Games like They Will Not Return

A post-apocalyptic tale of lonely robots. They Will Not Return scored 22nd out of 77 entries in the 2018 IFComp. If you enjoy my writing, you might want to check out my other games or my novel. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to They Will Not Return.

87%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, optimization

100% User Score Based on 38 reviews

The critically acclaimed VR adventure series is back! Get lost in a sci-fi mystery spanning over four all-new episodes. Engage a battle of the minds with a sick new villain and use only your wit, your hovering inventory, and a pair of extendo-arms to uncover the truth. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Retropolis 2: Never Say Goodbye.

61%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:humor, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, music

100% User Score Based on 12 reviews

Set across two equally bizarre fantasy/post apocalyptic worlds Classic 1990s point and click experience with a modern twist! Estimated playtime: 5-7 hours (over 3 very unique acts) Optional Kluberry™ hint system (because who doesn't love a hint?) Live pixelated performance by 'The Santiago Kings' from Sheffield A variety of unique and original puzzle ideas to tic… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Brownie's Adventure 2.

92%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, gameplay

92% User Score Based on 135 reviews

It is the sound of aridity. It is the sound of dry asphalt and sandy winds. It is the sound of relentless sunshine, as well as the sound of a withering race. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to KARAKARA2.

Verdantis begins in the soil. Play as R-0B and restore power in an overgrown research facility. Cel-shading, chloropunk, and environmental puzzles. The game offers about 2 hours of play. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Verdantis.

One month ago, the virus turned humanity into hungry monsters. You, an ex-Delta Force prepper, emerge from your underground bunker into a ruined city. Lead a squad of strong men — protect them, or claim them — while scavenging and fighting to survive. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to End of Days Alpha.

A classic-style text adventure game spanning three chapters. Enter verb/noun commands via keyboard, mouse, or game controller to explore, collect items, and solve puzzles in a post-apocalyptic, Christian-themed story. Features an auto-drawing map and hint system. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Forgotten Nightmare Series.

In this hand-drawn romance-mystery visual novel, play as Sky, a love-struck impostor scientist born into a quake-ridden world. Survive your own secrets in a last-ditch attempt to recreate a cure only you remember existed. Let in characters whose obsessions can both aid and destroy you. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Deathwish Bloom.

A cinematic sci-fi horror visual novel, with multiple endings and a shocking mature story where your decisions will impact your psichology and the events of the story. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Wall.

Tide of Lone Stars is an ADV / AVG with conventional gameplay and unconventional apocalyptic sci-fi narrative. As a disabled girl living outside the walls, Blanka, you will meet a strange man, Adrian. An amazing adventure of “Love, Rebirth and Death” is ready to begin. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tide of Lone Stars-孤星之潮-.

Into the Harmony is a psychological quest that transports you to a post-apocalyptic reality. After a series of catastrophes caused by the rise of artificial intelligence, humanity is on the brink of extinction, and many regions of the planet's surface have become uninhabitable. In this world lives a girl named Sophia. One day, she wakes up and realizes she's become a hostage to her own memory: th… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Into the Harmony.

A crew of three. A lost city, far in the north. A thousand miles of toxic ice.  Plot your course, manage supplies, study apocalypse biota, and don't lose your mind. You'll find out why the world was ruined, or die trying. Saltwrack is a post-post-apocalyptic hypertext horror novel. It was awarded fourth place in IFComp 2025, along with #2 Miss Congeniality and the Rising Star Award for highest-r… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Saltwrack.

The Plot Oh no! You've been waylaid returning almost-overdue books to the library. You've always had a slightly irrational fear of book fines, even if they're just a dime, and often that works great to get books read. But your latest misstep you enter into a world full of much odder fears... Well, okay, not a HUGE world. There are only five rooms and six points to score, based on commands to der… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Go-Strange-Ghost Range.

"201 - The Bad Number" is an interactive science fiction game-book set in a post-apocalyptic Mars. In a world where only 200 people remain, each new inhabitant may hasten the end of civilization. You step into this harsh reality and confront a pivotal event—the emergence of the "bad number." Now players must make choices that will impact the future of humanity and the fate of t… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to 201 - The Bad Number.

A action-adventure game with a top down perspective and a heavy emphasis on story. Become the legendary Knight of Hamarolf and take on a myriad of foes from the Golden Oath to save the world from evil's reign while engaging with memorable characters and a thrilling combat loop. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Flint.

Welcome to Project Wither, a text-based survival adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by the Wither virus. Play as Alex, a lone survivor navigating the ruins of society, where every choice can mean life or death. This is not a story for the faint-hearted—Project Wither explores the raw and brutal realities of survival. While the narrative is text-based, its vivid descriptions and i… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Project Wither v0.1.5.

