40 Games Like Stray To Play In 2023

Stray is a simple cat game that accomplishes so much gameplay-wise. It appeals to each and every kind of gamer, especially cat lovers. You explore a cyberpunk city and solve puzzles from a cat’s pov. Little things like getting Energy Drinks from Vending Machines make the game enjoyable.

The games on our list will contain gameplay elements like those of Stray. Puzzle-solving mechanics in addition to eerie atmospheres with good quest designs while keeping the comfiness in check. Stray even has Collectibles like the Memories and puzzles like the Digicodes, so we will make sure that our list contains the games that are like the popular indie cat game.

The whole environment and art direction of Stray make it one of the best indie games. We will make sure that our list also contains such games which feature an exhilarating atmosphere that enrapture your attention for hours, just like Stray did. Now we will entail the best games that are like this popular cat game.

Here’s our selections for 40 games like stray to play in 2023:

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40. Last Day Of June

• Developer: Ovosonico
• Publisher: 505 Games
• Release Date: November 1, 2011
• Platforms: Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Puzzle, Atmospheric, Story Rich

Last Day of June is a game that is driven by its narrative and plot. It even has a beautiful atmosphere to complement its plot. It is an emotional experience filled with both sadness and joy. Players play as Carl who is trying to save his beloved from the fate of death.

You travel in the past and try to change the course of Carl’s beloved’s life by solving many challenging puzzles. Everything in the Last Day of June will remind you of Stray, from gameplay to the plot to the artistic atmosphere. We recommend that you check this game out if you loved the environment of the futuristic city in City.

Pros:

• Last Day of June has a unique but emotional story that is told through good gameplay mechanics that let you experience the emotional journey of the characters in the best way.
• There is a very unique gameplay feature in Last Day of June where you can rewind time and play through different branches of the story to see how different choices affect the outcome.
• The hand-drawn art style in Last Day of June is beautifully unique and visually striking, along with the characters being very detailed and expressive, which adds to the emotional impact of the story.
• The music in Last Day of June is a huge part of the experience, with an original score that does a great job of capturing the mood and atmosphere of Last Day of June.

Cons:

• If you somehow miss a memory, the Last Day of June forces you to play through the entire story all over again, which can be incredibly frustrating for the majority of the players.
• While the Last Day of June’s story is emotionally impactful, it can be completed in a very short amount of time, with some players being able to achieve 100% completion in under 3 hours, which might be too short for some players.
• The load times in the Last Day of June are excessively long and very frequent, which can waste a lot of your time.

39. To The Moon

• Developer: Freebird Games
• Publisher: Freebird Games
• Release Date: November 1, 2011
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, PC, Linux, Mac OS
• Genres: Pixel Graphics, 2D, Indie, Emotional, Single Player

To the Moon is an extremely emotional experience in a video game. It is a narrative-driven indie game that relies on its plot a lot. However, the story is so good and heart-wrenching that it will leave most people crying by the end. There is not a lot to offer in the gameplay department. 

The game is based around traversing the memories of dying people and fulfilling their last wishes. The whole experience is extremely sad and emotional but it strengthens the plot of the game. If you liked the plot of Stray, then we recommend that you check out To The Moon.

Pros:

• The story of To The Moon is incredibly inspiring while having moments that are both incredibly wholesome and also emotional enough to make you tear up.
• The music score of To The Moon is a masterpiece and fits very well in the game, adding to the emotional punch of the story and also being incredibly memorable.
• The characters of To The Moon are great and go through very well-written and natural development, enough to make you emotionally attached to the characters in a short amount of time.
• Many players enjoy the ending of To The Moon a lot and think it is a very fitting end to the passionate journey of the characters.
• To The Moon is very good at using certain gameplay mechanics to enhance or add to the story.

Cons:

• To The Moon has little to no action sequences or thrilling moments, which can turn away a lot of the players expecting big battles or fights.
• The puzzles of To The Moon can be a bit too easy to solve and provide almost no challenge, which can be very tedious for some players.
• The art style can seem a bit outdated to some players and take away from the experience.

38. Stardew Valley

• Developer: ConcernedApe
• Publisher: ConcernedApe
• Release Date: February 26, 2016
• Platforms:  PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Xbox One
• Genres: Pixel Graphics, 2D, Farming Simulator, Relaxing, Indie

Stardew Valley uses the relaxing genre of Stray and takes it to the next level. The game is built for a relaxing time. You basically build your own farm in a valley in Stardew Valley. However, there is also a lot of exploration in the game that happens in caves.

You can use the items for cooking as well that you grow on your farm. The game even allows you to create your own special character. Additionally, there is even a multiplayer mode where you can relax with your friends. Stardew Valley is just an overall simplistic experience but there are a lot of things in the game that feel like Stray.

Pros:

• Stardew Valley is a game with a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere as an agricultural simulation.
• There are many activities that you can take part in at Stardew Valley and all of them have distinct benefits.
• Pixel art lends Stardew Valley a retro vibe and the numerous weather effects enhance the game’s aesthetic appeal.
• The Dev team is constantly updating Stardew Valley with new and new content, so there’s always something new to be looking forward to.

Cons:

• The game may become monotonous for certain players. There are many different activities that you can take part in, but since the game is comprised of performing the same tasks every day, they might not suffice to keep you entertained for long periods of time.
• The winter months do not provide a lot of entertainment or engaging you, in contrast to other seasons.

37. Transistor

• Developer: Supergiant Games
• Publisher: Supergiant Games
• Release Date: May 20, 2014
• Platforms:  PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch, Mac OS, Linux, iOS
• Genres: Adventure, Action, Indie, Cyberpunk, Sci-Fi

Transistor is another great indie game developed and published by Supergiant Games. The game is a lot like Stray in its level design department. Transistor is set in a cyberpunk city much like Stray and the areas are extremely beautiful within the game.

However, the exploration in Transistor is the only thing that will remind you of Stray. The gameplay is actually based on fast-paced action so if you were expecting a relaxing experience, Transistor won’t give you that. However, if you really liked exploring the world of Stray, then we recommend that you check Transistor out.

Pros:

• The art style of Transistor has its own unique aesthetic and looks incredibly good, which does a great job of keeping you immersed in the game.
• The soundtrack of Transistor is incredibly fitting and does a great job of enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
• The combat system in Transistor is very unique, as it combines turn-based combat along with real and consistent combat that feels incredibly rewarding.
• There is a huge variety when it comes to the customization of your skills in Transistor, giving you a unique and personalized gameplay experience.
• The world of Transistor is beautiful, with a futuristic and cyberpunk-like look to it that is incredibly memorable.

Cons:

• The combat of Transistor can seem to get repetitive after a while for some players.
• A lot of players feel that the narrative of Transistor was underexplored, which leads to the story feeling incredibly dull and unsatisfying.
• There is a lack of memorable moments in Transistor and everything might feel a bit too forgettable for some players.
• The levels in Transistor feel incredibly linear and tend to get boring for some players after a while.

36. Bastion

• Developer: Supergiant Games
• Publisher: Supergiant Games
• Release Date: August 16, 2011
• Platforms:  PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, Mac OS, Linux
• Genres: Adventure, Action, Narration, 2D

Bastion is another game on our list of games like Stray. It is developed and published by one of the critically acclaimed studios, Supergiant games. These are the guys behind Hades so you can expect top-tier design from this indie game which will also remind you of Stray.

Bastion has a very deep gameplay system with a variety of enemies and bosses that you can beat. It even has a new game plus mode as there is a lot of replayability in Bastion. However, each and every background/environment in Bastion is hand painted. The game contains extremely beautiful sceneries that are reminiscent of Stray’s futuristic city.

Pros:

• Bastion has a huge variety of different stages and each of them has unique but challenging obstacles that keep the gameplay experience fresh and engaging.
• There are a lot of unique customization options available in Bastion for you to customize your character and personalize the gameplay experience to your liking.
• The art style in Bastion is incredibly beautiful and it is complimented by the amazing art direction to create a stunning visual spectacle.
• Bastion allows you to unlock a wide variety of different weapons and other unlockable items to keep you engaged while being fun and satisfying.
• Bastion takes a very unique approach to storytelling through dynamic narrating, which a lot of players enjoy.

Cons:

• Bastion features leaderboard requirements that can be incredibly frustrating or unnecessarily complex to fulfill.
• While the storytelling can be very unique in Bastion, the overall narrative might not be very interesting to a lot of the players.
• There is little to no replay value in Bastion because once you beat it, Bastion does not give you any good reason to come back to the game.
• The combat in Bastion might be a bit too simplistic for some players.

