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 32% ★, Interactive Fiction 14.4%, Female Protagonist 13.4%, Visual Novel 10.3%, Story Rich 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: Like Venba, this is a short, deeply emotional narrative game that uses simple interactive mechanics to tell a poignant life story.

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 40.3% ★, Emotional 14.8%, Female Protagonist 10.3%, Stylized 7.8%, Hand-drawn 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: It captures a similar nostalgic and artistic atmosphere while exploring themes of family history and memory.

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: Conversation 23.8%, Interactive Fiction 14.1%, Visual Novel 13%, Emotional 13%, Crafting 9%

Why You'll Like It: This game shares the focus on conversation and the cozy, meditative act of preparing drinks for others to learn their stories.

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%, Casual 20.1%, Puzzle 18.8%, Indie 11.8%, Visual Novel 10.9%

Why You'll Like It: A short, relaxing puzzle game that uses the act of repairing objects to tell a touching story about family and reconciliation.

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 25.4%, Female Protagonist 24%, Story Rich 18.8%, Casual 14.1%, Atmospheric 11.3%

Why You'll Like It: It uses the simple, cozy act of organizing items to tell a subtle, multi-year story about a character's life and growth.

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 49% ★, Emotional 21.8%, Interactive Fiction 10%, Story Rich 7.9%, Hand-drawn 4.9%

Why You'll Like It: A powerful, short narrative experience that uses a unique mechanic to explore the passage of time and the weight of life memories.

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 31.1%, Conversation 17.7%, Emotional 14.1%, Interactive Fiction 11.8%, Visual Novel 10.5%

Why You'll Like It: A cozy visual novel that centers on the intimate conversations held over food in a late-night setting.

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 28.4%, Female Protagonist 19.3%, Atmospheric 16%, Exploration 10.5%, Emotional 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: This game masterfully explores family history through short, distinct narrative vignettes that feel deeply personal and emotional.

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 32.6% ★, Cinematic 13.5%, Interactive Fiction 12.1%, Female Protagonist 10.4%, Hand-drawn 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: This game features a beautiful, hand-drawn art style and a narrative focused on passion, art, and emotional discovery.

When the Past was Around is an adventure point-and-click puzzle game about love, moving on, letting go, and the joy and pain of everything in between.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 22.6%, Female Protagonist 19.8%, Hand-drawn 13.4%, Stylized 12.7%, Puzzle 11%

Why You'll Like It: A wordless, puzzle-heavy narrative game that focuses on love, loss, and the memories we carry with us.

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: Hand-drawn 19.5%, Puzzle 16.3%, Stylized 12.3%, Story Rich 12.2%, Atmospheric 10.9%

Why You'll Like It: A beautiful, narrative-driven game that explores a lifetime of memories and regrets through a gentle puzzle-solving experience.

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 38.2%, Female Protagonist 15.2%, Crafting 14.8%, Visual Novel 13.6%, Story Rich 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: Combines time-management cooking mechanics with a heartfelt story about a young woman's journey through life.

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 42.4% ★, Interactive Fiction 13.5%, Female Protagonist 12.3%, Choices Matter 9.9%, Puzzle 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: Features a strong female protagonist and a deep, narrative-driven mystery that rewards curiosity and patience.

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 29.9%, Female Protagonist 14.6%, Hand-drawn 13.7%, Crafting 12.7%, Story Rich 11.8%

Why You'll Like It: While larger in scope, it shares the core themes of cooking for others and navigating complex emotional goodbyes.

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 21.1% ★, Soundtrack 17.4% ★, Emotional 12.8%, Female Protagonist 11.3%, Visual Novel 10%

Why You'll Like It: A short, indie adventure that focuses on the emotional resonance of reliving past moments.

Even the smallest person can make a big difference. Join Alba, as she sets out to save her beautiful island and its wildlife. And possibly start a revolution.

Why similar: Female Protagonist 41.5%, Story Rich 19%, Exploration 16.7%, Casual 15.9%, Indie 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: A wholesome, short experience that emphasizes community, family, and making a positive impact on the world around you.

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

Why similar: Emotional 38.1%, Story Rich 29.1%, Interactive Fiction 19.9%, Indie 8.1%, Female Protagonist 3.2%

Why You'll Like It: A classic narrative experience that focuses on the emotional weight of a life story and the power of memory.

