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.

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.

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.

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.

*** 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.

45%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, graphics

67% User Score Based on 18 reviews

Odyssey VR is a story driven space adventure single/multiplayer game that you can play on Desktop and Virtual Reality. The actual gameplay is approximately twenty minutes in duration and allows the player (the explorer) to experience different tasks in a spaceship. The tasks include locating and handling different tools and protecting the spaceship from asteroid fields. At the end of the game, the… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Odyssey VR.

61%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:atmosphere, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, music

89% User Score Based on 19 reviews

It's a winter night. You're returning home by train. It's been a long time since you've been there. You just have to transfer to another train. Just a moment's wait at a small train station in the middle of the forest. You're familiar with this - it's not the first time you've traveled this route. However, this time, a strange uneasiness accompanies you. Something is different. Something is n… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Queen of Moths.

Sclera is a no-save, session-based game of random encounters for fans of older RPGs and interactive horror fiction. While there are scripted events and stories that can occur, much of the game’s content is the result of traditional procedural generation techniques; no two runs will ever be the same. But above all, this is a passion project bringing together my love of turn-based combat, atmospher… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sclera.

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.

On a sultry night in late August, I ran into a man carrying a peony lantern at the Mid-Lake Pavilion. In the hazy and dim light, the man told the odd and bizarre stories. Under the overcast rainy sky, the moon setting horizontally, you will be brought into a perplexing, weird, and supernatural world If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Peculiar Tales of Mid-Lake Pavilion.

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.

"Mourningwood Lodge:Pray" is a full-motion video (FMV) live-action mystery horror game. As the third installment in the "Mourningwood Lodge" series, players will delve into an entirely new story, assuming the role of a fresh character to embark on a suspenseful journey. While being the third entry, the plot of this game maintains connections with the previous two installments. … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Mourningwood Lodge:Pray.

ZHEN: Shattered Legacy is a Twin-Stick, Souls-like Brawler set in the fictional world of ZHEN. Sent to a distant land, you're a robot warrior monk tasked with overthrowing the current Grand Master and restoring the righteous way of Kung Fu. Armed with a simple staff, master timing, precision, and cadence as you defeat enemies standing in your way and truly earn your right to challenge the Grand … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to ZHEN: Shattered Legacy.

The Wall is a cinematic visual novel set in a post-apocalyptic world in which your existence is confined to a futuristic but disturbing city, safeguarded by an immense wall that protects its inhabitants from the horrors that lurk beyond. However, the city harbors a dark secret, and you are entangled in it. Will you discover the truth behind the wall? Live the story, make decisions and enjoy th… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Wall.

When you are staring at the stars, the stars are also staring at you.   Tide of Lone Stars is an ADV / AVG with conventional gameplay and unconventional apocalyptic sci-fi narration. As the disabled girl living outside the walls, Blanka, you will meet a strange man, Adrian. An amazing adventure of "Love, Rebirth and Death" is about to begin. Climate deterioration, famine, wa… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tide of Lone Stars-孤星之潮-.

VISEGUNNE is a non-bullet-hell shoot 'em up where explosive action unfolds around you: cities are leveled, space colonies collapse, and orbital structures crumble catastrophically. Between missions, interact with your squad to uncover secrets about a post-apocalyptic Earth, visit shops to upgrade your arsenal, or customize your machine’s look in the garage. Each mission offers intuitive controls a… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to VISEGUNNE.

About UsX: @SiToKa_official Instagram: @SiToKa_offical Bluesky: @sitokagame.bsky.social About the GameGame IntroductionEngram is a Computer RPG focused on role-playing and storytelling. Here, you accompany your ailing sister Mia through a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world in search of a miracle to cure her. How you spend Mia’s limited life becomes your central dilemma — do you devote time to he… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Engram.

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.

67%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics

100% User Score Based on 18 reviews

You have died, and only you can discover how it happened. Do not worry though, I am here to help you. Let us figure this out together. This mixed media artistic point and click adventure novel will not take you long to complete. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to I Have Died.

