Games like Home is Where One Starts...
Looking for games like Home is Where One Starts...? Here are top open world simulation recommendations with a mystery focus, selected from player-similarity data — start with The First Tree, Leaving Lyndow or Gone Home.
- 77%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability76% User Score 2,013 reviewsCritic Score 79%7 reviews
A beautiful, 3rd-person exploration game centered around two parallel stories: a fox trying to find her missing family, and a young couple dealing with a tragedy in their own. Uncover artifacts from the young couple’s life as they too become intertwined in the fox’s journey towards The First Tree. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The First Tree.
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- 77%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, character development84% User Score 563 reviewsCritic Score 63%4 reviews
Leaving Lyndow is a short, first-person exploration adventure game, set in the Eastshade universe. It's Clara's last day on the island where she grew up. With high honors, she's graduated and fulfilled her childhood dream of joining the Guild of Maritime Exploration. She needs to complete preparations, visit her favorite places, and say her goodbyes - before leaving on a journey she may not retur… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Leaving Lyndow.
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- 82%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, emotionalMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, optimization77% User Score 20,826 reviewsCritic Score 82%14 reviews
A first-person exploratory game taking place in 1995 in which Katie, a university student back from Europe, arrives at her family's newly inherited mansion only to find nobody there, with a note from her younger sister Sam suggesting that she's left home. Katie must explore the mansion to put together the stories of where her parents have gone and why Sam has decided to leave. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Gone Home.
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- 93%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability93% User Score 4,361 reviews
Marie's Room is a short-story exploration game about an unconventional friendship between two classmates, told through memories. You play as Kelsey, remembering Marie's room as it was 20 years ago. What happened to Marie and Kelsey all those years ago? If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Marie's Room.
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- 67%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:optimization, gameplay67% User Score 519 reviews
Caligo is the darkness everyone descends into one way or another, and to each of us it's something different. For some it's a short but exciting adventure, some will see it as a place to relax. Yet others will be reminded of their worst nightmare, while for a few, it might come as a revelation. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Caligo.
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- 79%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, stability87% User Score 5,138 reviewsCritic Score 69%8 reviews
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a first-person story-driven mystery game focused on exploration and discovery. As occult-minded private detective Paul Prospero communicate with the dead to discover the fate of a missing boy and the mystery behind a dark ancient force lurking in Red Creek Valley. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.
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- 77%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding87% User Score 4,022 reviewsCritic Score 67%20 reviews
Transform into a bird and fly to explore and experience a vibrant world of floating islands in the sky. Venture down into lost ancient ruins where each step leads you closer to the end of the world. AER puts you in the shoes of Auk, a magical shape-shifting girl who can transform between human and bird. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to AER Memories of Old.
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- 68%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, atmosphereMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, optimization71% User Score 2,152 reviewsCritic Score 50%1 reviews
Set in a creepy amusement park hiding a dark and sinister secret, The Park is a first-person psychological horror experience focused on exploration and storytelling. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Park.
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- 76%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, replayability84% User Score 3,779 reviewsCritic Score 69%11 reviews
From the creator of To the Moon: A simple, wordless 1-hour short about a boy who found an injured bird, told through a blur between reality and imagination. A Bird Story is an interactive pixel animation with the sole purpose of telling a simple story. It is a standalone narrative, with its own beginning and ending. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to A Bird Story.
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- 64%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, optimization64% User Score 396 reviews
Bottle is a short game which you play as a man of solitude. In the game as you walk through the path, you see the visions of a woman and read the notes she leaves to you. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Bottle.
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- 56%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding56% User Score 537 reviews
Nephise Begins tells the player what happened at the time before Nephise was an orb collector. The main setting is forest again, but this time without snow, instead a more sunny and foggy weather. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Nephise Begins.
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- 94%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding94% User Score 18,415 reviewsCritic Score 90%1 reviews
What Remains of Edith Finch is a collection of short stories about a cursed family in Washington State. Each story offers a chance to experience the life of a different family member with stories ranging from the early 1900s to the present day. The gameplay and tone of the stories are as varied as the family members themselves. The only constants are that each is played from a first-person perspe… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to What Remains of Edith Finch.
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- 63%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, storyMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, replayability63% User Score 528 reviews
Time is relative. Sometimes 10 seconds can feel like an eternity... In TIMEframe you will discover a world in slow motion. Explore the remnants of a mysterious civilization on the brink of destruction. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to TIMEframe.
