- #1 In My Shadow
97% matchVery Positive81% of 70 reviews2021
Dev: PlaybaePub: Alcon Interactive Group
Windows
Play with shadows using your imagination to solve brain twisting platforming puzzles as you unfold a journey of loss, nostalgia and acceptance.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 27.5%, Side Scroller 15.4%, Female Protagonist 14.7%, 2D Platformer 11.8%, Puzzle 10.9%
Why You'll Like It: It features a core mechanic of manipulating shadows to solve puzzles, mirroring the shadow-collaboration gameplay of the seed.
- #2 Tandem: A Tale of Shadows
96% matchVery Positive92% of 228 reviews2021
Dev: Monochrome ParisPub: Hatinh Interactive
Windows · Linux
Median: 1.6 hrsMean: 3.8 hrs≥1hr: 65%
Tandem : A Tale of Shadows redefines the puzzle platformer genre with a unique gameplay and exceptional aesthetics. Help Emma and the teddy bear Fenton solve the mystery of the disappearance of the famous magician Thomas Kane.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 36.4%, Female Protagonist 19.4%, Platformer 14.9%, Puzzle 12%, 2D Platformer 11%
Why You'll Like It: This game utilizes a dual-perspective system involving shadows and light to navigate puzzles, closely matching the mechanical feel of the seed.
- #3 GRIS
96% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 94,608 reviews2018
Dev: Nomada StudioPub: Devolver Digital
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 7.4 hrs≥1hr: 78%
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 32.3%, Puzzle Platformer 20.5%, Platformer 15.5%, Atmospheric 13%, Puzzle 8.3%
Why You'll Like It: An emotionally resonant platformer featuring a female protagonist that uses artistic, surreal environments to represent the stages of grief and healing.
- #4 Braid, Anniversary Edition
95% matchVery Positive93% of 1,739 reviews2024
Dev: Thekla, Inc.
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.3 hrsMean: 4.9 hrs≥1hr: 54%
Control the flow of time to solve puzzles in this new version of the indie classic, featuring fully repainted artwork, a new world of puzzles, and seriously in-depth commentary.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 40.5%, 2D Platformer 18.7%, Platformer 17.6%, Puzzle 14.3%, 2D 4.8%
Why You'll Like It: A seminal puzzle-platformer that uses time manipulation to explore complex, philosophical themes of regret and the past.
- #5 Aspire: Ina's Tale
94% matchVery Positive83% of 427 reviews2021
Dev: Wondernaut StudioPub: Untold Tales
Windows
Median: 2.0 hrsMean: 3.7 hrs≥1hr: 61%
Set out on a mystical adventure of self-discovery against the backdrop of fantastical landscapes of The Tower. Meet its dwellers and unravel their stories. Manipulate spirits to solve puzzles, and lead Ina on her path to freedom.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 28.4%, Female Protagonist 18%, Platformer 11.9%, Drama 10.7%, 2D Platformer 9.6%
Why You'll Like It: A surreal and atmospheric puzzle-platformer featuring a female protagonist navigating a mysterious, dreamlike world.
- #6 Celeste
93% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 140,994 reviews2018
Dev: Maddy Makes Games Inc.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.8 hrsMean: 26.3 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight platformer from the creators of TowerFall. Brave hundreds of hand-crafted challenges, uncover devious secrets, and piece together the mystery of the mountain.
Why similar: Female Protagonist 17.2%, Platformer 16.5%, Pixel Graphics 16.2%, 2D Platformer 15.5%, Puzzle Platformer 13.9%
Why You'll Like It: A precision platformer that masterfully weaves a narrative about overcoming anxiety and internal struggles into its challenging gameplay.
- #7 The Swapper
94% matchVery Positive94% of 7,539 reviews2013
Dev: Olli Harjola, Otto Hantula, Tom Jubert, Carlo CastellanoPub: Facepalm Games
Windows
Median: 2.2 hrsMean: 3.9 hrs≥1hr: 74%
What if someone knew your mind better than you did? The Swapper is an award-winning, narrative driven puzzle game set in the furthest reaches of space.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 24.3%, Puzzle 23.4%, Philosophical 23.3%, Platformer 13.4%, Atmospheric 7.5%
Why You'll Like It: This atmospheric puzzle-platformer explores deep psychological themes through the use of clone-based mechanics that feel similar to interacting with one's past self.
