Games like Vanakan

Contra Spem Spero (Latin for 'Against all hope, I hope') is a narrative-driven horror experience that blends text-based exploration, immersive visual novel storytelling, survival elements, and puzzle-solving. Your car breaks down in the middle of a deserted road. Having no time to waste, you decide to continue on foot, grabbing only your journal and camera. Yet imperceptibly, the asphalt turns … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Contra Spem Spero.

93%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

95% User Score Based on 5,758 reviews

Critic Score 88%Based on 3 reviews

Roadwarden is an illustrated text-based RPG that uses isometric pixel art and combines mechanics borrowed from RPGs, Visual Novels, adventure games and interactive fiction. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Roadwarden.

83%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, optimization

90% User Score Based on 4,546 reviews

Critic Score 75%Based on 9 reviews

A narrative-driven RPG set in a gritty world where a person's Lot is determined at birth, while the gods are real and preside over the fates of men. Set out on a lifelong journey and carve out your own destiny. Will you become a judge, an inquisitor, or conspire against the old order? You decide! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante.

86%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding

93% User Score Based on 135 reviews

Critic Score 68%Based on 3 reviews

Postcards written in invisible ink reveal a secret history... Travel back in time in the debut game from Stave Studios, OVER THE ALPS. Stay undercover, evade the police, and race across 1939 Switzerland in this Hitchcockian World War Two spy thriller. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Over the Alps.

90%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

91% User Score Based on 15,234 reviews

Critic Score 79%Based on 1 reviews

Road 96 is a crazy, beautiful road-trip. The discovery of exciting places, and unusual people on your own personal journey to freedom. An ever-evolving story-driven adventure inspired by Tarantino, The Coen Brothers, and Bong Joon-ho. Moments of action, exploration, contemplative melancholy, human encounters and wacky situations. Set against a backdrop of authoritarian rule and oppression. A stunn… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Road 96.

The Life and Suffering of Prince Jerian is a narrative role-playing game telling the story of a cruel world, where lawbreaking is met with severe punishment, and a crown prince must decide the destiny of the land. Whether you rule maintaining the old order, or create a new future is up to you. In the Great Arknian Empire, everyone’s life is determined by their birth. Such is the ultimate law lai… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Life and Suffering of Prince Jerian.

A dark text-based RPG in which the world is consumed by an eternal race for survival. An inexorable mushroom forest corrupted all life on planet. And you are a prophet's disciple leading your clan to survival... or oblivion. Interpret misty visions, make important choices, do everything to survive. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Before They Catch Us.

70%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, replayability

91% User Score Based on 44 reviews

Critic Score 5%Based on 1 reviews

‘We. The Refugees: Ticket to Europe’ is a socially engaged, text-based RPG about a journalist looking for his big break by uncovering the plights of refugees travelling from Africa to Europe. It is a story inspired by true events If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to We. The Refugees: Ticket to Europe.

59%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay

100% User Score Based on 10 reviews

Pivot of Hearts is a non-monogamous romance visual novel with a simple card game built into it. It takes place in the city of São Paulo and tells the story of Wén Xiàn, a Taiwanese-Brazilian game developer who, after a long period of isolation, starts finding chances to open his heart again: he suddenly reconnects with Etsuko, someone important from his past, and forms an unexpected bond with a ne… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Pivot of Hearts.

80%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, stability

80% User Score Based on 90 reviews

EXPLORE HUMANITY THROUGH THE EYES OF AN AI You are "Arc", an artificial intelligence designed to be the interface between a city-wide augmented reality network known as the "NeuroNet" and the city's inhabitants. Embark on a journey of self-discovery as you learn what it means to be human in a world losing itself to technology. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS As you grow, you will bond with many of Catena… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to NeuroNet: Mendax Proxy.

96%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, optimization

97% User Score Based on 814 reviews

Critic Score 92%Based on 1 reviews

Golden Treasure is a game for those who carry dragons in their hearts. Hunt, explore, survive, and become Great among the True Children of Sun and Earth. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Golden Treasure: The Great Green.

81%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, replayability

85% User Score Based on 156 reviews

Critic Score 58%Based on 1 reviews

Orwell’s Animal Farm is an adventure game where all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. Immerse yourself in George Orwell's story of absolute power and corruption and follow the ups and downs of Animalism. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Orwell's Animal Farm.

