Games Like The Witness

You wake up, alone, on a strangely familiar island full of puzzles that will frustrate and annoy you.

Why similar: Puzzle 32.1%, Walking Simulator 15.1%, Open World 13.4%, Exploration 13.1%, First-Person 12.9%

Why You'll Like It: A brilliant and humorous parody that directly riffs on the design language and tropes of The Witness.

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

Why similar: Puzzle 24.2%, Difficult 14.9%, Open World 13.2%, Walking Simulator 12.9%, Nonlinear 10.9%

Why You'll Like It: It is the closest mechanical sibling to The Witness, focusing on grid-based puzzles that teach you their own rules through observation.

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: Puzzle 33.1%, Philosophical 16.7%, Walking Simulator 15.9%, First-Person 15%, Exploration 13.6%

Why You'll Like It: A deep, philosophical puzzle game that expands on the environmental logic and atmospheric world-building of its predecessor.

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 43%, Philosophical 15.6%, First-Person 12.5%, Exploration 6.5%, Atmospheric 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: This game masterfully blends complex first-person puzzle solving with profound existential themes.

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 44.3%, First-Person 15.3%, Exploration 11.8%, Surreal 7.2%, Nonlinear 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal, non-Euclidean puzzle game that forces you to rethink your understanding of space and logic.

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

Why similar: Puzzle 19.7%, Open World 16.4%, Philosophical 11.6%, Exploration 10.8%, First-Person 10.5%

Why You'll Like It: An open-world puzzle game that mirrors the exploration-heavy, non-linear structure of The Witness.

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 56.1%, Colorful 9.9%, Exploration 6.7%, Atmospheric 5.9%, Adventure 5.2%

Why You'll Like It: It captures the 'aha!' moment of The Witness by tasking players with deciphering an entire language through logic and environmental context.

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 23.3%, First-Person 10.9%, Difficult 10.8%, Exploration 10.2%, Philosophical 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a mind-bending experience centered on gravity-defying architecture and spatial puzzles.

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 42.9%, Exploration 21.8%, First-Person 13.5%, Adventure 6.6%, Mystery 3.6%

Why You'll Like It: The foundational classic that established the genre of isolated, atmospheric puzzle exploration.

Lost at sea 1803 ~ The good ship Obra Dinn.

Why similar: Puzzle 38%, Mystery 13.4%, Atmospheric 9.7%, Difficult 9.2%, First-Person 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: It rewards meticulous observation and deductive reasoning, providing the same satisfaction of piecing together a mystery without hand-holding.

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: Puzzle 21.6%, Exploration 19.1%, Open World 16.8%, First-Person 8.5%, Mystery 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: While more focused on exploration, it shares the core philosophy of learning through observation and curiosity-driven discovery.

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

Why similar: Puzzle 24.6%, Walking Simulator 14.1%, Open World 12.5%, Exploration 11.2%, First-Person 10.7%

Why You'll Like It: A classic island-based puzzle adventure that emphasizes environmental interaction and mechanical discovery.

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: Puzzle 27%, Exploration 13.9%, First-Person 13%, Walking Simulator 12.2%, Philosophical 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: The definitive sequel to Myst, offering dense, interconnected puzzles set in a beautifully realized world.

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: Puzzle 43.5%, First-Person 19%, Exploration 12.7%, Surreal 9.7%, Colorful 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: A first-person puzzle game that plays with forced perspective and scale to challenge your perception of reality.

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 33.1%, First-Person 18.4%, Exploration 15%, Atmospheric 8.4%, Surreal 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: It uses unique perspective-based mechanics to manipulate the environment, much like the hidden visual puzzles in The Witness.

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 33.4%, Exploration 17.4%, Open World 10.2%, Atmospheric 9%, Colorful 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: A beautiful, atmospheric adventure that relies on environmental puzzles and visual storytelling to guide the player.

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 51.7%, Exploration 18.7%, Atmospheric 8.4%, Adventure 7.4%, Beautiful 4.5% ★

Why You'll Like It: A masterclass in environmental puzzle design where you manipulate worlds within worlds to progress.

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 59.6%, Difficult 27%, Indie 5.1%, Singleplayer 3.6%, Great Soundtrack 2.7%

Why You'll Like It: Though 2D, it is the ultimate test of logic and rule-breaking that mirrors the intellectual satisfaction found in The Witness.

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: Puzzle 28.8%, Exploration 14.2%, Walking Simulator 10.9%, First-Person 10.9%, Open World 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: Created by the developers of Myst, this game offers a rich, alien environment filled with intricate, satisfying puzzles.

