9 Games with a horror setting like Outer Wilds that you should try

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Outer Wilds down to the 9 that fit the “Horror” category. Cosmic Osmo and the Worlds Beyond the Mackerel, Stray and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Outer Wilds.

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GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

The best games with a horror setting like Outer Wilds

9 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Outer Wilds. Each one has been evaluated across 14 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.

#1Cosmic Osmo and the Worlds Beyond the Mackerel

iRank79

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 79%· 115

Dev Cyan WorldsPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and horror tension

≠ Stands apart with vibe casual, cozy, relaxing feel and procedural generation, while skipping deep simulation

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Steam

#2Stray

iRank88

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiHorrorExploration

Steam👍 97%· 171KRAWG👍 84%· 1.3KMC82IGDB85· 8OC84· 200

Year 2022Dev BlueTwelve · Annapurna InteractivePlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and horror tension

≠ Stands apart with precision platforming, cozy, relaxing feel and stealth mechanics, while skipping deep simulation

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Steam Xbox PS

#3The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

iRank84

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorSpaceExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 88%· 9.0KIGDB82· 16OC79· 90

Year 2014Dev The AstronautsOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and horror tension

≠ Its own twist: dark, oppressive atmosphere and combat magic, while skipping deep simulation

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorSci-FiExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 92%· 4.1KIGDB90· 1

Year 1999Dev Looking Glass Studios · Eidos InteractiveOn PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, deep simulation and horror tension

≠ Where it differs: brings dark, oppressive atmosphere, stealth mechanics and fantasy world, while skipping puzzle design

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 91%· 97KIGDB79· 18OC80· 134

Year 2016Dev Campo Santo · PanicOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, horror tension and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with dark, oppressive atmosphere and vibe casual, while skipping puzzle design

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Steam GOG Xbox

#6The Suicide of Rachel Foster

iRank67

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 68%· 6.8KIGDB65· 4OC68· 61

Year 2020Dev ONE-O-ONE GAMES · Daedalic EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and open world exploration

≠ Where it differs: brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and vibe casual, while skipping puzzle design

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person3D

Steam👍 93%· 11KIGDB93· 2

Year 2023Dev KOTAKE CREATE · PLAYISMOn Xbox · PS4 · Switch

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: adventure storytelling, horror tension and deep simulation

≠ Stands apart with dark, oppressive atmosphere, linear, story-driven structure and setting modern, while skipping melee combat

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 1.1KIGDB80· 1

Year 2020Dev Bryce BucherPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and horror tension

≠ Its own twist: vibe casual and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping deep simulation

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Steam Nintendo itch.io

#9Dear Esther: Landmark Edition

iRank70

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 75%· 7.4KIGDB65· 11OC67· 38

Year 2016Dev Rob Briscoe · Curve DigitalOn PS4 · PC · iOS

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and horror tension

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe casual, vibe relaxing and linear, story-driven structure, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam GOG Xbox

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Rankings in the same genre

Best Open-World Adventure Games Best Adventure Games