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- 88%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability90% User Score 1,490 reviewsCritic Score 83%2 reviews
Pinstripe is an emotionally charged adventure about Hell created entirely by a one-man team over the course of five years. Play as Teddy, an estranged ex-minister forced to venture through the frozen afterlife in search of Bo, his three year old daughter, and her perverse kidnapper. Discover the dark secrets of Teddy's past, and confront his sleazy, demonic nemesis, Mr. Pinstripe. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Pinstripe.
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- 71%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, optimization68% User Score 1,466 reviewsCritic Score 73%28 reviews
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture™ tells the story of the inhabitants of a remote English valley who are caught up in world-shattering events beyond their control or understanding. Made by The Chinese Room – the studio responsible for the hauntingly beautiful Dear Esther – this tale of how people respond in the face of grave adversity is a non-linear, open-world experience that pushes innovative int… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Everybody's Gone to the Rapture.
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- 88%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding90% User Score 5,173 reviewsCritic Score 75%1 reviews
A story about taking things apart and putting ourselves back together. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Assemble With Care.
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- 75%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding78% User Score 3,067 reviewsCritic Score 70%3 reviews
Dear Esther is a ghost story, told using first-person gaming technologies. Rather than traditional game-play the focus here is on exploration, uncovering the mystery of the island, of who you are and why you are here. Fragments of story are randomly uncovered when exploring the various locations of the island, making every each journey a unique experience. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dear Esther.
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- 78%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:optimization, replayability88% User Score 2,285 reviewsCritic Score 70%22 reviews
A third-person exploratory action/adventure title in which a boy ends up on a mysterious island and makes his way through its highly stylized environments, containing puzzles and slight navigation challenges, to get to the bottom of why he's ended up there and to reach the end of the road he's inadvertently begun to travel. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to RiME.
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- 70%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, replayability70% User Score 800 reviewsCritic Score 65%1 reviews
The Old City: Leviathan is an experiment in first person exploration that focuses entirely on story. All that exists is you and the world. Set in a decaying city from a civilization long past, The Old City: Leviathan puts the player in the shoes of a sewer dwelling isolationist. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Old City: Leviathan.
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- 84%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, stability89% User Score 57,262 reviewsCritic Score 79%47 reviews
Firewatch is a single-player first-person video game where you, as a man named Henry, explore the Wyoming wilderness after taking a summer job as a fire lookout. What is supposed to be a peaceful respite from your complicated life takes a turn when you start to question some of the things that are happening to you. Your only human connection is over a handheld radio, which you’ll use to speak wit… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Firewatch.
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- 74%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding74% User Score 1,392 reviews
Homesick is an adventurous first person 3D puzzle game developed by indie game company Lucky Pause. Explore an abandoned building, encountering puzzles and clues as the story unfolds. You seem to have been there so long that direct sunlight is blindingly bright, at home in the serene but foreboding atmosphere. But when you sleep, you are plagued by nightmares, frantically running down hallways ch… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Homesick.
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- 86%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding90% User Score 4,168 reviewsCritic Score 76%1 reviews
Amy Ferrier's first day on Lunar Transfer Station Tacoma is not exactly what she expected. Discover the story of a remote space facility and the crew that lived there in Tacoma, the new game from the creators of Gone Home. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tacoma.
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- 79%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, atmosphereMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding79% User Score 1,462 reviews
The Moon Sliver is a short narrative-focused non-linear exploration game, with elements of horror. It features a unique narrative mechanic that blurs the line between story and exploration, where interacting with objects and even simply moving around will reveal fragments of narration. As you piece these fragments together, a story of guilt, loneliness, and faith begins to take shape. And it becom… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Moon Sliver.
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- 80%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, stability85% User Score 1,266 reviewsCritic Score 69%5 reviews
The Station is a first-person sci-fi mystery set on a space station sent to study a sentient alien civilization. Assuming the role of a recon specialist, players must unravel a mystery which will decide the fate of two civilizations. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Station.
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- 76%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding87% User Score 1,194 reviewsCritic Score 65%22 reviews
Spirit of the North is a single-player 3rd-person adventure game inspired by the breathtaking and mysterious landscapes of Iceland. The story takes root from various pieces of Nordic folklore. The game is unique in that it purposefully has no dialog or narrative. Players must breathe in their surroundings to solve various puzzles and speculate the meaning of a lost ancient civilization. Play as an… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Spirit of the North.
