Games Like Venba

Florence Yeoh feels a little... stuck. Her life is an endless routine of work, sleep, and spending too much time on social media. Then one day, she meets a cello player named Krish who changes everything about how she sees the world and herself.

Why similar: Narrative 29.5% ★, Interactive Fiction 13.7%, Female Protagonist 12.7%, Visual Novel 9.9%, Story Rich 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: This short, interactive story masterfully captures the emotional highs and lows of life through simple, intuitive gameplay mechanics.

Coffee Talk is a coffee brewing and heart-to-heart talking simulator about listening to fantasy-inspired modern peoples’ problems, and helping them by serving up a warm drink or two.

Why similar: Dialogue Heavy 35.4%, Interactive Fiction 11.9%, Visual Novel 11.4%, Emotional 10.9%, Crafting 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: Like Venba, this game uses a cozy beverage-making mechanic as a backdrop for deep, character-driven conversations and emotional storytelling.

Immerse yourself in a unique narrative experience and explore the thousand summer colors of Dordogne as you revisit your childhood to uncover lost family secrets in this touching formative journey.

Why similar: Narrative 40.1% ★, Emotional 14.8%, Female Protagonist 10.6%, Hand-drawn 7.7%, Stylized 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: A beautifully stylized narrative game that explores memories and family history through a nostalgic and emotional lens.

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: Puzzle 25.9%, Female Protagonist 23.9%, Story Rich 18.7%, Casual 14.2%, Atmospheric 11%

Why You'll Like It: Much like Venba, this game tells a profound story about a person's life and growth through the intimate act of interacting with everyday objects.

Repair old-school objects in this cozy puzzle game. Join antique-restorer Maria, as she arrives in the sun-soaked town of Bellariva and set out on a journey of helping the townsfolk reconnect.

Why similar: Female Protagonist 21.2%, Puzzle 19.5%, Casual 19.3%, Visual Novel 11.5%, Indie 11.2%

Why You'll Like It: This short, puzzle-focused narrative game emphasizes the emotional connection between people and the objects they cherish.

In Midnight Ramen, you play as the owner of a late-night ramen stand and his apprentice. You interact with your customers, listen to their troubles, and help them out whenever you can. But as the bowls of ramen are cooked and served, troubles are beginning to brew in your own life as well...

Why similar: Cooking 30.9%, Dialogue Heavy 18.3%, Emotional 13.9%, Interactive Fiction 11.6%, Visual Novel 10.5%

Why You'll Like It: A visual novel that centers on the emotional weight of cooking and serving food to customers while exploring their personal stories.

Step into Pixel's shoes in this one-of-a-kind journey that bridges time, memories, and the aroma of fresh coffee. Dive deep into a city balancing its past and future. Engage in intense arcade challenges, immerse yourself in heartfelt stories, and navigate a world crafted in pixel art.

Why similar: Cooking 38.4%, Female Protagonist 15.5%, Crafting 14.6%, Visual Novel 13.6%, Story Rich 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: Combines time-management cooking mechanics with a rich, character-driven narrative about a young woman finding her path.

A pidgeon-doctor in a small town. A broken healthcare system. A heartfelt narrative game. Fall of Porcupine tells an emotional story about a young doctor who struggles to find his place. Accompany Finley in a lovingly illustrated world and uncover the darkest secrets of Porcupine.

Why similar: Emotional 18.1%, Dialogue Heavy 17.8%, Interactive Fiction 17.5%, Choices Matter 10.7%, Hand-drawn 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-heavy indie game that balances a cute aesthetic with serious, emotional themes regarding work-life balance and community.

Guide brush strokes and solve a variety of puzzles to help an aspiring artist complete her masterpiece amid her brusque neighbor’s gaze and his pesky cat. As her painting starts to take shape, uncover an emotional tale of chance and artistry revealed behind unrelated yet familiar moments.

Why similar: Narrative 31.3% ★, Cinematic 13.2%, Interactive Fiction 11.8%, Female Protagonist 10.3%, Hand-drawn 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: A visually stunning narrative game that uses art and daily routines to tell a touching story about passion and 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: Story Rich 27.9%, Female Protagonist 19.4%, Atmospheric 15.4%, Exploration 10.4%, Emotional 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: An essential narrative game that explores complex family history and loss through unique, highly atmospheric gameplay segments.

A cooking puzzle game about arranging beautiful bento lunches! Solve 120+ recipes, play with food, think inside the box and enjoy a heartwarming story in this culinary brain-teaser!

