20 Best Narrative/Choice-Based Games Like Life is Strange!

Life is Strange is one of those games that game developers can only dream about developing, Square Enix has actually done a great job with this game, the storyline, visuals, gameplay, and almost everything about this game was just pure class.

Life is Strange is still considered one of the best choice-based games ever. Players in this game controlled Max Caufield, who was a photography student at Blackwell Academy; later in the game, she realized that she had a superpower, that is, she was able to rewind or stop time. The soundtrack on the other hand matched the game perfectly, almost every single soundtrack in the game felt like the right one for the game.

However, today we’ll be looking at some other Narrative/Choice-Based games that are similar to Life I Strange, and if you’ve already finished LIS, then these games are what you should try out next as we’re sure that you’re going to love them. So, without wasting any moment, let us begin with the first game on our list.

20 Best Narrative/Choice-Based Games Like Life is Strange

1. The Walking Dead Season 1

We’re starting off our list today with none other than The Walking Dead Season 1 and this game has got to be one of my favorites on our list today. Players in this game take on the role of a university professor and a convicted criminal named Lee Everett, and he definitely, without a doubt, is one of the best video game characters ever made.

The game starts off with Lee handcuffed in a police officer’s vehicle while being escorted to prison, the car later crashes as a strange-looking (zombie figure) gets in the way of their vehicle. Lee is then forced to be set free from the handcuffs, and he later realizes that a zombie outbreak has begun and he needs to find a safe spot immediately.

Lee comes across a little girl named Clementine, whom he later protects through the game, and she is also one of the best video game characters who has been through a lot. The gameplay of this game is pretty impressive for the time it was released. It is played from a third-person perspective with different cinematic camera angles.

Players in this game are able to examine and interact with almost all the objects available in sight. Communicating with other players and choosing the right dialogue is a vital aspect of this game as it helps players to understand the situations of other NPCs in a much more profound manner. The Walking Dead Season 1 has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from gamers and critics from all over the world, and this game truly is a masterpiece that you can’t afford to miss experiencing.

2. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

Next up on our list is The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, and this isn’t a game that’ll hold the player’s hand and will team them everything. This game is set in an open-world environment and lets players freely explore their heart desires. This game puts players in the shoes of a paranormal investigator named Paul Prospero who received a fan letter from a 12-year-old fan named Ethan Carter, the letter sent by the fan inspired Paul to travel to Ethan’s hometown of Red Creek Valley, Wisconsin.

Upon arrival, our protagonist learns that Ethan has gone missing, and then he starts encountering paranormal activities and phenomenons. As players progress further into the game, they’ll uncover the dark secret of the Carter family. This game is really impressive, dark, and full of staggering content, players must solve different puzzles, and upon finding a body, they can use paranormal abilities to recreate the events that’ll help them in the investigation.

The gameplay is played from a first-person perspective and players can freely roam and interact with tons of objects scattered around the map, the visual quality on the other hand is simply exquisite. A redux version of the game was also released later, which enhanced the game’s graphics quality, making it even better than it is in the original version.

3. Tell Me Why

Tell Me Why! this is an episodic adventure game that consists of three chapters. This game features a pair of twins named Tyler and Alyson, and they can communicate with each other through telepathy. Both Tyler and Alyson reunite 10 years later to investigate the death of their mother.

Both the twins in the game revisit many of the places where they used to hang out when they were kids and investigate a lot of stuff in order to get blues regarding their mother’s death. Players need to make decisions that will affect the game’s storyline, so it is best to choose the right option or the storyline can take bad turns.

Since the game was released only a couple of years ago, the visual quality of this game is pretty good, and players, to this day, still enjoy this game due to its staggering gameplay and storyline. Tell Me Why has received extremely positive reviews from gamers and critics and this game isn’t a no-brainer, if you’re a fan of choice-based games then Tell Me Why should be on your list of games to try out next.

4. The Wolf Among Us

The Wolf Among Us is an episodic choice-based drama game that consists of five episodes and this game also serves as a prequel to the Fable comic book series, players in this game take control of Bigby Wolf, the sheriff of Fabletown and he must investigate a series of murders.

Since the sequel of this game called The Wolf Among Us 2 is around the corner and will be released in the upcoming year, this will be the best time to enjoy this game. This game is played from a third-person perspective, and just like the majority of the choice-based narrative games, players in this game can also interact with almost every single object in sight.

The dialogue options that players choose during conversations will have a positive or negative effect on the story and can also decide the outcome of many situations in the game. The Wolf Among Us has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from gamers and critics worldwide. You should try out this game to understand the story of the second game that will be released soon.

5. Firewatch

On the fifth spot, we have Firewatch which is another action choice-based game on our list in which players assume the role of a fire lookout named Henry who works in Shoshone National Forest. Henry later starts interacting with his supervisor Delilah via a walkie-talkie, players need to choose the dialogue option that decides the outcome of a specific communication.

