Top 20 Walking Simulator Video Games

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Ignacio Weil

Gaming - July 15th 2025, 22:00 GMT+2

Cropped Still Wakes the Deep — Still Wakes The Deep (2024)

Atmosphere is everything in this eerie descent into isolation and dread. Set on a decaying oil rig off the coast of Scotland, *Still Wakes The Deep* plunges players into a tightly woven horror experience driven by exploration and immersive storytelling. As you navigate narrow corridors and creaking metal platforms, the environment itself becomes your biggest threat. With no weapons or combat, the game leans entirely on tension, sound design, and emotional storytelling to keep you on edge. It’s a shining example of how walking simulators can deliver cinematic horror without relying on traditional mechanics. The bleak setting, combined with incredible voice acting and environmental detail, makes this one of the most intense narrative experiences in recent memory. | © The Chinese Room

POOLS — Pools (2024)

Drenched in liminal nostalgia and ambient unease, *Pools* transforms a simple idea – wandering through empty, indoor pool facilities – into something deeply unsettling and mesmerizing. The game taps into the surreal dreamlike quality of spaces that feel familiar yet eerily out of place, offering no traditional plot but encouraging exploration for atmosphere’s sake. The sound of water echoes around tiled hallways, the lighting shifts almost imperceptibly, and you can’t help but feel like you’re being watched. Though minimalist in gameplay, it excels in evoking emotion and sparking imagination, especially for fans of the “backrooms” or liminal space aesthetics. It’s a perfect example of environmental storytelling as emotional experience. | © Tensori

Before Your Eyes (2021)

Few games have redefined interactivity the way *Before Your Eyes* does. Played using real-time eye-tracking (or mouse clicks as an alternative), the game progresses every time you blink – literally. This mechanic turns every moment into a fleeting memory, beautifully complementing its emotionally charged story about life, love, and regret. You play through the memories of a recently deceased soul, guided by a mysterious ferryman who helps determine your final resting place. The unique concept isn't just a gimmick – it’s a storytelling device that underscores the fragility of life in a way few other games ever attempt. Visually simple but emotionally profound, this title showcases the storytelling potential of walking simulators at their most experimental. | © GoodbyeWorld Games

The Forgotten City (2021)

Mystery, morality, and mythology come together in *The Forgotten City*, a time-loop narrative set in an ancient Roman city where one sin can doom everyone. What began as a popular *Skyrim* mod evolved into a full standalone experience, built around exploration and dialogue rather than combat. You play a modern-day traveler who uncovers the secrets behind a mysterious golden rule that governs the city. Every loop gives you more information to change outcomes, solve puzzles, and save lives. With multiple endings and deeply philosophical themes, the game rewards careful observation and thoughtful decisions. This is one of the most ambitious walking simulators ever created, merging historical immersion with clever, nonlinear storytelling. | © Modern Storyteller

Cropped devotion — Devotion (2019)

Rich in cultural depth and emotional weight, *Devotion* offers a deeply personal horror experience rooted in Taiwanese folklore and 1980s aesthetics. Players explore the apartment of a once-happy family unraveling under religious obsession and personal tragedy. Unlike typical horror games, *Devotion* avoids cheap jump scares, focusing instead on dread and psychological unease. As you move through ever-shifting rooms filled with eerie symbolism, every item and sound adds layers to a heartbreaking narrative. Banned in some regions due to political controversy, the game nonetheless earned critical praise for its storytelling and design. It’s haunting in all the right ways – and a bold, memorable entry in the walking simulator genre. | © Red Candle Games

Tacoma (2017)

Exploration meets emotional depth in *Tacoma*, a narrative sci-fi game that invites players aboard an abandoned space station to piece together the lives of its former crew. Rather than relying on audio logs or static journals, the story is told through augmented reality recordings that let you walk alongside holographic conversations, arguments, and quiet moments. As you investigate, you learn about the interpersonal dynamics, tensions, and humanity of the crew members – all while uncovering the mystery behind their disappearance. The game’s strength lies in its empathy and innovation, offering a quietly profound take on AI, trust, and connection. It’s a spiritual successor to *Gone Home*, but with a unique voice all its own. | © Fullbright

What Remains of Edith Finch (2017)

Few games in the walking simulator genre have garnered as much acclaim – or emotional impact – as *What Remains of Edith Finch*. The story unfolds as you return to your peculiar family home, discovering the lives and deaths of your relatives through interactive vignettes that each have their own visual and gameplay style. Every room tells a story, and each memory carries a mix of wonder and sorrow. The game shines in its ability to shift tones and mechanics while maintaining a cohesive narrative about family, fate, and storytelling itself. It’s a masterclass in interactive narrative design, and a touchstone for what this genre can achieve when emotion and creativity collide. | © Giant Sparrow