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 21.9%, First-Person 11.5%, Walking Simulator 10.6%, Philosophical 10.3%, Exploration 8%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric first-person puzzle game that focuses on shifting between light and shadow to navigate its world.

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: Puzzle 66.1%, Difficult 23%, Singleplayer 5.3%, Indie 4.3%, Casual 1.3%

Why You'll Like It: A recursive puzzle game that introduces deep, complex logic in a minimalist and rewarding way.

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 23.3%, Open World 14.6%, First-Person 13.5%, Exploration 12.9%, Atmospheric 10%

Why You'll Like It: While less puzzle-heavy, it excels at atmospheric, first-person exploration and environmental storytelling.

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 31.1%, Exploration 17.1%, Walking Simulator 11.4%, First-Person 9.6%, Surreal 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: It uses a unique painting mechanic to reveal the environment, echoing the discovery-based gameplay of The Witness.

The plane crashed, bringing an abrupt end to your journey. You regain consciousness in a strange lucid dream filled with interactive cube puzzles, where a mysterious voice guides you through the changing landscape. What is happening? Who are you? Do you have what it takes to wake up?

Why similar: Puzzle 14.8%, Open World 9.7%, Walking Simulator 8.2%, Difficult 8.2%, First-Person 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: A relaxing, puzzle-focused adventure that encourages players to interact with mysterious, ancient machinery.

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

Why similar: Puzzle 24.1%, Open World 12.6%, First-Person 12.1%, Walking Simulator 10.1%, Exploration 9.7%

An adorable and relaxing open world puzzle adventure for monsters who love to learn about humans!

Why similar: Puzzle 25.5%, Open World 19.6%, Difficult 15.1%, Exploration 12.1%, Nonlinear 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: An open-world puzzle game that rewards experimentation and spatial reasoning in a charming, minimalist setting.

A new kind of detective game that allows you to think and investigate freely. Discover clues surrounding 12 strange and gruesome deaths and build your own theory. Pick your suspect, deduce the motive, unmask the awful truth.

Why similar: Puzzle 46.8%, Mystery 15.7%, Exploration 14.5%, Atmospheric 11.3%, Adventure 4.8%

Why You'll Like It: A brilliant detective game that relies entirely on observation and logical deduction to solve complex scenarios.

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 58.4%, Beautiful 9.3% ★, Atmospheric 7.3%, Exploration 5.3%, Mystery 4.1%

Why You'll Like It: A unique visual puzzle game that requires you to manipulate panels to find hidden connections and progress.

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: Puzzle 21.2%, Walking Simulator 12.9%, Open World 11.5%, Difficult 10%, Exploration 9.9%

Why You'll Like It: An exploration-focused adventure that tasks players with deciphering the technology of a long-lost civilization.

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: Exploration 22.1%, Walking Simulator 18.6%, Puzzle 17.3%, First-Person 14%, Atmospheric 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: An abstract, atmospheric exploration game that emphasizes scale and navigation through a mysterious, monolithic world.

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: Puzzle 22.7%, Walking Simulator 18.9%, Exploration 14.1%, Open World 12.7%, First-Person 11.1%

Why You'll Like It: A seminal walking simulator that prioritizes atmosphere and environmental narrative over traditional mechanics.

Immerse yourself in an exciting journey on the island of dreams. Explore the open world and interesting places, while solving various puzzles that use environment.

Why similar: Puzzle 28.6%, Exploration 14.8%, First-Person 13.7%, Open World 10.9%, Nonlinear 7.2%

The Turing Test is a challenging first-person puzzle game set on Jupiter’s moon, Europa. You are Ava Turing, an engineer for the International Space Agency (ISA) sent to discover the cause behind the disappearance of the ground crew stationed there.

Why similar: Puzzle 53.1%, First-Person 21.5%, Atmospheric 6.3%, Philosophical 6%, Adventure 3.8%

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

Why similar: Puzzle 17.9%, Difficult 11.8%, Walking Simulator 10.7%, Open World 10.1%, Exploration 9.6%

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: Puzzle 51.8%, Exploration 18.5%, Indie 6.6%, Great Soundtrack 6.1%, Mystery 3.6%

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 26%, First-Person 14.7%, Exploration 14.6%, Atmospheric 11.6%, Puzzle 9.8%

Sensorium is a small open-world puzzle game about the 5 senses: touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing.

Why similar: Puzzle 31.8%, Open World 22.1%, First-Person 16.1%, Exploration 9.6%, Adventure 7.6%

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: Puzzle 30.4%, First-Person 14.3%, Walking Simulator 11.2%, Exploration 10.5%, Atmospheric 6.3%

You wake up and find yourself trapped in a dream. Only thing in your mind is to wake up. The key to wake up lies within 3 Dream Stones which are awaiting at the end of puzzles you encounter through the game in different dream chapters.