The game is played from a first-person perspective and takes place in 1989. Upon exploring his surrounding area, Henry discovers the secrets that have been buried under the National Park. Firewatch has received exceptionally positive reviews from gamers and critics, and players still enjoy this game.

6. Detroit: Become Human

Are you a fan of games set in the future? If yes, then Detroit: Become Human will be the perfect choice-based game for you. This game is set in the future where allies have succeeded humans in terms of intelligence, and the future of both mankind and Android is in the hands of the player.

This is an award-winning game in which human-like androids are everywhere, and they talk, move, and do most of the stuff like or even better than humans. The choices made by the players in this game will decide the outcome of many situations, so make sure to make your decisions wisely.

Detroit: Become Human’s visual quality is pretty impressive, and the gameplay, on the other hand, is staggering as well. The game has received very positive reviews from all around the world and is also considered one of the best story-driven narrative/choice-based games of all time.

7. Beyond: Two Souls

Beyond: Two Souls features two main protagonists that players can control. The first main protagonist is Jodie Holmes, while the other is an incorporeal entity known as Aiden; it is a separate soul linked to Jodie since birth. Due to her psychic link to Aiden since birth, Jodie possesses supernatural powers.

One of the most renowned movie stars of all time, Willaim Dafoe, also starts in this game as Nathan Dawkins, who is a researcher in the Paranormal Activity department, and he is also Jodie’s surrogate father figure.

As for the gameplay, this game requires players to move and guide the character in the desired directions. Players also need to interact with tons of objects that’ll help them later on in the game, on the other hand, communication is also a vital part of this game, and almost every conversation is important in this game, plus the dialogue options that players choose also affect the relationship and the communications.

8. Gone Home

Imagine you return home after a long time abroad, and you find your house empty, yeah it feels scary to think about it right? Gone Home is set in 1995, and players are given control of a young woman who returns to her home in Oregon after staying abroad for a long time.

Upon her arrival, she finds her house empty, and not a single family member is present, leaving her to piece together all the recent events and find clues that would help her locate her family quickly. The protagonist of the game Is named Katie, and the gameplay is in first-person perspective, she can move around the house and interact with almost every single object present in it.

If you do not have a high-end PC, then you don’t need to worry about this game stuttering as the system requirements of this game are too low, and it is able to run on almost every system. The visual quality, on the other hand, is really awesome. Too considering the year when this game was released. Gone Home has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from gamers and critics worldwide, and you should definitely give this game a try for yourself if you’re into narrative choice-based games like Life is Strange.

9. Until Dawn

The next game on our list is Until Dawn, and players in this game assume the role of eight young adults who have to survive on Blackwood Island as their Lives are threatened. This game also features a butterfly effect system in which players must make choices that will shape the story, and all players can survive or die depending on the choices made by the players.

Until Dawn is played from a their-person perspective even tho the gameplay was planned to be in first-person. The game requires players to look for clues that will help them throughout the storyline to solve the mystery that the game holds for the players.

The visual quality of this game is pretty impressive, and numerous gamers want this game to be ported to PC as it is a PlayStation exclusive game, so only PS gamers have the privilege of playing this game. We hope that the developers decide to port this game to PC as soon as possible. If you’re a PlayStation gamer and haven’t played this game yet, then you’re missing out on a great choice-based narrative game.

10. Heavy Rain

Heavy Rain features four protagonists in the game who are involved with the mystery of the Origami killer (a serial killer who uses extended periods of rainfall to drown his victims). Players in this game control the four different players from a third-person perspective, and in order to perform actions in the game, players need to interact with the options available on the screen.

This game also features quick time events where players need to rely on their senses and quickly react to certain situations or the character might die. Every playable character in the game may die however, that depends on the choices that the player makes during the game.

Heavy Rain’s visual quality is impressive, and a PC version of the game with enhanced visuals was released in 2020. If you’re a PlayStation or PC gamer, you can have an exquisite time playing this game.

11. Tales From The Borderlands

On the eleventh spot, we have Tales From The Borderlands. This game is set after the events of Borderlands 2, and the storyline of the game is focused around Hyperion employee Rhys and Pandoran con artist Fiona as they both team up to set out on an adventurous quest to find and open a vault.

Like most of the titles from Telltale, this game also uses the episodic format in which the choices made by the players shape the outcome and the story of the game. The gameplay of this game is episodic and point and click. On the other hand, the game also features a loot system where players can collect cash scattered throughout the map.

Tales From The Borderlands consists of five different episodes that players need to play through in order to fully complete the game. Gamers and critics from around the world praised the gameplay and the storyline of the game and this game is still played by numerous gamers worldwide.

12. To The Moon

To The Moon is quite unique as it is built on an RPG Maker XP engine that is used to power 16-bit 2D games, and you might have Speculated that this game is able to run on potato PCs as well. The storyline of this game features two doctors trying to fulfill a dying man’s last wish using artificial memories.

