20 Best “Walking Simulators” With Heart

These games prioritize immersive storytelling, captivating environments, and relatable characters. They encourage players to explore at their own pace, discover hidden memories, solve intriguing puzzles, and truly experience beautifully designed worlds.

Firewatch

Released in 2016, this adventure game from Campo Santo takes place in the Wyoming wilderness in 1989. Players take on the role of Henry, a fire lookout who communicates with his boss, Delilah, via radio. The game tells personal stories through conversations and details found in the environment. It was initially available on PC and PlayStation 4, and later released for Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

What Remains of Edith Finch

I absolutely loved “What Remains of Edith Finch!” It’s a really special game where you play as the last Finch family member going back to their old family home. What’s amazing is each story about the family is told in a totally different way – the gameplay actually changes to fit the story they’re telling. The house itself feels like you’re walking through their memories. You can find it on PC and pretty much any console you can think of.

Gone Home

Gone Home, released in 2013, is set in an empty house in Oregon during the mid-1990s. You play as a college student returning home from abroad to find their family missing. The game unfolds through exploring the house and discovering notes, objects, and recordings – it doesn’t rely on action or puzzles. It was originally released on PC, and later became available on consoles and Nintendo Switch.

Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture

In the 2015 game, The Chinese Room, you explore a lonely, abandoned English village, piecing together the stories of those who once lived there. By following mysterious lights, you uncover conversations and connections between the villagers. The game’s powerful soundtrack, composed by Jessica Curry, is essential to the experience. It originally came out on PlayStation 4 before being released on PC.

Dear Esther

Originally created as a fan-made modification before being released as a complete game in 2012, The Chinese Room takes place on a secluded island off the coast of Scotland. You explore cliffs, beaches, and caves guided by a spoken letter, and the story is open to different understandings thanks to its fragmented clues. The game focuses on creating a strong atmosphere and sense of place rather than complex gameplay. It’s available on computers and gaming consoles as the Landmark Edition.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

Released in 2014 by The Astronauts, this intriguing mystery game takes place in Red Creek Valley. You’re a detective with special abilities tasked with finding a missing boy. As you explore, you’ll uncover clues like letters and photos, and piece together scenes to solve the case. It originally launched on PC and was later made available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

A Short Hike

Released in 2019 and created by Adam Robinson Yu, this charming adventure game is set on a peaceful mountain island. Players collect golden feathers to ascend and glide between locations, all while getting to know the island’s inhabitants. You can also enjoy optional activities like fishing and searching for hidden treasure. The game is available on computers and consoles and features a laid-back, non-linear style of play.

Journey

Thatgamecompany released this highly praised game in 2012, featuring smooth online play where anonymous players connect and cooperate. Players explore desert ruins, heading towards a faraway mountain, and communicate using simple sounds. Realistic sand and fabric movement create a peaceful experience of exploration and discovery. You can play it on PlayStation and PC.

Eastshade

In this exploration game released in 2019 by Eastshade Studios, you take on the role of a traveling painter. You create paintings of famous places around the island to complete tasks for the people who live there. Your choices in conversations and simple survival tasks, like setting up a temporary shelter, influence where you go and what you do. The game is available on computers and gaming consoles.

Lake

In this 2021 game from Gamious, you experience life in a peaceful Oregon town in 1986. You temporarily fill in for your father as a mail carrier, delivering mail and catching up with people you used to know. After each day’s route, you’ll have conversations that lead to choices about your job and personal life. The game was released on computers and consoles, unfolding at a relaxed, everyday pace.

Season: A Letter to the Future

In 2023, Scavengers Studio released a thoughtful cycling adventure where you explore a world undergoing transformation. Using a camera, audio recorder, and sketchbook, you capture the environment and uncover local stories by meeting people and historians. The game is available on PlayStation and PC.

Before Your Eyes

GoodbyeWorld Games’ 2021 game uses your webcam to track your blinks, which actually move the story forward and turn memories into playable moments. You can adjust how sensitive the blink tracking is to make it comfortable to use. It first launched on computers and is now also available on mobile devices.

The Beginner’s Guide

Davey Wreden’s 2015 game, created by Everything Unlimited Ltd, is a unique experience where you explore a collection of short, experimental games. A narrator guides you through each one, prompting you to think about who made them and what they mean. You navigate between these small games using simple controls, and it’s playable on both PC and Mac.

Tacoma

I was so excited when Fullbright followed up their first game with this one! It takes place on a really cool, high-tech space station, and the way you explore is awesome. You basically go through augmented reality recordings to piece together what happened by listening to the crew’s conversations all over the station. The more you dig through the station’s systems and even the crew’s personal stuff, the more you learn about who they were. It came out on both PC and consoles, which was great!

Proteus

Released in 2013 by Ed Key and David Kanaga, this game offers a calming, exploratory experience with an island environment that evolves with the seasons. The music dynamically responds to your movements and interactions with animals and points of interest. Designed for pure sensory enjoyment, the game has no set goals and is available on both PC and PlayStation.

ABZÛ

Giant Squid’s 2016 game lets you explore beautiful underwater environments like reefs, shipwrecks, and caves. You’ll swim alongside schools of fish that react to your presence, and work to bring life back to damaged ecosystems. Hidden throughout the levels are peaceful spots to discover and collect. The game is available on computers and all major gaming consoles.

Spirit of the North

Infuse Studio’s 2019 game puts you in the role of a red fox accompanied by a spirit. Explore beautiful Icelandic scenery and solve runic puzzles in this story-driven adventure inspired by Nordic myths. You’ll use simple powers, like carrying light and activating mechanisms, to unlock new areas. The game is available on both computers and gaming consoles.

If Found…

Dreamfeel is a 2020 game set in County Mayo, Ireland, in the early 1990s. You progress by erasing pages from a journal, uncovering memories about family, who you are, and the bonds of friendship. The game features a unique visual style, combining hand-drawn artwork with interactive text that controls how the story unfolds. You can play it on computers, phones, and Nintendo Switch.

Mutazione

In 2019, Die Gute Fabrik released a game where you play as a teenager visiting family in a strange, transformed town. You’ll care for gardens that grow musical plants and get to know the locals through everyday conversations. Your decisions affect your relationships and the story as you explore a small, open world. The game is available on both computers and gaming consoles.

Kentucky Route Zero

Between 2013 and 2020, Cardboard Computer released a unique adventure game played in five parts. The game takes you on a journey along a hidden highway through a strange and dreamlike Kentucky, where you’ll encounter different characters. Now, the complete story – all five episodes and bonus content – is available in one package for computers and gaming consoles.

Tell us which walking simulators moved you most and share your favorite moments in the comments.

2025-11-14 16:18