38 Narrative games like Outer Wilds that you should try

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Outer Wilds down to the 38 that fit the “Narrative” category. Shadow of the Colossus, Road 96 and Telling Lies top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Outer Wilds.

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GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

The best narrative games like Outer Wilds

38 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.

#1Shadow of the Colossus

iRank92

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

OC92· 136

Year 2012Dev Team Ico · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming and visual third person, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

#2Road 96

iRank86

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 92%· 25KIGDB83· 8OC78· 93

Year 2021Dev DigixArt · RavenscourtOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with procedural generation, while skipping deep simulation

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 63%· 1.3KIGDB85· 7OC79· 50

Year 2019Dev Furious Bee Limited · Annapurna InteractiveOn PS4 · PC · iOS

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, deep simulation and puzzle design

≠ Its own twist: dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping horror tension

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 95%· 18KRAWG👍 83%· 435MC82IGDB83· 6

Year 2013Dev Alexander Bruce · DemruthPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: precision platforming, while skipping deep simulation

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person3D

Steam👍 87%· 18KIGDB91· 5OC89· 117

Year 2025Dev Dogubomb · Raw FuryOn Xbox · Switch · PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and deep simulation

≠ Stands apart with roguelike runs, procedural generation and resource management, while skipping horror tension

Details →

Steam Xbox PS

#6Everybody's Gone to the Rapture

iRank73

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 68%· 2.1KIGDB79· 11OC79· 72

Year 2015Dev The Chinese Room · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and open world exploration

≠ Stands apart with vibe casual and post-apocalyptic 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

Details →

Steam GOG Xbox

#8Refunct

iRank84

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 17KRAWG👍 66%· 152

Year 2015Dev Dominique GrieshoferPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

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

≠ Stands apart with precision platforming, vibe relaxing and vibe casual, while skipping deep simulation

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 80%· 4.0KIGDB67· 9OC72· 37

Year 2016Dev Cyan WorldsOn PC · PS4 · iOS

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: vibe casual and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#10Shadow of the Colossus

iRank92

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFantasy

IGDB93· 13OC92· 136

Year 2018Dev Bluepoint Games · Sony Interactive EntertainmentOn PS4

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, fantasy world and visual third person, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

#11RiME

iRank83

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldExploration

Steam👍 90%· 5.2KIGDB73· 15OC79· 120

Year 2017Dev Tequila Works · Six FootOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

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

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, vibe relaxing and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#12The 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

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#13The Exit 8

iRank93

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

Details →

Steam Nintendo itch.io

#15The Witness

iRank84

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 85%· 21KRAWG👍 77%· 1.3KMC87IGDB88· 12OC86· 98

Year 2016Dev NVIDIA Lightspeed Studios · TheklaPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings punishing difficulty, vibe relaxing and procedural generation, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

Complete list of narrative games like Outer Wilds

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Outer Wilds, 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.