The gameplay mechanics of this game are extremely simple, players need to solve puzzles and complete quests in order to progress further. To The Moon received minisode updates later on, and this game has done exceptionally well and received tons of positive reviews from all around the world.

13. Syberia

Syberia is a game where players take on the role of Kate Walker, a young ambitious lawyer from New York who is tasked with handling the same of an old automaton factory hidden in the Alpine Valley. However, this task will completely turn her life upside down. During her journey, she comes across loads of characters and incredible locations.

This game features a gripping story that goes beyond our imagination, film-like camera angles for people who are into old-school games, and creative puzzles that players need to solve in order to progress further into the storyline. Overall, the game has received very positive reviews on Steam, and you should surely try this game out for yourself as we’re sure that it won’t disappoint you.

14. Night In The Woods

Night in the Woods is focused on providing players with a great experience of exploration, adventure, storyline, and more. The game puts players in the shoes of a college dropout named Mar Borowski, who returns back to her hometown only to find some unexpected changes.

Mae lives in the attic and realizes how many changes have occurred since she was there the last time. She is also forced to confront the horrible secret of her town. The gameplay of this game is pretty simple, and the game is in 2D. Night in the Woods has received a considerable amount of favorable reviews from gamers and critics all over the world.

15. Oxenfree

On the fifteenth spot we have Oxenfree, it is a graphic adventure game featuring a teenage girl named Alex as the main protagonist on a weekend trip to a local island. Alex and her friends experience some supernatural events and must uncover the secrets hidden on the island.

The developers of this game wanted to develop a game that is free from any cutscenes, allowing players to roam around the environment freely as their heart desires. The gameplay of Oxenfree is built around the walk-and-talk mechanic, and players are given two or three dialogue options they need to choose from to progress the conversation further ahead.

16. Last Day of June

Last Day of June is an adventure puzzle game played from a third-person perspective. The game lets players control a character named Carl, who’s on a date with a girl named June on the day leading up to their accident.

Players then are given control of Carl at a later date, and they can interact with the painting made by June. It allows players to control various characters from the day of the accident and solve puzzles in order to alter the events that caused the accidents.

This game provides players with a deep, interactive experience about love and loss with exquisite cinematics. Last Day of June has received exceptionally positive reviews from gamers and critics and is also considered one of the best games like Life is Strange.

17. Dreamfall Chapters

Next up on our list is a game with an emphasis on character interaction, exploration of the game world, and puzzle solving. Dreamfall Chapters is a sequel to two adventure games, The Longest Journey and Dreamfall: The Longest Journey. This game consists of five episodes and is set in two parallel worlds, Stark, a cyberpunk future Earth, and Arcadia, its magical counterpart.

The game continues the story of Dreamfall, and players are given control of Zoë Castillo, who has discovered a criminal conspiracy that could be used to enslave both Stark and Arcadia. The game features large 3D environments, and players need to make choices with different consequences.

Players in this game will be able to experience a deep emotional storyline and new features such as playable deleted scenes. The game has received extremely positive reviews worldwide and you should definitely check out this game for a great storyline and gameplay experience.

18. Fahrenheit

Also known as Indigo Prophecy, Fahrenheit features Lucas Kane as the main protagonist, who gets supernaturally possessed into committing a murder, and the NYC detectives Carla Valenti and Tyler Miles capture him. Players in this game will shape the story via their choices, and three possible endings are featured at the end of the game.

The gameplay of this game is pretty good for the time it was released, and the visual quality, on the other hand, is pretty good but not up to today’s standards; however, it shouldn’t really be a problem if you’re looking for a good game with an interesting storyline.

19. What Remains of Edith Finch

What Remains of Edith Finch is a first-person exploration video game and the storyline follows the seventeen-year-old Edith Finch, who unfortunately is also the last surviving member of her family. Edith returns back to her ancestral home after seven years, and while re-exploring her childhood place, she discovers her family’s dark past and also learns about the series of deaths that occurred in the house.

The gameplay of this game is basically like a walking simulator where Edith explores the house and looks for clues while also solving puzzles, the game also provides commentary for Edith’s thoughts. This game has received overwhelmingly positive reviews worldwide, and it should be on your list if you’re looking for a great game to spend your time on.

20. Vampyr

Last but not least, the final game on our list is Vampyr. It is an action RPG, and players in this game take on the role of a newly turned Vampyr, Dr. Jonathan Reid, and you must find a cure to save the city’s flu-ravaged citizens.

Will you face or embrace the monster within? Players would need to fight against the vampyr hunters. The gameplay is in the third person perspective, and Jonathan’s thirst for blood will force him to kill innocent people. The visual quality of this game is pretty impressive, and you should definitely give this game a try, as we’re sure that it won’t disappoint you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Over To You

This was our list of the 20 Best Narrative/Choice-Based Games similar to Life is Strange, and we hope that you guys are now sure about which game you’re going to enjoy next. If you have any doubts regarding the above information, please let us know in the comments below, and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.