- #1 When The Past Was Around
97% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 4,417 reviews2020
Dev: MojikenPub: Toge Productions
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.2 hrsMean: 3.5 hrs≥1hr: 82%
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 41.9%, Philosophical 17.9%, Female Protagonist 17.4%, Relaxing 7.9%, Story Rich 6.1%
Why You'll Like It: It shares a similar hand-drawn aesthetic and focuses on a bittersweet, wordless story of love and loss through point-and-click puzzles.
- #2 If Found...
96% matchVery Positive90% of 2,350 reviews2020
Dev: DREAMFEELPub: Annapurna Interactive
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.9 hrsMean: 3.5 hrs≥1hr: 89%
If Found... is a game about going home, coming out and erasing everything.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 26.7%, Beautiful 18.7% ★, Female Protagonist 12.6%, Emotional 8.7%, Great Soundtrack 8.6%
Why You'll Like It: This deeply personal interactive fiction uses a diary-erasing mechanic to tell a touching story about identity and belonging.
- #3 Before Your Eyes
96% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 23,717 reviews2021
Dev: GoodbyeWorld GamesPub: Skybound Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.1 hrsMean: 3.5 hrs≥1hr: 84%
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: Interactive Fiction 32.6%, Emotional 25.1%, Cartoony 12.5%, Philosophical 12.4%, Story Rich 9.5%
Why You'll Like It: This emotional, short-form narrative uses a unique blink-detection mechanic to explore the fleeting nature of life and memory.
- #4 Lost Words: Beyond the Page
95% matchVery Positive95% of 835 reviews2021
Dev: Sketchbook DevelopmentsPub: Sketchbook Games
Windows
Median: 3.1 hrsMean: 3.7 hrs≥1hr: 79%
A short, fully voiced, story-first adventure across two worlds. Rearrange words into platforms in Izzy’s diary, then wield word magic to shape your path in the fantasy she writes. Gentle puzzles, watercolour wonder, and a bittersweet story of family, loss, and healing.
Why similar: Emotional 27.6%, Female Protagonist 25.1%, Story Rich 10.4%, Relaxing 9.3%, Casual 7.3%
Why You'll Like It: A beautiful side-scrolling adventure that integrates narrative storytelling directly into the platforming mechanics to explore grief and growth.
- #5 Florence
94% matchVery Positive93% of 16,387 reviews2020
Dev: MountainsPub: Annapurna Interactive
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.3 hrsMean: 5.6 hrs≥1hr: 64%
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: Interactive Fiction 40.9%, Female Protagonist 17.8%, Casual 9.5%, Story Rich 9.1%, Adventure 7.9%
Why You'll Like It: A short, interactive graphic novel that perfectly captures the emotional highs and lows of a relationship through simple, intuitive gameplay.
- #6 A Memoir Blue
94% matchVery Positive85% of 517 reviews2022
Dev: Cloisters InteractivePub: Annapurna Interactive
Windows
Median: 2.0 hrsMean: 4.9 hrs≥1hr: 80%
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 46.8%, Emotional 13.3%, Female Protagonist 12.6%, Adventure 8.7%, Casual 8%
Why You'll Like It: This cinematic, interactive poem explores the complex relationship between a mother and daughter through dreamlike, emotional sequences.
- #7 Mutazione
93% matchVery Positive95% of 1,408 reviews2019
Dev: Die Gute FabrikPub: Akupara Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 6.6 hrsMean: 7.5 hrs≥1hr: 93%
A mutant soap opera where small-town gossip meets the supernatural. Explore the Mutazione community as Kai as she cares for her ailing grandfather. Discover magical gardens, new friends & old secrets. They can survive an apocalyptic meteor strike, but can they survive their small-town drama?
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 44.7%, Female Protagonist 16.5%, Great Soundtrack 11%, Relaxing 8.8%, Story Rich 8.1%
Why You'll Like It: A story-rich adventure that emphasizes conversation and community, focusing on the personal lives of its characters in a unique setting.
- #8 How to Say Goodbye
92% matchVery Positive90% of 182 reviews2022
Dev: Florian VeltmanPub: ARTE France
Windows · Mac
How to Say Goodbye is a beautiful narrative puzzle game inspired by picture books. Reorganize the environment and solve puzzles to help a group of ghosts on their quest to finally move on.
