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What are the best walking simulator style games for PC?

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Considered

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Sep 2, 2023

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13 Games Considered

Best walking simulator style games for PC	Price	Steam Rating	Genre
-- The Stanley Parable	-	Very Positive	Adventure, Interactive Story
-- Firewatch	-	Very Positive	Narrative, Adventure, Walking Sim
-- The Long Dark	$31.99	Very Positive	First-Person Survival, Sandbox
-- What Remains Of Edith Finch	$19.99	Overwhelmingly Positive	Narrative, Adventure
-- The Vanishing of Ethan Carter	-	-	Horror, Adventure, Puzzle, Narrative

The Stanley Parable

Top Pro

Exceptional narration

Excellently crafted, hilarious writing delivered by a well spoken, charismatic British narrator. Kevan Brighting has become somewhat of a cult success since the game due to its cult like status which just shows how deserving he is due to how well done the narration of the game is done. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Very Positive

Genre:Adventure, Interactive Story

Top Pro

Points out narrative limitations in games by encouraging breaking narrative structure through gameplay

The game encourages players to explore decisions that would change the meaning of the presented story. What if you took a left turn where the game asked you to take a right? What if you decided not to push a big red button needed to continue playing because you didn't agree with pushing the big red button? What if you died in a boss battle? How would that affect the narrative of the game? The game rewards you for not following the "intended" narrative structure of the situation in order to point out how the structure is unavoidable in games as a whole. The process of attempting to break the structure can be highly satisfying in The Stanley Parable and can help you better notice limitations of narrative in other games. See More

Top Pro

Discusses the illusion of choice in games

One of the main themes of the game is the illusion of choice that's presented in games. While a player can make a vast number of decisions in the game, the narrator reminds the player he can only make decisions that the game allows him to and how the game manipulates the player into making them. The narrator points out that not just common choices such as what path to take to get from point A to point B, how to approach a certain situation or what ethical choices are available are limited to the game's designers having thought of and implemented those aspects of the game, but decisions such as purposeful suicide, not taking action, disobeying instructions and even turning off the game are only there if the game allows them to be there. See More

Top Pro

The game has a lot of different endings to find

There are numerous ending to the game that appear to play out even when the player makes the same choices as their last playthrough. See More

Top Pro

Insightful commentary on state of game design

The game tackles topics such as ludonarrative dissonance, choice in games, narrative limitations, etc while mostly focusing on the relationship between the game and the player in terms of storytelling in a very meaningful, educated and entertaining way. See More

Top Pro

A few nods to other games can be seen throughout the game

References to other games including Half-Life 2, Portal & Minecraft can be found throughout the game. See More

Firewatch

Top Pro

Great atmosphere

You get lost in the world playing as Henry, it even ends up getting a little spooky. It never shows how it's spooky but there's always that creepy vibe in the background. See More

Top Con

Tremendous build up in story, only to have a lackluster finale

Once the player progresses far enough into the game there are plot thread wrap-ups that seem a bit too convenient and overly rushed. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Very Positive

Genre:Narrative, Adventure, Walking Sim

Top Pro

Beautiful graphics

The game impresses with stunning graphics and a beautifully crafted world, overlaid with a neat canvas effect. See More

Top Con

Story feels a bit weak

Once the player progress far enough into the game there are moments that are left unexplained that were once thought to be important as well as wrap ups that seem a bit too convenient. See More

Top Pro

Adds interaction to the "walking simulator" genre

Unlike many walking simulator game the player is allowed to interact more with the environment than expected. User can repel down ropes, collect caches of items and even adopt a pet. See More

Top Con

In some parts the game locks you from entering areas

It might sound obvious but sometimes the invisible walls don't feel right, they are put in places you should be able to walk. See More

Top Pro

Fantastic voice acting

There are two leads with each being voice acted in a believable way in how they interact. The relationship presented in the story is given credence due to how well it is acted. See More

Top Con

Short game

It maxes out at 5 hours of play, which is a bit short, though it is priced fairly for the time one gets. See More

Top Pro

Based on exploration and storytelling

Firewatch is basically a exploration game with a very strong focus on the main story. No need to kill enemies or compete with other games online. See More