35. Unravel

• Developer: Coldwood Interactive
• Publisher: Electronic Arts
• Release Date: February 9, 2016
• Platforms:  PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
• Genres: Adventure, Action, Puzzle, Platformer

Unravel is one of the best platformer games that is additionally similar to Stray. The game is focused on Yarny, a creature made from a thread of yarn. In that sense, the game is very much like Stray because the gameplay is experienced is from two different creatures.

The environment that Unravel is set in is also very beautiful. So much so, that the story is not directly delivered but is expressed through Yarny’s actions and the game’s environments. There are a lot of puzzles that you can solve in Unravel as well and they are built around taking advantage of Yarny’s threads.

Pros:

• The narrative of Unravel is heartwarming and emotional, you will be captivated by the beautifully crafted story and Yarny’s touching quest to reconnect with his past.
• Unravel features stunningly beautiful graphics, with gorgeous environments and character designs that are incredible to look at and do a great job of keeping you immersed.
• The puzzle design in Unravel is unique and clever, as it forces you to think critically and creatively to overcome obstacles and progress through the game while being balanced and never feeling too difficult or too easy.
• The camera angles in Unravel are great, as you get to experience life from the perspective of Yarny and he is incredibly small, giving you a very breathtaking view of the huge world.

Cons:

• The main story of Unravel might be a bit too short for some players, with the main objectives being completed in under 6 hours.
• Unravel lacks when it comes to replay value since it does not give you any good reason to play the game once you have completed it.
• The platforming in Unravel can seem to be a bit mediocre to some players.
• The gameplay can be a bit frustrating in Unravel because there are many cheap deaths and some checkpoints can make you repeat the same puzzles over and over again.

34. Subnautica

• Developer: Unknown Worlds Entertainment
• Publisher: Unknown Worlds Entertainment
• Release Date: January 23, 2018
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PlayStation 4,Playstation 5, PC
• Genres: Adventure, Openworld, Building, Survival, Crafting

Subnautica is another great game that is built around the exploration mechanic. The game lets you explore oceanic environments as opposed to Stray’s Cyberpunk city but the exploration is very much like the cat game. However, there are certain survival aspects in play here as well.

Subnautica lets you craft your own submersible. You can then use that to explore the deep oceans in the game in search of more resources that you can later use to craft different things. The environment is beautiful in Subnautica and will make you feel like you’re exploring a real-world ocean.

Pros:

• Subnautica features a vast and beautiful underwater world that is full of vibrant and diverse marine life, which does a great job of keeping you engaged.
• The attention to detail and use of realistic water physics make you feel like they are truly exploring an alien planet.
• Subnautica has a creative crafting system that allows you to gather resources and create a wide variety of tools, vehicles, and structures.

Cons:

• You have to constantly be saving your progress in Subnautica, as some glitches and bugs can occasionally ruin hours of progress.
• Subnautica can feel a bit clunky sometimes, leading to some occasional frustration in some players.

33. Astroneer

• Developer: System Era Softworks
• Publisher: System Era Softworks
• Release Date: December 16, 2016
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming
• Genres: Adventure, Openworld, Multiplayer, Survival

Astroneer is set in the distant future where humans explore outer space in search of resources. It is a survival game where you build and craft which is not like Stray. However, the general environment and design of Astroneer will remind you a lot of Stray.

Outer space in Astroneer is filled with unique planets that you can explore for resources. The planets are open world environments that can be freely explored. In that sense, Astroneer will also remind you of No Man’s Sky. You can even play the game in multiplayer mode with 3 other friends.

Pros:

• The visuals in Astroneer look very good with a lot of different colors that are not too hard on the eyes and have a unique but wholesome aesthetic to them.
• Astroneer is an open-world game that allows you to freely discover all sorts of unique planets that have plant life or alien structures.
• It is easy to quickly get into Astroneer because the tutorial is very good and easy to understand while also being incredibly brief.
• The planets in Astroneer are procedurally generated, which allows you to have a unique experience every time you explore a planet.
• Astroneer features an online multiplayer co-op mode that is incredibly fun to play with friends.

Cons:

• The UI of Astroneer can seem to be a bit clunky for some players and it lacks some key features like map coordinates, depth gauges, and view distances.
• There are many bugs and glitches present in Astroneer, with some players experiencing constant crashes or a glitch where a terrain you get rid of reappears again.
• Astroneer does not have the text chat feature in its multiplayer mode, which can be incredibly frustrating if you want to communicate with your friends.
• There is no auto-save feature in Astroneer and saving manually is a big hassle because it can only be done when entering a shelter or a vehicle.

32. Twelve Minutes

• Developer: Luis Antonio
• Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
• Release Date: August 19, 2021
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S, Mac OS, iOS
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Puzzle, Mystery, Time Travel

Twelve minutes is probably one of the best puzzle games that you’ll ever play. It emphasizes the puzzle genre and provides a lot of puzzles that are like Stray in the game. It has an intelligently designed gameplay mechanic that is built around time travel.

Basically, you are trapped in the same twelve-minute situation unless you find yourself a way out. You will have to solve many puzzles and think differently each time you respawn in order to make an escape. The atmosphere is much darker in Stray in Twelve Minutes.

Pros:

• Twelve Minutes has a very unique and intuitive, time-based gameplay mechanic that adds an extra layer of challenge to the game.
• The puzzles in Twelve Minutes are difficult but not too difficult where they can get frustrating, giving you a rewarding and satisfying gameplay experience.
• Twelve Minutes rewards you for observing your environments carefully and thinking outside the box while being creative, leading to an overall productive gameplay experience.
• The soundtrack in Twelve Minutes is excellent, with a mix of atmospheric and tense tracks that enhance the mood and add to the immersion of the game.

Cons:

• The story in Twelve Minutes might feel like it is held back by the game, which can make some players think that the story was not explored to its max potential.
• The interactions between characters can sometimes be unnatural or look ridiculous, which can take away from the immersion for some players.
• Twelve Minutes can sometimes get a bit too repetitive.
• The solutions to some of the puzzles in Twelve Minutes can sometimes seem to be illogical.

31. Sayonara Wild Hearts

• Developer: Simogo
• Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
• Release Date: December 12, 2019
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Mac OS
• Genres: Soundtrack, Rythym, Action, Casual

Sayonara Wild Hearts is an amazing arcade game that is built around rhythm-based gameplay. The game is published by the same company that published Stray so both are spiritually alike. Sayonara Wild Hearts is additionally a very short experience much like Stray.

The game is based on music where you can both dance and drive in the rhythms that are playing. The graphical design looks both retro and arcade. Sayonara Wild Hearts presents a more relaxing experience m It is an amazing overall indie experience that you can play after Stray.

Pros:

• The soundtrack in Sayonara Wild Hearts is incredibly thrilling and enticing, as it does a great job of keeping the rhythm fun and engaging while being very catchy.
• The graphics in Sayonara Wild Hearts are incredibly quirky and the visual design has a lot of different colors that give the game a very unique aesthetic look.
• It can be incredibly satisfying to keep trying to reach a high score in Sayonara Wild Hearts and the music helps to keep it fun and fresh.
• The story of Sayonara Wild Hearts, while simple, is charming and lets you interpret the deeper meaning behind the narrative while not being too ambiguous.

Cons:

• Sayonara Wild Hearts might feel a bit too short for some players.
• There is not a lot of replay value in Sayonara Wild Hearts, as it does not give you any reason to play the game again after your first playthrough.
• The camera angles and the movement of Sayonara Wild Hearts might not be for players who suffer from motion sickness, as it can induce nausea.
• There are bright and pulsating lights in some stages of Sayonara Wild Hearts that can make some players incredibly uncomfortable or dizzy.

30. Mechanism

• Developer: Alexander Goodwin
• Publisher: Alexander Goodwin
• Release Date: July 19, 2018
• Platforms: PC
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Robots, Steampunk, Atmospheric

Mechanism quite literally plays like Stray in almost every single way of the game. The only difference here is that you’ll be playing as a robot instead of a cat. Aside from that, you’ll find amazing steampunk environments and interesting puzzles to solve in the world of Mechanism. 

If you loved exploring the world of Stray, then you’ll definitely enjoy the aesthetics that Mechanism has to offer. The gameplay is heavily dependent on exploration, even more so than the cat game Stray. The game will reward you for your exploration, as well as there are so many hidden secrets to be found around the world.

Something impressive about the Mechanism is that it is only developed by a single person. Alexander Goodwin is the guy behind Mechanism’s brilliant indie design. The plot of Mechanism is much darker than Stray. It involves some post-apocalyptic environments in addition to a huge plague.