Why similar: Cooking 39.4%, Female Protagonist 13.9%, Stylized 12%, Puzzle 10.5%, Hand-drawn 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: A charming puzzle game that uses the preparation of bento boxes to tell a sweet, wordless story about family.

Spiritfarer® is a cozy management game about dying. As ferrymaster to the deceased, build a boat to explore the world, care for your spirit friends, and release them into the afterlife. The Spiritfarer Farewell Edition includes the heartwarming base game and three major content updates.

Why similar: Emotional 29.8%, Female Protagonist 14.7%, Hand-drawn 13.6%, Crafting 12.6%, Story Rich 12%

Why You'll Like It: While larger in scope, this game features cooking and management mechanics tied to deeply emotional stories about saying goodbye to loved ones.

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: Narrative 30.7% ★, Emotional 16.6%, Female Protagonist 11.3%, Visual Novel 10.6%, Choices Matter 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-driven puzzle platformer that uses the written word to explore the emotional landscape of its protagonist.

Make up for lost time with Once Again, If you could travel through time, who’s the first person you’d meet? An interactive story about a boy who spends his summers wandering between past and present... After meeting her, summer will never be the same again...Who is she, and what journey awaits you?

Why similar: Narrative 20.9% ★, Soundtrack 17.8% ★, Emotional 12.7%, Female Protagonist 11.4%, Visual Novel 10%

Why You'll Like It: An indie adventure that uses a colorful art style to tell a touching story about time, memory, and personal connection.

Old Man’s Journey, a soul-searching puzzle adventure, tells a story of life, loss, and hope. Interacting with the world around you, you'll shape the landscape to create the old man's path forward. Experience heartache and hope as you embark on a heartfelt journey through a sunkissed world.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 16.3%, Hand-drawn 15.3%, Emotional 13.4%, Stylized 12.5%, Puzzle 10.7%

Why You'll Like It: A wordless, emotional narrative game that uses puzzle mechanics to reflect on a lifetime of choices and family memories.

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: Narrative 47.6% ★, Emotional 21.4%, Interactive Fiction 9.8%, Story Rich 7.9%, Hand-drawn 4.7%

Why You'll Like It: A short, innovative narrative game that uses your own eyes to control the flow of a deeply emotional life story.

It's 1986 - Meredith Weiss takes a break from her career in the big city to deliver mail in her hometown. How will she experience two weeks in beautiful Providence Oaks, with its iconic lake and quirky community? And what will she do next? It's up to you.

Why similar: 1980s 35.7%, Female Protagonist 21.7%, Choices Matter 16.4%, Story Rich 13.4%, Atmospheric 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: A relaxing life-sim that focuses on the narrative experience of returning home and reconnecting with one's roots and community.

Immerse yourself in an enchanting narrative experience as Fortuna, a fortune-teller Witch condemned to exile on her asteroid home. Craft your own Tarot deck, regain your freedom, and shape the fate of the cosmic Witch society.

Why similar: Narrative 23.3% ★, Interactive Fiction 19.8%, Female Protagonist 18%, Visual Novel 13.7%, Choices Matter 11.8%

Why You'll Like It: A dialogue-heavy narrative game where choices matter, focusing on personal growth and the impact of one's decisions on their community.

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: Narrative 42% ★, Interactive Fiction 13.6%, Female Protagonist 12.4%, Choices Matter 9.7%, Puzzle 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative adventure that emphasizes the discovery of history and language, perfect for players who enjoy deep, story-rich experiences.

Teacup is a short and wholesome narrative adventure game with a focus on exploration and non-linear progression. Help a small and shy frog on her journey to find the ingredients she needs for her tea party!

Why similar: Narrative 52% ★, Female Protagonist 19.2%, Story Rich 10.7%, Exploration 8.3%, Atmospheric 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: A cute, exploration-based narrative game that focuses on small, meaningful interactions in a charming world.

Roleplaying in the ruins of interplanetary capitalism. Live the life of an escaped worker, washed-up on a lawless station at the edge of an interstellar society. Inspired by the flexibility and freedom of TTRPGs, explore the station, choose your friends, escape your past and change your future.

Why similar: Narrative 38% ★, Dialogue Heavy 21.1%, Interactive Fiction 13.4%, Hand-drawn 9.4%, Story Rich 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-rich game that explores themes of displacement and finding community, resonating with the immigrant experience found in Venba.

A story-driven experience about two doctors traversing backwards through a dying man's memories to artificially fulfill his last wish.