The Long Dark

Top Con

A lot of walking

No autorun or fast travel. True annoyance. See More

Top Pro

Bug-free

The Long Dark has no glaring bugs, glitches, or technical problems. The graphics are complete and polished without missing textures, and the game systems are both balanced and fair. It doesn't suffer from any overpowered or underpowered aspects of play, resulting in a game that is fully playable and free of glitches. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Very Positive

Genre:First-Person Survival, Sandbox

Top Con

No jumping or climbing

You cannot jump or climb over fences, rocks, or other obstacles meaning sometimes you will have to take the longest route possible to reach your destination. See More

Top Pro

Complete freedom to explore the open-world

The game features a massive, open-world sandbox mode in which there are no quests to gate your progress, or artificial boundaries to exploration. The only goal is to survive as long as possible, and to do it by whatever means possible. This free-exploration, open-world design offers plenty of space to roam for those who want to enjoy a more open playstyle without the hindrances of time gates or quest mechanics. Whether you choose to salvage for supplies, hunt the local wildlife, start cooking fires, or simply just take in the view - the freedom to explore and interact with the world in your own way is endless. See More

Top Con

No multitasking

Most actions in the game have a small wait time, and you can only perform one action at time. For example, if you search an item, boil water, repair your clothes, or salvage anything, you will have to stop and wait until the action completes. See More

Top Pro

Realistic survival elements make you feel a part of the world

You'll feel like you're living in true survival situation, and the game does an excellent job of placing the player in the role. This game features elements of survival that are very close to the real world, creating an enriching gaming experience for those who want a realistic survival challenge. You will have to keep an eye on your calorie intake, monitor your body temperature, and even craft and wear clothing appropriate to the harsh arctic environment. Staying outside too long after dark can kill you via hypothermia. The wildlife is dangerous and can injure or kill you - as the animals are starving too. You can starve to death if you forget to eat, or run out of food. Death in this game is permanent, and will require you to start the game over. See More

Top Con

No tutorial

There is no tutorial or learning mode. When you start the game, you have to figure out how to survive in this harsh world on your own. Some say this adds to the experience, but for many, this can be overwhelming especially in a survival game where everything can -- and will -- kill you. See More

Top Pro

Story mode adds a new way to play

For those who desire a story to go with their survival gaming, The Long Dark offers a fully voiced-acted, five chapter story mode called "Wintermute" complete with cutscenes. It features all the survival gameplay aspects of the sandbox version, as well as story quests and character development, making it an engaging, new way to experience all the game has to offer. In the story, you'll assume the role of a man trying to survive in the harsh Canadian wilderness after crashing his plane during a geomagnetic disaster. Rather than just a no-bones survival situation, you'll be working through an actual storyline as you head for safety. As you progress the story, you'll have the opportunity to do quests, watch voice-acted cutscenes, and interact with other characters who are fighting for their lives as well. This pulls you even deeper into the game world since you now have a real goal to work for - escaping the harsh wilderness alive. Story mode adds a deeper layer of immersion via storytelling than the sandbox mode, which is only about surviving as long as you can. Though currently not all of the chapters are available as they are released episodically over time. See More

Top Pro

Four difficulty levels to suit all skill levels

Regardless of your skill level, you will be able to find a difficulty level that suits you and satisfies your craving for a good challenge. This game features four different difficulty levels, making it accessible to a broad range of players. The easiest mode is Pilgrim and it offers a gaming experience suitable to all players where dying is a rare occurrence. For beginning players, Voyager is recommended as it gives you a forgivable way to learn the basics. After that, the difficulty takes a strong curve upwards into the remaining two modes: Stalker, and Interloper - with the latter being considered a very challenging gaming experience only recommended for expert gamers and those who desire a true video game survival challenge. See More