Every other robot in the world is infected by some sort of virus, and your robot is probably one of the last survivors. The whole design of Mechanism screams the ideas of death and disease, which is explained beautifully in the game. Additionally, the story depends a lot on your choices throughout the game, so the overall experience is less linear than the cat game known as Stray.

Pros:

• Mechanism is very good at immersing you in its great atmosphere that is relatively dark but does not feel too overwhelming or overbearing where it would feel too gloomy.
• The soundtrack of Mechanism fits the theme it is trying to portray perfectly, it feels very haunting but stays simple enough for it to be memorable.
• You have to be very aware of your surroundings and have a very open mind towards exploration, as Mechanism does not guide you in any direction and lets you discover things on your own, with very slight hints given to you during loading screens.
• The story of Mechanism is simple to understand and leaves it to the player to interpret a lot of the things in the narrative.

Cons:

• Mechanism is riddled with all sorts of different bugs and glitches that range from very minor visual disruption to big gameplay-hindering glitches, which can ruin the entire gameplay experience for some players.
• Your interactions with the environment feel incredibly clunky and awkward, leading to a very unsatisfying exploration experience.
• The camera angles can be incredibly awkward sometimes and make the gameplay unnecessarily difficult.

29. Hoa

• Developer: Skrollcat Studio
• Publisher: PM Studios
• Release Date: August 24, 2021
• Platforms: Mac, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
• Genres: Narrative, 2D Platformer, Exploration, and Puzzle

Another game that is like Stray is Hoa which has many gameplay and story elements that look like they’re inspired by Stray even though the game was released earlier. Additionally, the game is even short like Stray and can be completed in a few hours. 

Exploration is key in Hoa, and there are so many different yet beautiful environments here. Everything in Hoa is hand drawn, including its beautiful atmosphere, which is an extremely impressive feat of the developers. The atmosphere provides a more relaxing time like Stray.

The world of Hoa is full of puzzles that you solve. These puzzles are reminiscent of the cat game and will remind you of Stray. However, the game depends on a lot of platforming gameplay-wise. Whereas Stray had a few platforming sections, Hoa will generally have more of them.

Again the experience is a lot less linear than Stray. Your character even gets more upgrades as you explore the world of Hoa. There are some hidden areas in the game that can only be explored once you get these upgrades. So, a single playthrough won’t be enough to get full completion in Hoa.

Pros:

• The story of Hoa is very unique and interesting, as it lets you explore the world through the perspective of a small insect.
• The environments in Hoa are diverse and look beautiful, they range from stunning forests full of beautiful trees and dark places with a very eerie atmosphere.
• Hoa’s visual design is stunning and has a very distinct aesthetic to it because of the hand-drawn art style that makes the game stand out even more.
• The puzzles in Hoa are great and give you food for thought while not being overwhelming and too difficult at the same time, which makes them incredibly satisfying.
• The soundtrack of Hoa is great and helps add to the immersive experience of the game.

Cons:

• Hoa is an incredibly short game, with some players being able to complete the game in under 2 hours, which might be way too short for some players’ liking.
• Hoa can get a bit repetitive after a while for some players, as you have to complete almost the same task every time but in different areas.
• There is no big threat to the main character in Hoa, which can make the game feel like it has no stakes, leading to some players getting bored.

28. Lost Ember

• Developer: Mooneye Studios
• Publisher: Mooneye Studios
• Release Date: November 22, 2019
• Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Exploration, Atmospheric, Puzzle, Open World

If you liked playing from a cat’s POV in Stray, then you will absolutely enjoy Lost Ember, as the game offers exploration through the POVs of many different animals. It is a beautiful open world that you can explore as different animals.

The plot basically revolves around the downfall of human civilization. Nature has taken control again, and everything is green around the world. Experience a somewhat post-apocalyptic open world that is both beautiful and filled with the remains of mankind.

The possibilities are endless in the open world environment of Lost Ember. There is a lot of freedom, unlike Stray, as you’re not just playing as a cat in this game. Explore the deep sea oceans as a fish, or the magnificent skies as a bird, or the massive underground environments as a mole.

The world of Lost Ember is artistic in a sense and will leave you shocked by its beauty. It is an amazing game filled with the themes of death, life, destruction, and nature. There is a lot to do in the open world of Lost Ember, which makes it a long game, even longer than Stray.

Pros:

• Lost Ember boasts beautiful and realistic environments that make it an immersive and enjoyable experience.
• The graphics in Lost Ember are stunning, giving the environments an incredibly detailed look, along with amazing character models that make the immersive experience much better.
• The story of Lost Ember is incredibly emotional and well-written, while being unique, as it is told through flashbacks and memories, allowing you to piece together the narrative as you progress through the game.
• Lost Ember does a great job of attaching you to the characters and building an emotional connection with them, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the game.

Cons:

• Lost Ember suffers a lot from many glitches and bugs, including technical and performance issues that can cause the game to crash constantly, which can lead to a lot of frustration.
• There are a lot of unnecessary collectibles littered throughout Lost Ember that have nothing to do with the overall story but you are still forced to collect them, which can be incredibly annoying.
• The controls in Lost Ember can feel incredibly clunky and awkward to some players, leading to an unsatisfying gameplay experience.
• The movement for the majority of the animals is a bit too slow.

27. Haven

• Developer: The Game Bakers
• Publisher: The Game Bakers
• Release Date: July 19, 2018
• Platforms:  PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, RPG, Romance, Atmospheric

26. The Long Return

• Developer: Max Nielsen
• Publisher: Max Nielsen
• Release Date: October 2, 2019
• Platforms: PC and Nintendo Switch
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Narrative, Platform, Atmospheric, Puzzle

Another game that you play from an animal’s POV, much like Stray, is The Long Return. Interestingly you play as a Cub, who are offspring of large cats, so the game already has some spiritual connections with Stray. Additionally, the game is extremely short as well, and you’ll be done with a single playthrough in no time.

The world of Long Return is extremely beautiful and filled with puzzles. The puzzles even get harder as you progress through the game so that it won’t be a relaxing experience overall. However, the game is generally light-hearted and is a short but fun experience. 

You will also get diamonds throughout the game, which are a form of currency. You can use these diamonds to buy some hints for a puzzle you’re stuck at. Additionally, the plot revolves around learning the story of your cub, which lost its mother and is now an orphan.

The Long Return is filled with breath-taking environments, amazing puzzles, and a good storyline. It is a complete package, just like Stray and the game is probably one of the best indie titles you can play right now. 

Pros:

• The Long Return can be an incredibly emotional game with a very unique narrative that keeps you engaged and attached throughout.
• There is a lot of variety when it comes to the puzzles in The Long Return, such as pattern recognition or giant mazes, which gives you a new challenge every time.
• The puzzles also get harder as you progress through The Long Return and become more efficient at solving them, which keeps the challenge while not feeling too overwhelming.
• The storytelling is incredibly unique in The Long Return, as it is told through the environment around you rather than through dialogue, which is a very intuitive take on storytelling.

Cons:

• The Long Return might not be too much of a challenge and might even be too easy for players that are veterans at puzzle solving or generally love games based around puzzle solving.
• The Long Return is a very short game, with good players being able to complete the game in under 3 hours, which might not be enough content for some players.
• The platforming mechanics in The Long Return are not designed well, especially when it comes to jumping, which can be a bit of a disappointment.

25. Lost and Hound

• Developer: Daisy Ale Soundworks
• Publisher: Daisy Ale Soundworks
• Release Date: August 17th, 2022
• Platforms: PC and Nintendo Switch
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Casual, Detective, Atmospheric

Lost and Hound is not available to download as of right now. However, it is getting released in a couple of weeks, and the game just screams Stray, but instead of a cat, you play as a dog. We recommend that you wishlist the game as it is going to be really fun for players who enjoyed Stray.

You can use the dog’s abilities to your advantage. Basically, the game revolves around you using the dog to solve the many mysteries and find lost items in the world of Lost and Hound. Unlike Stray, the game takes a more practical approach to use an animal in the game.

You can use the dog’s exceptional sense of smell to find many lost items in the game. Additionally, you can even hear the heartbeats of humans and can tell if they’re lying during an investigation. You will be using the dog to fight crime in the world of Lost and Hound. 

There is a lot to do in the game in addition to just fighting crime. You can even assist in the hospitals as a rescue dog. Or you can simply herd sheep by working at some farm. The possibilities are endless here. So be on the lookout for the release of the game.

