.6%
- #50 Lost Words: Beyond the Page
70% matchVery Positive95% of 823 reviews2021
Dev: Sketchbook DevelopmentsPub: Sketchbook Games
Windows
Median: 3.1 hrsMean: 3.7 hrs≥1hr: 79%
A short, fully voiced, story-first adventure across two worlds. Rearrange words into platforms in Izzy’s diary, then wield word magic to shape your path in the fantasy she writes. Gentle puzzles, watercolour wonder, and a bittersweet story of family, loss, and healing.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 17.6%, Side Scroller 14.9%, Emotional 10.9%, 2D Platformer 9.7%, Platformer 9.1%
- #51 Puzzles For Clef
69% matchVery Positive83% of 143 reviews2024
Dev: Weasel TokenPub: indie.io
Windows
Join Clef on an adventure set on a magical sky island where her family once lived. Solve puzzles, discover secrets, and experience a story of sisterly love – and something more, if you are willing to dig deeper…
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 22.7%, 2D Platformer 14%, Platformer 12.3%, Female Protagonist 11%, Puzzle 9.8%
- #52 A Good Snowman Is Hard To Build
71% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 1,148 reviews2015
Dev: Alan HazeldenPub: Draknek & Friends
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 1.8 hrsMean: 2.9 hrs≥1hr: 60%
An adorable puzzle game about being a monster and making snowmen.
Why similar: Surreal 21.2%, Puzzle 15.5%, Relaxing 14.6%, Minimalist 13.7%, Cute 12%
- #53 Chants of Sennaar
65% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 29,231 reviews2023
Dev: RundiscPub: Focus Entertainment
Windows
Median: 6.8 hrsMean: 7.2 hrs≥1hr: 87%
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 38.2%, Puzzle Platformer 14.4%, Colorful 13.5%, Adventure 10.2%, Atmospheric 10%
- #54 The Entropy Centre
67% matchVery Positive89% of 4,209 reviews2022
Dev: Stubby GamesPub: Playstack
Windows
Median: 4.8 hrsMean: 8.6 hrs≥1hr: 74%
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 27.9%, Female Protagonist 20.6%, Puzzle 20.3%, Platformer 14.2%, Atmospheric 10.7%
- #55 There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension
67% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 25,066 reviews2020
Dev: Draw Me A Pixel
Windows · Mac
Median: 5.2 hrsMean: 6.3 hrs≥1hr: 93%
There is no game. So don't go messing things up by clicking everywhere. You don’t want to be kicked out of your video game world, do you? Of course not!
Why similar: Puzzle 72.7%, Adventure 27.3%
- #56 After Us
68% matchVery Positive84% of 445 reviews2023
Dev: PiccoloPub: Private Division
Windows
Median: 2.6 hrsMean: 6.2 hrs≥1hr: 74%
Explore the corners of a surrealistic post-human world to give life on Earth a second chance in this touching story about sacrifice and hope.
Why similar: Platformer 22.5%, Puzzle 15.3%, Surreal 14.3%, Emotional 14.1%, Adventure 10.2%
- #57 Afterdream
66% matchVery Positive93% of 339 reviews2023
Dev: Jesse MakkonenPub: Gamirror Games
Windows
Get lost in a lucid dream, bending the lines between reality and fiction. Utilize the strange camera to navigate through the ghosts' mysterious residence. Find the purpose of your nocturnal visit in a vivid and dreamlike setting.
Why similar: Side Scroller 22%, Surreal 15%, Female Protagonist 13.4%, Emotional 12.9%, Mystery 12.4%
- #58 Promenade
65% matchVery Positive95% of 847 reviews2024
Dev: Holy Cap
Windows
Median: 1.4 hrsMean: 5.6 hrs≥1hr: 56%
Go on an adventure in a world packed with secrets helped by your friend, a poulp with many abilities. Explore, solve puzzles, wander across dungeons, blast through races and much more in this cute game inspired by the best 3D platformers
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 23.2%, Platformer 16.1%, 2D Platformer 11.5%, Family Friendly 10.6%, Puzzle 10.1%
- #59 Doors: Paradox
66% matchVery Positive92% of 1,894 reviews2022
Dev: Big Loop StudiosPub: Snapbreak
Windows
Median: 6.5 hrsMean: 7.7 hrs≥1hr: 87%
A relaxing puzzle escape game! Make your way through a variety of hand-crafted 3D dioramas, look for useful objects, find hidden clues and solve fun puzzles! Unravel this mysterious adventure about chaos, order and the surreal.
Why similar: Mystery 26.8%, Puzzle 23.2%, Relaxing 17.6%, Atmospheric 15.4%, 3D 9.2%
- #60 Awakening Sarah
65% matchVery Positive95% of 64 reviews2025
Dev: Asteristic Game Studio
Windows · Linux
Awakening Sarah is a 2D platformer with emphasis on exploration. Unravel the dreams and realities of Sarah, a girl who's recovering from a coma, while helping her understand the world around her and herself.
Why similar: 2D Platformer 18.5%, Platformer 17%, Surreal 16.9%, Female Protagonist 15.4%, Cute 8%