Why similar: Emotional 37.8%, Story Rich 29.4%, Interactive Fiction 20%, Indie 7.9%, Female Protagonist 3.3%

Why You'll Like It: A classic narrative-driven experience that focuses on the emotional journey of exploring a person's memories to fulfill their final wish.

Gris is a hopeful young girl lost in her own world, dealing with a painful experience in her life. Her journey through sorrow is manifested in her dress, which grants new abilities to better navigate her faded reality.

Why similar: Female Protagonist 31.8%, Atmospheric 18.8%, Hand-drawn 18.3%, Story Rich 9.3%, Puzzle 9%

Why You'll Like It: A visually striking game that uses platforming to represent the emotional journey of processing grief and loss.

Closer the Distance is a slice-of-life sim that tells a deeply emotional story about the connections between family and friends in the face of tragedy. Unearth long kept secrets, repair strained relationships, and help your loved ones move on.

Why similar: Narrative 44.1% ★, Emotional 14.8%, Female Protagonist 12.2%, Choices Matter 8.7%, Story Rich 7%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-focused life-sim that explores the emotional impact of grief and the importance of family bonds in a small town.

A hand-drawn adventure blending visual novel storytelling with point-and-click puzzles. Explore a vibrant yet dangerous oasis city where humans and animals live side by side. Meet unforgettable characters, trade and combine quirky items, and solve challenging puzzle-dungeons filled with mystery.

Why similar: Dialogue Heavy 20.3%, Emotional 15.1%, Female Protagonist 12.8%, Visual Novel 12.4%, Hand-drawn 11.6%

Why You'll Like It: A story-rich puzzle game with a distinct hand-drawn art style that focuses on a young protagonist's journey.

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: Narrative 17.2% ★, Cinematic 15.6%, Emotional 13.7%, Female Protagonist 11.3%, Interactive Fiction 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative exploration game that uses objects to trigger memories, mirroring the reflective nature of Venba.

What do you do when you lose someone you love? A Taste of the Past is an emotional sidescroller about reconnecting with your Chinese culture while navigating a train to the afterlife. Featuring a wholesome story, cooking minigames, and hope.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 22.7%, Emotional 18.6%, Visual Novel 16.9%, Hand-drawn 14.5%, Stylized 13.3%

Why You'll Like It: An interactive fiction game that uses food and memory to explore cultural heritage and family history.

A game about writing nice letters to real people. Write and receive encouraging letters in a cozy room. Trade stickers and listen to chill music. We're all in this together. Sometimes all you need are a few kind words.

Why similar: Emotional 52.4%, Stylized 17%, Atmospheric 14.4%, Casual 10.3%, Indie 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the emotional power of connection and empathy through simple, cozy, and meaningful interactions.

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

Why similar: Exploration 37.8%, Female Protagonist 29.9%, Casual 16.6%, Indie 15.7%

Why You'll Like It: A cozy, short-form adventure that captures the feeling of personal discovery and emotional warmth in a beautiful setting.

Run a tea shop in the British countryside in this heartfelt visual novel voiced by Bethan Dixon Bate (Baldur's Gate 3) and Lenval Brown (Disco Elysium). Play as Ms Meadows as she prepares for her best friend’s long-awaited visit. Brew tea, listen to customers’ stories, and craft poems.

Why similar: Cooking 23.3%, Dialogue Heavy 14.8%, Emotional 11.3%, Female Protagonist 9.9%, Visual Novel 9.2%

Battle an evil fast food empire in this spicy narrative turn-based RPG. Two sisters and their upgradable spirit-mech cook delicious meals, fight corpos, build up your reputation with local communities, and reconcile with loved ones.

Why similar: Cooking 32.5%, Narrative 25.8% ★, Emotional 14.6%, Stylized 9%, Female Protagonist 9%

inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories is a cozy slice-of-life game about running a small-town convenience store, inspired by early 1990s Japan. Meet regulars, stock shelves, and watch quiet, everyday moments turn into meaningful stories.

Why similar: Dialogue Heavy 30.4%, Narrative 29.4% ★, Female Protagonist 9.4%, Visual Novel 8.3%, Choices Matter 7.2%

DOT’S HOME is a single-player, 2D, narrative-driven video game that follows a young Black woman in Detroit living in her grandmother’s beloved home, as she travels through time to relive key moments in her family’s history where race, place, and home collide in difficult choices.

Why similar: Narrative 46.6% ★, Female Protagonist 16%, 1980s 15.7%, Choices Matter 8.7%, Story Rich 5.5%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-focused game that explores social themes and family history through a personal, character-driven lens.