Pros:

• Lost and Hound can be played by players who suffer from blindness, as the game uses a low vibrating sound to let you know where to go and help out in various things, making Lost and Hound incredibly accessible.
• Lost and Hound remains realistically challenging even with the accessibility option for blind players, while not being impossibly hard or frustrating, it keeps the satisfying and rewarding feeling.
• The narrative of Lost and Hound can be incredibly emotional sometimes, with the game dealing with heavy topics like loss and grief that can be very touching.
• The movement feels incredibly satisfying in Lost and Hound, adding to the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.

Cons:

• The graphics in Lost and Hound are not the best, while it may not be a concern to players with blindness, for players that can see, the graphics can be a big disappointment.
• Lost and Hound can be incredibly repetitive for some players, as you generally have to repeat the same task of finding lost people over and over again.
• Lost and Hound is relatively a short game and many players feel like there is not enough content in it.

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24. Another World

• Developer: Eric Chahi
• Publisher: The Digital Lounge
• Release Date: April 4, 2013
• Platforms: Nintendo 3DS and 2DS, Android, PS3, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox One, and iOS
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Fighting, Narrative, and Platform

Another World is almost three decades old, but it received a remaster ten years ago as well. It was one of the first games to use vector graphics, and it succeeded in creating some of the best environments and atmospheres using that. The remaster has additional quality of life changes as well. 

Another World has completely different gameplay from Stray and is quite unlike the cat game in that department. However, the plot and level design will remind you of Stray a lot. You play as a scientist who gets stranded on an alien planet and has to fight his way out alone. That is much like our feline protagonist from Stray.

Going through a completely new and hostile environment where you’re alone will remind you a lot of Stray. The game is also not that long and will average around 4 hours for a single playthrough. You should definitely give it a try once you’re done playing the cat game known as Stray.

Pros:

• Another World has a very unique but incredibly simple art style, which gives it a very distinct aesthetic that stays in your memory for a long time.
• The storytelling in Another World is especially unique, with the story being told through the aesthetic visuals and the music, without using any text or spoken dialogue.
• The use of the camera in Another World is brilliant, as the game perfectly uses its camera to zoom in or zoom out to emphasize certain moments or things.
• The combat in Another World has a learning curve and can be very challenging but also rewarding for some players.

Cons:

• While the combat is great, the controls of Another World can feel incredibly clunky to some players, which can lead to a lot of frustration.
• Another World is a relatively short game, with some players managing to complete it in under 2 and a half hours.
• A lot of the buttons in Another World are inconsistent and fail to respond sometimes, which can take away from the overall gameplay experience.

23. Webbed

• Developer: Sbug Games
• Publisher: Sbug Games
• Release Date: Septtember 9, 2021
• Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
• Genres: Action, Platform, Puzzle, Pixel Graphics, and Simulation

Webbed is another great game like Stray. It is spiritually related to Stray as you play as another animal in the game. The game allows you to play as a spider as opposed to the cat in Stray. It is a fantastic game that implements unique gameplay mechanics using the spider.

The game is small in both size and play time, although you will enjoy every single minute of the journey. Webbed allows you to explore a huge 2D world as a spider. You can grapple around trees using webs or create new paths for yourself by wittingly joining the webs.

You can even have friendly relations with some of the bugs in the world of Webbed. These bugs will help you along your journey. The game even has pixelated graphics for fans who enjoy retro games. You will be easily hooked on Webbed once you’re done with Stray, as the game is like a 2D version of Stray.

Pros:

• The movement in Webbed feels very good, as it can be incredibly satisfying and fun to swing from 1 place to another using the spider’s web.
• Webbed has an arachnophobia mode that allows you to experience the game even if you have the fear of spiders, some players might even be able to use this game to overcome their fear of spiders.
• Webbed is very welcoming and accessible to any age, as it is engaging enough for adults to play it while not having any gore or dark subjects so younger players can play it as well.
• The soundtrack of Webbed is amazing and very memorable, as it fits the moment perfectly and adds to the overall immersion.
• There is an instant save feature in Webbed, which allows the game to save whenever you quit, so your progress is never lost and you can continue playing from where you left off.

Cons:

• The parts where you have to deal with cogs in Webbed can be incredibly annoying and repetitive, leading to constant frustration that can kill the pace of the game.
• Your interactions with the other insects feel very unnatural and can ruin the overall feel of Webbed.
• Webbed can be a disappointment for players looking to play as a spider and swing around, as the majority of the game consists of puzzle-solving.

22. Sea of Solitude

• Developer: Jo-Mei Games
• Publisher: Electronic Arts
• Release Date: July 5, 2019
• Platforms:  PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Platformer, Horror, Atmospheric

Sea of Solitude is another great indie game that resembles Stray in more ways than one, including its atmosphere, which is much like the cat game. You explore the mind of the protagonist, who is dealing with various kinds of traumas and emotional disturbances.

Each of these traumas is beautifully represented in the game through various creatures. Additionally, the atmosphere is so good that it tells a story in itself. The aesthetics and the environments are reminiscent of Stray’s level design, where the scenery leaves you in awe.

The environment reflects the mind of the protagonist in every single way. It grows better or worse depending on the state of the protagonist. And you must traverse this dark and lonely world to overcome any or all fears of the protagonist. 

Oh, and the world isn’t just about explorations alone. It is additionally filled with many puzzles that you can solve. The protagonist slowly regains her state of mind as she beats the monsters of her mind by solving these puzzles. It should be noted that a boat is used to traverse the world of the Sea of Solitude.

Pros:

• Sea of Solitude has been praised by many players for its incredibly emotional and touching story, as it deals with deep issues like loneliness that can be incredibly thought-provoking while you play through the game.
• Sea of Solitude features beautiful, hand-drawn art that does a great job of portraying a city that is lost to the sea, and the game’s use of color and lighting is particularly stunning.
• The soundtrack in Sea of Solitude is very effective and fits the narrative incredibly well, while being memorable, which adds to the overall immersion.
• Sea of Solitude’s director, Cornelia Geppert, explains that the game is based on her personal life experience, which makes Sea of Solitude relatable, genuine, and touching.
• The protagonist of Sea of Solitude, Kay, is incredibly good and well-developed, as the game does a great job of building an emotional connection between you and Kay.

Cons:

• The gameplay in Sea of Solitude can be incredibly disappointing for some players, as the controls are limited to only jumping, running, and shooting a bright flare to see in dark places, which does not help at all in combat or puzzle-solving.
• The main thing in Sea of Solitude is collecting orbs, which is incredibly repetitive and not fun at all since the game makes you repeat this task over and over again.
• The monsters that attack you in Sea of Solitude never try to kill you or even harm you as much, they just steal something from you, or you would just pass out and have to deal with them again, which takes away from the realism.

21. Concrete Genie

• Developer: Pixelopus
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Release Date: October 8, 2019
• Platforms: Playstation 4
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Creative, Narrative, and Puzzle

Concrete Genie is not only a great puzzle game, but it is also one of the better PlayStation Exclusive. The protagonist again suffers from social abuse like bullying. Your journey in the game will revolve around making the protagonist come to terms with his problems.

The gameplay is based on amazing artistic designs. Basically, you can create whatever your imagination desires through graffiti. Additionally, the things that you create will come to life as well. Drawing these creatures will help you solve multiple puzzles around the world of Concrete Genie.

Concrete Genie can even be played in VR mode. We recommend that you do that if you have access to a VR. Using VR will amplify the experience of the atmospheric environments even more. Additionally, Concrete Genie is specifically built for PlayStation consoles, so motion controls can also be used in the game. 

The setting and atmosphere of Concrete Genie narrate a story for you as they are extremely beautiful to explore. You will spend hours in Concrete Genie just solving various puzzles and exploring new areas while creating beautiful art pieces using graffiti.

Pros:

• The colorful, cel-shaded graphics in Concrete Genie are stunning and add a lot of visual appeal to the game.
• Concrete Genie’s story is touching and gives a strong message about the power of creativity, which builds a stronger connection between you and the game.
• Painting and creating in Concrete Genie is enjoyable and the various puzzles and challenges throughout the game provide a good balance of difficulty and satisfaction.
• The genies are very adorable while they help you in various ways and Concrete Genie does a great job of attaching you to the genies.

Cons:

• The gameplay in Concrete Genie can get quite repetitive at the start, leading to many players dropping the game.
• Motion controls in Concrete Genie are not the best and can be very inconsistent throughout the game, leading to a lot of frustration.
• Some parts of the story in Concrete Genie can feel incredibly rushed with awkward pacing, which can kill the entire stride of the game.