- #8 When The Past Was Around
92% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 4,352 reviews2020
Dev: MojikenPub: Toge Productions
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.2 hrsMean: 3.6 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: Philosophical 41%, Female Protagonist 23.1%, Puzzle 11.8%, Cute 9.2%, Story Rich 5%
Why You'll Like It: A surreal, emotional point-and-click puzzle game that focuses on themes of love, loss, and moving on from the past.
- #9 Contrast
91% matchVery Positive91% of 5,654 reviews2013
Dev: Compulsion GamesPub: Xbox Game Studios
Windows
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 4.0 hrs≥1hr: 90%
CONTRAST is a puzzle/platform game where you can move between a fantastic 3D world and a mysterious shadowy universe in 2D in the blink of an eye. Delve into a dreamlike and surreal 1920s world, inspired by the performance art world of vaudeville and film noir, and cradled by a smooth and sultry jazz ambiance.
Why similar: Female Protagonist 33.7%, Platformer 22.4%, Puzzle 18.6%, Puzzle Platformer 14.8%, Atmospheric 6.3%
Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on shifting between a 3D world and a 2D shadow world, offering a unique perspective on shadow-based puzzle solving.
- #10 Afterdream
90% matchVery Positive93% of 349 reviews2023
Dev: Jesse MakkonenPub: Gamirror Games
Windows
Get lost in a lucid dream, bending the lines between reality and fiction. Utilize the strange camera to navigate through the ghosts' mysterious residence. Find the purpose of your nocturnal visit in a vivid and dreamlike setting.
Why similar: Psychological 27.9%, Side Scroller 19.2%, Female Protagonist 19%, Pixel Graphics 12.2%, Atmospheric 6.6%
Why You'll Like It: A psychological 2D adventure that blurs the line between dreams and reality, focusing on atmospheric storytelling.
- #11 Unravel
89% matchVery Positive91% of 5,467 reviews2020
Dev: Coldwood InteractivePub: Electronic Arts
Windows
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 6.0 hrs≥1hr: 77%
Unravel is a physics-based puzzle platformer. Yarny, a character made from a single thread of yarn, must embark on a larger than life adventure.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 28.1%, Puzzle 24%, Platformer 18.5%, Side Scroller 9%, Atmospheric 8.4%
Why You'll Like It: A deeply emotional puzzle-platformer where the protagonist uses yarn to traverse environments and uncover memories of the past.
- #12 Ageless
91% matchMixed55% of 404 reviews2020
Dev: One More Dream StudiosPub: Team17 Digital Ltd
Windows
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 5.0 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Ageless is a story driven puzzle platformer where you must alter the age of animals and plant life around you to progress. Play as Kiara, a young girl who braves through heartache and loss as she journeys across a mysterious world to discovers its secrets and herself.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 27.2%, Female Protagonist 18.6%, Platformer 13.4%, Side Scroller 12.2%, Pixel Graphics 11.9%
Why You'll Like It: A puzzle-platformer featuring a female protagonist who can manipulate the age of objects, offering a unique take on environmental puzzles.
- #13 LIMBO
88% matchVery Positive92% of 60,918 reviews2011
Dev: Playdead
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.6 hrsMean: 5.8 hrs≥1hr: 73%
Uncertain of his sister's fate, a boy enters LIMBO
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 54.9%, Platformer 16.2%, Puzzle 13.2%, Atmospheric 5.5%, Side Scroller 5.5%
Why You'll Like It: A dark, atmospheric puzzle-platformer that relies on environmental storytelling and shadow-heavy visuals to convey its narrative.
- #14 In Between
89% matchVery Positive85% of 476 reviews2015
Dev: GentlymadPub: Assemble Entertainment
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 4.0 hrs≥1hr: 95%
In Between is set inside the mind of a man hit by a cruel twist of fate. Together you are on a journey through the protagonist's head, a world that doesn’t obey the laws of physics.