Undusted: Letters from the Past is a casual game in which you clean and restore dirty items. What is her story as she returns to a long-neglected house? Enjoy the satisfying audiovisuals featuring sensually designed sounds and graphics.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 15.3%, Emotional 14.8%, Visual Novel 14.4%, Female Protagonist 13.3%, Puzzle 10.2%

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: Narrative 25.2% ★, Soundtrack 14.8% ★, Emotional 10.6%, Female Protagonist 8.9%, Hand-drawn 8.6%

Prep your stations for a cozy cooking game with attitude! Prepare unique meals for quirky small-town locals, upgrade and customize your shop, compete in thrilling cooking battles to become top chef, and protect your family’s long-running restaurant alongside a cast of curious companions!

Why similar: Cooking 40.9%, Narrative 39.6% ★, Crafting 12.8%, Casual 4.1%, Indie 2.6%

A simulation and RPG game with multiple endings, set in a Chinese restaurant. Play as the owner, and manage the restaurant, form bonds with characters, and explore the lively town. Uncover the secrets behind the restaurant’s mysterious downfall.

Why similar: Cooking 38.8%, Visual Novel 12.2%, Female Protagonist 11.8%, Choices Matter 10%, Hand-drawn 9.7%

A heartfelt story of ambition, struggle, and friendship told from the perspective of a young boy in fictional 90s rural India. Explore ancient palace ruins, set up your garden, cook Indian food, run errands for quirky characters, and learn about your history by making art.

Why similar: Cooking 45%, Emotional 14.6%, Crafting 12.7%, Exploration 7.4%, Hand-drawn 7.3%

Mix amazing cocktails while you climb the ranks as a bartender and unlock diverse bartending venues in this narrative-driven bartender simulator.

Why similar: Narrative 31.5% ★, Cooking 30.9%, Crafting 9.3%, Interactive Fiction 7.8%, Female Protagonist 6.6%

A Pizza Delivery is a narrative exploration game with puzzle elements focused on connecting with people. Share pizza with charming characters to uncover their stories—and your own. Drive and explore a strange, meditative world filled with secrets.

Why similar: Narrative 34.3% ★, Cinematic 16.8%, Emotional 13%, Interactive Fiction 7.4%, Stylized 7.3%

Bathe in the sights, sounds, and smells of Cook Serve Forever, a narrative-focused cooking adventure where you serve food to the hungry masses on your quest for greatness.

Why similar: Cooking 52.3%, Female Protagonist 18.8%, Hand-drawn 14.3%, Story Rich 9.3%, Casual 5.3%

Embark on a heartwarming journey as a home cleaning specialist.

Why similar: Narrative 46.8% ★, Emotional 16.9%, Interactive Fiction 10.9%, Visual Novel 8%, Atmospheric 4.5%

Uncover the lives, losses, and stories of two musicians from opposite sides of the tracks as they become superstars, fall in love and fall apart in this 90s narrative puzzle game.

Why similar: Female Protagonist 12.9%, Visual Novel 12.4%, Emotional 11.6%, Choices Matter 9.7%, Narrative 9% ★

Welcome to Botany Manor, a stately home in 19th century England. You play as inhabitant Arabella Greene, a retired botanist. Explore your house and gardens, filled with research, to figure out the ideal habitat of forgotten flora. Grow each plant to discover the mysterious qualities they hold…

Why similar: Female Protagonist 29.6%, Puzzle 22%, Stylized 19.8%, Exploration 14.4%, Story Rich 14.2%

A hand-drawn adventure blending visual novel storytelling with point-and-click puzzles. Explore the corrupt oasis city of Shirin as an apocalyptic prophecy looms. Meet unforgettable characters, craft solutions with your Tool Belt, and unravel intricate puzzle-dungeons.

Why similar: Narrative 21.7% ★, Dialogue Heavy 13.9%, Emotional 13.3%, Visual Novel 9.9%, Female Protagonist 9.8%

A heartfelt game where you run a night market stall, cooking kaolengmian (grilled cold noodles). Customers come and go, stopping by to chat and share bits of their lives, joys, frustrations, and everyday struggles. At this little stall, you cook, listen, and keep living an ordinary person’s life.

Why similar: Cooking 37.5%, Narrative 31.6% ★, Visual Novel 10.4%, Crafting 9.9%, Story Rich 7%

Work as Penelope on her day off! Complete mini-games to prepare the food for a wide variety of customers!