20. Neo Cab

• Developer: Chance Agency
• Publisher: Fellow Traveller
• Release Date: October 3, 2019
• Platforms:  PC, Nintendo Switch, iPhone, iPad
• Genres: Narrative, Role-Play, Visual Novel, Cyberpunk, and Simulation

Neo Cab shares the same cyberpunk environmental setting as Stray, and you’ll find a lot of similarities from the cat game’s level design here. The game is set in a futuristic world where you are the last human driver left. That is also somewhat reminiscent of Stray, with you being the only cat in a cyberpunk world.

The plot revolves around the protagonist and their best friend. Basically, the best friend goes missing, and the only way you can get leads on their location is by investigating your passengers as you drive through the futuristic streets of the world.

However, you will need to maintain your rating as a driver whilst doing your research. Otherwise, you will not receive passengers. The game heavily depends on the choices that you make for the entirety of your playthrough. Just make sure to enjoy the cyberpunk settings while you play Neo Cab.

Pros:

• The worldbuilding in Neo Cab is great, as the game takes its time to build and introduce new characters or key elements to its world.
• The character designs of the passengers in Neo Cab are all incredibly unique, with each of them showing their personality through their looks alone, which adds a lot of personality to the game.
• Neo Cab does a great job of approaching the politics of the game, as a lot of these political situations in Neo Cab are interesting and can be incredibly thought-provoking.
• The conversations between Lina and Savy are very natural and as they grow apart or reunite, the flow of the conversation switches very slightly while feeling incredibly real, which adds a lot of realism to Neo Cab.

Cons:

• While Neo Cab is indeed a game about driving clients from one place to another, you actually do not get to drive your cab in the game, which might be a deal breaker for some players looking for a driving experience.
• Some of the emotional moments in Neo Cab are not executed well and fail to induce any feelings inside players.
• There is not much gameplay in Neo Cab besides talking to the passengers inside your cab, which can be a bit of a disappointment.
• The many inner monologues that Lina has can sometimes limit the freedom of responses you can give to the passengers, which can make the main part of Neo Cab seem a bit dull.

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19. A Juggler’s Tale

• Developer: kaleidoscube
• Publisher: Mixtvision
• Release Date: September 29, 2021
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5
• Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Robots, Narrative, Atmospheric, Indie

A juggler’s Tale is one of the best indie games that you’ll ever play, which already makes it compelling to play after Stray. It is the journey that you make in A Juggler’s Tale which reminds you of Stray and makes the game look like the cat game. 

However, there is no animal that you control in the game. Instead, your journey as a puppet who has run away from the circus. She has basically become tired of entertaining various audiences at the circus and is now looking for freedom by running away.

Guide the puppet through the mystical and magical world of A Juggler’s Tale, which will remind you a lot about the many fairy tales. The indie game is both dark and optimistic. The whole journey to freedom is filled with dangers and horrors, but the rewards at the end are wholesome, to say the least. 

Just like Stray, the environments are extremely beautiful in A Juggler’s tale as well, and they will make your whole journey refreshing throughout the game. You can even use the outlet’s abilities to solve various puzzles scattered around A Juggler’s Tale.

Pros:

• The visuals in A Juggler’s Tale are incredibly unique and have a distinct aesthetic to them, as they catch your attention with a single look.
• The voice acting in A Juggler’s Tale is incredible, as you can genuinely feel the character’s emotions through the voice acting, which adds to the overall immersion of the game.
• The puzzles in A Juggler’s Tale might feel simple to some players but they can be incredibly satisfying at the same time.

Cons:

• A Juggler’s Tale might feel too short, with some players reporting less than 2 hours of playtime, which is not nearly enough content for the majority of the players.
• It is not great at executing action sequences, which can kill the overall pace of the game.
• A Juggler’s Tale does not have much replay value because of its short length and the lack of content.

18. The Last Campfire

• Developer: Hello Games
• Publisher: Hello Games
• Release Date: October 7, 2021
• Platforms: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, iPhone, iPad
• Genres: Adventure, Narrative, Platform, Indie, and Puzzle

The Last Campfire is one of those indie games that feature a creative story in addition to amazing gameplay and art design. The Last Campfire is developed by the same studio that made No Man’s Sky as well, so you can expect a lot of unique levels to explore in the game.

You play as an Ember who is trying to find his way home. And in doing so, you will solve a great many puzzles in the majestic world of The Last Campfire. The game is filled with beautiful forests and oceanic environments. You will additionally find a large number of strange creatures throughout your journey.

The graphics of the game are almost cartoony, but the atmosphere itself depicts a story. The Last Campfire will completely gain all of your attention with its world design alone which will additionally remind you of the artistic background designs of Stray. 

Pros:

• The story of The Last Campfire is very unique but also incredibly touching, as it deals with concepts of hope and expectations that can be very relatable.
• There is a lot of variety when it comes to the puzzles in The Last Campfire, with each puzzle feeling fresh and having a lot of depth to it, while not feeling overwhelming.
• The soundtrack of The Last Campfire is great and fits the theme it is trying to portray perfectly while being very catchy.
• The graphics look amazing and incredibly satisfying to look at, as they can be very visually pleasing because of the unique aesthetic in The Last Campfire.

Cons:

• The abilities you can use at the start of The Last Campfire can be incredibly limited, as you cannot even jump, which can turn away some beginner players.
• The narration in The Last Campfire might occasionally and abruptly cut off, which can slightly kill the pace of the game.
• Some very minor visual and audio glitches in The Last Campfire can interfere with the overall gameplay experience.
• The Last Campfire’s performance is not the best and you might experience some frame drops occasionally.

17. What Remains of Edith Finch

• Developer: Giant Sparrow
• Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
• Release Date: April 25, 2017
• Platforms: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, iOS
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Story Rich, Walking Simulator, Atmospheric

What Remains of Edith Finch is published by the same company that published Stray so expect to find a lot of similarities in the game as it is much like the cat game in terms of storytelling and exploration. Additionally, the game is one of the best indie games that you’ll ever play. 

What Remains of Edith Finch has won Best Game at the 2018 BAFTA Game Awards, additionally Best Narrative awards at the GDC 2018 Choice Awards, 2018 SXSW Gaming Awards, and The Game Awards 2017. You can understand the level of success that this indie title has achieved.

You play as Edith Finch, who is trying to explore the house of her deceased family. Everyone except her died, and now she is trying to find some answers in the mysterious world of the game. It is a creative journey that has both first-person and third-person sequences.

There is not a lot of gameplay, but the story itself is top tier. You will experience the tales of the death of the Finch Family. The storytelling is absolutely mind-blowing and will leave you in awe once you finish the game. However, the art design of the game will additionally remind you of Stray.

Pros:

• The story of What Remains of Edith Finch is incredibly touching and unique, as it deals with heavy subjects such as life and acceptance, which makes the narrative relatable and natural.
• The storytelling in What Remains of Edith Finch is very unique, it makes you play in first-person mode for the entirety of the game and the story is told through smokes of texts that appear in various places.
• The music score is incredible and adds a lot of meaning to What Remains of Edith Finch, while bringing the game’s atmosphere to life, making it even more immersive.
• The pacing of the story is perfect and stays consistent throughout the entirety of What Remains of Edith Finch, as it does a great job of never making you feel lost while you explore.

Cons:

• The walking speed in What Remains of Edith Finch is very slow to the point where you might even get bored walking to your objective, which is a big flaw for players that want to quickly finish their objectives.
• What Remains of Edith Finch is an incredibly short game, with some players being able to complete it in under 2 and a half hours despite the incredibly slow walking speed, which might not be enough content for the majority of the players.
• There is no reason to come back to What Remains of Edith Finch after finishing it once, which makes it have almost no replay value, and combined with how short the game is, it might not be worth it for some players.

16. The Last Guardian

• Developer:  Japan Studio and GenDesign
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Release Date: December 6, 2016
   
• Platforms: Playstation 4
• Genres: Action, Narrative, Puzzle, Fantasy, Platform, and Simulation

The Last Guardian is one of the best platformers in addition to a fantastic Playstation exclusive game. The game is filled with exploration alongside gameplay that involves a lot of platforming, in addition to puzzle solving. You play as a boy who has friendly relations with a giant bird-like and mammal-like creature. 

You will further develop your trust with the giant companion throughout the journey of The Last Guardian. However, the plot begins with you saving that giant creature at the beginning of the story. That is where you develop friendly relations with the bird. 

The whole world of The Last Guardian is waiting to be explored and is filled with puzzles. You do this with your giant bird companion while strengthening your trust with it as well. You will take care of the animal a lot in the game, and that too will remind you of Stray.