This is a post-apocalyptic adventure/base-building game with real actors. You take on the role of a military aficionada who, purely as a hobby, built an entire refugee safe house. Who would’ve thought that an apocalypse would actually strike? Now, this simple shelter will survive as the first and final line of defense between you and the teeming swarms of zombies. Features: Pregame: Prior to the a… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Apocalypse Love Shelter.

WARNING Game contains sensitive content, like mild gore and themes of violence. Player discretion is advised. ABOUTPasserby is a short, confined story of a lone traveler Nathan, who ventures across the abandoned city. The story unfolds throughout the  gameplay. You simply have to complete tasks and survive. Average playtime is around 15 minutes. The game features atmospheric sound design, post-ap… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Passerby.

In cities sculpted from the slag of dead worlds, love, crime and fields of farmed meat await in this digital anthology of mystery and horror; a window onto a post-apocalyptic world like no other, one thousand years beyond the fall of Earth... If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tales From The Burning Sea.

This is the first instalment of a six episode saga, and featuring around one hour of gameplay with features for replay-ability. The world of Dusklight is bleak yet filled with character. The last remaining capital city of a post-apocalyptic wasteland remains in the grips of a deceitful church and tyrannical corporations. With the aid of a unique Auditory Zoom mechanic you will uncover the mysterie… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Pitch Black: A Dusklight Story.

Reborn seven days before the apocalypse. Make a fortune, hoard supplies, build the ultimate RV, and live comfortably while the world falls apart. A story-rich survival management game with cards, farming, crafting and roguelite progression. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Apocalypse: The Last RV.

94%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, atmosphere

Most mentioned negative aspects:music, gameplay

94% User Score Based on 97 reviews

There's a spider haunting these hills. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Spider Land.

78%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

86% User Score Based on 2,016 reviews

Critic Score 69%Based on 19 reviews

A captivating narrative-driven exploration adventure! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Caravan SandWitch.

Still It Runs is a stealth adventure where you play as a cat, alone in a strangely silent house. Collect scattered memories, uncover what once happened here—and try to stay unseen. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Still It Runs.

66%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, atmosphere

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, music

78% User Score Based on 36 reviews

The Wreckage resounds with the echoes of countless songs, filling the air of a constantly shifting maze where bravery and sacrifice are key to staying alive. Then, without warning, one song goes silent. Will you step into this dicey labyrinth and uncover its secrets in this minimalist and dark RPG? If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Songs of Rats.

*** NOVEMBER 2023 LEADLIGHT GAMMA NEWS I'm simplifying the delivery methods for the game. There's no longer a standalone Windows installer and there are no longer separate packages for different platforms. The  updated Read Me now lists and links to all interactive fiction interpreter options suitable for the game. For full details of the above, read my devlog post *** PLATFORMS You can play Lead… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Leadlight Gamma.

76%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, humor

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, graphics

89% User Score Based on 36 reviews

When Canada invades the USA, Sgt. Jon Dagger must run and gun his way across the ruins of America to the Frozen North to deliver Cold Vengeance. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Cold Vengeance.

55%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, music

66% User Score Based on 35 reviews

Sovietpunk is a cyberpunk story set in the setting of the Soviet Union after a global nuclear war. You have to guide the main character through the gloomy tunnels, in which the struggle for life is in full swing. In 2002, a nuclear conflict engulfed the entire world. The surface of the earth became temporarily uninhabitable, all the survivors organized life underground. The government announced t… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sovietpunk: Chapter one.

48%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, stability

48% User Score Based on 54 reviews

Protect Europe from the overpopulation by enforcing the tough Law on life, a life for a birth. Or flip the table and fight the cruel plutocracy to free humanity. Survive the zombie apocalypse, but will your humanity survive in the process? Inherit a corrupt kingdom and survive the court's intrigues. Live the American dream and emigrate from Hong Kong with the help of the Triad. Sadly, nothing is f… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to AIdventure.

Firstly born as a simple 7 soccer game, Seven Soccer has grown up and now it presents itself as a sci-fi soccer tale. Inspired by some old sci-fi tv series, a short tale with a electrifying ending was added, in order to justify the events that were told. Before entering the heart of the game, it will be a short tutorial phase, in which you will learn the basic commands to play the matches. … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to 7 Soccer: a sci-fi soccer tale.

81%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:monetization, grinding

87% User Score Based on 1,020 reviews

Critic Score 73%Based on 6 reviews

*Google Play Global Feature* A sad game that lingers in your mind If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to OPUS: Rocket of Whispers.

I excitedly opened the 250-yuan inflatable doll, only to find a real girl inside! "Can you speak? Do you remember anything?" I had to stay with her till she regained her memory to clear my name. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Siscon Is Justice Season 1.

A grounded post-apocalyptic interactive narrative. Fortify the Black Box shelter, manage supplies, trust, and evidence, and decide who survives on either side of the iron gate. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Beneath the Iron Gate.