Why similar: Puzzle 19.5%, Walking Simulator 13%, Difficult 10.8%, Philosophical 9.3%, First-Person 9.2%

The Beginner's Guide is a narrative video game from Davey Wreden, the creator of The Stanley Parable. It lasts about an hour and a half and has no traditional mechanics, no goals or objectives. Instead, it tells the story of a person struggling to deal with something they do not understand.

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

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

Why similar: Puzzle 45.9%, Atmospheric 11.8%, Colorful 11.8%, Mystery 10%, Surreal 8.9%

Step back into a world of thought-provoking puzzles, philosophical intrigue, and breathtaking visuals with The Talos Principle: Reawakened - a first-person puzzle masterpiece for both new players and long-time fans alike.

Why similar: Puzzle 35%, Philosophical 19.3%, First-Person 17.7%, Exploration 15%, Atmospheric 8.8%

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 49.2%, Exploration 19.8%, Relaxing 8.9%, Adventure 6%, Singleplayer 5.4%

Lured to a remote island, you find yourself confined within the rooms of an ominous mansion. You must draw upon all your puzzle-solving ability to navigate a series of trials devised by a mysterious figure known only as “The Craftsman”. Do you have what it takes to escape?

Why similar: Puzzle 69.7%, Mystery 12%, Atmospheric 5.8%, Adventure 3.7%, First-Person 3.4%

FREE TO PLAY: Kidnapped from your everyday life, you find yourself in a large theme park that feels more like an escape room. Solve puzzles, explore 12 themed islands, find resources, use your wits to escape.

Why similar: Puzzle 22%, Open World 17%, Walking Simulator 11.8%, Exploration 11.7%, First-Person 9.7%

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 37.6%, Exploration 15%, First-Person 11.1%, Mystery 6.2%, Adventure 6.1%

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 39.4%, Open World 11.3%, Atmospheric 10.1%, Exploration 10%, First-Person 9.5%

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 28.1%, Exploration 25.5%, First-Person 10.9%, Relaxing 7.5%, Open World 5.5%

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: Puzzle 27.6%, Walking Simulator 16.1%, Exploration 15.3%, First-Person 12.5%, Atmospheric 8%

You find yourself shipwrecked on a beautiful unsunken island that was once part of Atlantis. Explore the mysteries of the island, and solve unique puzzles to enter the sunken lighthouse into the depths of Atlantis.

Why similar: Puzzle 28.7%, Exploration 15%, First-Person 13.3%, Colorful 9.3%, Atmospheric 8.5%

Welcome to Mt. Holly, where every dawn unveils a new mystery. Navigate through shifting corridors and ever-changing chambers in this genre-defying strategy puzzle adventure. But will your unpredictable path lead you to the rumored Room 46?

Why similar: Puzzle 39.1%, Exploration 17.1%, First-Person 12.3%, Mystery 8.7%, Nonlinear 7.1%

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

Why similar: Puzzle 29.2%, First-Person 13.9%, Exploration 12.1%, Difficult 9.7%, Nonlinear 9.7%

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 30.4%, First-Person 23.2%, Exploration 14%, Puzzle 10.6%, Indie 5.5%

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: Puzzle 18.4%, Walking Simulator 17.3%, Philosophical 12%, Exploration 9.7%, First-Person 7.7%

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

Why similar: Puzzle 35.9%, Exploration 21.7%, Nonlinear 9.8%, Atmospheric 8.2%, Mystery 6.4%

Unique events transport you to the halls of a long-forgotten crypt. The only means of escape lies locked within a stone pedestal, along with a note from your mysterious ally. His words promise assistance, but only serve to entice you into a compelling world of mystery and exploration.

Why similar: Puzzle 66.4%, Mystery 10.6%, Atmospheric 8.5%, First-Person 4.4%, Adventure 3.1%

You will have to face hundreds of different doors, and decide which one you should go to in order to get to the main secret. You have to open the doors in many locations of this world, each of which is dedicated to its type of doors.

Why similar: Puzzle 21.9%, Open World 14.1%, Difficult 11.2%, Walking Simulator 9.7%, Exploration 9.3%

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: Puzzle 27.5%, Walking Simulator 17.4%, Exploration 14%, First-Person 10.4%, Surreal 8.4%

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

Why similar: Exploration 20%, Walking Simulator 18%, Beautiful 17.4% ★, Atmospheric 13.6%, Great Soundtrack 7%