The Last Guardian presents a magnificent story about the themes of friendship alongside somewhat relaxing gameplay. The story is extremely wholesome and comfy. And the game is so fun that you’ll be solving puzzles for quite a while in The Last Guardian.

Pros:

• The levels in The Last Guardian are exceptionally designed and rarely feel like they are getting repetitive or overwhelming, which gives you a sense of satisfaction.
• The story in The Last Guardian is incredibly captivating, as you are quickly drawn to the main character and his giant companion, which adds another layer of depth to the gameplay experience.
• The name of your giant beast-like companion in The Last Guardian is Trico and his movement animations are incredible, as they are very natural and realistic.
• The Last Guardian is not a short game, but also not too long, it is a perfect blend of a game with a decent amount of length that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

Cons:

• There are some frame drops present in The Last Guardian, especially outdoors when the graphical demand on the system is heavy.
• The controls can be incredibly awkward in The Last Guardian and they might take some time to get used to.
• The camera is horrible in The Last Guardian, it is so stiff and awkward to control that sometimes you might even miss some important moments because you cannot see the environment.
• The puzzles might be a bit too hard for some players, which can lead to a lot of frustration.

15. Abzu

• Developer: Giant Squid
• Publisher: 505 Games
• Release Date: August 2, 2016
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Amazon Luna, Nintendo Switch
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Relaxing, Underwater, Atmospheric, Exploration

14. Journey

• Developer: thatgamecompany
• Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
• Release Date: March 13, 2012
• Platforms: Playstation 3, Playstation 4, PC, iOS
• Genres: Adventure game, Indie game, Puzzle Video Game, Art game, Adventure

Journey is not only published by the same company that published Stray, but it is also a spiritual predecessor of Abzu. It is another game that is more focused on providing exploration than gameplay. However, it is the environments in the game that tell the narrative. 

The game features an open area that consists of deserts that you can explore. You can even glide through the sandy dunes of the game. The design of Abzu is so beautiful that it has won awards just for its environmental design. It has won VGX Award for Best PS3 Game as well.

Journey provides a beautiful world for you to explore, and that is much like Stray, as both games cater to exploration. Where Stray offers a futuristic city for you to explore, Journey provides a more down-to-earth natural experience. However, both games excel in whatever they try to deliver through exploration. 

Pros:

• Journey boasts stunning visual design and artwork, with breathtaking landscapes and environments that are an absolute joy to explore.
• The music in Journey is incredibly aesthetic and one of the best out of any game, as you many players find themselves listening to the soundtracks in Journey even after completing the game.
• One of the most unique features of Journey is its cooperative play, which allows you to play with other players online while staying completely anonymous.

Cons:

• Journey is an incredibly short game and some players have completed it within 2 hours, which might not be enough content for a lot of the players.
• The replay value is almost nonexistent for Journey and you have no reason to play the game again after finishing it.
• The gameplay can be very Linear and limited, which can get incredibly boring over time.

13. Ori And The Will Of Wisps

• Developer: Moon Studios GmbH
• Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
• Release Date: March 11, 2020
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Metroidvania, Action, Shooter

Ori and the Will of Wisps is much like Stray in many different genres. Not only does the game provide you platforming, but the environment design is also much like the cat game. However, Ori provides a much more extensive combat system than Stray while keeping the emphasis on exploration. 

The game is also a direct sequel to Ori and the Blind Forest, which is also another great action-platformer. Ori provides an intricate level design that connects through multiple hidden paths, which makes exploration feel rewarded in the game. 

The plot of the game is also somewhat like Stray in the sense that they both are filled with multiple emotional scenes. If you play Ori directly after ending Stray, then you find the game at home as it has many similarities with the cat game.

Pros:

• The aesthetic of Ori And The Will Of The Wisps is gorgeous, incredibly unique, and adds to the immersion of the game.
• Ori And The Will Of The Wisps is full of various puzzles that are very fun and satisfying to solve.
• The soundtrack is one of the best, as it does an excellent job of enhancing your experience and fitting in with the theme that Ori And The Will Of The Wisps is trying to portray.

Cons:

• The final boss of Ori And The Will Of The Wisps can be a bit too easy to fight and lead to a lot of players feeling underwhelmed.
• Ori And The Will Of The Wisps might be a bit unstable on some platforms, with many performance issues that hinder your gameplay.
• The absence of a mini-map can be a deal breaker for some players.

12. Outer Wilds

• Developer: Mobius Digital
• Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
• Release Date: June 18, 2020
• Platforms: PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
• Genres: Adventure, Puzzle, Exploration, Mystery, Open World, Indie

Outer Wilds provides a much more mysterious open-world environment that you can explore. It is extremely unique and full of puzzles that are like Stray, and the game even has certain good gameplay mechanics that complement its whole-level design.

Outer Wilds has won Best Game at the 2020 BAFTA Games Awards and was named Game of the Year 2019 by Giant Bomb, Polygon, Eurogamer, and The Guardian. That speaks volumes about how great the game is, even though it’s an indie title.

Much like Stray, Outer Wilds gained massive popularity as one of the best games ever made, even though both are small indie titles. The game is also published by the same company that published Stray, so both are even spiritually related.

You explore space and the planets within Outer Wilds in contrast to Stray’s cyberpunk-style futuristic city filled with robots. There are so many puzzles that you can find and solve in the world of Outer Wilds as well. It is just a fantastic game to play right after Stray.

Pros:

• In Outer Wilds, you are encouraged to explore and discover new things in the game’s vast, open world, which can feel very liberating to some players.
• The graphics in Outer Wilds are very stunning, with a very unique aesthetic to them that makes them stand out and be memorable.
• Outer Wilds is a challenging game that requires you to think critically and solve problems to progress, which can be a very productive way of spending your time.
• The sound design of Outer Wilds is very good and does a great job of adding to the immersive experience.

Cons:

• Some of the puzzles in Outer Wilds can be a bit too easy to solve, which can take away from the satisfying and rewarding feeling.
• You might not enjoy Outer Wilds if you are a fan of combat, as Outer Wilds does not have any.
• It can be a bit awkward to control the jetpack and the spaceship sometimes, which can kill the pace of Outer Wilds.

11. Flower

• Developer: thatgamecompany
• Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
• Release Date: February 14, 2019
• Platforms:  PC, PS Vita,Playstation 4, PlayStation 4, and iOS
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Open World, Simulation

Flower is a popular indie game published by the same company that published Stray. Additionally, both the games are spiritually related. It is a magical and relaxing experience that is sheerly built on exploration. The whole world and environmental design of Flower beautifully represent the wonders of nature.

You take control of the wind in the game and just explore the entire world that Flower has to offer. Go through masterfully crafted fields and beautiful locations and just spend your time looking at these amazing locations in the game. Flower is an amazing exploration game that you can play if you love Stray’s exploration.

Pros:

• Controlling flower petals and exploring lush, beautiful environments is an incredibly calming and satisfying activity you can do after a long day, as Flower does a great job of helping you relax.
• The motion controls of Flower are incredibly fun on a PlayStation 4 console, as it allows you to control the direction of the wind by tilting the PlayStation 4 controller forward, followed by subtle vibrations using haptic feedback, which adds a lot of layers to the overall immersive experience of Flower.
• The visual design of Flower is a cherry on top, as it helps bring the incredibly breathtaking environments to life using beautiful and colorful graphics.
• Flower’s soundtrack is very good, as it perfectly compliments the relaxing feeling of the game and adds to the overall experience.

Cons:

• The PC port of Flower is not the best, as it lacks the satisfying motion controls and the haptic feedback that is available on the PlayStation 4 console, which can take away from the relaxing experience.
• There are objectives you have to complete in Flower where you distinguish between special flowers that glow very slightly, but this glow can blend in with the background and natural lighting of the game, which can be a bit annoying.
• Some players might get motion sickness from Flower because of all the movements the flower petals do in the air as they get carried by the wind and the camera follows it all.

10. Inside

• Developer: Playdead
• Publisher: Playdead
• Release Date: July 7, 2016
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One, and iOS
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Narrative, and Platform

Inside is a spiritual successor to Limbo and is one of the best platformer games that you can play. Platforming is also present in Stray to some extent, and Inside puts more emphasis on platforming, but it also keeps the exploration like the cat game. 

Inside is set in a dystopian future, which will remind you of Stray to some extent when you play the game. However, the gameplay is greatly different from Stray as you’re not playing as a cat in the game. It is more like a 2.5D platformer than anything else.