96%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:monetization, grinding

96% User Score Based on 624 reviews

The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante is a narrative-driven text-based RPG set in a ruthless medieval realm that comes to life on the pages of the protagonist's journal. Though every man's life is predetermined by the Lot they received at birth, it is you who decides whether your character will challenge fate and alter his destiny, rewriting the established laws of the universe. The free version o… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante — Chapter 1&2.

92%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

99% User Score Based on 264 reviews

Critic Score 82%Based on 2 reviews

When the snow stops falling, the small Danish village of Tinglev will no longer be the same. Walk the path of Gerda as her quiet life is turned upside down during the World War 2 occupation of her home. Choose where to go, how to act, and who to trust in this intimate narrative RPG-lite experience inspired by real life events. How far would you go to protect your loved ones? If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Gerda: A Flame in Winter.

79%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, emotional

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, graphics

82% User Score Based on 89 reviews

Critic Score 74%Based on 4 reviews

Take the role of various modern travelers, live their adventures and shape their stories. Relish in discovery and awe, longing and hope as you journey from Africa to Antarctica, from Europe to Asia. The change brought by this odyssey will be your own. Wanderlust is a bridge between literary experiences and gaming. A title that is meant to be taken in, experienced and felt. Perfect when you're tra… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Wanderlust Travel Stories.

76%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

76% User Score Based on 878 reviews

The Fermi Paradox is a choice-driven sci-fi narrative strategy game in which your decisions in one corner of the galaxy can upend entire civilizations in another. Guide species through millennia and help them explore the vastness of space, make contact and, perhaps, create harmony. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Fermi Paradox.

Relaxing 2d puzzle game where you unlock characters and stories through solving puzzles and decide their fate in a magical but unforgiving world. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Fateful Mages.

79%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:monetization, gameplay

79% User Score Based on 117 reviews

Choose your own path and solve the mystery in this text based RPG adventure. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Serania - Path of the Scion.

86%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding

86% User Score Based on 106 reviews

"The Succession of Changing Kings" puts you at the helm of a kingdom on the verge of disaster. The lands that were once rich have now decayed into emptiness. The fields, once fertile with crops, are now covered in weeds. Trade routes have fallen silent, and the best people are leaving their homeland. Construct buildings, hire subjects, decide the fate of your liegemen and take criti… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Succession of Changing Kings.

76%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:music, gameplay

87% User Score Based on 38 reviews

You are the sovereign of a town called Mistwinter Bay. The sovereign you create decides the fate of the town and everyone in it. Decide which buildings to build and who gets to live in town. Interact with your townsfolk by sending them on missions or hang out one-on-one. Each character is unique, with their own profession, personal history and strengths and weaknesses. Deal with international poli… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Mistwinter Bay.

After seven years away, the white cat Lumi returns to his hometown, which is now descending into a sinister darkness that twists reality and devours memories. Step into Lumi's paws and gain courage, wisdom, and mystical feline abilities. Rediscover your past. Save your future! Dive deep into the emotional themes of memory, identity, and family secrets. Rekindle old flames that burn bright eve… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to White Cat Town Mystery.

65%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, character development

65% User Score Based on 200 reviews

Critic Score 54%Based on 1 reviews

Unrest (Special Edition) includes: - Unrest - Unrest Soundtrack, in MP3, FLAC and OGG formats. - A novella set in Bhimra. - Digital posters, including a concept map of Bhimra. - Behind the scenes developer footage. - Concept art and design documents. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Unrest.

95%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:character development, grinding

95% User Score Based on 676 reviews

Sacred Fire is a narrative RPG in which your humanity and emotions impact your fight for survival and inner freedom. Inspired by ancient Caledonia, the story follows a group of resistance fighters and their rise to power. Choosing motives, ideas and feelings is as important as choosing your actions. Develop your personality and compete for influence to change the story and avert a tragic ending. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sacred Fire.

92%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:atmosphere, grinding

92% User Score Based on 99 reviews

A visual novel about trainwrecks, trysts & treason. Roadtrip across the country to take down a tyrant. Befriend, torment, woo or wingman your party. Decide who you want to be. And maybe, just maybe: make it out of this one alive. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Amarantus.

92%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, replayability

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay

92% User Score Based on 143 reviews

Will you infiltrate the gods, or turn double agent and join their Elite Courte? If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to VERSUS: The Elite Trials.

