11 Games like Illusion Carnival on PlayStation that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

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We filtered the 25 games similar to Illusion Carnival down to the 11 that fit the “PlayStation” category. Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma, Cinders and Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Illusion Carnival.

iRank98/ 100

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GenreCasualSubgenreVisual Novel

The best games like Illusion Carnival on PlayStation

11 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Illusion Carnival. Each one has been evaluated across 8 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Zero Escape: Zero Time DilemmaClosest overall match

iRank81

GenreCasualSubgenreVisual Novel

SoloDarkHorrorNarrativeSci-Fi

Steam👍 82%· 4.8KIGDB80· 22

Year 2016Dev Spike Chunsoft · Aksys GamesOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed Illusion Carnival, expect visual novel storytelling, adventure storytelling and deep RPG systems

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, horror tension and strong narrative focus, while skipping fantasy world

Where it drifts furthest from Illusion Carnival: setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Illusion Carnival.

It predates Illusion Carnival by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone61Setting45

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Steam PS Nintendo

#2Cinders

iRank72

GenreCasualSubgenreVisual Novel

SoloDarkFantasyNarrativeHistorical

Steam👍 87%· 792RAWG👍 57%· 28IGDB60· 1OC71· 15

Year 2012Dev Crunching KoalasPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Shared with Illusion Carnival: visual novel storytelling, adventure storytelling and deep RPG systems

≠ Where it differs: brings strong narrative focus, historical setting and visual 2d, while skipping horror setting

Cinders is a mature take on a classic fairytale with a heavy emphasis on player choices and role playing. Cinders is a witty young woman living with an overbearing stepmother and her two daughters, as if she was reenacting a certain well-known fairytale.

Where it drifts furthest from Illusion Carnival: visuals and setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Illusion Carnival.

It predates Illusion Carnival by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone48Setting46Visuals0

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Steam GOG Xbox

#3Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!

iRank91

GenreCasualSubgenreVisual Novel

SoloDarkHorrorNarrativeCasual

Steam👍 97%· 31KIGDB83· 2OC87· 38

Year 2021Dev Team Salvato · Serenity ForgeOn PS4 · PC · PS5

✓ Like Illusion Carnival, it's known for visual novel storytelling, deep RPG systems and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: horror tension, deep simulation and strong narrative focus, while skipping fantasy world

Where it drifts furthest from Illusion Carnival: visuals and tone.

Genre100Game mode100Setting52Tone32Visuals0

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Steam Epic Xbox

#4The Wolf Among UsClosest on visuals

iRank92

GenreCasualSubgenreVisual Novel

SoloDarkFantasyIsometricMagic

Steam👍 98%· 39KIGDB80· 11

Year 2013Dev Telltale GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Android

✓ Shared with Illusion Carnival: adventure storytelling, visual novel storytelling and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, strong narrative focus and vibe casual, while skipping deep RPG systems

Where it drifts furthest from Illusion Carnival: tone and setting.

It predates Illusion Carnival by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals71Setting44Tone42

GenreCasualSubgenreVisual Novel

SoloDarkHorrorNarrativeOpen World

Steam👍 84%· 1.9KIGDB92· 3OC88· 73

Year 2022Dev Half MermaidOn Xbox · Android · PC

✓ Like Illusion Carnival, it's known for adventure storytelling, visual novel storytelling and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, horror tension and deep simulation, while skipping deep RPG systems

Where it drifts furthest from Illusion Carnival: visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Illusion Carnival.

Genre100Game mode100Setting75Tone68Visuals0

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Steam GOG Xbox

#6Zero Escape: Virtue's Last RewardClosest on tone

iRank86

GenreCasualSubgenreVisual Novel

SoloDarkHorrorNarrativeSci-Fi

IGDB86· 6

Year 2012Dev Chunsoft · Rising Star GamesOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Like Illusion Carnival, it's known for visual novel storytelling, adventure storytelling and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, survival mechanics and strong narrative focus, while skipping deep RPG systems

Where it drifts furthest from Illusion Carnival: visuals.

It predates Illusion Carnival by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone71Setting54Visuals0

GenreCasualSubgenreVisual Novel

SoloDarkHorrorNarrativeCasual

Steam👍 64%· 3.4KIGDB68· 17OC73· 69

Year 2016Dev Variable State · 505 GamesOn PS4 · PC · Mac

✓ Like Illusion Carnival, it's known for adventure storytelling, visual novel storytelling and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Stands apart with horror tension, strong narrative focus and vibe casual, while skipping deep RPG systems

Where it drifts furthest from Illusion Carnival: visuals and tone.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against overwhelmingly positive for Illusion Carnival.

It predates Illusion Carnival by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Setting72Tone43Visuals0

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Steam GOG PS

#8Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony

iRank84

GenreCasualSubgenreVisual Novel

SoloDarkHorrorNarrativeAnime

Steam👍 83%· 22KIGDB88· 13OC83· 75

Year 2017Dev Spike ChunsoftOn PS4 · Android · PC

✓ Shared with Illusion Carnival: visual novel storytelling, adventure storytelling and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, survival mechanics and horror tension, while skipping deep RPG systems

Where it drifts furthest from Illusion Carnival: visuals and setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Illusion Carnival.

Genre100Game mode100Tone61Setting34Visuals0

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Steam PS

#9AI: The Somnium Files

iRank88

GenreCasualSubgenreVisual Novel

SoloDarkHorrorNarrativeAnime

Steam👍 92%· 9.2KIGDB86· 2OC82· 47

Year 2019Dev Spike ChunsoftOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Like Illusion Carnival, it's known for visual novel storytelling, adventure storytelling and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, horror tension and strong narrative focus, while skipping deep RPG systems

Where it drifts furthest from Illusion Carnival: visuals and setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Illusion Carnival.

Genre100Game mode100Tone61Setting25Visuals0

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Steam Xbox PS

#10Chicken Police - Paint it RED!

iRank86

GenreCasualSubgenreVisual Novel

SoloDarkNarrativeFirst Person2D

Steam👍 94%· 2.5KRAWG👍 78%· 34MC83IGDB81· 4

Year 2020Dev Handy Games · www.handy-games.comPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Like Illusion Carnival, it's known for visual novel storytelling, adventure storytelling and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, strong narrative focus and visual first person, while skipping deep RPG systems

MEET THE CHICKEN POLICE Sonny Featherland and Marty MacChicken were once a legendary detective-duo, called the Chicken Police. But that was almost a decade ago, and time had ruthlessly passed them by.

Where it drifts furthest from Illusion Carnival: visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Illusion Carnival.

Genre100Game mode100Tone66Visuals0

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Steam GOG Xbox

#11Night in the WoodsClosest on setting

iRank91

GenreCasualSubgenreVisual Novel

SoloHorrorFantasyNarrativeExploration

Steam👍 95%· 20KIGDB88· 12OC86· 76

Year 2017Dev Infinite Fall · FinjiOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Shared with Illusion Carnival: adventure storytelling, visual novel storytelling and horror setting

≠ Its own twist: precision platforming, horror tension and strong narrative focus, while skipping deep RPG systems

Where it drifts furthest from Illusion Carnival: tone and visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Illusion Carnival.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Tone0Visuals0

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Steam GOG Epic

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