Why similar: Emotional 44.3%, Relaxing 18.8%, Casual 12.4%, Adventure 11.6%, Atmospheric 10.6%
Why You'll Like It: A puzzle game centered on the afterlife that uses gentle, thoughtful mechanics to help characters process their transition.
- #9 To the Moon
91% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 86,379 reviews2012
Dev: Freebird Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.8 hrsMean: 11.6 hrs≥1hr: 79%
A story-driven experience about two doctors traversing backwards through a dying man's memories to artificially fulfill his last wish.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 28.5%, Great Soundtrack 23%, Emotional 19%, Story Rich 15.2%, Indie 5.9%
Why You'll Like It: A classic narrative-driven experience that explores the afterlife and memory through a deeply moving, character-focused story.
- #10 Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery
91% matchVery Positive94% of 7,677 reviews2021
Dev: Silver Lining StudioPub: Akupara Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.4 hrsMean: 3.5 hrs≥1hr: 86%
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: Interactive Fiction 48.8%, Female Protagonist 19.9%, Relaxing 9%, Story Rich 8.8%, Atmospheric 7%
Why You'll Like It: A relaxing, narrative-heavy puzzle game that uses art to tell a poignant story about passion and memory.
- #11 Spiritfarer®: Farewell Edition
90% matchVery Positive95% of 53,173 reviews2020
Dev: Thunder Lotus
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 15.9 hrs≥1hr: 83%
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 28.4%, Female Protagonist 18.6%, Cartoony 13.4%, Story Rich 11.7%, Relaxing 10.6%
Why You'll Like It: While slightly longer, this management game about guiding spirits to the afterlife captures the same heartwarming and melancholic tone.
- #12 Assemble with Care
89% matchVery Positive90% of 10,934 reviews2020
Dev: ustwo games
Windows
Median: 1.7 hrsMean: 2.0 hrs≥1hr: 82%
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: Beautiful 23.7% ★, Female Protagonist 17.9%, Casual 15.4%, Great Soundtrack 11%, Indie 10.5%
Why You'll Like It: A short, relaxing narrative game about fixing objects and, in the process, helping people mend their broken relationships.
- #13 Little Misfortune
89% matchVery Positive92% of 14,094 reviews2019
Dev: Killmonday Games AB
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 10.5 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Led by her new friend, Mr. Voice, Misfortune ventures into the woods, where mysteries are unraveled and a little bad luck unfolds.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 26.2%, Female Protagonist 19.5%, Dark Humor 15.5%, Story Rich 11.3%, Adventure 7.3%
Why You'll Like It: A dark yet whimsical narrative adventure that focuses on a young protagonist navigating a strange and emotional world.
- #14 Fall of Porcupine
88% matchMostly Positive77% of 723 reviews2023
Dev: Critical RabbitPub: Assemble Entertainment
Windows
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 5.4 hrs≥1hr: 89%
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: Interactive Fiction 45.7%, Emotional 16.6%, Cartoony 14.6%, Story Rich 8.3%, Atmospheric 5.1%
Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric, story-rich game that blends daily life with emotional themes through a charming, hand-drawn aesthetic.
- #15 Coffee Talk
87% matchVery Positive95% of 12,534 reviews2020
Dev: Toge Productions
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 10.3 hrs≥1hr: 85%
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: Interactive Fiction 35.3%, Philosophical 14.3%, Emotional 11.4%, Multiple Endings 10.6%, Relaxing 7.2%
Why You'll Like It: This conversation-heavy simulator focuses on listening to the personal struggles of others, capturing the same empathetic spirit.
- #16 The Gardens Between
86% matchVery Positive94% of 2,759 reviews2018
Dev: The Voxel Agents
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.4 hrsMean: 8.6 hrs≥1hr: 69%
The Gardens Between is a surreal puzzle adventure that follows best friends, Arina and Frendt, as they fall into a mysterious world of beautiful garden islands. Manipulate time to solve puzzles and discover the secrets of each island.
Why similar: Female Protagonist 31.4%, Emotional 26.4%, Relaxing 14%, Story Rich 12.7%, Adventure 8%
Why You'll Like It: A short, surreal puzzle game that uses time manipulation to reflect on the memories and friendship of two neighbors.