Why similar: Philosophical 28.6%, Puzzle Platformer 27.1%, Platformer 12.1%, Side Scroller 9.1%, Puzzle 9%
Why You'll Like It: A gravity-manipulating puzzle-platformer that uses its mechanics to reflect on the protagonist's life and mortality.
- #15 Lost Words: Beyond the Page
87% matchVery Positive95% of 827 reviews2021
Dev: Sketchbook DevelopmentsPub: Sketchbook Games
Windows
Median: 3.2 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: Puzzle Platformer 25.1%, Side Scroller 15.7%, Female Protagonist 14.8%, 2D Platformer 12.4%, Platformer 11.4%
Why You'll Like It: An emotional, story-rich adventure that integrates puzzle-platforming with a narrative about coping with personal loss.
- #16 INSIDE
86% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 74,205 reviews2016
Dev: Playdead
Windows
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 8.5 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Hunted and alone, a boy finds himself drawn into the center of a dark project. INSIDE is a dark, narrative-driven platformer combining intense action with challenging puzzles. It has been critically acclaimed for its moody art style, ambient soundtrack and unsettling atmosphere.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 38.3%, 2D Platformer 16.8%, Platformer 16.3%, Puzzle 13.1%, Atmospheric 7%
Why You'll Like It: Created by the same team as Limbo, this game offers a haunting, wordless narrative experience with intricate puzzle-platforming mechanics.
- #17 In His Time
86% matchVery Positive87% of 53 reviews2023
Dev: TearyHand StudioPub: Kodansha
Windows · Mac
Enter the hauntingly beautiful shadow world of In His Time, a 2D puzzle-solving adventure game. There you will meet Olly and join him to solve puzzles throughout each step of his emotional journey of growth and self-discovery.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 31.3%, Philosophical 21.2%, Platformer 11.8%, 2D Platformer 9.8%, Puzzle 7.3%
Why You'll Like It: A story-rich puzzle-platformer that explores themes of time and memory through a unique visual novel-inspired lens.
- #18 Thomas Was Alone
85% matchVery Positive94% of 9,361 reviews2012
Dev: Bithell Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.5 hrsMean: 3.1 hrs≥1hr: 57%
Guide a group of rectangles through 120 levels, using their different skills together to overcome a series of obstacles in each environment. Discover the human-made story of the first sentient artificial intelligences with Danny Wallace’s BAFTA-winning narration.
Why similar: Philosophical 29.9%, Puzzle Platformer 20.9%, Side Scroller 13.2%, Platformer 11.5%, 2D Platformer 10.4%
Why You'll Like It: A narrative-driven puzzle-platformer that uses simple shapes to tell a profound story about identity and collaboration.
- #19 Planet of Lana
83% matchVery Positive93% of 9,699 reviews2023
Dev: WishfullyPub: Thunderful Publishing
Windows
Median: 3.3 hrsMean: 4.1 hrs≥1hr: 82%
In a world torn between nature’s grace and cold machine invasion, one girl and her companion must rely on their bond to survive and protect what they hold dear. Their story of hope, loss, and love will stay with you long after the journey ends.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 25.1%, Female Protagonist 15.7%, Side Scroller 12.4%, 2D Platformer 12%, Platformer 11.2%
Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric puzzle-platformer with a female protagonist that emphasizes companionship and environmental interaction.
- #20 Lotte
84% matchVery Positive91% of 78 reviews2023
Dev: mathismeilby
Windows
A minimalistic five-minute puzzle platformer, where you become a fly when you die. Immerse yourself in a soothing forest and use your ability to become a fly to solve puzzles.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 19.5%, Philosophical 16.6%, Side Scroller 12.5%, Female Protagonist 11.3%, 2D Platformer 9.7%
Why You'll Like It: A side-scrolling puzzle-platformer that emphasizes precise movement and environmental logic in a pixel-art style.