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- 73%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, replayability72% User Score 1,090 reviewsCritic Score 80%2 reviews
Draugen is a first-person psychological horror adventure, set amongst the deep fjords and towering mountains of Norway’s awe-inspiring west coast. The game is a dark and disturbing journey into the pitch black heart of Norwegian national romanticism, as seen through the eyes of an American nature photographer, botanist and entomologist. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Draugen.
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- 87%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, storyMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability93% User Score 17,870 reviewsCritic Score 82%42 reviews
Abzu is an exploration game where you are a lone diver in a lush ocean world. The diver descends deeper and deeper into the depths, where she will encounter majestic creatures, discover ancient secrets, and search for her true purpose. Abzu roughly translates to "The Ocean of Wisdom" from ancient Sumerian. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to ABZÛ.
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- 95%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, storyMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding95% User Score 3,877 reviews
Explore Mandagon, a world inspired by Tibetan theology and philosophy. With a focus on life and death, discover what it means to make a true sacrifice . . . If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to MANDAGON.
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- 80%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization87% User Score 2,711 reviewsCritic Score 73%23 reviews
Explore the remains of a fallen world from fascinating perspectives! Slip into the role of different animals to uncover the fate of an ancient world. Dive into deep waters, fly at lofty heights, dig underground as a mole, climb steep cliffs with a mountain goat, and many more! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to LOST EMBER.
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- 95%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, replayability95% User Score 3,822 reviews
What Never Was is a short, story-driven first-person game focused on exploration and puzzle-solving about Sarah, having to shoulder the arduous task of clearing out her grandfathers attic, and soon finds that not everything about the attic is what it seems. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to What Never Was.
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- 81%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, emotionalMost mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, optimization79% User Score 360 reviewsCritic Score 73%1 reviews
Blackwood Crossing is a story-driven first-person adventure game. An intriguing and emotive tale exploring the fragile relationship between orphaned siblings, Scarlett and Finn. When their paths cross with a mysterious figure, an ordinary train ride evolves into a magical story of life, love and loss. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Blackwood Crossing.
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- 78%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding78% User Score 246 reviews
Labyrinthine Dreams is a short puzzle game about Beth, a young woman who is standing at Death’s Door. After a traumatic childhood and a tough entry into the world of adulthood, she was just starting to take control of her life. However, she is now up against an insidious enemy who threatens to take everything away from her. During what may be her final hours, Beth wanders through important moments… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Labyrinthine Dreams.
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- 40%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, storyMost mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, grinding34% User Score 397 reviewsCritic Score 70%1 reviews
You wake from cryostasis to find your ship lying crippled on an uncharted planet; shards of platinum-iridium alloy puncture the shimmering alien sand, the wind passes quietly over dead hydrocolliders. It isn't known how long the ruined vessel has sat here, or even what caused the crash, but one thing is clear: Time is rapidly running out.Stranded is a minimalist adventure game that foregoes dialog… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Stranded.
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- 64%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, replayability78% User Score 1,962 reviewsCritic Score 49%24 reviews
Submerged is a third-person combat-free game in which you explore a mysterious flooded city and discover the beauty of desolation in vast outdoor environments. You take on the role of Miku, a young girl who has brought her wounded brother to the city in their small fishing boat. Navigate the flooded city streets by boat, scale the drowned buildings, and use your telescope to scour the city for the… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Submerged.
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- 58%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability74% User Score 336 reviewsCritic Score 70%2 reviews
Ether One is a first person adventure that deals with the fragility of the human mind. There are two paths in the world you can choose from. At its core is a story exploration path free from puzzles where you can unfold the story at your own pace. There is also a deeper, more adventurous path in which you can complete complex puzzles to restore life changing events of the patient's histo… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Ether One.
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- 67%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability70% User Score 146 reviewsCritic Score 50%1 reviews
Welcome to The Fabled Woods, a narrative adventure. Despite the picturesque beauty, ugly and terrible secrets lurk among the shifting boughs, darkness that no amount of dappled sunlight can erase. Take the first step, and experience an unforgettable journey. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Fabled Woods.