- #17 She and the Light Bearer
86% matchVery Positive85% of 397 reviews2019
Dev: MojikenPub: Toge Productions
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 3.5 hrs≥1hr: 89%
She and the Light Bearer is a point and click adventure game, a poem, a fairy tale. Take a journey inside a vibrantly colored forest, meet silly creatures, listen to serene folk music, and discover somber secrets.
Why similar: Beautiful 21.8% ★, Emotional 12.1%, Great Soundtrack 11.6%, Philosophical 10.7%, Adventure 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: A gentle, hand-drawn adventure that uses poetry and conversation to tell a heartwarming story.
- #18 OPUS: Rocket of Whispers
85% matchVery Positive92% of 1,713 reviews2018
Dev: SIGONO INC.
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 5.8 hrs≥1hr: 88%
Rocket of Whispers is an award-winning post-apocalyptic adventure that follows two survivors on a journey to launch a space burial for the lost souls of their desolate world. Help them search the snowy wasteland for supplies and the courage to say goodbye.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 38.3%, Emotional 17.3%, Female Protagonist 16.9%, Story Rich 7.9%, Relaxing 6.2%
Why You'll Like It: A deeply emotional narrative experience about two people working together to fulfill a final, meaningful wish.
- #19 Old Man's Journey
84% matchVery Positive87% of 4,257 reviews2017
Dev: Broken Rules
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.9 hrsMean: 5.0 hrs≥1hr: 85%
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 47.6%, Emotional 13.7%, Story Rich 11.2%, Adventure 7.9%, Casual 7.3%
Why You'll Like It: A soul-searching puzzle adventure that tells a wordless story about life, regret, and hope through beautiful, hand-drawn landscapes.
- #20 Teacup
83% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 1,184 reviews2021
Dev: Smarto ClubPub: Whitethorn Games
Windows
Median: 2.0 hrsMean: 2.7 hrs≥1hr: 78%
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: Female Protagonist 41.6%, Story Rich 18%, Relaxing 14.2%, Adventure 8.1%, Atmospheric 7.8%
Why You'll Like It: A short, cute, and relaxing adventure game that focuses on exploration and conversation in a whimsical world.
- #21 Unpacking
82% matchVery Positive93% of 40,663 reviews2021
Dev: Witch BeamPub: Balor Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 5.2 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Unpacking is a zen puzzle game about the familiar experience of pulling possessions out of boxes and fitting them into a new home. Part block-fitting puzzle, part home decoration, you are invited to create a satisfying living space while learning clues about the life you’re unpacking.
Why similar: Relaxing 31.1%, Female Protagonist 24.2%, Story Rich 14.7%, Casual 13.5%, Atmospheric 7.1%
Why You'll Like It: A meditative game that tells a life story through the objects you unpack, mirroring the intimate, reflective feel of the seed game.
- #22 A Mortician's Tale
84% matchMostly Positive72% of 1,433 reviews2017
Dev: Laundry Bear Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.6 hrsMean: 3.2 hrs≥1hr: 83%
A Mortician's Tale is a short, story-driven game about a mortician tasked with running a funeral home.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 27.1%, Female Protagonist 26.3%, Casual 10.4%, Great Soundtrack 9.3%, Indie 7.5%
Why You'll Like It: A short, narrative-focused game that treats the subject of death with empathy and respect, much like the seed game.
- #23 Before I Forget
82% matchVery Positive89% of 212 reviews2020
Dev: 3-Fold Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 1.5 hrsMean: 2.9 hrs≥1hr: 70%
A woman alone in a house. A mystery and a love story. Explore the present to uncover the past, in a short story of love and loss and a life well-lived. A narrative exploration game that examines a world where memories are constantly fading and jumbled.
Why similar: Beautiful 42.2% ★, Emotional 26.3%, Adventure 9.2%, Atmospheric 7.6%, Indie 7.4%
Why You'll Like It: A short, first-person exploration game that deals with the sensitive subject of dementia through a deeply personal narrative.
- #24 Sumire
81% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 952 reviews2021
Dev: GameTomo TeamPub: GameTomo Co., Ltd.
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 7.7 hrs≥1hr: 90%
One Day, One Life. Sumire is a magical narrative adventure about choices made, and dreams lost and found. Embark on a mysterious journey to help Sumire achieve her deepest wishes, before the day ends and the sky turns to twilight.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 51%, Female Protagonist 19.1%, Relaxing 8.3%, Story Rich 7.7%, Casual 5.3%
Why You'll Like It: An interactive fiction game about a girl on a one-day journey to find peace, featuring multiple endings and a focus on choices.