Top Pro

Good balance between surviving and exploring

There is a delicate balance between exploring and surviving, and every aspect of gameplay is closely related. The amount of activity the player performs and the distance they can travel and explore, are balanced around certain metrics such as time, warmth, and calories - and all of these game systems are closely related resulting in a finely tuned experience. For example, eating food replenishes calories, but in order to find food, you have to explore and salvage which causes you to burn calories in the first place. The player must watch how many calories they burn, even when sleeping, and make sure they find or hunt enough food to keep themselves going. On top of this, the player needs to seek shelter from the cold, make sure they are wearing the appropriate clothing, and build fires to stay warm and cook food. During your explorations to salvage supplies and look for food items, you will need to explore carefully as to not get stuck without a place to sleep for the night. See More

What Remains Of Edith Finch

Top Pro

Great story and atmosphere

This game gave me some serious feels at the end, and I’m not a particularly emotional person. Very good story, and the level of detail in the house itself is amazing. I wish I could wipe my memory, MIB style, and play it all over again. Although a short game, it was very impactful for me nonetheless. I highly recommend this if you are into story based games and/ or walking simulators to some extent. I loved Firewatch as well, if that gives you any sense of reference. See More

Top Con

No interactive puzzles

There are no puzzles to solve in this game, which can be a dull experience for some. The narrative is told as the player goes room by room without any puzzles or roadblocks for the player to overcome. See More

Ellie Aderyn's Experience

Favorite walking sim by far! It can be completed in one setting and each story within the story has a new engaging game mechanic and storytelling method. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Overwhelmingly Positive

Genre:Narrative, Adventure

Top Pro

Instills a sense of wonder

From the opening scene to its final moments, What Remains of Edith Finch, seeks to instill a sense of wonder through it's detailed game world. The house itself is a mix of various unconventional architectural styles and flavors. From it's towering bedroom spires to it's dark, claustrophobic basement, each area of the house is different and varied with different decor and textures. Moving from room to room is sometimes done with interesting travel mechanics such as secret passages that act as a seamless transistion between two vastly different rooms. This makes each area feel fresh, new, and exciting. The player is never quite certain what they're going find beyond the next door, which instills a deep sense of wonder of what other secrets the house holds. See More

Top Con

Short playtime

The game doesn't take very long to complete and can be comfortably completed within a few hours. This may be a turn off for some players who are hoping for a longer experience. See More

Top Pro

Mysterious story

This award-winning story takes us step-by-step through the tragic and mysterious history of the Finch family. We learn of all the family members, the stories of their lives, and how they met an unfortunate and untimely end. By it's thrilling conclusion, the player has been led on a strange journey filled with all sorts of reveals, surprises, and plot twists. At the end, the game closes by answering the titular question: What exactly does remain of Edith Finch? At the beginning of the game, the player is informed that teenager Edith is the last living member of her family. She speculates and half-jokes that her family suffers from some kind of curse. Throughout the family's history, all of the members have met unfortunate and bizarre deaths. The origins and nuances of the alleged curse are a mystery to Edith and the player alike. The overarching storyline for the game expands deeply on this mystery and features two major themes as it progresses. The first theme is Edith's journey through the sprawling house as she tells of her childhood growing up there. Through Edith, we get to hear family stories and learn of the struggles the family has endured over generations. She comments about the family members as she goes from room to room telling us pieces and parts of her past. As the game progresses, much is revealed about Edith and her family through her tales and observations. The second theme revolves around the various family members and how they met their untimely demises. During the course of the game, the player relives memories of the various family members. These memories are always tragic events that result in an untimely or strange death for those involved. By seeing the story not just through Edith's eyes, but the eyes of the deceased as well, we get a complete, deeper and more intimate look into the lives of the family. See More

Top Pro

Expert pacing

The game sets an excellent pace by never giving players a chance to become bored. While detailed and varied, each room only has a handful of objects that can be interacted with. This limited interaction ensures the player will never linger in a single room too long and acts as a gentle nudge to keep moving onward. This encourages a comfortable pacing that allows the player to explore at their own pace, yet doesn't allow for much downtime between important story elements. See More