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 37%, Female Protagonist 22.7%, Choices Matter 17.8%, Story Rich 13.8%, Atmospheric 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: A relaxing, narrative-focused life simulation that explores the themes of returning home and finding one's place.

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 52.5% ★, Female Protagonist 18.9%, Story Rich 10.6%, Exploration 8.2%, Atmospheric 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: A cute, exploration-based game that focuses on small, cozy tasks and gentle narrative progression.

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 16.4%, Indie 15.9%

Why You'll Like It: This game captures the same feeling of a short, meaningful journey filled with small, cozy interactions.

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: Soundtrack 32.9% ★, Emotional 26.7%, Puzzle 17%, Story Rich 10.5%, Atmospheric 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: A gentle, puzzle-filled adventure that deals with themes of hope, loss, and finding one's way forward.

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 44.3% ★, Emotional 14.7%, Female Protagonist 11.9%, Choices Matter 8.9%, Story Rich 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-heavy life simulation that focuses on the emotional aftermath of loss and the importance of community.

Two doctors traverse backwards through a dying man's memories to fulfill his last wish. This is To the Moon's standalone sequel, but can also be played first.

Why similar: Emotional 32.6%, Interactive Fiction 25.7%, Female Protagonist 19%, Story Rich 13.4%, Atmospheric 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: A deeply emotional narrative game that explores the complexities of life and the importance of human connection.

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 29.3%, Puzzle 21.6%, Stylized 20.5%, Exploration 14.4%, Story Rich 14.2%

Why You'll Like It: A puzzle-focused exploration game that features a strong female protagonist and a charming, atmospheric setting.

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 24.2%, Puzzle 18.9%, Emotional 17%, Story Rich 13.8%, Atmospheric 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: An adventure game that balances puzzle-solving with a deeply personal, narrative-driven mystery.

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 18.7%, Hand-drawn 18.5%, Puzzle 14.9%, Stylized 14.6%, Story Rich 10.8%

Why You'll Like It: A charming puzzle game that uses map-manipulation to tell a story about family and discovery.

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 30.1%, Female Protagonist 24.5%, Visual Novel 21.1%, Story Rich 7%, Atmospheric 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: A thought-provoking visual novel that deals with complex emotional themes and personal identity.

Sayonara Wild Hearts is a dreamy arcade game about riding motorcycles, skateboarding, dance battling, shooting lasers, wielding swords, and breaking hearts at 200 mph.

Why similar: Female Protagonist 38.4%, Stylized 26.2%, Casual 13.5%, Atmospheric 8.8%, Story Rich 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: A highly stylized, short, and emotional experience that uses music and movement to tell a story of heartbreak and healing.

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 31.4%, Atmospheric 19%, Hand-drawn 18.5%, Story Rich 9.3%, Puzzle 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: A beautiful, wordless narrative experience that uses color and platforming to represent the stages of grief.

Run a tea shop in the British countryside and enkindle your love for poetry in this heartfelt visual novel. Play as Ms Meadows, retired journalist and tea enthusiast, as she prepares for her best friend’s long-awaited visit. Listen to customers’ stories, brew tea, and craft wholehearted poems.

Why similar: Cooking 23.6%, Conversation 14.4%, Emotional 11.6%, Female Protagonist 9.9%, Visual Novel 9.3%

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 15.6%, Emotional 15.1%, Visual Novel 13.5%, Female Protagonist 13.3%, Stylized 10.4%

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 25.7% ★, Soundtrack 14.4% ★, Emotional 10.7%, Female Protagonist 8.7%, Hand-drawn 8.6%

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 13.7%, Stylized 12.4%, Puzzle 10.3%, Hand-drawn 10.3%

When humans get too lonely, they turn into monsters… Set sail across a beautiful and evolving world of darkness and light, and discover what it means to be human.

Why similar: Emotional 53.2%, Female Protagonist 17.3%, Atmospheric 15.2%, Stylized 14.3%

Why You'll Like It: A visually striking narrative game that explores the emotional landscape of loneliness and personal growth.

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 44.9%, Emotional 14.7%, Crafting 12.7%, Exploration 7.4%, Hand-drawn 7.3%

Embark on a heartwarming journey as a home cleaning specialist.

