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DrainSim

25 Games like DrainSim that you should try

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DrainSim is hard to replace: few games combine deep simulation and single-player focus in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 3 gameplay attributes and found 25 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Papers, Please, Papers, Please - The Short Film and Loom lead the list, with Papers, Please reaching a 91/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes DrainSim special.

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim
Tags
Solo
Year 2020Dev DanBuckles

Quick answer

The closest game to DrainSim is Papers, Please — scoring 91/100 on our similarity scale. Papers, Please - The Short Film and Loom follow close behind.

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Games like DrainSim

25 similar games found
91
iRank91
Papers, Please
SimulationJob Sim
SoloFirst PersonNarrativeDarkCasual
Steam👍 97%· 79KRAWG👍 91%· 1.8KMC85IGDB82· 5
Year 2013Dev Lucas Pope · 3909Playtime ~4hOn PC · PS · iOS

✓ If you enjoyed DrainSim, expect deep simulation, single-player focus and visual first person

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

Papers, Please - The Short Film
SimulationJob Sim
SoloFirst PersonNarrativeDarkCasual
Steam👍 97%· 79KRAWG👍 91%· 1.8KMC85IGDB82· 5
Year 2013Dev Lucas Pope · 3909Playtime ~4hOn PC · PS · iOS

✓ Like DrainSim, it's known for deep simulation, single-player focus and visual first person

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

91
iRank89
Loom
SimulationJob Sim
SoloMagicNarrativeFantasyHistorical
Steam👍 89%· 699
Year 1990Dev Lucasfilm GamesOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Like DrainSim, it's known for deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus, while skipping visual first person

Do Not Feed the Monkeys
SimulationJob Sim
SoloFirst PersonNarrativeDarkManagement
Steam👍 93%· 12KIGDB75· 1OC77· 21
Year 2018Dev Fictiorama Studios · BadLand PublishingOn PS4 · Linux · Android

✓ Like DrainSim, it's known for deep simulation, single-player focus and visual first person

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

91
iRank85
Game Dev Tycoon
SimulationJob Sim
SoloCasualManagementIsometric2D
Steam👍 95%· 45KRAWG👍 86%· 758MC68IGDB80· 1
Year 2012Dev Greenheart GamesPlaytime ~8hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Shared with DrainSim: deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe casual, resource management and visual isometric, while skipping visual first person

91
iRank85
Beholder
SimulationJob Sim
SoloStealthNarrativeDark2D
Steam👍 92%· 30KIGDB80· 3OC76· 27
Year 2016Dev Warm Lamp Games · Alawar EntertainmentOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ If you enjoyed DrainSim, expect deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, puzzle design and deep RPG systems, while skipping visual first person

New Pokémon Snap
SimulationJob Sim
SoloFirst PersonFantasySci-Fi
IGDB81· 12
Year 2021Dev Bandai Namco Studios · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Shared with DrainSim: deep simulation, single-player focus and visual first person

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, fantasy world and setting scifi

Governor of Poker 2 - Premium Edition
SimulationJob Sim
SoloCasual
Steam👍 83%· 302
Year 2010Dev I Sioux Game ProductionsPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Like DrainSim, it's known for deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, card game strategy and vibe casual, while skipping visual first person

91
iRank82
Golf Story
SimulationJob Sim
SoloNarrativeLootSkill TreeIsometric
IGDB83· 7OC81· 45
Year 2017Dev Sidebar GamesOn Switch

✓ Shared with DrainSim: deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings sports simulation, deep RPG systems and adventure storytelling, while skipping visual first person

91
iRank82
Moonlighter
SimulationJob Sim
SoloMeleeProceduralFantasyExploration
Steam👍 82%· 22KIGDB82· 14OC82· 110
Year 2018Dev Digital Sun Games · NetflixOn PS4 · Linux · Android

✓ If you enjoyed DrainSim, expect deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, deep RPG systems and roguelike runs, while skipping visual first person

92
iRank79
Observation
SimulationJob Sim
SoloFirst PersonNarrativeDarkHorror
Steam👍 78%· 5.1KIGDB82· 11OC76· 81
Year 2019Dev No Code · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed DrainSim, expect deep simulation, single-player focus and visual first person

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and horror tension

AaAaAA!!! - A Reckless Disregard for Gravity
SimulationJob Sim
SoloFirst PersonMeleeFantasyHistorical
Steam👍 84%· 752RAWG👍 48%· 42MC81IGDB90· 1
Year 2009Dev Dejobaan GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Like DrainSim, it's known for deep simulation, single-player focus and visual first person

≠ Where it differs: brings sports simulation, melee combat and fantasy world

91
iRank77
Yakuza
SimulationJob Sim
SoloMeleeNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen World
IGDB77· 3
Year 2005Dev Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios · Sega

✓ Shared with DrainSim: deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: sports simulation, deep RPG systems and action RPG combat, while skipping visual first person

92
iRank74
Wii Fit
SimulationJob Sim
SoloFirst PersonThird Person
IGDB74· 4
Year 2007Dev Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.5 · Nintendo

✓ Shared with DrainSim: deep simulation, single-player focus and visual first person

≠ Its own twist: sports simulation and visual third person

91
iRank75
Uplink
SimulationJob Sim
SoloNarrativeProceduralOpen WorldSci-Fi
Steam👍 91%· 2.4KRAWG👍 56%· 145MC75IGDB70· 1
Year 2001Dev Introversion SoftwarePlaytime ~1hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh

✓ If you enjoyed DrainSim, expect deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, roguelike runs and strong narrative focus, while skipping visual first person

Games like DrainSim

Rankings in the same genre

Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to DrainSim?
The closest game to DrainSim is Papers, Please, scoring 91/100 on our similarity scale. They share 3 gameplay attributes, including deep simulation, single-player focus and visual first person. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like DrainSim?
The three closest games to DrainSim are: 1. Papers, Please (91/100, 3 shared attributes) 2. Papers, Please - The Short Film (91/100, 3 shared attributes) 3. Loom (91/100, 2 shared attributes). All share DrainSim's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 25 candidates across 3 dimensions.
Is Papers, Please - The Short Film similar to DrainSim?
Yes, very much so — Papers, Please - The Short Film scores 91/100 similarity to DrainSim. They share 3 attributes, including deep simulation and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Simulation games are similar to DrainSim?
The best Simulation games similar to DrainSim are Papers, Please, Papers, Please - The Short Film, Loom and Do Not Feed the Monkeys. All share the Simulation genre alongside other key DrainSim attributes like deep simulation, single-player focus and visual first person.
How is similarity to DrainSim calculated?
We compare DrainSim against every game in our catalog using 3 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the DrainSim experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.