However, the level design and the atmosphere of Inside will remind you of the atmosphere of Stray. The game even requires you to solve a lot of puzzles in order to progress. Some of these puzzles can even get challenging. In conclusion, Inside provides an artistic art style, eerie atmosphere, and ambient music to complement the levels of the game.

Pros:

• Inside has some of the most well-designed puzzles and platforming challenges that are perfectly difficult but not too hard or too easy.
• Inside contains a very eerie story about oppression and violence that is told through environmental clues and visual storytelling, which keeps you guessing as you progress through the game.
• It has an aesthetic visual style that is dark and atmospheric, with detailed 2D environments and character models that immerse you in the game.

Cons:

• Inside does not have much replay value as it is a story-driven game, there is little reason to replay it once the story has been completed.
• The middle part of INSIDE may seem to have very slow pacing and make a lot of the players lose motivation to continue playing.
• Many players believe that the ending of Inside is not the best and might ruin the entire impact of the story.

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9. Sable

• Developer: Shedworks
• Publisher: Raw Fury
• Release Date: September 23, 2021
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
• Genres: Adventure, Platformer, Exploration, Open World, Puzzle

Sable is another game on our list of games like Stray that is built around exploration, like the cat game. The art style and graphical design of Sable are extremely unique. You explore an almost post-apocalyptic open world where you find signs of previous civilizations during your journey.

The traversal around the world of Sable is also very satisfying. You can either climb or simply glide through the map. The game even provides you with a bike that hovers when used. In that sense, Sable also feels much like Death Stranding. You can additionally customize your bike in the game. 

Change the design of your bike or simply upgrade it with better parts that you receive through exploring the world of Sable. There are even puzzles that you can solve in Sable, and some of these hinder your journey if left unsolved. Sable is a very relaxing game to explore and one of the best games that you can play after ending Stray.

Pros:

• Sable is a story-driven book, that allows you to discover the beautiful, mysterious world and discover its secrets.
• The stunning images in Sable that blend hand-drawn illustrations with 3D elements for stunning visual experiences.
• Sable is distinctive because the wide world has many different and fascinating things to see instead of just getting from one point to B.

Cons:

• Sable is prone to becoming repetitive over time . This can cause a lot of frustration for certain players.
• Sable has no replay value because it doesn’t make a strong case for persuading players to play over and over.
• The UI isn’t it’s best in Sable As numerous players have reported it to be difficult to navigate.

8. Life Slide

• Developer: Dreamteck
• Publisher: Dreamteck
• Release Date: August 6, 2021
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, iOS, Linux, tvOS, Macintosh operating systems
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Flight, Arcade, Exploration

Life Slide is an amazing indie game that is based around flying a paper plane. The game might look relaxing in its serene environment. However, mastering to fly a paper plane is not very easy and will require a lot of skill and practice. But once you master the art of paper plane flight, the game provides you with a beautiful world to explore.

You learn from your mistakes in Life Slide, and that also makes it similar to the best Soulsborne Games in a sense. The environment in Life Slide tells a story. Its artistic design speaks to you. The game is so beautiful that you learn the story through exploring the landscapes that the game has to offer. 

There are multiple hard challenges in the game that require some grinding to complete. And these challenges refresh every week additionally. However, for players who want a simple relaxing experience, the game offers a Zen Mode as well.

Pros:

• Life Slide can be an incredibly relaxing game, as it features a Zen mode that you can use to sit back and relax while you enjoy life as a paper airplane gliding through the air, over beautiful landscapes.
• While Life Slide can be a very relaxing game, it also allows players looking for more of a challenge to experience it, as you can complete weekly challenges or learn to fly the paper airplane more efficiently.
• There is a surprisingly decent skill ceiling in Life Slide that appeals to competitive players that want to master every aspect of a game.
• The soundtrack of Life Slide is incredibly memorable and guides you through the game, as Life Slide does not have any text or narration to help you out.
• Life Slide features 28 levels that remain fresh until the very end, as all of the levels boast a new challenge every time for you to complete.

Cons:

• The environments in Life Slide feel incredibly repetitive, as there is a lack of variety and the same environments are sometimes reused over and over, which can get boring very quickly.
• Life Slide might be way too frustrating for some players, as it forces you to restart levels every time you die, on the other hand, the Zen mode might be too relaxing, as such there is no middle ground in Life Slide.
• Life Slide is not optimized well and the performance can be a bit inconsistent across different rigs.

7. Celeste

• Developer: Alexander Goodwin
• Publisher: Alexander Goodwin
• Release Date: July 19, 2018
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, Linus, Google Stadia
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Robots, Steampunk, Atmospheric

Celeste is probably the best platformer indie game that you can play. Stray has some platforming sections as well, but they are not too challenging. Celeste is a game that consists of competitive platforming, which puts more emphasis on gameplay, unlike the cat game. 

The ambient music in the game is beautiful and complements the whole mountainous setting of Celeste. The environment is artistically designed, and the levels are intelligently built. The story of Celeste is also pretty amazing, with the protagonist fighting her negative thoughts.

Your journey to climb a mountain in Celeste never gets boring as each level has multiple rooms that are distinct from each other. Even though Celeste is an indie game, it offers hours of content that you can play through. Additionally, the game even has harder levels with different platforming for players who want a more difficulty-oriented experience.

Pros:

• Celeste has a stunning pixel art style that is full of detail and color, which makes the art style very memorable.
• Celeste has a thoughtful and very emotional narrative that is deeper than most platformers, exploring themes of mental health and friendship.
• The level design in Celeste is great, with a large number of levels to explore and each area has its own unique visual style and challenges.

Cons:

• You die a lot in Celeste, which can get incredibly frustrating for some new players.
• Some parts of the gameplay in Celeste are not nearly as fun as others.
• There is no colorblind mode for some stages, which can make it impossible for players with colorblindness to complete them.

6. Death Stranding

• Developer: KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Release Date: November 8, 2019
• Platforms: PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5
• Genres: Adventure, Action, Walking Simulator, Exploration, Atmospheric

Death Stranding is a triple A; nonetheless, the game has many elements that make the experience feel like Stray. The game itself is another masterpiece from Hideo Kojima, who has previously worked on the critically acclaimed Metal Gear Solid Franchise.

Death Stranding was a PlayStation exclusive at launch; however, the game has received a PC release as well. Death Stranding provides an extremely unique and fresh open-world design. Even the gameplay feels more distinct when compared to other open-world titles. That is where the game looks more like Stray.

The gameplay is based on exploring a Post-Apocalyptic open world where you make deliveries. Each mission presents a different kind of challenge related to traversal that you must overcome by using the tools that the game provides. And when you achieve your goal, the game plays a beautiful song for your accomplishment that just adds to the whole experience.

Stray also has many of these exploration mechanics implemented into the game, but here you explore a futuristic city as a cat. Death Stranding just throws a whole open world at you where you can not only explore but also craft various structures in order to connect to the post-apocalyptic environment.

Pros:

• Death Stranding has a very unique take on gameplay, as it features an interesting combination of action, stealth, and puzzle-solving elements that create a very immersive experience for you.
• Death Stranding features beautiful environments that are incredibly detailed and do a great job of bringing the world to life.
• The sound design in Death Stranding is excellent, as it is very memorable and fits the game very well while adding to the immersive experience.
• Death Stranding has an open world that is very big and has many secrets you can discover or places you can visit, which makes it incredibly engaging.
• The multiplayer system in Death Stranding is incredibly unique, while not entirely multiplayer, you can still encounter structures built by other players and interact with them.

Cons:

• The combat in Death Stranding can be incredibly tedious towards the end of the game, which can be a big disappointment for players that have worked hard to make it far into the game.
• Death Stranding pace is very slow during the first 10 hours or so, which can make it very hard for some players to continue progressing further in the game.
• Death Stranding might struggle to perform well on PCs with lower-end specs, which can make the game inaccessible to players with a low-tier rig.

5. Knack 2

• Developer: Sony Japan Studio
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Release Date: September 5, 2017
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Fighting, Narrative, Platform, Puzzle, and Shooting

Knack 2 is a more linear-like game that can be compared to Stray in terms of its design and gameplay. Instead of a cat, you play as a shape-shifting robot in Knack 2. Knack 2 is also a direct successor to Knack. Unfortunately, the game is still a Playstation exclusive and can only be played on the PS4/PS5.

Knack 2 puts more emphasis on gameplay than exploration. There are so many different abilities that you can unlock and use in the game. However, exploration is also present to some extent. But the overall experience, like Stray, is much more linear in the game.