- #25 Sea of Solitude
81% matchVery Positive83% of 2,107 reviews2020
Dev: Jo-Mei GamesPub: Electronic Arts
Windows
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 5.1 hrs≥1hr: 80%
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 33.9%, Beautiful 25.1% ★, Adventure 15.3%, Female Protagonist 15.2%, Atmospheric 8.2%
Why You'll Like It: A metaphorical exploration of loneliness and mental health that uses a character-driven narrative to guide the player through emotional landscapes.
- #26 Once Again
79% matchVery Positive91% of 1,036 reviews2022
Dev: RB Wolf DesignPub: RB Wolf Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.3 hrsMean: 78.7 hrs≥1hr: 71%
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: Female Protagonist 23.4%, Interactive Fiction 22.3%, Emotional 19.7%, Story Rich 9%, Adventure 7.9%
Why You'll Like It: A short, colorful, and emotional adventure that explores themes of time and connection through a female protagonist.
- #27 Letters - a written adventure
80% matchVery Positive91% of 291 reviews2022
Dev: 5am Games GmbH
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.0 hrsMean: 4.2 hrs≥1hr: 87%
Letters is a fun word puzzle game about friendship, growing up and finding your place in life. Follow Sarah, a shy girl from Switzerland, by moving through her pen pal letters and chat messages. Use the power of words to solve riddles, interact with her friends and decide who she will grow up to be.
Why similar: Female Protagonist 32.2%, Multiple Endings 27.6%, Story Rich 12%, Adventure 7.7%, Casual 6.9%
Why You'll Like It: A charming, hand-drawn game where your choices in letters shape the protagonist's life and emotional journey.
- #28 Lake
78% matchVery Positive87% of 5,864 reviews2021
Dev: GamiousPub: Whitethorn Games
Windows
Median: 3.8 hrsMean: 7.2 hrs≥1hr: 72%
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: Female Protagonist 29.3%, Multiple Endings 25%, Relaxing 15.9%, Story Rich 14%, Adventure 7.4%
Why You'll Like It: A slow-paced, narrative-driven game that focuses on the quiet, personal interactions of a woman returning to her hometown.
- #29 Sayonara Wild Hearts
78% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 8,911 reviews2019
Dev: SimogoPub: Annapurna Interactive
Windows
Median: 2.0 hrsMean: 5.0 hrs≥1hr: 77%
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: Beautiful 35.5% ★, Great Soundtrack 24.7%, Female Protagonist 19.7%, Casual 6.4%, Story Rich 3.4%
Why You'll Like It: A short, visually stunning, and emotionally charged experience that feels like a playable pop album about heartbreak.
- #30 Necrobarista
79% matchVery Positive82% of 1,474 reviews2020
Dev: Route 59
Windows
Median: 1.2 hrsMean: 3.2 hrs≥1hr: 53%
In a back-alley cafe, the dead are granted one last night to mingle with the living. Necrobarista follows a dynamic and diverse cast of characters as they navigate Melbourne's hipstery coffee culture, the questionable ethics of necromancy, and the process of letting go.
Why similar: Beautiful 34.2% ★, Female Protagonist 23.4%, Great Soundtrack 14.5%, Story Rich 11.3%, Atmospheric 5.8%
Why You'll Like It: A visual novel set in a cafe for the dead, exploring the transition between life and the afterlife with a unique, stylish presentation.
- #31 When The Past Was Around - Prologue
77% matchVery Positive94% of 683 reviews2019
Dev: MojikenPub: Toge Productions
Windows · Mac
Median: 18 minMean: 5.5 hrs≥1hr: 16%
This is the prologue chapter of "When the Past was Around", an upcoming adventure point-and-click puzzle game about love, moving on, letting go, and the joy and pain of everything in between.