- #21 A Void Hope
82% matchVery Positive93% of 70 reviews2024
Dev: Elden Pixels
Windows · Mac · Linux
A Void Hope takes you on an atmospheric narrative adventure to find a cure for a collapsed city. Follow the story of a tormented couple as they try to decipher reality from nightmares and evade the shadowy threats lurking in the dark.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 28.8%, 2D Platformer 17.7%, Female Protagonist 12.3%, Platformer 11.1%, Atmospheric 9.2%
Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric, dystopian adventure that focuses on narrative and exploration within a retro-inspired 2D world.
- #22 YesterMorrow
84% matchMixed68% of 65 reviews2020
Dev: Bitmap GalaxyPub: Blowfish Studios
Windows
YesterMorrow is a single-player time travelling 2D platformer, mixing action sequences with puzzle elements. Follow the engaging story of Yui, who travels back into the past to save her family and the remnants of a world now trapped in Never-ending Night.
Why similar: Platformer 20.7%, Pixel Graphics 19.4%, Puzzle Platformer 16.7%, Female Protagonist 13.3%, Cute 9.7%
Why You'll Like It: A time-traveling adventure platformer that requires players to manipulate environments across different timelines.
- #23 Hue
81% matchVery Positive92% of 11,223 reviews2016
Dev: Fiddlesticks GamesPub: Curve Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 1.0 hrsMean: 10.5 hrs≥1hr: 50%
Hue is a vibrant, award-winning puzzle-adventure, where you alter the world by changing its background colour.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 40.9%, Puzzle 19.6%, Platformer 18.7%, Side Scroller 9.6%, 2D 4.1%
Why You'll Like It: This puzzle-platformer uses color-shifting mechanics to alter the environment, providing a similar sense of discovery and logic-based progression.
- #24 Forgetmenots
79% matchVery Positive90% of 63 reviews2025
Dev: Forgetful Studios
Windows
Step onto the stage in Forgetmenots, a story-driven puzzle adventure where memories take center stage. Explore a theatrical world that unfolds like a live performance, solving puzzles in a whimsical yet bittersweet journey about loss and remembrance.
Why similar: Female Protagonist 34.8%, Puzzle 23.1%, Side Scroller 22%, Story Rich 13.9%, Atmospheric 5.1%
Why You'll Like It: An emotional, story-driven puzzle game that focuses on the journey of a female protagonist through a reflective narrative.
- #25 Reflection of Mine
82% matchVery Positive81% of 247 reviews2017
Dev: Redblack Spade
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 5.5 hrs≥1hr: 96%
Reflection of Mine is a dark puzzle video game about the dissociative identity disorder. The entire game takes place in the broken mind of Lilly Witchgan and the goal is to discover who is real – Lilly herself or one of her many personalities.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 45.3%, Female Protagonist 25.2%, Puzzle 16.7%, Story Rich 6.3%, Atmospheric 6%
Why You'll Like It: A psychological puzzle-platformer that forces the player to control multiple characters simultaneously, reflecting themes of inner conflict.
- #26 Evergate
80% matchVery Positive94% of 193 reviews2020
Dev: Stone Lantern GamesPub: PQube
Windows
Median: 36 minMean: 4.7 hrs≥1hr: 40%
Evergate is a haunting 2D puzzle-platformer set in a stunning hand-drawn vision of the Afterlife with an original score recorded by a live orchestra. Navigate 85 challenging stages and unleash the extraordinary powers of the genre-defining 'Soulflame' to help a lost soul reincarnate on earth!
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 28.6%, Female Protagonist 16.2%, 2D Platformer 13.2%, Platformer 13%, Puzzle 9.9%
Why You'll Like It: A beautiful puzzle-platformer that features a female protagonist using a soul-flame mechanic to navigate through afterlife-themed levels.
- #27 Rising Dusk
81% matchVery Positive81% of 88 reviews2018
Dev: Studio Stobie
Windows · Mac
An Anti-Coin Collection Platformer inspired by Japanese folktales. Befriend an assortment of ghosts and ghouls as you explore the world hidden in the dusk.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 46.6%, Platformer 29.7%, Female Protagonist 21.5%, Indie 2.2%
Why You'll Like It: A charming pixel-art platformer that incorporates puzzle elements and a female protagonist in a Japanese folklore-inspired setting.