"Song of Haixian: Dragonbone No. 0" is a visual novel adventure game made and published by Haixian Studio. In the game, players can experience the customs and culture of another world, go on a series of adventures, and ultimately affect the story of the entire world. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to 海希安之歌：0号龙骨.

49%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:atmosphere, gameplay

82% User Score Based on 11 reviews

Humanity has fallen under alien control. Every mind but yours is under their influence. Alone and immune, you must gather resources, build robots, and fortify your base against ever-larger nighttime assaults. Grow strong enough to strike back at the purple fortress looming over Neo Roma. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to I Missed the Apocalypse.

Post-apocalyptic pixel art survival RPG—offline play and turn-based battles. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Wanderer.

《Potted Archive》is more than just a game—it's a tranquil haven resting on your desktop. You are tasked with tending to these unknown, exotic plants. As you accompany them through their growth, you will unearth a vast sci-fi narrative hidden beneath their leaves. A Lightweight Desktop Companion Designed with a transparent window, the game seamlessly blends into your computer desktop. Its ultra-… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to 紀事盆栽 Potted Archive.

Scout doesn't speak. Neither do the Clofen. You're a recorder robot, and they're your flock. Shepherd them across a post-apocalyptic desert with one tool: Record and Replay. Capture ambient sounds, play them back—the world reacts. Bring them home through bold, stylish landscapes. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Baacadia.

"The sunlight of the eighth day beats down fiercely upon the barren land." "For the first time, you feel life is so close—within arm's reach." BackgroundFollowing a global catastrophe in the future, drastic climate shifts led to widespread desertification, making caravans an essential lifeline for humanity to exchange supplies and information. Following a global catastroph… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Way to Oasis.

In a blasted world teeming with undead, a barkeep and a young girl run the Time's End Tavern, a lone oasis amidst this barren wasteland. In a desolate landscape ravaged by Zombies and Raiders, that one drink they love, and a few kind words, help everyone remember why it's all worth it. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to A Toast for the End Times.

OverviewTerminal Tales is an anthology of six complete parser-based text adventures, lovingly crafted in the tradition of classic interactive fiction. Each game offers a unique story, setting, and set of challenges—from investigating a government cover-up at an abandoned research facility to diving into a drowned cathedral in search of ancient technology. Type commands like LOOK, GO NORTH, TAKE… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Terminal Tales: An Interactive Fiction Anthology.

Hippocratic is a first-person psychological survival horror where you play as the last doctor in a post-apocalyptic hospital. Diagnose, operate, manage scarce resources, and decide who lives or dies as your sanity slowly unravels. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Hippocratic.

A 1-2 hour hand drawn comedy sci fi adventure. Make all the bad decisions... Hooman won't mind. You are Hooman. You are an android. You are not the problem.Hooman is the true hero the universe needs. He knows it, and will carve a path that shows everyone the truth. A Crew That Needs YouBased on your crew evaluations, it's clear that the crew cannot function without you. Their actions and inactio… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Adventures Of Hooman.

RUNT is a rural gothic visual novel mystery where you follow the story of Runt, the youngest of five brothers, surviving a monstrous post-apocalypse. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to RUNT.

Proof of Life: Day Z is an experimental post-apocalyptic narrative told entirely through daily radio transmissions. Following the collapse of the world, a lone survivor known as Little Giant records fragments of his journey using a military-grade RUD unit. Each entry functions as a survival log, a signal sent into the void, and a quiet attempt to prove that someone, somewhere, is still alive. … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Proof of Life: Day Z.

As Marco, you wake up to a reality where the world shrouded in darkness, forcing you to fight for survival while seeking answers in abandoned darkness. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Late Night Manifest.

A VR comic adapting the ghostly romance of Nie Xiaoqian. Explore the moonlit, fully-realized 3D Lanruo Temple. The tale unfolds via exquisite hand-drawn 2D art. Pause time to investigate still scenes and uncover secrets. Witness an eternal, poetic love between worlds. (First of a trilogy, ~30 mins) If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Gorgeous Ghost.

A stylish post-apocalyptic road trip with a killer soundtrack - endless driving sprinkled with some gentle walking. No stats. No combat. No progression. No puzzles. Just drive and vibe. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Postcards from the Apocalypse.

ScrapRoots is a turn-based roguelike where you play as a lone plant trying to survive in a world ruled by machines You are a resilient sprout growing among the rust and ruins. The world is procedurally generated, so every run is a new challenge. To survive, you must fight, take control of hostile robots or dismantle them for parts.  Good luck surviving in a post-apocalyptic world! Game Info… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to ScrapRoots.

A new-gen detective adventure combining deduction gameplay with a gripping story full of twists and turns. Gather clues, establish connections, and solve a series of increasingly challenging cases. Will you uncover the feud that began at the end of the world? If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to From Ruins – A Detective Adventure.