Top Pro

Amazing attention to detail

Every room in the Finch house is unique in decor and style, and plays its part in telling the story. No two rooms in the game are alike and each is filled with it's own charm and personality. While exploring the hallways and rooms of the sprawling home, the player will find various notes, photos, trinkets, and old momentos. While not all can be interacted with by Edith, the player is still free to zoom the camera in for a deeper look. Old photos and post-it notes often contain untold stories for the player to ponder. When Edith is narrating, the words she is speaking appear within the gameworld and then dissappear with a variety of different effects. They melt, burst, and fade away depending on her emotions. When Edith mentions a specific object, the words will take shape around that object. This is much more involved than the simple subtitles that most games opt to do. See More

Top Pro

Every story features a new gameplay mechanic

As Edith travels throughout the house and surrounding areas, she will encounter objects that tell the history of the various family members and how they met their demise. Upon inspecting the objects, an interactive story will be triggered and the player will take on the role of the family member portrayed in the story. Each one of these stories has its own gameplay mechanic, making for a new gaming experience each time a piece of the family history is discovered. For example, when exploring the room of a young, imaginative child named Molly, the player will come across a handwritten story hastily scribbled in crayon. By examing this note, the player assumes control of Molly for the duration of the tale. This particular story involves taking on the form of different animals and hunting various prey. By the time the story ends, the player not only learns about Molly and her imagination, but they also learn of how Molly met her end. Throughout the game, you will experience the memories and last moments of each family member in unique and interactive ways. See More

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

Top Pro

Heavily exploration based

With the exception of a few storyline gated or locked areas, you have the freedom to explore the entire game world from the very beginning. From the dark forests to the run down old houses, you can wander and go wherever you please, stopping to enjoy the scenery or investigate locations at your leisure. There are no linear story paths to follow and most of the puzzles can be completed in any order. This unhindered exploration allows you to explore the world and unravel the mystery completely at your own pace. See More

Top Con

Can complete chapters out of order and you don't know if you missed something needed to advance the plot

There are moments when I didn't realize I didn't finish a chapter or assumed parts to finish a chapter existed further up the road. See More

Ellie Aderyn's Experience

Even with its flaws, worth the experience...especially if you can get it for free or discounted. See More

Specs

Genre:Horror, Adventure, Puzzle, Narrative

Top Pro

Challenging and rewarding puzzles

The puzzles require great observational skills with many clues being found only after thoroughly exploring the location in which the puzzle resides. Oftentimes, these clues are very discreet, well hidden, and integrated into the environment in creative ways. Piecing everything together can be quite a challenge at times as the puzzles provide no instructions, but also very rewarding as bits of the story are revealed after each successful solve. See More

Top Con

Horrible character models

They are very plain and look almost cartoonish in nature, which is a stark contrast to the photo realistic environment they inhabit. The same level of work that went into the game world didn't quite make it into the character models, and as a result, they are disappointingly bad. See More

Top Pro

Immersive atmosphere

While wandering the landscape, it's easy to believe you are exploring an old forest and town lost to time. The buildings are run down and decrepit, the roads and railroad tracks are overgrown with grass, and save for the chirping of birds or the river babbling, it is eerily silent. Exploring around and poking into every dark corner of the vast wilderness, one can't help but feel a complete sense of awe and become fully immersed in the mystery. See More

Top Con

Not much dialogue

For a game that is heavily steeped in storytelling, there is a surprisingly low amount of actual dialogue and spoken lines. While it doesn't detract much from the experience, some people might be expecting a lot more writing for a game that boasts its story as a selling point. See More

Top Pro

Very surreal and mysterious storytelling

While the game starts out with the premise of a detective trying to solve the disappearance of a young boy, the story quickly takes a sharp turn and begins mixing in some very surreal, strange themes. These themes border on the paranormal and supernatural, and it quickly becomes apparent this is not a clear cut missing persons case. During the course of the game, the story keeps you guessing and invested as you try to figure out exactly what's going on. Additionally, due to the way you explore the nonlinear world, you might be witnessing events out of order which makes it even more mysterious. See More

Top Con

Simplistic gameplay

There is very little direct interaction with the world outside of solving puzzles and reading notes. Much of the game is simply walking around and exploring. From time to time, you will stumble upon a location in which you can manipulate items to solve the various puzzles, read notes, and watch story cutscenes play out. See More