Pros:

• Knack 2 has been improved a lot compared to its predecessor, offering you a better experience in almost every area, which makes it a great sequel.
• The checkpoints in Knack 2 are great for casual players because even if you die or mess up during platforming, the checkpoints are almost always at a short distance and you can start again close to where you died.
• The gameplay of Knack 2 is very satisfying, including the combat, which can be incredibly fun because it is fast but also feels fluid.
• Knack 2 allows you to play with your real-life friends using the couch co-op mode which is very fun.

Cons:

• The main character of Knack 2, called Knack, is a horrible protagonist and feels incredibly dull, as Knack does not seem to care about saving his own world or have any sort of deep personality and development, he has nothing interesting going for him, and can be a big turn off for a lot of the players.
• Knack 2’s graphics are very mediocre and have little to no appeal to them, as they can be very easily forgotten because of the incredibly bland color palette.
• The enemy design in Knack 2 is generic, with no variety or unique aesthetic that can make it stand out.
• The level design in Knack 2 is incredibly repetitive and lacks a lot of variety that can keep the levels fresh.

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4. Limbo

• Developer: Playdead
• Publisher: Playdead
• Release Date: August 2, 2011
• Platforms: Android, PS Vita, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox One, PC, and iOS
• Genres: Platform game, Puzzle Video Game, Indie game, Adventure

Limbo is a spiritual predecessor of Inside but is generally more loved by the community due to its design. There are a lot more puzzles and tough situations to counter in Limbo as compared to Stray. The game can even get stressful at times, but the core design of levels will remind you of Stray.

You control a small boy who is exploring a dark and grim forest. He has to face many horrors in the game, which makes Limbo one of the darker experiences. Where Stray provided a more optimistic experience through its exploration, Limbo is designed around the themes of death.

You will die a lot in the game before you are able to solve puzzles. Each and every puzzle feels unique and distinct to solve, which makes the whole experience feel refreshing. However, failing to solve a puzzle will lead to extreme consequences, but that is what makes the experience feel more rewarding.

Pros:

• The black and white color scheme gives Limbo a very distinct look and aesthetic which makes it stand out while being incredibly memorable.
• The puzzles in Limbo are great and have a lot of variety to them while making you think outside the box and being incredibly intriguing.
• The art style in Limbo is stunning and is designed to fit into the black and white color scheme very well, giving it a unique but beautiful look.
• The storytelling in Limbo is very interesting because there is no text or dialogue in it, rather it tells the story through visual creativity.
• Limbo does not have any loading screens and cutscenes that can interfere with your gameplay experience, which makes the pacing very smooth.

Cons:

• Some players think that the ending of Limbo came too abruptly and there was no build-up to it, which can undermine the effectiveness of an otherwise great ending.
• You die a lot in Limbo, which can be a bit frustrating for some players.
• The death in Limbo can be a bit too dark sometimes, with the main character being decapitated by bear traps or killed by monsters, which can be a bit shocking to players not used to gruesome games.

3. Gris

• Developer: Nomada Studio
• Publisher: Devolver Digital
• Release Date: December 13, 2018
• Platforms: Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, iOS
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Atmospheric, 2D, Relaxing, Puzzle

The game is a semi 3d platformer game which is perhaps the most special and unique game out there. Gris uses a hand-drawn animation style that is equivalent to Mozart’s painting. The story is about a girl who finds herself lost and confounded by the shackles of darkness.

These bound her from connections, and so she willingly goes through a journey of self-discovery across various articulate lands, hoping to establish a connection for her voice and her soul. Gris knows no limits when it comes to impress players.

The game does not have any prominent combat features or aspects aside from a couple of chase sequences. There are various emotional and impactful moments, all topped with a lavishly produced score. The game knows when to make you focus on completing the puzzles to advance through each level.

Not to mention each puzzle is very simple and often behaves in a way that you’re playing a Metroidvania. Each of the levels and breathtaking setpieces is brilliantly drawn and designed that you can’t help but praise. The art direction of Gris is extremely beautiful. It is a true competitor to other indies like Celeste and Stray.

Pros:

• Gris’ hand-drawn animation and art style are stunning, and the game’s dreamy, surreal aesthetic is complemented by a soft color scheme.
• The story of Gris is nuanced and susceptible to interpretation, yet it deals with themes of loss, grief, and healing in a striking way.
• Beautiful and passionate music enhances the mood and emotional affect of Gris.

Cons:

• Some players may be turned off by Gris’ initial puzzles because they seem uninteresting and overly simple.
• Gris doesn’t have a lot of replay value and doesn’t do a good job of persuading you to play it again.
• There are no intricate gameplay mechanics in Gris because the game is so heavily focused on art and narrative.

2. Portal 2

• Developer: Valve
• Publisher: Valve
• Release Date: April 19, 2011
• Platforms: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, Linux
• Genres: Adventure, FPS, Platformer, Puzzle

Portal 2 is the best puzzle game that you can play after Stray, and it has many similar puzzles to the cat game. The game can be additionally played in single-player mode or in two-player cooperative mode. Additionally, both the modes have a different set of levels and a different story that you can play through.

Portal 2 not only features one of the best stories, but it also has an amazing soundtrack to complement its narrative. It is a relaxing game, much like Stray. The game is filled with hilarious moments and some of the comedy that you’ll find in a story.

Comedy aside, even the puzzles in the game are brilliantly designed and stand the test of time. You will these puzzles extremely enjoyable to solve, Like Stray’s puzzles. Additionally, players can even create their own custom levels in the game or just play through levels designed by other players.

Pros:

• Portal 2 features a well-written and engaging story that keeps you invested in the game.
• It has an incredibly fun co-op multiplayer mode in which players work together to solve puzzles and progress through Portal 2.
• Portal 2 has an excellent soundtrack that adds to the overall theme of the game and enhances it perfectly.

Cons:

• Portal 2 is a relatively short game, with some players reporting completing it in around 9 hours.
• While the puzzles in Portal 2 are challenging and enjoyable, the overall progression of the game is quite linear.
• There are way too many loading screens that pop up frequently in Portal 2.

1. Little Nightmares 1+2

• Developer: Tarsier Studios
• Publisher: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment
• Release Date: April 28, 2017 / February 11, 2021
• Platforms: PC
• Genres: Adventure, Indie, Horror, Puzzle, Atmospheric, 2.5D

The Little Nightmares Series is one of the best atmospheric game series that you can play through. The gameplay is centered around solving puzzles and running away from horrible creatures. These games tell their narrative through their artistically designed atmosphere.

You’ll find a lot of similarities in the atmosphere of Little Nightmares and Stray. However, Little Nightmares provides a more dark and grim environment and tries to show the themes of humanity’s doom. You try to escape from horrible creatures as you solve the many puzzles in the game.

Like Stray, the attention to detail is amazing in these games. However, the games are also short but provide a lot of replayability through challenge runs. You can even play through the chapters again like Stray when you end the game at least once. 

The Little Nightmares games also have a lot of DLC content that got released for them. The platforming, amazing level design, and horrible yet metaphorical design of enemies will leave you in awe once you play these games. We definitely recommend that you binge the Little Nightmares franchise once you end Stray.

Pros of Little Nightmares 1:

• Little Nightmares 1 is incredibly scary and that makes it a treat for horror fans.
• Little Nightmares has a distinct art style and setting that creates a creepy, unsettling atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
• The soundtrack is haunting and adds to the game’s atmosphere.

Cons of Little Nightmares 1:

• Little Nightmares is a relatively short game, which may not provide enough gameplay for some players.
• Some of the puzzles can feel too easy, which can be a bit of a disappointment for players looking for a challenge.

Pros of Little Nightmares 2

• Little Nightmares 2 features a compelling and mysterious narrative that draws players in and keeps them engaged throughout the game.
• The puzzles are massively improved in Little Nightmares 2.
• Little Nightmares 2 has an excellent sound design which does a very good job of increasing the horror aspect.

Cons of Little Nightmares 2

• Little Nightmares 2 can also feel very short for the price, as it is 29$ but some players have managed to complete it in under 5 hours, indicating a lack of content.
• Some of the puzzles in Little Nightmares 2 can be quite challenging and may be frustrating for players who are not fans of difficult puzzles.

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Summary

This concludes our list of different games that are like Stray in one genre or the other. We entailed almost 30 different games that you can choose to play from. All of these games are based on general popularity among the community and their critique scores.

Each and every one of the games on our list deserves your attention, and we hope that you will at least check some of them out. Let us know what you think about Stray and why it influenced you to play games of a similar genre in the comments below!

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