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- 61%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, atmosphereMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, stability63% User Score 4,668 reviewsCritic Score 60%32 reviews
Coming back to the family Hotel after years, a strong-willed woman finds herself trapped with the ghosts from her past and a cellular telephone as the only way to unveil a terrible truth. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Suicide of Rachel Foster.
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- 81%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, stability91% User Score 4,236 reviewsCritic Score 71%17 reviews
Explore the vast and beautiful world of Valley using the power of the L.E.A.F. suit: a fierce exoskeleton that grants exceptional speed and agility along with the phenomenal ability to manipulate the life and death of all living things. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Valley.
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- 83%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, storyMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, stability88% User Score 1,006 reviewsCritic Score 70%3 reviews
Dreaming Sarah is an adventure game where you explore the dream world of a young girl named Sarah, who is in a deep coma. Collect items and abilities as you solve puzzles, interact with people and objects to try to wake up. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dreaming Sarah.
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- 71%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding71% User Score 572 reviews
Belladonna is a gothic adventure game, twisted and dark. Take the role of a corpse girl rising from the dead in an abandoned laboratory, and unravel the mysteries concerning your own death and reanimation.The game explores various themes, such as the role of villains and heroes, moral value systems and different kinds of horror. It’s a point-and-click adventure, and it will ask you to read longer … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Belladonna.
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- 88%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization88% User Score 906 reviews
Imagine waking up on a small dock with no recollection of who you are or how you got there. The first person you find is a grumpy, old man who enlists you to work on his ferry boat which seems to have materialized behind you. But not all is as it seems on this strange ship, and the people you meet may know more about your past than they let on. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Port of Call.
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- 66%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, grinding67% User Score 528 reviewsCritic Score 63%2 reviews
Embark on a journey of discovery and inspiration in The Search - a story-driven puzzle-adventure set in a mysterious world where art comes to life! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Search.
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- 58%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, replayability63% User Score 889 reviewsCritic Score 54%14 reviews
Beyond Eyes is a modern fairy tale about finding courage and friendship. Step by step, uncover an incredible world, carefully guiding Rae, a young blind girl, on a life changing journey. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Beyond Eyes.
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- 77%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, atmosphereMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding77% User Score 4,318 reviews
Serena is a freeware horror adventure game developed by several video game development companies, including Senscape, CBE Software, Infamous Quests, Digital Media Workshop and Guys from Andromeda. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Serena.
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- 76%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:optimization, replayability91% User Score 3,881 reviewsCritic Score 57%8 reviews
Inspired by Gone Home and Dear Esther, Scanner Sombre is a cave exploration experience. With stunning visuals and a terrifying theme, it is the 6th major video game released by Introversion Software. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Scanner Sombre.
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- 81%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, optimization81% User Score 547 reviews
It is the end of summer. Han Hui, a university student, meets a mysterious young girl named He Jia in the mountains. After this chance meeting, the two embark on a delightful journey.Shan Gui is a short, linear, kinetic visual-novel set in Nanjing's gorgeous Purple Mountain. It follows the adventure of two young girls as they tour the park, attempting to recount faded childhood memories. Han Hui i… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Shan Gui.
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- 89%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, replayability94% User Score 2,937 reviewsCritic Score 83%8 reviews
Buy Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery on PlayStation Store. Solve a variety of puzzles to help an aspiring artist complete her masterpiece. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery.
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- 56%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, stability60% User Score 126 reviewsCritic Score 47%4 reviews
Empathy: Path of Whispers is an atmospheric and story-driven adventure game where you explore a seemingly abandoned world through the emotions and memories of the people who once inhabited it, trying to restore the world’s lost balance by journeying through its past. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Empathy: Path of Whispers.
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- 94%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:monetization94% User Score 248 reviews
You play as the Professor, on a mission to find the sunken city of Houston. Things have been getting worse for the few surviving colonies of Earth as their resources dwindle and a corrupting algae bloom threatens all that remains. For years you've been systematically exploring the wastes without any sign of the ruins. Your main companions on your mission are ARORA, an AI who's been humanity's guid… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Some Distant Memory.
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- 76%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:optimization, replayability76% User Score 161 reviews
Bottle: Pilgrim is a story of loss, regret and redemption, which reminds us that while we cannot change the things we have done, we can always learn from our mistakes. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Bottle: Pilgrim.
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