Why similar: Beautiful 23.5% ★, Philosophical 17.7%, Emotional 12.2%, Female Protagonist 12.1%, Great Soundtrack 11.4%
- #32 A Story Beside
76% matchVery Positive96% of 311 reviews2022
Dev: Wayward Prophet
Windows
Step into the shoes of Lyric, the humble innkeeper in a quiet mountain village, as she reflects upon a lifetime of poignant memories, heartwarming friendships, and bittersweet choices — proving along the way that you don't have to slay dragons to be the hero of your own story.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 38.1%, Emotional 16.1%, Female Protagonist 15.9%, Story Rich 7.3%, Relaxing 6.4%
- #33 The Bear - A Story from the World of Gra
75% matchVery Positive100% of 71 reviews2025
Dev: Mucks! Games
Windows
Home is where the stars are. An interactive bedtime story, for anyone who needs one. Take the bear and the little one on a deeply meaningful journey, as you experience stories of togetherness, of letting go and of finding a place you belong.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 47.8%, Philosophical 17%, Emotional 8.9%, Story Rich 8.4%, Casual 7.1%
- #34 Refind Self: The Personality Test Game
74% matchVery Positive88% of 3,767 reviews2023
Dev: LizardryPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Median: 1.5 hrsMean: 2.3 hrs≥1hr: 70%
Games can really show someone's personality, don't you think? By way of a simple exploration-based adventure, this data-science game analyzes your actions to estimate your personality.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 43.4%, Female Protagonist 16.7%, Philosophical 12.8%, Emotional 12.5%, Story Rich 6.7%
- #35 Earthshine
77% matchVery Positive90% of 71 reviews2019
Dev: ElleivPub: Phoenix_co
Windows · Mac · Linux
Explore a deeply emotional story about love and sacrifice, and the hope that exists in us all.
Why similar: Narration 23.5%, Female Protagonist 17%, Adventure 13.6%, Great Soundtrack 13.1%, Casual 11.7%
- #36 Simpler Times
74% matchVery Positive93% of 147 reviews2024
Dev: stoneskip.Pub: iam8bit Presents
Windows
Median: 2.8 hrsMean: 3.4 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Simpler Times is an experiential, interactive meditation that rewards patience and attention with poignant moments that can be replayed like a favorite song.
Why similar: Narration 42.2%, Female Protagonist 24.4%, Relaxing 10.7%, Story Rich 9%, Casual 6.1%
- #37 I Am Dead
75% matchVery Positive82% of 462 reviews2020
Dev: Hollow PondsPub: Annapurna Interactive
Windows
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 8.5 hrs≥1hr: 78%
I Am Dead is a charming puzzle adventure game from the creators of Hohokum and Wilmot’s Warehouse about exploring the afterlife.
Why similar: Beautiful 24.6% ★, Adventure 22.4%, Indie 16.1%, Great Soundtrack 11.6%, Emotional 8.8%
- #38 Carto
72% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 9,364 reviews2020
Dev: Sunhead GamesPub: Balor Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 5.6 hrs≥1hr: 87%
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 34.3%, Relaxing 16.9%, Story Rich 15.3%, Adventure 11.2%, Indie 10.9%
- #39 Solo
76% matchMixed69% of 131 reviews2018
Dev: Team Gotham
Windows
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 6.0 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Solo is an introspective puzzler set on a gorgeous and surreal archipelago. Reflect on your loving relationships by exploring contemplative, dream-like islands.
Why similar: Female Protagonist 29.6%, Emotional 17.3%, Story Rich 13.7%, Adventure 12%, Indie 8.3%
- #40 Hello Goodboy
73% matchVery Positive88% of 160 reviews2023
Dev: Rolling Glory JamPub: indie.io
Windows
A lost soul and his dog set out on an otherworldly trek through the afterlife in this wholesome, non-linear adventure game. Pass into the world beyond, perform acts of kindness for other souls, and mend mistakes from a forgotten past life - all with a very good boy by your side!
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 30.6%, Philosophical 13.1%, Cartoony 12.4%, Multiple Endings 9.4%, Emotional 9%
- #41 The Almost Gone
73% matchVery Positive80% of 1,226 reviews2020
Dev: Happy Volcano
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.4 hrsMean: 3.5 hrs≥1hr: 65%
Experience the intricate dioramas and connections of your life, and the ripples we all make, in this award-winning narrative puzzle game about death, loss, and mental health.
Why similar: Beautiful 38.6% ★, Emotional 17.3%, Female Protagonist 15.4%, Story Rich 9.2%, Adventure 7.6%
- #42 Reviver
71% matchVery Positive92% of 242 reviews2025
Dev: Cotton Game
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 5.0 hrs≥1hr: 74%
A narrative puzzle game with themes of love, fate and time. Follow the life stories of the two main characters and influence their destinies through interactions and choices. The game combines hand-drawn style and an immersive interactive experience to explore a profound journey of love and choice.