Scanner Sombre 2017 — Scanner Sombre (2017)

Innovation drives the experience in *Scanner Sombre*, a first-person exploration game where you navigate pitch-black caves using a LIDAR scanner that paints the world in a cloud of glowing dots. With no light source and no enemies, the tension comes from what you can’t see – and what your imagination fills in. As you delve deeper underground, an unsettling story of solitude and obsession unfolds. The game’s visuals are hauntingly beautiful, creating an environment that feels alien yet eerily grounded. It’s a quiet, introspective journey that rewards patience and curiosity, pushing the boundaries of what a walking simulator can look and feel like. | © Introversion Software

Layers of Fear (2016)

Art and madness collide in *Layers of Fear*, a psychological horror game that plays like a hallucinatory descent into a tormented painter’s psyche. Set in a Victorian mansion that constantly morphs around you, the game doesn’t rely on jump scares alone – it uses surreal imagery, shifting architecture, and subtle storytelling to keep you on edge. As you uncover paintings, letters, and fragments of a broken past, the story of obsession, grief, and guilt gradually comes into focus. The lack of combat lets the atmosphere take center stage, with each room serving as a twisted canvas of the protagonist’s unraveling mind. It’s horror through immersion, and it lingers long after the credits roll. | © Bloober Team

Firewatch (2016)

Set against the backdrop of the Wyoming wilderness, *Firewatch* uses natural beauty and deeply human storytelling to craft one of the most emotionally resonant walking simulators ever made. You play as Henry, a fire lookout spending the summer alone in a remote tower, with only his supervisor Delilah reachable via radio. Their evolving relationship, shaped entirely through dialogue choices, becomes the emotional anchor of the game. Exploration reveals subtle mysteries in the forest, but it’s the conversations – funny, tender, and often heartbreaking – that leave the deepest mark. The stunning visual style and minimalist design make it a landmark in narrative-driven gaming. | © Campo Santo

Everybodys Gone to the Rapture — Everybody's Gone to the Rapture (2015)

Set in a picturesque English village eerily devoid of life, *Everybody's Gone to the Rapture* tells a haunting story of loss, mystery, and cosmic beauty. You explore the town of Yaughton, uncovering fragmented memories and conversations preserved as trails of shimmering light. As you piece together what happened to its residents, the game slowly reveals a story of science, love, faith, and tragedy. The serene setting contrasts with the emotional weight of its narrative, elevated by a breathtaking score composed by Jessica Curry. This isn’t just a walking simulator – it’s a meditation on the human condition, told through one of the most visually and sonically compelling games of its kind. | © The Chinese Room

SOMA (2015)

Philosophical horror and sci-fi tension blend seamlessly in *SOMA*, a narrative-heavy experience from the creators of *Amnesia*. While the setting – a derelict underwater facility – suggests survival horror, the core of the game is deeply existential. As you explore the dark, decaying halls of PATHOS-II, you confront questions about consciousness, identity, and what it truly means to be human. The monsters serve as obstacles, but the real terror lies in the implications of the story. Through terminal logs, voice recordings, and environmental storytelling, *SOMA* crafts a bleak but brilliant reflection on the human mind. It's one of the most intellectually challenging walking simulators out there. | © Frictional Games

Cropped The Beginners Guide — The Beginner’s Guide (2015)

Breaking the fourth wall in unexpected ways, *The Beginner’s Guide* is a deeply personal, unconventional experience that redefines what a walking simulator can be. Created by Davey Wreden, co-creator of *The Stanley Parable*, the game explores a collection of short, experimental games by a fictional developer named “Coda.” Narrated entirely by Wreden, the game becomes less about the levels themselves and more about the act of interpretation, authorship, and projection. There's no combat, no puzzles – just walking, listening, and reflecting. It’s a narrative experiment that resonates on a philosophical and emotional level, inviting players to examine not just a creator’s work, but their own reactions to it. | © Everything Unlimited Ltd.