Top Pro

Gorgeous, state-of-the-art graphics

During development, real objects were photographed, scanned, and put into the game world using a process called photogrammetry. As a result, everything in-game renders as photo realistic without jagged lines or appearing pixelated. Everything from buildings and trees down to the smallest details like rocks and blades of grass look great. See More

Top Con

Repetitive puzzle solving

Without revealing spoilers, almost every major puzzle in the game is solved using the exact same logic. While the puzzles themselves are thematically different, the way you approach them and the mechanics they use are the same. After you've figured out how the first one works, you'll be applying the same basic principles to every puzzle in the game thereafter. See More

Top Con

Pacing feels unbalanced

There is one notable part of the game where the player spends an uneven amount of time in that the environment is lackluster as well as holds many frustrating puzzles. This makes for what feels like unbalanced pacing and is an aggravating section of the game. See More

Night in the Woods

Top Pro

The simplistic gameplay is surprisingly fun

Running around the side-scrolling town as Mae day in and day out is more enjoyable than it sounds at first. It's mundane, but there's a lot of meaning to find around the town if you're willing to look for it. You go wherever you want, finding out stories about the townspeople and the town itself, or hanging out with friends for scripted story moments. Poking around all over town to find out the history is pretty cool, like the underground diner that Mae used to steal from back in the day, or the old shopping mall that barely gets any customers anymore. When you're not talking to people or going somewhere, you can play around with the rhythm mini-game as you practice with Mae's bass either in her room or in her old band with her group of friends. You can fall into a nice habit of checking in with the NPCs and locations you care about most, almost like in real life where you prioritize the people and places you spend the most time around. See More

Top Con

Some pacing issues with the story

The story slogs through the premise of Mae's anxieties and disillusionment for a long time until it suddenly switches somewhere in the middle. There are a few hints here and there about how and why the plot becomes a murder mystery, but these things seem inconsequential and not as important as Mae's personal issues. It ends up feeling strange to change things up partway through to something unrelated to the original premise. While the murder mystery isn't necessarily bad, it would have been nice to see a more focused insight and resolution to Mae's young adult troubles. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Overwhelmingly Positive

Genre:Adventure, Narrative

Top Pro

Great coming-of-age story

The coming-of-age story in Night in the Woods is unconventional for a video game, making it more unique and intriguing. After dropping out of college, the main character, Mae, struggles with her own disillusionment in life and refusal to grow up, all the while her old friends find success and move on without her. You join in on that struggle as you live as Mae: aimlessly going around town talking to everyone and listening to their worries, browsing your laptop when you're supposed to be doing other important things, and even pressing a button to wake up in bed every morning as a reminder of how mundane life can be. You see all the ways she doesn't necessarily want to grow up, wishing she could stay a kid forever, but then she talks to an old acquaintance who thinks she's washed up now, making her feel anxious about her failings as a young adult. This type of story is familiar for anyone who has also had a hard time with similar problems, and eye-opening for anyone who hasn't. See More

Top Con

The main character is insufferable at first

It's hard to like Mae from the start for a few reasons. She's extremely self-centered, she likes to steal for the thrills, and she has no interest whatsoever in fixing her shortcomings. Her life seems to be one awkward moment after another where you can't help but cringe in embarrassment, like in one early scene where she gets drunk at a party and blabs away about her personal problems after spending hours telling herself she wouldn't. As you get to know her, Mae might grow on you, but if you're the type to lose your patience with people who are immature, then you probably won't like her all that much. See More

Top Pro

Tragic, realistic setting and NPCs

Night in the Woods is set in Possum Springs, once a booming mine town but now a forgotten speck on the map, rife with poverty and decay. Its history is based on several real Adirondack towns, and its portrayal of rural decline is painfully accurate. The townspeople you talk to lament about having to close down their businesses, or wonder out loud how they'll make ends meet. Everyone's economic hardships feel real and relevant to anyone who's gone through the same thing or knows someone else who has. See More

