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 29.6% ★, Interactive Fiction 13.6%, Female Protagonist 12.6%, Visual Novel 9.8%, Story Rich 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: Like Venba, this is a short, emotionally resonant narrative experience that uses simple interactive mechanics to tell a powerful story about life and relationships.

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 40.2% ★, Emotional 14.6%, Female Protagonist 10.5%, Hand-drawn 7.8%, Stylized 7.7%

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

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 35.6%, Interactive Fiction 11.9%, Visual Novel 11.1%, Emotional 10.9%, Crafting 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: This game shares the cozy, dialogue-heavy atmosphere of Venba, focusing on serving drinks and listening to the intimate stories of your customers.

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 21.5%, Casual 19.7%, Puzzle 19%, Indie 11.5%, Visual Novel 11.1%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on the act of repairing objects to restore memories, mirroring the recipe-restoration mechanic found in Venba.

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 25.6%, Female Protagonist 24%, Story Rich 18.6%, Casual 14.1%, Atmospheric 11.2%

Why You'll Like It: A meditative game that tells a life story through the simple, tactile act of organizing belongings as you move into new homes.

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 18.6%, Emotional 13.8%, Interactive Fiction 11.6%, Visual Novel 10.4%

Why You'll Like It: This visual novel centers on the emotional connection formed between a cook and their patrons, perfectly mirroring the culinary themes of Venba.

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 19.9%, Hand-drawn 13.4%, Stylized 12.5%, Puzzle 11.1%

Why You'll Like It: This point-and-click puzzle game uses a wordless, emotional narrative to explore themes of love and loss, much like the core of Venba.

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 31.5% ★, Cinematic 13.1%, Interactive Fiction 11.8%, Female Protagonist 10.2%, Hand-drawn 8%

Why You'll Like It: This artistic, puzzle-driven narrative captures a similar sense of intimacy and creative passion as the protagonist in Venba.

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 30.8% ★, Emotional 16.5%, Female Protagonist 11.3%, Visual Novel 10.5%, Choices Matter 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: A deeply emotional narrative experience that uses word-based puzzles to explore the protagonist's internal world and family life.

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 18.5%, Visual Novel 16.8%, Hand-drawn 14.6%, Stylized 13.5%

Why You'll Like It: This game explicitly links cooking and cultural heritage to narrative progression, making it a direct thematic match for Venba.

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 17.3% ★, Cinematic 15.5%, Emotional 13.7%, Female Protagonist 11.2%, Interactive Fiction 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative exploration game that focuses on the significance of everyday objects in remembering the past and processing grief.

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 44.2% ★, Emotional 14.7%, Female Protagonist 12%, Choices Matter 8.9%, Story Rich 7%

Why You'll Like It: This life-sim narrative focuses on the emotional bonds within a family and the impact of loss, echoing the central themes of Venba.

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 16.2%, Hand-drawn 15.4%, Emotional 13.3%, Stylized 12.7%, Puzzle 10.6%

Why You'll Like It: A heartfelt, puzzle-based narrative that explores a lifetime of memories and regrets through a beautiful, hand-drawn art style.

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%, Dialogue Heavy 17.9%, Interactive Fiction 17.4%, Choices Matter 10.9%, Hand-drawn 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: A story-rich game that balances a cozy aesthetic with serious, grounded themes about life and work, similar to the tone of Venba.

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 47.3% ★, Emotional 21.4%, Interactive Fiction 9.9%, Story Rich 7.8%, Hand-drawn 4.8%

Why You'll Like It: A unique narrative game that uses a blink-detection mechanic to tell an emotional, life-spanning story that feels as personal as Venba.

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 9.9%, Puzzle 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-heavy adventure that features a strong female protagonist and focuses on uncovering history through language and translation.

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 46.8% ★, Female Protagonist 15.8%, 1980s 15.5%, Choices Matter 8.9%, Story Rich 5.5%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-driven game that explores the history of housing and family through a social-commentary lens, much like Venba's immigrant narrative.

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 37.9%, Female Protagonist 29.6%, Casual 16.7%, Indie 15.7%

Why You'll Like It: While more focused on exploration, this game delivers a similarly cozy, short, and emotionally fulfilling narrative experience.

🚗 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 22.3% ★, Emotional 18.2%, Soundtrack 15.7% ★, Cinematic 11%, Interactive Fiction 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: A choices-matter narrative game that focuses on the relationship between a mother and her son, mirroring the family-centric focus of Venba.

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 29.6%, Female Protagonist 14.7%, Hand-drawn 13.7%, Crafting 12.8%, Story Rich 11.9%

Why You'll Like It: This game combines management mechanics with a deeply moving narrative about saying goodbye to loved ones.

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 29.7% ★, Soundtrack 21.2% ★, Emotional 15.8%, Female Protagonist 9.3%, Stylized 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal puzzle game that explores the nature of friendship and memory through time manipulation.

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 33.1% ★, Emotional 26.3%, Puzzle 17.3%, Story Rich 10.5%, Atmospheric 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: A puzzle-adventure game that uses a gentle, atmospheric approach to tell a story about finding purpose and helping others.

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 29.3%, Interactive Fiction 20%, Indie 8%, Female Protagonist 3.2%

Why You'll Like It: A classic story-rich game that explores the life and memories of an individual, focusing on emotional depth over complex gameplay.

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 31.6%, Atmospheric 18.9%, Hand-drawn 18.4%, Story Rich 9.3%, Puzzle 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: An emotionally charged, artistic platformer that uses visual storytelling to process grief and personal growth.