Why similar: Female Protagonist 29.9%, Emotional 24.4%, Multiple Endings 15%, Story Rich 9.9%, Adventure 7.1%
- #43 Ghost on the Shore
73% matchVery Positive84% of 221 reviews2022
Dev: like CharliePub: Application Systems Heidelberg
Windows · Mac
An exploration game about emotional ties that transcend even death. Riley is faced with a headstrong ghost, urging her on an adventure across atmospheric shores, uncovering the island's tragic secret. Choices in dialogue shape the bond between the two, ultimately deciding Riley's fate.
Why similar: Emotional 21%, Female Protagonist 20.3%, Great Soundtrack 15.3%, Story Rich 12.3%, Adventure 10.1%
- #44 While Waiting
71% matchVery Positive80% of 343 reviews2025
Dev: Optillusion
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.9 hrsMean: 3.9 hrs≥1hr: 61%
Presented by the team behind critically acclaimed "Moncage", this is a transformative adventure exploring the art of waiting. Clear the game by doing nothing, but discover the power of acceptance and patience in numerous situations from birth to death. Learn to embrace life as you wait.
Why similar: Adventure 39.7%, Casual 30.3%, Indie 22.9%, Singleplayer 7.1%
- #45 Afterlove EP
70% matchVery Positive91% of 207 reviews2025
Dev: PikselnesiaPub: Fellow Traveller
Windows
From the creator of Coffee Talk and What Comes After, comes a slice-of-life adventure set in modern Jakarta about love, loss and finding your own way forward. Step into the shoes of Rama, a young musician struggling to move on with life after the death of his girlfriend, Cinta.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 47%, Emotional 18.7%, Multiple Endings 14.5%, Story Rich 8.4%, Adventure 6.8%
- #46 The Longest Road on Earth
72% matchMostly Positive78% of 647 reviews2021
Dev: Brainwash GangPub: Raw Fury
Windows
Median: 1.5 hrsMean: 3.2 hrs≥1hr: 58%
A thoughtful and deeply personal title with stripped-down mechanics. The lack of dialogue or text allows you to create your own narrative through your time with four characters. Each short story will allow players to be swept away by the haunting lyrics of over twenty original, nostalgic songs.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 56.2%, Emotional 17.2%, Relaxing 7.3%, Casual 6.8%, Story Rich 6.8%
- #47 OneShot
70% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 64,754 reviews2016
Dev: Future Cat LLCPub: KOMODO
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.7 hrsMean: 28.1 hrs≥1hr: 84%
OneShot is a surreal top down Puzzle/Adventure game with unique gameplay capabilities. You are to guide a child through a mysterious world on a mission to restore its long-dead sun. The world knows you exist.
Why similar: Great Soundtrack 28.2%, Multiple Endings 21%, Story Rich 19.1%, Atmospheric 8.1%, Indie 7.7%
- #48 Seers Isle
71% matchVery Positive92% of 201 reviews2018
Dev: Nova-box
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.1 hrsMean: 8.6 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Seers Isle is a narrative game, set in a fantasy version of medieval northern Europe, where your choices impact the fate of a group of characters.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 35.2%, Emotional 12.9%, Female Protagonist 12.1%, Multiple Endings 11.2%, Great Soundtrack 6.7%
- #49 Rita
67% matchVery Positive99% of 136 reviews2026
Dev: SporkTank
Windows · Mac · Linux
Rita is a cozy adventure where a little chicklet solves word-based puzzles to transform the world around her. Follow her story across generations, meet her grandchicklet, and be a part of her legacy.
Why similar: Cartoony 22.9%, Female Protagonist 21.3%, Emotional 17.7%, Story Rich 10.7%, Relaxing 8.9%
- #50 A Taste of the Past
68% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 1,779 reviews2022
Dev: Sondering Studio
Windows
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 53.1%, Cartoony 20.4%, Emotional 15.3%, Adventure 6.8%, Atmospheric 4.5%
- #51 GRIS
68% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 96,134 reviews2018
Dev: Nomada StudioPub: Devolver Digital
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 7.4 hrs≥1hr: 79%
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: Beautiful 46.4% ★, Female Protagonist 15.9%, Great Soundtrack 14.6%, Atmospheric 6%, Relaxing 4.3%
- #52 Half Past Fate
70% matchVery Positive92% of 303 reviews2020
Dev: Serenity ForgePub: Way Down Deep
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.9 hrsMean: 6.4 hrs≥1hr: 67%
Love is in the air, but work, life, and spicy Ramen keep getting in the way! From 8 hours to 8 years, this time-jumping saga will change the way you feel about fate forever.
