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 Verdantis is a puzzle-adventure game, set in a ruined, overgrown research facility. Once a cutting-edge complex for alternative energy experiments. Today vines, and rust reclaim the laboratories, and reactors. You play as R-0B, a small quadruped assistant robot. Your task: restore power across the entire complex, zone by zone, puzzle by puzzle. The story unfolds thro… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Verdantis.

1. Top Hook End Days of Alpha A gripping post-apocalyptic BL visual novel where survival meets forbidden romance. Fight zombies, scavenge resources, and fall in love with rugged survivors in a world gone to hell. Multiple endings, steamy 18+ scenes, and deep emotional bonds await. In the ruins of civilization, You must choose who to trust... and who to love. Will you build a future with one man,… 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.

Deathwish Bloom is a nuanced relationship visual novel set in a quake-ridden post-apocalyptic world. Your choices are irreversible. Play as Sky Harlow, a disgraced researcher whose survival depends on how and when you reveal secrets rather than science. Thread carefully through the Science City where nothing you do goes unnoticed. Find a way to recreate the cure before you are forced back to t… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Deathwish Bloom.

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-.

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.

This game once ranked #1 on both TapTap New Releases & Exclusive Charts, accumulating hundreds of thousands of downloads and massive player attention. It has become a beloved post-apocalyptic comfort game for countless "hoarder enthusiasts". As a developer who always listens to player feedback, after months of iterative updates and polished optimization, and with the joint effo… 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.

A tender youthful tale hidden amid noisy school days, centered on daily life with Qingxue You are high school student Yi Haocheng, who comes off as unruly and keeps his distance from classmates, handling class duties and complicated school relationships alone. One day, a mysterious girl named Qingxue suddenly enters your life and becomes like your little sister. You share every meal and spend al… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to 妹控即是正义第一季.

Before you close the Iron Gate, decide who gets to stand inside itBeneath the Iron Gate is a grounded post-apocalyptic interactive cinematic narrative. You play as Lu Chen, a former security systems engineer who turns an old cold-chain warehouse into the Black Box, a shelter built before the city goes silent and public order collapses. The shelter is not the end. It is where the choices beginEv… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Beneath the Iron Gate.

"0kb, something we can't erase." Hexian, a water planet wrapped in oceans and islands. AI governs the survival laws of humanity, and people rely on system estimates to weather every big wave. But you can't care about those— You were laid off. The rent is about to expire. All that's left is the AI robot I hand-made in college. You took her into a game called Astraeus. Earning gold… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to 海希安之歌：0号龙骨.

Year 2055. Near the megacity of Neo Roma, humanity fell quietly. An alien presence reached into people's minds and took hold, one by one, until almost everyone belonged to it. For some reason, that control never reached you. You slept right through the end of the world and woke up as the only human still in control of your own mind. Now you're alone in a quiet, overgrown world and the aliens know… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to I Missed the Apocalypse.

Wander the harsh wasteland as one of the last remaining survivors searching for supplies and battling any unwanted visitors in this Fallout inspired pocket based post-apocalyptic RPG survival game. 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.

A long time ago, this world sang. The Noise sings over it now. Under the dunes and the dust, a faint melody survives — patient, waiting to be heard again. You're a small recorder robot, and they're your flock—sheep-like creatures crossing a post-apocalyptic land of dunes, ruins, and stranger life. You're here to listen, to bring this world back sound by sound, and to lead the flock home. Baaca… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Baacadia.

Way to Oasis : a post-apocalyptic visual novel. You lead a six-member caravan after the captain’s death. Manage scarce resources, navigate moral dilemmas, and face hidden threats. Your choices decide if the group survives or perishes. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Way to Oasis.

A lone light shines in this darkened world. In a world of twisted forests and tainted seas, strength of arm trumps the word of reason. Humanity clutches rusted weapons in this blasted world of hunger and death. The Time's End Tavern stands as a lone oasis amid the barren wastes. Here survivors can lay down their arms and take a moment of respite to regain their humanity. A young girl with no… 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.

The world has collapsed. And you are one of the few doctors left. Hippocratic is a first-person psychological horror game that combines medical simulation, resource management, and extreme moral decisions in an oppressive post-apocalyptic setting. Not every patient can be saved. Not every patient should be. Every decision matters. And every mistake has consequences. Medical Simulation Under Re… 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 play as 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.

Late Night Manifest is a PSX-style post-apocalyptic survival horror game with fixed third-person camera, focused on exploration, environmental storytelling, and puzzle-solving. You begin alone in your own home, with no clear answers. From there, you must explore the region by visiting key locations by car, unlocking doors, and navigating interconnected paths to reach critical destinations. Progr… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Late Night Manifest.

Gorgeous Ghost — Nie Xiaoqian VR Trilogy · Episode 1: “Gorgeous Ghost: Fate” Enter the fantastical world of Pu Songling’s “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio,” inspired by the classic Hong Kong film “A Chinese Ghost Story.” In this immersive VR interactive graphic novel, you are no longer a spectator. You will step into the Lanruo Temple and become a witness to the poignant beginning of a legend… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Gorgeous Ghost.

Postcards from the Apocalypse is an endless driving sim, punctuated by semi-optional roadside attractions, where it turns into a brief walking sim with a sprinkle of voiced comments and in-game cinematics. It is a tongue-in-cheek romp through all the Post-Apocalyptic tropes, with all the sense of exploration and excitement and none of the mechanical baggage. In fact, Postcards has no progression, … 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.

From Ruins is the third detective adventure by DigiTales Interactive, creators of Lacuna and Between Horizons. Building upon modern genre staples like The Case Of The Golden Idol and Return Of The Obra Dinn, From Ruins combines true detective gameplay with a gripping story against the backdrop of an atmospheric post-apocalyptic world. A linear singleplayer adventure with multiple endings, From Rui… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to From Ruins – A Detective Adventure.