Cropped The Vanishing of Ethan Carter — The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (2014)

A moody, atmospheric mystery, *The Vanishing of Ethan Carter* places players in the shoes of Paul Prospero, a paranormal detective unraveling the strange disappearance of a young boy. Set in a gorgeously rendered valley filled with abandoned houses, overgrown railways, and spectral memories, the game blends supernatural elements with grounded human tragedy. It’s a nonlinear narrative where you reconstruct scenes and uncover clues without any hand-holding, making discovery feel organic and rewarding. The game’s emphasis on exploration and immersion over action makes it a standout in the genre, offering a haunting story wrapped in breathtaking visuals. | © The Astronauts

Gone Home (2013)

Sometimes, the quietest stories leave the loudest echoes. *Gone Home* revolutionized the walking simulator genre by proving that a single house – and a single night – could hold a deeply moving narrative. Set in the mid-90s, the game follows Katie as she returns to an empty family home and slowly uncovers the story of her sister Sam’s coming-of-age journey. There are no enemies, no objectives – just drawers to open, notes to read, and a story to feel. Its minimalist design and emotionally resonant writing helped pave the way for narrative games to be taken seriously. *Gone Home* remains a landmark title that showed just how intimate and powerful interactive storytelling can be. | © Fullbright

Proteus (2013)

Abstract and dreamlike, *Proteus* invites players to explore a procedurally generated island where nature is the main character. There’s no dialogue, no plot, and no traditional goals – just a vibrant landscape that reacts musically to your presence. Birds chirp, trees hum, and the seasons change as you wander through pixelated hills and forests. What makes *Proteus* special is its ability to evoke emotion through pure environment, encouraging players to slow down, listen, and simply exist within a digital space. It’s a poetic take on the walking simulator genre, embracing minimalism to deliver a truly meditative experience. | © Curve Games

The Stanley Parable (2013)

Subversive, clever, and endlessly self-aware, *The Stanley Parable* plays with the concept of player agency like few other games ever have. You play as Stanley, a faceless office worker navigating an empty workplace – but nothing is as it seems. The narrator, voiced brilliantly by Kevan Brighting, guides (or manipulates) your choices with biting wit and philosophical insight. Every decision you make – or refuse to make – sends the story spiraling into unexpected territory. As a walking simulator, it challenges the very definition of the genre, turning narrative structure into a puzzle of its own. It’s a must-play for anyone curious about how far storytelling in games can go. | © Galactic Cafe

Journey (2012)

Few games have captured the universal language of emotion as gracefully as *Journey*. You play as a robed figure traversing a vast desert, with no spoken words, no interface, and no direction beyond a glowing mountain in the distance. As you glide through dunes, scale ancient ruins, and encounter other anonymous players along the way, a profound sense of connection emerges. The game’s orchestral score, composed by Austin Wintory, enhances every moment, making each step feel meaningful. *Journey* is a testament to the power of minimalist design and emotional storytelling, and it remains one of the most influential walking simulators of all time. | © Thatgamecompany

The Unfinished Swan (2012)

Whimsy meets wonder in *The Unfinished Swan*, a beautifully imaginative game where you begin in a stark white world and bring it to life by splattering it with paint. As you follow a runaway swan through surreal environments, the gameplay shifts in style and tone, constantly surprising with new mechanics and narrative layers. The story centers on a young boy named Monroe, dealing with loss and legacy in a dreamlike world that reflects his emotional journey. The game feels like a living picture book, using simplicity and creativity to tell a heartfelt story without overwhelming the player. | © Giant Sparrow

Dear Esther (2012)

A pioneer of the modern walking simulator, *Dear Esther* helped define the genre’s potential for artistic storytelling. Set on a remote, desolate island, the game unfolds through poetic narration triggered as you explore. The story is intentionally fragmented, blending memory, grief, and longing into a haunting experience that feels more like a visual poem than a traditional game. There's no interaction beyond walking and looking, yet the atmosphere is so thick with emotion and mystery that it pulls you in completely. *Dear Esther* proved that games could be introspective, quiet, and emotionally resonant – and helped pave the way for everything that followed. | © The Chinese Room

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Sometimes, the most powerful games aren’t about combat or competition – they’re about exploration, atmosphere, and storytelling. Enter the world of walking simulators: narrative-driven video games that immerse players in rich environments and emotional experiences. While the term “walking simulator” was once used dismissively, it’s now embraced as a genre that prioritizes introspection, discovery, and often stunning visual storytelling.

In this list, we’re highlighting 20 of the best walking simulator games – titles that prove less action can still mean more impact. Whether you're wandering through a desolate space station, exploring a forgotten childhood home, or uncovering haunting secrets in the woods, these games invite you to slow down, observe, and feel. From cult classics to modern indie gems, these are the walking simulators that left a lasting impression.