Why similar: Cooking 45%, Visual Novel 17.2%, Female Protagonist 16.6%, Choices Matter 8.4%, Casual 5.2%

Craft delicious lunch boxes in this cozy-yet-challenging ingredient-cutting puzzle game.

Why similar: Cooking 62.2%, Puzzle 16.6%, Hand-drawn 13.2%, Casual 5.9%, Indie 2.2%

A journey of flavors and friendships awaits you in your cozy, customisable food truck! Forage for fresh ingredients to create your own menu, then feed tummies and souls with home-cooked meals. Change the world, one apple at a time.

Why similar: Cooking 59.6%, Crafting 12%, Stylized 11.5%, Exploration 7.8%, Casual 5.2%

“A Lozenge” is a short interactive story about a mother-daughter road trip and motion sickness, dedicated to children of divorce.

Why similar: Emotional 22.3%, Interactive Fiction 16.5%, Narrative 13.1% ★, Visual Novel 13.1%, Story Rich 8.3%

A DEMO of "Sincerely, Robin" -- our upcoming management, cooking, and narrative game currently in development! Play as Robin and return to your hometown to regrow your late grandfather's bed and breakfast. Cook meals, connect with the community, and forge lasting relationships!

Why similar: Cooking 31.5%, Emotional 14.3%, Interactive Fiction 11.3%, Hand-drawn 8.6%, Crafting 8.3%

🚗 Take part in a roller coaster of emotions with Louise embarking on a road trip of a lifetime through the late 1960s USA, trying to show her son Mitch how to navigate the often cruel modern world. Your choices matter! ✅

Why similar: Narrative 22.1% ★, Emotional 18.3%, Soundtrack 15.9% ★, Cinematic 11.1%, Interactive Fiction 8.4%

A slice-of-life adventure game set in fictional 90s rural India. Explore ancient palace ruins, set up your garden, cook Indian food, run errands for quirky characters, and learn about your history by making art.

Why similar: Narrative 39.8% ★, Emotional 18.2%, Hand-drawn 12.4%, Dialogue Heavy 11.7%, Story Rich 9.4%

Eliza is a visual novel about an AI counseling program, the people who develop it, and the people who use it. Follow Evelyn Ishino-Aubrey as she reconnects with people from her past, gets to know the people of Seattle who use Eliza for counseling, and decides the course of her future.

Why similar: Emotional 29.7%, Female Protagonist 24.8%, Visual Novel 21.4%, Story Rich 7%, Atmospheric 6.9%

What if you lost all your memories? An emotional family drama seen through the eyes of a woman with Alzheimer's disease. As Annie’s life slowly unravels, uncover memories of her deceased brother as her past bleeds into the present.

Why similar: Narrative 34.8% ★, Emotional 23.2%, Female Protagonist 13.5%, Stylized 9.5%, Story Rich 9.3%

Wayward Strand is a heartfelt story told in a curious way. Hop aboard an airborne hospital and meet its fully-voiced cast of eclectic characters. As time passes for everyone on board, explore the interwoven lives of the patients and staff; discover something new on each and every playthrough.

Why similar: Narrative 27.7% ★, Dialogue Heavy 15.9%, Emotional 13.7%, Female Protagonist 10.6%, Choices Matter 8.9%

"My Life with You" is a STORY DRIVEN experience that follows the journey of a young SINGLE MOM who must BALANCE life's challenges while raising her child. An emotional journey focused on the BOND BETWEEN MOTHER AND CHILD, marked by obstacles, growth, and love.

Why similar: Narrative 38% ★, Female Protagonist 13%, Emotional 12.6%, Interactive Fiction 9.9%, Casual 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: Female Protagonist 24.5%, Puzzle 19.2%, Emotional 16.8%, Story Rich 13.8%, Atmospheric 8.5%

A wholesome narrative puzzle game about the objects we leave behind and the stories they tell. Complete a loved one's damaged memoirs by exploring their home and packing away their things.

Why similar: Emotional 21.6%, Interactive Fiction 20.5%, Puzzle 11.9%, Hand-drawn 11.9%, Female Protagonist 11%

Time to get cooking in a chaotic kitchen! Search for the ingredients you want, customize the recipe, then mix things together and hope for the best. Make friends with the shy ghost who hides your ingredients every night, and cook through family recipes in this cozy hidden objects game.

Why similar: Cooking 39.5%, Dialogue Heavy 20.3%, Interactive Fiction 18.9%, Stylized 9.4%, Story Rich 7%