MY ADVENTURON DEBUT Quirky Test (QT) was an entry to the 2025 TALJ/Text Adventure Literacy Jam. It is my first game written in Adventuron. I usually write in Inform 7, but here, Adventuron offered some things Inform didn't quite, including colored text and graphics. QT offers a tutorial (optional) to start, in tune with the jam's requirement. But ... WAIT! WHERE'S THE TIME TRAVEL? QT doesn't f… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Quirky Test (TALP).

"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.

Messy Hearts is a pixel-art visual novel about a complicated coworker friendship. Through journal-style narration, Florence unpacks romance, trauma, and some messy boundaries in a deeply personal story of mental health and heartbreak. No choices; this is a linear narrative. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Messy Hearts.

Rage Quest: Disciple of Peace is an interactive fantasy novella in the style of 1980s gamebooks. When Valtash the War God created orcs he gave them an inner rage that constantly urged them towards violence. A few orcs learned to use meditation to control this rage, and founded a remote monastery where they could live free of the War God's influence. But when the monastery is destroyed by human ra… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Rage Quest: Disciple of Peace.

A narrative exploration game where you play as a robot mail carrier in a post-apocalyptic town. You are a mail robot, unexpectedly reactivated in the ruins of Virla’s post office, long after the sudden Snowstorm. Before you lies a pile of dusty, forgotten letters — no senders, no clear destinations. Still, you set out to complete your task. By tracing the path of each letter, you quietly sof… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Wind Will Read.

41%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, atmosphere

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics

64% User Score Based on 14 reviews

In this dark interactive novel you will play as a lost soul wandering a forsaken desert, accompanied by a mysterious girl. Explore ancient ruins and face obscure choices. Your decisions will shape their journey—often in ways you’ll never fully understand. Will you find peace, or something else? If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Solitary Existence of a Little Universe.

In a devastated future where the world is coming to an end, the machine soldiers that mankind once created have gained an autonomous consciousness and lost their rulers at the end of the war with mankind. In the ruins where the remnants of the battlefield fall as ashy silver snow, the protagonist continues his journey, relying on rumors of a “safe city,” only to find a ruined city and machine sol… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to 終末メイドロイド.

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 narrative-driven visual novel blending romantic fairy tales, surreal fantasy, and yuri themes. "What are you searching for?"Upon waking, she finds herself lost in a surreal fairy-tale world. As Alice, she encounters a cast of bizarre characters: factions fighting over names, a bodiless witch, a gardener cultivating world-destroying plants, a lonely collector obsessed with name… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to 百禾梦境漫游 Wandering Dreams of Yuri.

Almost 20 ly away from Sol, Stargazer, a crew member of the ship Kanzi ru Miso, has to return home. They're not alone, both Kanzi and Miso are there with them! _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Ship's map [TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES - DON'T ASK MISO] _________________________________________________________________________ Story Based… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Tale of Stargazer.

84%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

84% User Score Based on 38 reviews

The final game in the Tower series: a reframing of the original story, partially from a different protagonist; it is again about trans women, time loops, and finding the strength to confront your own self-loathing. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Horizon.

In the post-apocalyptic world of 2078, humanity has all but been wiped out by World War III. A war between the genetically modified and the mechanically enhanced, the number of survivors is limited, unknown and dying slowly. Being humanity's last saving grace, you're ready to put an end to the death and destruction. You're determined to stop this war, prepared to die to save those who remain. The … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Two Sides of a Robot War.

With the pace of technological development, our lives increasingly rely on machines. But is that a good thing? Technology can lead us astray, but it can also be our redemption… One day in the distant future, the obsolete household robot Abi finds the hibernating industrial robot DD, and together they escape the warehouse in which they have been locked away. Once they get out, they discover that h… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Abi: A Robot's Tale.

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 safehouse. 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.Game features:·[Pregame: Prior to t… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Apocalypse Love Shelter.

You do not know who you are.   Your memories only go five years back, to when you woke up in a subterranean tunnel system with nothing but a name. Now you reside in the Holy City, capital of a post-apocalyptic world ruled by a faction called the Religious.   After a near-death experience at the hands of a crazed angel, you're suddenly thrust into a building conspiracy surrounding a corps… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sentience.

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.