65%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:music, replayability

65% User Score Based on 153 reviews

For the People is an acute social novel with strategic elements, in which you take control of the newly appointed mayor of a small city. Will the party provide for the people, or are the people just cogs in its machine? The choice is yours, comrade! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to For the People.

97%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, humor

Most mentioned negative aspects:monetization

97% User Score Based on 126 reviews

Far Away is a visual novel full of dark humor depicting immersive storylines rather than romantic drama. You will play as Krosa, a typical girl who experiences gang conflicts, crimes, conspiracies, and family grudges in the port city of Bedjan. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Far Away.

83%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, monetization

85% User Score Based on 1,026 reviews

Critic Score 75%Based on 1 reviews

Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Heart of the Forest throws you deep into a primeval wilderness in the center of modern Europe. It's where the protectors of nature wage their ancient, never-ending war against the forces of destruction. Visit real-world places of mystery and power. Explore local legends and traditions. Discover the fascinating world and history of the Polish-Belarusian borderlands. You … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Heart of the Forest.

90%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, stability

90% User Score Based on 119 reviews

Lizzy is a girl living in The Boarding, a walled city surrounded by fog. All who live here serve the mysterious Mother Matron, its revered leader who hasn’t been seen in person in many years. Periodically, the Mother Matron selects residents to become Surveyors, tasked with exploring the dark unknown tunnels that lie underground to find the key to a better future for the collective. The odds of su… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to For Mother Matron.

92%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, stability

92% User Score Based on 53 reviews

"Curtain Call" is a visual novel about (literally) breaking through social masks by forming meaningful connections with incredibly deep personalities. Whether you’re looking to make new friends or something more, there’s a whole cast of characters just dying to meet you! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Curtain Call.

71%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, optimization

100% User Score Based on 22 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

Born with a birth defect that he hates, Kakeru struggles with severe anxiety and depression. Guide his timid decisions as he takes a brave step into a new world - joining his school's music club, making unexpected and inspiring new connections, and daring to dream again. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Venus: Improbable Dream.

79%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, humor

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, graphics

79% User Score Based on 86 reviews

In this interactive sci-fi adventure novel, you are the AI pilot of Earth's last interstellar ship, tasked with finding a home for your crew - the last remnants of humanity. Your choices will determine their fate, and your own. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Away Team.

90%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, emotional

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, grinding

90% User Score Based on 231 reviews

Ukraine War Stories is a set of visual novels about the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Set in the early months of the war, it tells the stories of civilians trapped on Russian-occupied territory. All stories are based on real events and eyewitness accounts. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Ukraine War Stories.

89%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, optimization

93% User Score Based on 984 reviews

Critic Score 84%Based on 8 reviews

A murder. A hack. A bombing. All it takes to plunge the solar system into war – unless you do something about it. Help CDI agent Neil Conrad make a string of increasingly difficult decisions in this modern dialog-driven adventure set in a gorgeous 2D sci-fi noir universe. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Lacuna.

80%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, character development

80% User Score Based on 66 reviews

She's damn pretty thought Max, looking at the girl coming toward him. He only had a few minutes to live, unless a miracle would happen. And what has a purple hamster to do with it? If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Zeliria Sanctuary.

94%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, atmosphere

95% User Score Based on 74 reviews

Critic Score 90%Based on 1 reviews

You are Robin Hood! Forge your destiny and fight to liberate Nottingham in this epic story-driven RPG blending interactive fiction, resource management, and base building set within a lushly-illustrated Sherwood Forest. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Nocked! True Tales of Robin Hood.

Trapped in a mysterious cave system, four dungeon explorers struggle to find a way out before the light fades forever... Dungeon of Departure is an independently developed, pixel art, visual novel set in an original universe. The story follows the silent, player protagonist and three companion characters as they face difficult decisions, strange occurrences, and seek a path forward and out of… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dungeon of Departure.

It is a fine autumn day, the sun is out, and the voices in your head are screaming with options. OTHERS is a looping story game about thoughts where you unlock new voices in your head, driving new ideas, new scenarios, and new endings. Features Fully voice-acted Classic text-based and point-and-click controls Multiple Endings Good voices to listen to >>What do you mean by "g… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to OTHERS.

TRY THE FREE DEMO! / WISHLIST ON STEAM A text-based open world fantasy roguelike adventure Master the secrets of a changing fantasy world over the course of many 30-90 minute adventures. Explore the wilds around a single village as you track down magical treasures, aid or disrupt encroaching factions, and match wits with an enigmatic Magician. Thousands of possible endings! Complete player f… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Upheaval.