- #28 Dreaming Sarah
79% matchVery Positive91% of 2,860 reviews2015
Dev: Asteristic Game Studio
Windows · Linux
Median: 2.6 hrsMean: 4.9 hrs≥1hr: 76%
Dreaming Sarah is an adventure platformer where you play as Sarah, a girl who is in a coma. Explore the world around her and help her wake up!
Why similar: Philosophical 25.7%, Puzzle Platformer 18.8%, Psychological 15.3%, Female Protagonist 11.5%, Platformer 8.8%
Why You'll Like It: A surreal exploration-based platformer that focuses on navigating the dream world of a young girl.
- #29 Once Again
78% matchVery Positive91% of 1,019 reviews2022
Dev: RB Wolf DesignPub: RB Wolf Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.3 hrsMean: 68.3 hrs≥1hr: 72%
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 54%, Puzzle 14.2%, Story Rich 13%, 2D Platformer 12.2%, 2D 3.5%
Why You'll Like It: A heartfelt, casual adventure that uses time-loop mechanics to explore themes of memory and connection.
- #30 The Path Home
76% matchVery Positive99% of 77 reviews2025
Dev: kakuhitoPub: michikusa
Windows
"The Path Home" is a 2D pixel-art puzzle game where you explore a strange world with a girl. Use panels to "flip" black and white tiles and reshape the puzzle world. The girl always searches for the "shortest path to the goal," but avoiding fake goals and reuniting her with the crow is up to you.
Why similar: Psychological 35.7%, Puzzle 21.2%, Pixel Graphics 20.5%, 2D 7.4%, Atmospheric 6.9%
- #31 Figment
78% matchVery Positive87% of 5,635 reviews2017
Dev: Bedtime Digital Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.9 hrsMean: 11.0 hrs≥1hr: 73%
Figment is an action-adventure game that invites you to explore a unique surreal universe filled with music, humor and multi layered narrative. Join Dusty and his ever-optimistic friend, Piper, on an adventure through the different sides of the mind seeking to restore the courage that's been lost.
Why similar: Puzzle 42.7%, Cute 20.9%, Atmospheric 16%, Story Rich 12.7%, Action 3.4%
Why You'll Like It: A musical, psychological adventure that explores the inner workings of the human mind through creative puzzle-solving.
- #32 Shady Part of Me
77% matchVery Positive94% of 3,278 reviews2020
Dev: Douze DixièmesPub: Focus Entertainment
Windows
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 4.4 hrs≥1hr: 77%
Overcome emotional struggles across a touching narrative filled with twists and surprises. Embark on a dream-like journey, with breathtaking artistic direction and the enthralling voice of Hannah Murray (Game of Thrones, Skins).
Why similar: Psychological 26%, Female Protagonist 20.9%, Puzzle Platformer 15.4%, Platformer 14%, Puzzle 12.9%
- #33 ANIMAL WELL
73% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 23,932 reviews2024
Dev: Billy BassoPub: Bigmode
Windows
Median: 5.7 hrsMean: 9.5 hrs≥1hr: 76%
Explore a dense, interconnected labyrinth, and unravel its many secrets. Collect items to manipulate your environment in surprising and meaningful ways. Encounter beautiful and unsettling creatures, as you attempt to survive what lurks in the dark. There is more than what you see.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 37.8%, Pixel Graphics 15.9%, Platformer 15.1%, Puzzle 14.8%, Atmospheric 5.3%
- #34 Romino's Adventure
77% matchVery Positive94% of 54 reviews2021
Dev: InterDan
Windows · Linux
A blocky puzzle platformer adventure.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 30.4%, Side Scroller 16.1%, Female Protagonist 13.1%, 2D Platformer 12.2%, Pixel Graphics 9.7%
- #35 GOODBYE WORLD
76% matchVery Positive85% of 837 reviews2022
Dev: YO FUJIIPub: Flyhigh Works
Windows
Median: 1.5 hrsMean: 1.7 hrs≥1hr: 67%
"GOODBYE WORLD" is a narrative adventure game. Play through 12 stages of a puzzle platformer while following the two protagonists through 13 chapters of their story.
