Games like Thing-in-Itself

"Actual Sunlight" is a critically acclaimed visual novel that explores depression, hopelessness, and social anxieties in a raw and unfiltered way. The game follows the life of Evan Winter, a 30-something office worker, as he navigates through his mundane existence and grapples with his inner demons. Its deep and thought-provoking narrative challenges players to confront the harsh realities of mental health issues.

"Gone In November" is a single-player adventure game that explores the theme of depression. As a patient with a terminal illness, you'll experience the character's emotional journey, filled with texting inactive social media accounts, watering cacti, and isolating yourself. The game challenges the player to confront feelings of loneliness and the impact of modern society, where closeness can still feel isolating.

"The Beginner's Guide" is a unique narrative-driven game that explores the mind of a fictional game developer through a series of unfinished games. The player delves into the developer's thoughts and feelings as they navigate through a variety of experimental game designs, shedding light on the creative process and the struggles that come with it. The game serves as a thoughtful commentary on game development and the relationship between creators and their work.

"Always Sometimes Monsters" is a narrative-driven RPG where your choices significantly impact the story. As a down-and-out writer, you must make difficult decisions to reconcile with a former love, all while dealing with life's harsh realities. The game features a unique perspective system, where your character's gender and race are determined by the player you choose at the start.

"We Should Talk" is a narrative-driven game where players navigate through conversations in a bar, making choices that affect their relationship with four different characters. The game explores themes of communication, emotions, and personal connections, with multiple endings determined by the player's dialogue choices. It offers a unique and engaging experience that promotes understanding and empathy.

Summerland is a first-person narrative game about morality and the afterlife. You take control of Matthew, a detective reliving the events of his past, being questioned on his morals along the way. In every door lies another memory, and every memory unlocks another door.

DISTRAINT 2 is a psychological horror adventure game, where you play as Price, a man seeking to restore hope and find his purpose after selling his humanity. The game features simple yet effective gameplay, with side-scrolling 2D graphics, a dark story, and a mix of dark humor. It has hand-drawn graphics, carefully composed music, and a minimalist interface to keep the focus on the engaging story.

"Creatures Such as We" spinitshell 2017 on Steam is a text-based narrative game where you play as a space tourism employee on the moon. Through conversation and exploration, you'll uncover the complex emotions and motivations of both the human and AI characters, while making decisions that determine the fate of the colony. Experience a thought-provoking and romantic journey that delves into themes of humanity, love, and mortality.

"The NOexistenceN of you AND me" is a surreal psychological horror visual novel where you navigate hundreds of choices after a mysterious girl appears in your room. Explore themes of existence and unravel the truth behind this strange world as you interact, make decisions, and confront bizarre events. Your mission: say hello to the girl and face the consequences.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a BAFTA-winning game that explores the mysterious death of the Finch family members, one by one. As Edith, you'll uncover your family's past by experiencing the day of each relative's death in a series of first-person vignettes, each with its unique gameplay and tone. The game aims to help Edith understand why she is the only Finch left alive.