Made for Ludum Dare 50 Compo (Theme: "Delay the inevitable") Take control of Crisis Bot, an automated repair robot that is deployed in times of crisis! Repair Fractures in your deployment area as quickly as you can, trying to stave off inevitable destruction! Anyone else would tremble in fear, but not you! It's not in your programming! -- CONTROLS -- W/Up: Move up A/Left: Move left S/Down: Move… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Crisis Bot (Ludum Dare 50).

I.A.G. Alpha "Games within games in this metapuzzler from a Ukrainian author"50 Years of Text Games * You may think this game is about a post-Soviet Research Institute. About an experiment that went out of control. You may think that the initials "I.A.G." are somehow related to the Institute. You may think this game is unfinished. You may even think that the game ends exactly as the author tells y… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to I.A.G. Alpha.

Good Become Cancerous As a group of scavvers, players follow a loose trail of evidence to uncover what happened to the famed Meecham Expedition, led by the decorated commander Sir William “Bill” Meecham. With 700 soldiers and support staff, Meecham planned to head deeper into the ruins than any previous expedition, hoping to find vast, untouched heaps of technology. Disaster struck almost immediat… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Backroads: Good Become Cancerous (Adventure).

Miles is a lonely twenty-something who has spent most of his post-university life online. He can't completely quit playing the dying MMO where he first met his best friend, Tom. Especially not after Tom stops replying to his messages a few days before Christmas. Struggling over whether or not he should be worried, Miles returns to the game, only to find that Tom never left. When he realises that… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to You Don't Know Tom Anymore.

This is a Chinese game，a visual novel game with doomsday theme. If you want to know more information about Last Lovers, you can join Last Lovers QQ group 532157072 to participate in related discussions. STORY： Twenty eight years ago, zombie virus broke out on the planet where human beings live, showing an apocalyptic state. The surviving human beings huddled together for warmth, and large refug… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Last Lovers 绿洲之爱.

A Brutal Post-Apocalyptic Turn-Based Survival RPG Hello, survivor. Let me introduce you to a game I created entirely on my own—designed with passion, grit, and a love for classic post apocalyptic RPGs pop culture movies and video games. This is a randomly generated post-apocalyptic survival RPG with deep systems, tough choices, and PERMA-DEATH. ⚠️ PERMA-DEATH WARNING This game doesn’t care … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to DUST - Post Apocalyptic RPG.

Howdy Partner' Quest for the west is a unique fictional narrative adventure!Travel across the countryside encountering tales of adventure, excitement and frogs.During your travels you will decide your route using the mouse and clicking the circular points of interest along the mapOnce engaged in an encounter enjoy the story and decide how it will progresseach decision has a pool of resolutions, ea… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Quest for the West (LD43).

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.

Eser is the only human left alive. Gods and monsters, blessings and curses, an island ruled by giant insects — and in their midst: a reluctant human priest. Grief-stricken and bound by oath to obey the Queen’s newest divine decree, Eser will seek advice, encounter strange visitors, draw the attention of powers beyond comprehension, and surely make mistakes. As a baby, they were brought to Achtho… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Heretic's Hope.

A short minimalist 'walking simulator' responding to the Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak, inspired by real life events and news reports of the city since the quarantine.  Created for 'Gaming Spirit Bomb' - a fundraiser Game Jam to support doctors and victims of the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China (See other entries here).Literal walkthrough: press right arrow to move forward [insert game … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Towards the Enduring Light | 向光而行.

**About This Work**This is a short visual novel with a runtime of only about ten minutes. The story takes place in a future world set in a parallel universe. After a series of global pandemics and nuclear wars, the Earth's population has drastically declined. The surviving humans have spontaneously formed communities and live in a manner similar to primitive societies. On a certain morning after… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to One day after the snow and wind.

52%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, gameplay

73% User Score Based on 22 reviews

Help the little bear to find the way home. What dangers can be hidden in the night streets of a quiet suburb? Who is waiting for him at home, and who is waiting in the dark around the corner? If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The story of Bill Bear.

The high priest of an obscure cult is preparing a ritual. Don the priest’s sacred mantle, for these holy labors are yours to direct. You may carve a votive, lead a prayer, or make a sacrifice — but you must see to the task with care. Unearthly eyes gaze down upon you from the sea above. Will your devotion reach them? Does it matter? If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to DEVOTIONALIA.