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 35.5%, Female Protagonist 21.7%, Choices Matter 16.8%, Story Rich 13.1%, Atmospheric 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: A slice-of-life narrative game that captures the quiet, contemplative pace of small-town life and personal reflection.

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 41.8%, Story Rich 18.8%, Exploration 16.7%, Casual 15.9%, Indie 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: A cozy, narrative-driven game that focuses on community and environmental stewardship with a heartwarming tone.

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 18.8%, Hand-drawn 18.5%, Puzzle 15%, Stylized 14.5%, Story Rich 10.8%

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

Hoa is a beautiful puzzle-platforming game that features breathtaking hand-painted art, lovely music, and a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere.

Why similar: Hand-drawn 35.4%, Atmospheric 19.1%, Cinematic 17.4%, Exploration 15.1%, Casual 7.2%

Why You'll Like It: A beautifully hand-painted platformer that emphasizes atmosphere and a gentle, emotional narrative journey.

Led by her new friend, Mr. Voice, Misfortune ventures into the woods, where mysteries are unraveled and a little bad luck unfolds.

Why similar: Choices Matter 24.5%, Female Protagonist 22.4%, Story Rich 16.6%, Interactive Fiction 14.3%, Atmospheric 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: A dark, story-rich narrative game that uses a unique, stylized perspective to explore a child's view of a complex world.

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 23.3%, Dialogue Heavy 15%, Emotional 11.3%, Female Protagonist 9.8%, Visual Novel 9.2%

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 52.1%, Stylized 17.3%, Atmospheric 14.4%, Casual 10.2%, Indie 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: A cozy, dialogue-focused experience that emphasizes empathy and connection, matching the warm, human-centric feel of Venba.

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 39.5%, Female Protagonist 13.8%, Stylized 12.2%, Puzzle 10.4%, Hand-drawn 10.2%

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 25.9% ★, Emotional 14.5%, Stylized 9.1%, Female Protagonist 8.9%

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 15.4%, Emotional 14.7%, Visual Novel 14.4%, Female Protagonist 13.2%, 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 25.4% ★, Soundtrack 14.6% ★, Emotional 10.6%, Female Protagonist 8.8%, Hand-drawn 8.6%

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 17.6% ★, Emotional 12.6%, Female Protagonist 11.4%, Visual Novel 10.1%

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 38.3%, Female Protagonist 15.3%, Crafting 14.8%, Visual Novel 13.6%, Story Rich 8.7%

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 30.7%, Narrative 29.3% ★, Female Protagonist 9.3%, Visual Novel 8.2%, Choices Matter 7.3%

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 45.1%, Emotional 14.5%, Crafting 12.8%, 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 31.6% ★, Cooking 30.9%, Crafting 9.4%, Interactive Fiction 7.8%, Female Protagonist 6.5%

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 52.2% ★, Female Protagonist 19.2%, Story Rich 10.7%, Exploration 8.3%, Atmospheric 5.7%

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 34.5% ★, Cinematic 16.6%, Emotional 13%, Stylized 7.4%, Interactive Fiction 7.4%

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 52.4%, Female Protagonist 18.6%, Hand-drawn 14.4%, Story Rich 9.2%, Casual 5.3%

Embark on a heartwarming journey as a home cleaning specialist.

Why similar: Narrative 47.2% ★, Emotional 16.6%, Interactive Fiction 11%, Visual Novel 7.7%, Atmospheric 4.7%

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

Why similar: Cooking 44.7%, Visual Novel 17.4%, Female Protagonist 16.7%, Choices Matter 8.6%, Casual 5.2%

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 29.5%, Puzzle 21.7%, Stylized 20.2%, Exploration 14.4%, Story Rich 14.2%

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 14.2%, Interactive Fiction 11.3%, Hand-drawn 8.6%, Crafting 8.4%

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 59.5%, Crafting 12.1%, Stylized 11.7%, Exploration 7.8%, Casual 5.1%

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

Why similar: Emotional 22.2%, Interactive Fiction 16.5%, Narrative 13.2% ★, Visual Novel 13%, Story Rich 8.2%

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

Why similar: Cooking 62.4%, Puzzle 16.3%, Hand-drawn 13.2%, Casual 5.9%, Indie 2.2%

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 17.1%, Interactive Fiction 13.1%, Hand-drawn 9.3%, Visual Novel 9.2%

"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 38.2% ★, Female Protagonist 12.9%, Emotional 12.5%, Interactive Fiction 9.9%, Casual 7.6%

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 34.5% ★, Emotional 23.2%, Female Protagonist 13.6%, Stylized 9.7%, Story Rich 9.3%

Hanako’s Flower Shop is a heartfelt visual novel where you run a flower shop, crafting bouquets using the language of flowers. Listen to customers’ stories, shape Hanako’s journey through choices, and navigate her struggle to honor her grandpa’s legacy while discovering her own path.

Why similar: Dialogue Heavy 22.4%, Emotional 17.6%, Female Protagonist 15.4%, Visual Novel 14.8%, Choices Matter 12.7%

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 24.7%, Visual Novel 21.4%, Choices Matter 7%, Story Rich 7%

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 16%, Emotional 13.6%, Female Protagonist 10.4%, Choices Matter 9.1%

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 24.3%, Puzzle 19.1%, Emotional 16.8%, Story Rich 13.8%, Atmospheric 8.6%

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 39.9% ★, Emotional 18.1%, Hand-drawn 12.4%, Dialogue Heavy 11.9%, Story Rich 9.3%

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 40.6%, Narrative 39.8% ★, Crafting 13%, Casual 4%, Indie 2.6%

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 44.3%, Crafting 17.3%, Visual Novel 12.8%, Female Protagonist 12.4%, Story Rich 8.8%