Why similar: Narrative 45.8% ★, Emotional 16.1%, Interactive Fiction 10.5%, Visual Novel 7.4%, Atmospheric 4.5%

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 31.9% ★, Cooking 30.8%, Crafting 9.3%, Interactive Fiction 7.8%, Female Protagonist 6.4%

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 31.3%, Emotional 14.4%, Interactive Fiction 11.3%, Hand-drawn 8.6%, Crafting 8.3%

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 47.2% ★, Female Protagonist 15.7%, 1980s 15.3%, Choices Matter 9%, Story Rich 5.5%

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 18.6%, Hand-drawn 14.5%, Story Rich 9.3%, Casual 5.3%

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 27.8%, Visual Novel 20.6%, Hand-drawn 17.8%, Stylized 16.7%, Exploration 9.2%

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

Why similar: Emotional 20.4%, Interactive Fiction 15%, Narrative 12% ★, Visual Novel 11.8%, Conversation 8.9%

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

Why similar: Cooking 44.6%, Visual Novel 17.4%, Female Protagonist 16.7%, Choices Matter 8.7%, Casual 5.2%

"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 38.4% ★, Female Protagonist 12.7%, Emotional 12.6%, Interactive Fiction 9.9%, Casual 7.6%

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 59.1%, Crafting 12.1%, Stylized 11.9%, Exploration 7.8%, Casual 5.1%

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 37.4% ★, Cinematic 17.9%, Emotional 14.1%, Stylized 8%, Female Protagonist 7.2%

Manon has found a new notebook that goes deeper in the life of her family. Discover this new chapter of looK INside and enjoy the memories of a French family from 1960 to nowadays through unique puzzles based on empathy and aesthetic sense.

Why similar: Cooking 22.7%, 1980s 17%, Interactive Fiction 13.1%, Hand-drawn 9.3%, Visual Novel 9.2%

A song from years ago triggers a flood of memories for champion swimmer Miriam. Embark on an evocative journey through her turbulent childhood and the complicated relationship she shared with her devoted mother.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 29.6%, Emotional 23.7%, Female Protagonist 17%, Casual 11.9%, Story Rich 7.6%

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

Why similar: Cooking 62.6%, Puzzle 16%, Hand-drawn 13.3%, Casual 5.9%, Indie 2.2%

Escape from the Cursed Convent is a narrative-driven adventure game set in a medieval girls' convent, offering a rich storytelling experience, and several gameplay styles including QTE, hunting, cooking, and puzzle-solving.

Why similar: Cooking 28.6%, Female Protagonist 10.6%, Emotional 10.5%, Visual Novel 9.7%, Crafting 8.8%

Kitchen Sync: Aloha! is a cozy, story-driven cooking RPG. As head chef of your family's restaurant in Hawaii, build a trusty team of chefs and dish up tasty Hawaiian food. Manage kitchens, build friendships, find romance, explore tropical venues, and discover the power of cooking together.

Why similar: Cooking 44.2%, Crafting 17.3%, Visual Novel 12.9%, Female Protagonist 12.3%, Story Rich 8.9%

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 28% ★, Conversation 15.2%, Emotional 13.8%, Female Protagonist 10.4%, Choices Matter 9.2%

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: Narrative 30% ★, Soundtrack 20.9% ★, Emotional 15.9%, Female Protagonist 9.3%, Stylized 7%

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 40.3% ★, Emotional 18.3%, Hand-drawn 12.4%, Conversation 11.2%, Story Rich 9.3%

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 34.6% ★, Emotional 23.4%, Female Protagonist 13.3%, Stylized 9.8%, Story Rich 9.3%

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: Cinematic 18.8%, Emotional 16.7%, Female Protagonist 13.5%, Interactive Fiction 10%, Stylized 9.3%

🚗 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 26.6% ★, Emotional 21.8%, Cinematic 13%, Interactive Fiction 9.9%, Female Protagonist 9.7%

Get ready to embark on a comedic culinary quest unlike any other as you take on the role of Zest in this story-driven adventure game; from humble beginnings you will build a farm, grow delectable ingredients, craft machinery and cook your way to becoming the most Epic Chef in Ambrosia!

Why similar: Cooking 58.3%, Crafting 15%, Story Rich 11%, Stylized 8.9%, Exploration 4.8%

Prepare a meal for the Vietnamese Lunar New Year dinner. But hurry, your guests are arriving soon! A short hand-drawn experience full of delicious surprises.

Why similar: Cooking 57.8%, Interactive Fiction 23.4%, Crafting 6.7%, Choices Matter 6.3%, Casual 4.1%

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 18.3%, Interactive Fiction 17.5%, Conversation 17%, Choices Matter 11%, Hand-drawn 9.8%