Why similar: Pixel Graphics 18.6%, Side Scroller 15.6%, Platformer 13.8%, 2D Platformer 13.4%, Puzzle 11.1%
- #36 Oscuro Blossom's Glow
74% matchVery Positive95% of 64 reviews2025
Dev: Hongoneon
Windows
Join Selene in a charming platforming and puzzle adventure, where her ability to absorb and emit light from various flowers is key to activating mechanisms, overcoming obstacles, and navigating through environments that adjust depending on how you wield the light.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 36.3%, Platformer 19%, Puzzle 14.3%, Female Protagonist 9.1%, Cute 7.9%
- #37 TetherGeist
71% matchVery Positive98% of 213 reviews2026
Dev: O. and Co. Games
Windows
TetherGeist is a challenging precision platformer that rewards practice and perseverance. Guide Mae and her axolotl spirit, Bao, on a wholesome coming-of-age pilgrimage while mastering Astral Projection, a tether that links Mae to her spirit and is the source of her strength.
Why similar: Female Protagonist 19%, Side Scroller 17.3%, 2D Platformer 14.3%, Pixel Graphics 13.4%, Platformer 12.9%
- #38 LOVE ETERNAL
71% matchVery Positive97% of 369 reviews2026
Dev: brlkaPub: Ysbryd Games
Windows
Wander a castle built of bitter memories in LOVE ETERNAL, a psychological horror platformer with devious trials and an unsettling, experimental narrative. Find a way out - or live in Shelter forever more.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 25.7%, Female Protagonist 20.7%, Platformer 13.5%, 2D Platformer 12.5%, Pixel Graphics 12.1%
- #39 OPUS: Prism Peak
70% matchVery Positive93% of 1,006 reviews2026
Dev: SIGONO INC.Pub: SHUEISHA GAMES
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.8 hrsMean: 6.4 hrs≥1hr: 89%
OPUS: Prism Peak is a narrative adventure where you play as a weary photographer stranded in the Dusklands, traveling with a girl who's lost her memories. Together, you'll uncover the mysteries of this land through your camera and find your way home.
Why similar: Female Protagonist 41.4%, Puzzle 29.1%, Atmospheric 14.4%, Story Rich 13.8%, Singleplayer 1.4%
- #40 Unleaving
73% matchVery Positive90% of 58 reviews2024
Dev: orangutan matter
Windows · Mac
When everything seems hopeless a child is awakened by the whispers of the last leaf, drawn into an imaginary world. Unleaving invites the player into a narrative-driven puzzle platformer where each challenge unfolds within a hand-painted landscape, exploring perception and meaning
Why similar: Philosophical 33.4%, Puzzle Platformer 13.1%, Side Scroller 11.4%, 2D Platformer 10.3%, Platformer 9.7%
- #41 Awakening Sarah
72% matchVery Positive96% of 67 reviews2025
Dev: Asteristic Game Studio
Windows · Linux
Awakening Sarah is a 2D platformer with emphasis on exploration. Unravel the dreams and realities of Sarah, a girl who's recovering from a coma, while helping her understand the world around her and herself.
Why similar: Female Protagonist 26.5%, 2D Platformer 22.3%, Platformer 20.9%, Pixel Graphics 10.4%, Cute 9.3%
- #42 In The Shadows
75% matchVery Positive93% of 59 reviews2017
Dev: Colorspace Studio
Windows · Mac · Linux
In The Shadows is a puzzle platformer where lights scare away shadows monsters that transform into everyday objects you can use to your own advantage. Confront your fears, solve puzzles, find secrets!