83%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, humor

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, graphics

83% User Score Based on 60 reviews

"Half Billion: Love Choice" is a surreal simulation business interactive video game where you, as the protagonist, will complete the entrepreneurial journey with a startup capital of half billion. In this adventure centered around money and love, six beautiful women with different identities and types, each with their own purposes, will participate in your career. As emotions and careers… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Half Billion: Love Choice.

70%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, emotional

Most mentioned negative aspects:music, gameplay

90% User Score Based on 29 reviews

Welcome to Love Begins with Goodbye, an interactive romance game set in Norway, blending Chinese and Norwegian cultures! In this game, you will step into the shoes of a Chinese exchange student embarking on a six-month journey in Norway. You will live with three girls, each with distinct personalities, in a foreign land.   The Characters:  • Luo Xue’er, an exchange student from China like you: … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Love Begins With Goodbye.

92%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, monetization

92% User Score Based on 1,161 reviews

More from this franchise - check out collection banner above About the Game What to ExpectThis is not a management game! ‍♀️ Play the tavern owner. D&D inspired story: Over 20 colorful characters. ️‍ LGBTQ+ positive representation. At least 12h of immersive reading on your first play-through. Multiple endings. Casual drink mixing & quest building. No tavern managemen… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tavern Talk - A Cozy Visual Novel.

81%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability

100% User Score Based on 32 reviews

Such A Guy is a first-person narrative game that blends live-action interactive storytelling with light management gameplay. You play as Zane Zheng, a young man who leaves his city job in search of meaning and, together with two close friends, renovates a lakeside guesthouse by the sea. Featuring cinematic-grade filming, real actors, and on-location shooting, the game offers a deeply immersive exp… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Such a guy.

74%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:replayability, optimization

78% User Score Based on 144 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 13 reviews

Dry Drowning is a psychological investigative visual novel set in a futuristic dystopian city. Follow the story of Mordred Foley, an unscrupulous private detective haunted by his dark past, and look into a series of macabre serial killings inspired by Greek mythology. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dry Drowning.

98%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:character development, stability

98% User Score Based on 94 reviews

Decade is a narrative point-and-click adventure game where you will send children back into the past - ten years at a time to learn how the world ended, and what you can do to change it. Investigate documents, technologies, and artefacts to understand history, manage the children and their abilities as they age dramatically, and try to make the right decisions as you create multiple futures tha… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Decade.

95%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding

95% User Score Based on 1,311 reviews

Cabernet is a 2D narrative RPG set in a 19th century Eastern European inspired world, with a modern twist. Guide Liza, a young vampire in her new unlife among the unsuspecting townsfolk. Will you retain your humanity or descend further into the horror you have become? If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Cabernet.

92%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

95% User Score Based on 822 reviews

Critic Score 89%Based on 10 reviews

STORY Embark on a thrilling sci-fi journey in a futuristic Asian city with MINDS BENEATH US. In a society fully automated by advanced AI, you find yourself trapped in a foreign body, alongside the subconscious of its original owner. As society evolves, a new industry emerges that replaces the hardware needed to operate AI-automated systems with human brains. Consequently, the most disadvantaged … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Minds Beneath Us.

74%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, character development

71% User Score Based on 496 reviews

Critic Score 65%Based on 5 reviews

Hop into a muscle car and drive through the American West in a game inspired by 1970s road movies. Enjoy the ride in this narrative-driven racing experience with a comic book aesthetic. Choose your own route across the USA in a game where every run is a personalized, unique experience. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Heading Out.

91%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, replayability

91% User Score Based on 142 reviews

Dredgeport is spiralling out of control. Gangs rule the slums, corruption trumps the law, and corpses of the war-dead are burned daily for fuel. You are an ex-soldier, mistaken for dead and shipped back to Dredgeport for processing. After a narrow escape, you find yourself alone in the guts of the city, with only two things to your name: your life and your sanity. Keeping both will prove a challen… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Duskpunk.

83%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, stability

97% User Score Based on 36 reviews

A Game from the "Legends of Savvarah" series. "Time of Pariah" is an interactive story. The game is primarily text-based, but with lots of illustrations (essentially a visual novel in a non-standardised setting). On the continent of Erteon, the endless war rages between Kradzhan – an alliance of three beastly kingdoms – and Dominion of the Horned Ones. Seihal is a port… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Legends of Savvarah: Time of Pariah.