Life is Strange - Episode 1

18 Narrative games like Life is Strange - Episode 1 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 50 games similar to Life is Strange - Episode 1 down to the 18 that fit the “Narrative” category. The Artful Escape, Risen 2: Dark Waters and Mass Effect top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Life is Strange - Episode 1.

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

Tags

NarrativeSolo

Year 2015Dev DONTNOD Entertainment

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Quick answer

Within the “Narrative” category, the closest game to Life is Strange - Episode 1 is The Artful Escape — scoring 81/100 on our similarity scale. Risen 2: Dark Waters and Mass Effect follow close behind.

#1The Artful Escape81 #2Risen 2: Dark Waters81 #3Mass Effect80 #4Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series80 #5Shenmue80

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The best narrative games like Life is Strange - Episode 1

18 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Life is Strange - Episode 1. 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.

#1The Artful EscapeClosest overall match

81

The Artful Escape

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiThird Person

Steam👍 92%· 1.9KIGDB83· 6OC80· 77

Year 2021Dev Beethoven & Dinosaur · Annapurna InteractiveOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, precision platforming and exploration and discovery, while skipping fantasy world

Released 6 years after Life is Strange - Episode 1.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Setting73Visuals59

#2Risen 2: Dark WatersClosest on visuals

81

Risen 2: Dark Waters

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeFantasyThird Person

Steam👍 80%· 6.7KIGDB64· 6

Year 2012Dev Piranha Bytes · Uber EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: open world exploration, exploration and discovery and crafting mechanics, while skipping setting scifi

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Setting64

80

Mass Effect

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiThird Person

Steam👍 94%· 17KIGDB89· 4

Year 2007Dev BioWare · Electronic ArtsOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings action RPG combat, shooter and third-person shooting, while skipping fantasy world

It predates Life is Strange - Episode 1 by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Setting52

Steam Epic Xbox

#4Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series

80

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiThird Person

Steam👍 87%· 1.8KIGDB69· 5OC71· 19

Year 2017Dev Telltale GamesOn PS4 · Android · PC

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design and setting space, while skipping fantasy world

Where it drifts furthest from Life is Strange - Episode 1: setting.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Setting48

80

Shenmue

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeFantasyThird Person

IGDB90· 1

Year 1999Dev Sega AM2 · SegaOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with action RPG combat, deep simulation and sandbox freedom, while skipping setting scifi

Where it drifts furthest from Life is Strange - Episode 1: setting.

It predates Life is Strange - Episode 1 by 16 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Setting44

#6Mass Effect 2

80

Mass Effect 2

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiThird Person

Steam👍 78%· 342IGDB96· 9

Year 2010Dev BioWare · Electronic ArtsOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings action RPG combat, shooter and third-person shooting, while skipping fantasy world

Where it drifts furthest from Life is Strange - Episode 1: setting.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Setting44

Steam Epic Xbox

#7Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

80

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiThird Person

Steam👍 86%· 8.1KIGDB82· 9

Year 2010Dev Ninja Theory · Namco Bandai GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings action RPG combat, precision platforming and puzzle design, while skipping fantasy world

Where it drifts furthest from Life is Strange - Episode 1: setting.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Setting41

80

NieR

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiThird Person

IGDB69· 4

Year 2010Dev Cavia · Square EnixOn Xbox · PlayStation 3

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, shooter and third-person shooting, while skipping fantasy world

Where it drifts furthest from Life is Strange - Episode 1: setting.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals64Setting43

#9DmC: Devil May Cry

79

DmC: Devil May Cry

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeFantasyThird Person

Steam👍 93%· 32KIGDB82· 12

Year 2013Dev Ninja Theory · CapcomOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, puzzle design and fighting mechanics, while skipping setting scifi

Ninja Theory's reboot, with a reimagined Dante switching between angel and demon weapons in a Limbo that reshapes itself around him. As a standalone action game the combat is fluid and the levels are the most visually inventive in the series. It is also mechanically simpler than DMC3 or 5, the writing tries hard to be edgy, and the constant camera shake genuinely causes motion sickness for some.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Tone72Setting63

#10Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

78

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeFantasyThird Person

Steam👍 88%· 13KIGDB79· 11

Year 2012Dev 38 Studios · Electronic ArtsOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, open world exploration and combat magic, while skipping setting scifi

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Combat70Setting66

#11Prince of Persia: Warrior Within

78

Prince of Persia: Warrior Within

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeFantasyThird Person

Steam👍 83%· 4.0KRAWG👍 90%· 845MC83IGDB80· 6

Year 2004Dev Ubisoft · Ubisoft EntertainmentPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, precision platforming and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping setting scifi

Prince of Persia: Warrior Within is an action adventure game and a part of the vast Prince of Persia series which includes ten titles overall.

Where it drifts furthest from Life is Strange - Episode 1: setting.

It predates Life is Strange - Episode 1 by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Tone76Setting37

#12Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

78

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeFantasyThird Person

Steam👍 85%· 8.7KIGDB78· 6OC80· 137

Year 2024Dev DON'T NOD · Focus EntertainmentOn Xbox · PC · PS5

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings action RPG combat, horror tension and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping setting scifi

Where it drifts furthest from Life is Strange - Episode 1: setting.

Released 9 years after Life is Strange - Episode 1.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Tone65Setting46

Steam Epic Xbox

#13The Pathless

78

The Pathless

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeFantasyThird Person

Steam👍 91%· 2.1KIGDB81· 9OC78· 87

Year 2020Dev Giant Squid · Annapurna InteractiveOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, open world exploration and ranged combat, while skipping setting scifi

Released 5 years after Life is Strange - Episode 1.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Combat69Setting67Visuals61

#14Killer is Dead - Nightmare Edition

76

Killer is Dead - Nightmare Edition

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeThird PersonDark

Steam👍 74%· 8.7KRAWG👍 55%· 404

Year 2014Dev Grasshopper Manufacture · Deep SilverPlaytime ~3hOn PC

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping fantasy world

The hero "KILLER IS DEAD" acts in the world of the near future. This world is very similar to ours but still different. The name of the hero is Mondo Zappa, and he is the executioner, the executor of the death sentences.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Tone65

75

Maneater

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeThird PersonDark

Steam👍 87%· 25KIGDB73· 14OC71· 168

Year 2020Dev Blindside Interactive · Deep SilverOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, deep simulation and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping fantasy world

You play the shark. Eat fish, wildlife and swimmers to evolve, upgrade your bite and hunt the hunters back, all narrated as a straight-faced wildlife documentary. The B-movie tone is the appeal and it commits to it. The recurring complaint is technical rather than creative: crashes, stutter and startup failures on modern Windows come up constantly, even from players who finished it.

Released 5 years after Life is Strange - Episode 1.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Tone54

Steam Epic Xbox

Complete list of narrative games like Life is Strange - Episode 1

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Life is Strange - Episode 1, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

Heavenly Sword

Heavenly Sword

RPG · Action RPG

Darksiders II

Darksiders II

RPG · Action RPG

Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures

Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures

RPG · Action RPG

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