Top Pro

Well-written side characters

Every character feels like they have a history and realistic personal motivations, even when they're left unexplained. Mae's friends are all different yet interesting in their own ways, like Gregg who's always happy to see her and helps Mae feel like someone truly cares, and Bea with her biting sarcasm and apathy that seem to cover up her more complex issues. The residents of the town also talk about things in ways that are true-to-life, like how they gossip about their neighbors as you listen in, or just flat-out tell you sometimes to leave them alone. Every character in the game feels like a real person, whether they're central to the story or just one of the NPCs you see sitting on their porch all the time. See More

Gone Home

Top Pro

Deep environmental storytelling

Through interacting with objects in the environment of the game (a house) one is able to learn piecemeal the story that the game is set out to tell. See More

Top Con

Details are sometimes off

The objects and dialog aren't consistent for things such as the mom's place of employment. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Very Positive

Top Pro

Interesting side stories

Besides the main story there are several side stories in the game that center around the rest of the people who live in the house. Through interacting with objects in the house one learns of the surrounding circumstances of those that live there. See More

Top Con

Weak voice acting

While most of the voice acting is adequate there are many moments that stick out as poorly done and lessens the experience of the game. See More

Top Con

Main story feels badly written

Dear Esther

Top Pro

Narrative driven experience

There are no waypoint markers, no quests, in fact nobody else in this world except the player and the narrator. Hike through the world and discover the inner workings of this person’s mind. See More

Top Con

Short gameplay

Only about 90 minutes to two hours long which is pretty short for a game and can easily be finished in a single sitting. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Mostly Positive

Genre:First-Person Exploration

Top Pro

Pervasive sense of isolation, loneliness, and mystery

The game takes place on an abandoned island, so in a practical sense the player is alone. Add to that that this is a bit of a ghost story and mystery becomes enwrapped within the isolation of the island making for what is as much of an experience as it is a game that makes for a feeling and sense of loneliness and despair that often is only found in real life. See More

Top Pro

Can be relaxing

Just sit back, relax, and spend some time with Dear Esther. The experience isn’t long and there’s no pressure to go past the pace you want to go. While it does have a sense of loneliness and isolation the graphics are beautiful and the music is soothing which also lends a hand in the relaxedness of the title. See More

Top Pro

Gorgeous, intricately detailed environments

There is no arguing that the scenery and graphics in Dear Esther is jaw dropping gorgeous. Due to how nothing can be interacted with the environment can be rendered in a much more beautiful way as not much needs to change while walking around. See More

Top Pro

Outstanding soundtrack

The soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful which suits the games visual atmosphere quite well. See More

Proteus

Top Pro

Simple mechanics

Proteus is more a walking simulator than a game, which makes it a great introduction to the controls of a first person view title as that is all one will really do, walk around. There are no real goals to the game other than walking to advance the seasons of the environment in order to see them. No confusing settings, no skill tress or complicated mechanics, which is great for people that find those types of things confusing or too stressful. See More

Top Con

Pretty short

The game can be finished in about an hour, or even less if one is rushing. So while the game is fun to experience, once completed one knows pretty much what to expect and may not make for the best option when considering the cost compared to longevity. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Very Positive

Top Pro

Works well on low resource hardware

This is great for those that do not own a dedicated gaming rig and just have a low resource system such as a laptop or low priced tower since more people will be more likely to own such a device, which makes for a great introduction to gaming while not having to sink a large amount of money into a rig. See More

Ether One

Top Pro

Fragmented story the player must figure out

The way the story is told matches it's overarching plot of dementia, so that the story is giving in pieces and not in order requiring the user to make the investment to piece it all together and come to their conclusion. See More

Top Con

Side quests are relatively hidden from the player

For those that go into the game blind there is little in the way of explanation that there are side quests hidden in the game that relate to certain objs=ects as one explores. This means that many players will miss a large portion of the title. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Mostly Positive

Top Pro

Deeply layered

While there is little in the way of interaction, what is presented to the player is a deeply layered town with many areas to explore. It gives a sense of "realness" that makes for an experience much in the way art or music does, sometimes visceral sometimes eliciting past memories. See More

Bottle: Pilgrim

Specs

Steam Rating:Mostly Positive

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