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 25.5%, Psychological 15.6%, Side Scroller 12.3%, Pixel Graphics 10.8%, Platformer 10.2%
- #43 Rewoven Self
71% matchPositive92% of 50 reviews2025
Dev: Tang Yuanyuan
Windows · Mac
Rewoven Self is a 2.5D side-scrolling narrative puzzle game where fantasy and reality intertwine. Through folding, cutting, and stitching, you rebuild yourself in a cycle of brokenness and renewal — a gentle yet profound journey of emotional healing.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 35.8%, 2D Platformer 19.4%, Platformer 14.9%, Puzzle 12.8%, Drama 12.7%
- #44 Kubinashi Recollection
72% matchVery Positive95% of 199 reviews2021
Dev: 給食頭蛮Pub: Phoenixx Inc.
Windows
In order to retrieve the lost memories, Sekibanki has a big adventure in the world of dreams! Use your "head" to fight your way through a stage full of various mechanisms. It's a 2D visual action puzzle game with a new sensation!
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 22.8%, Female Protagonist 17.9%, Puzzle 17%, Pixel Graphics 16.6%, Cute 10.5%
- #45 Labyrinthine Dreams
75% matchMostly Positive78% of 377 reviews2015
Dev: Solest GamesPub: KOMODO
Windows
Median: 2.9 hrsMean: 4.5 hrs≥1hr: 78%
Labyrinthine Dreams is a short puzzle game about overcoming the scars of the past and following the right path, even in the face of overwhelming challenges.
Why similar: Female Protagonist 61.5%, Puzzle 31.8%, Indie 6.7%
- #46 Equinoxe
73% matchVery Positive85% of 71 reviews2022
Dev: Lowkey InteractivePub: IIM Digital School
Windows
Equinoxe is a contemplative & narrative game with puzzle phases taking place in two mirrored worlds. Discover a quest for self-acceptance and restore the fragile balance of your world by using its main source of energy: water.
Why similar: Female Protagonist 34.1%, Puzzle Platformer 32.9%, Puzzle 21.4%, Atmospheric 9.8%, Singleplayer 1%
- #47 Lake Ridden
74% matchMostly Positive73% of 291 reviews2018
Dev: Midnight Hub
Windows
Median: 3.0 hrsMean: 6.3 hrs≥1hr: 67%
Lake Ridden is a story-driven, first-person puzzle game! A cozy supernatural adventure where you unravel a mysterious past, trying to find your sister. Luckily, you are not alone...
Why similar: Female Protagonist 43.6%, Puzzle 40.8%, Atmospheric 11.5%, Indie 3.1%, Singleplayer 0.9%
- #48 MINE MEMORY
70% matchVery Positive96% of 53 reviews2024
Dev: VAINSANE
Windows · Mac · Linux
Uncover the skeletons in Hana's closet in "MINE MEMORY," a gripping psychological visual novel. Dive into Hana's memories, shape her destiny, and confront haunting choices with deep consequences.
Why similar: Psychological 70.1%, Female Protagonist 17.9%, Story Rich 7.4%, 2D 3.7%, Indie 0.6%
- #49 A Juggler's Tale
70% matchVery Positive92% of 2,189 reviews2021
Dev: kaleidoscubePub: Assemble Entertainment
Windows
Median: 2.4 hrsMean: 5.6 hrs≥1hr: 74%
Lead Abby the string puppet through a bruised, but beautiful fairy tale world in this cinematic adventure. Solve riddles, evade traps and shake off pursuers on the way to find freedom. Can Abby take control of her fate with all the strings attached?
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 33.3%, Female Protagonist 19.9%, Side Scroller 17.6%, Platformer 15.5%, Atmospheric 6.4%
- #50 The Forest Quartet
68% matchVery Positive94% of 453 reviews2022
Dev: Mads & FriendsPub: Bedtime Digital Games
Windows
Median: 1.4 hrsMean: 5.9 hrs≥1hr: 67%
The Forest Quartet is a puzzle adventure about a gone, but not forgotten, lead singer. Play her spirit and travel through 3 acts unique to the members of her band for a final farewell concert. Face their emotions, solve puzzles and fight the corruption plaguing their souls.