Why similar: Adventure 22.8%, Female Protagonist 20.3%, Emotional 19.4%, Indie 14.4%, Great Soundtrack 14.4%
- #53 Stories of Mara
69% matchVery Positive81% of 106 reviews2021
Dev: Chibig
Windows
Dive into the charming Stories of Mara, an episodic slice of life tale about a diverse cast of characters. Get to know your neighbours and bond with them, but… Could you make them stick together to help each other?
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 41.9%, Female Protagonist 21.9%, Adventure 8.1%, Casual 7.2%, Fantasy 7.1%
- #54 Peaches Interplanetary
66% matchVery Positive100% of 55 reviews2025
Dev: clover_p
Windows
Peaches Interplanetary is a short relaxing game about growing peaches on a spaceship. Explore the ship, talk to trees, drink some tea or coffee, and help Margot prepare for her first day spreading the power of peaches throughout the stars.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 45.4%, Female Protagonist 18.5%, Relaxing 10.1%, Multiple Endings 8.6%, Story Rich 8.4%
- #55 Across the Grooves
69% matchVery Positive93% of 139 reviews2020
Dev: Nova-box
Windows · Mac · Linux
Your choices affect the destiny of Alice, drastically changing her reality and allowing her to explore alternative destinies by modifying her past. Travel across European cities, meet colourful characters and solve the mystery.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 37.8%, Beautiful 15.2% ★, Female Protagonist 14.4%, Great Soundtrack 12.7%, Multiple Endings 9.8%
- #56 Beyond the Wall
67% matchVery Positive91% of 116 reviews2023
Dev: Rocking Toy
Windows · Mac · Linux
Classic point-and-click adventure with a magical atmosphere. Discover what happens one night Beyond the Wall of the garden. Immerse yourself into a mysterious world where fantasy meets reality with a pinch of humor. Solve puzzles, collect items, and overcome obstacles that await you on your journey.
Why similar: Cartoony 40.3%, Adventure 14.4%, Relaxing 13.1%, Female Protagonist 10.6%, Casual 8.8%
- #57 Hindsight
68% matchVery Positive81% of 160 reviews2022
Dev: Team HindsightPub: Annapurna Interactive
Windows · Mac
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: Interactive Fiction 29.9%, Female Protagonist 19.2%, Emotional 17.6%, Story Rich 8.5%, Relaxing 7.8%
- #58 Puzzles For Clef
67% matchVery Positive82% of 146 reviews2024
Dev: Weasel TokenPub: indie.io
Windows
Join Clef on an adventure set on a magical sky island where her family once lived. Solve puzzles, discover secrets, and experience a story of sisterly love – and something more, if you are willing to dig deeper…
Why similar: Female Protagonist 43.3%, Relaxing 15.8%, Story Rich 13.8%, Casual 11.1%, Fantasy 7.6%
- #59 Many Nights a Whisper
64% matchVery Positive95% of 731 reviews2025
Dev: Deconstructeam
Windows
A short interactive essay on dreams, pressure, and expectations. Take part in an ancient ritual where one shot determines the fate of a generation.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 32.7%, Philosophical 17.3%, Emotional 13.3%, Female Protagonist 12%, Multiple Endings 6.4%
- #60 NAIAD
64% matchVery Positive94% of 724 reviews2024
Dev: HiWarp
Windows · Mac
Median: 5.7 hrsMean: 6.1 hrs≥1hr: 83%
Immerse yourself in a relaxing, minimalist and colorful adventure. Flow with Naiad across a mysterious river and interact with its fauna and flora to discover little secrets. Enjoy a wholesome experience with an original and dreamy visual style.
Why similar: Adventure 22.7%, Relaxing 19.2%, Atmospheric 13.9%, Female Protagonist 13.9%, Story Rich 13.1%