Why similar: Philosophical 39.2%, Female Protagonist 25.2%, Puzzle 16.5%, Story Rich 7.3%, Linear 5.5%
- #51 Monospaced Lovers
68% matchVery Positive94% of 51 reviews2024
Dev: Scarlet String Studios
Windows · Mac · Linux
Monospaced Lovers is an exploration-driven platformer about closeness and distance. Journey through a metafictional, fantasy-filled land and find the truth of your fragile world before it disintegrates.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 35.9%, 2D Platformer 18%, Female Protagonist 15.2%, Platformer 13.3%, Cute 8.3%
- #52 Biphase
69% matchVery Positive96% of 265 reviews2021
Dev: Seasun Seed
Windows
Biphase is a 2D platform jumping game with exploration and puzzles as its core. In the game, the player plays a role who has bipolar disorder, trying to discover and break through the self in the abstract red and black world.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 30.4%, Female Protagonist 19.5%, 2D Platformer 16.6%, Platformer 12.2%, Puzzle 10.4%
- #53 Hindsight
69% matchVery Positive80% of 156 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: Female Protagonist 65.4%, Story Rich 18%, Atmospheric 14.4%, Indie 1.1%, Singleplayer 1.1%
- #54 When The Past Was Around - Prologue
69% matchVery Positive94% of 682 reviews2019
Dev: MojikenPub: Toge Productions
Windows · Mac
Median: 18 minMean: 5.5 hrs≥1hr: 15%
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: Philosophical 50.8%, Female Protagonist 20%, Puzzle 14.8%, Cute 8.1%, Atmospheric 4.8%
- #55 You see me?
68% matchMixed68% of 62 reviews2025
Dev: Zeneki
Windows
On the edge of the abyss, having lost someone dear, the hero searches for meaning—until fate leads him to a mysterious wanderer whose silent presence brings hope.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 29.9%, Female Protagonist 21%, Puzzle 15.3%, Platformer 13%, Atmospheric 7.6%
- #56 Dear me, I was...
65% matchVery Positive100% of 59 reviews2026
Dev: Arc System Works
Windows
A short tale, a long journey. With a beautiful watercolor touch, it depicts the life of a woman. In her ordinary and modest life...experience her joys, her sorrows, her growth. Witness the story she spins in a life woven by those around her.
Why similar: Drama 38.6%, Atmospheric 19%, Female Protagonist 17.8%, 2D 10.8%, Cute 9.4%
- #57 Shadow Alchemist
66% matchVery Positive96% of 100 reviews2024
Dev: PostHuman Interactive
Windows
Explore a mystical, ever-changing dungeon in this isometric puzzle-adventure game. Master self-transmutation abilities and solve increasingly complex challenges as you uncover the secrets of your past.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 46.6%, Puzzle 17.5%, Pixel Graphics 13.1%, 2D 6.4%, Linear 6%
- #58 Ayasa: Shadows of Silence
67% matchMixed68% of 97 reviews2025
Dev: Aya Games
Windows
A dark tale of survival and conscience, blending platforming, puzzles, and haunting beauty. Journey through surreal lands where every choice shapes the fate of a world on the edge of ruin will you restore the light or embrace the darkness?
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 31.4%, Female Protagonist 16.4%, Side Scroller 15.7%, Platformer 13.3%, Puzzle 11.3%
- #59 Where We Went
65% matchVery Positive98% of 53 reviews2026
Dev: Oddcube Games
Windows
Where We Went is a narrative driven puzzle game. Step into the role of a mysterious character that can control ancient guardians to solve puzzles. Uncover the story behind your visit to the tomb and the reason for its existence!
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 46.7%, Puzzle 28.2%, Platformer 9%, Story Rich 8.9%, Atmospheric 6.3%
- #60 Art House
64% matchVery Positive94% of 81 reviews2025
Dev: Turtle Fish StudiosPub: USC Games
Windows · Mac
Art House is a 2D puzzle platformer in which you play as a woman who gets trapped with her children inside the paintings of her recently deceased mother. Navigate through painting rips and use a magical paintbrush to escape and come to terms with your grief.
Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 32.1%, Female Protagonist 15.6%, Platformer 12.5%, Puzzle 10.6%, Psychological 10.5%