Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality
24 games like ABZU (2026)
Every game below overlaps with ABZU on things players said about it rather than on our opinion of what feels alike. Each entry shows what it matched on, so you can throw out the ones matching on the part you did not care about.
The short version
- Closest match: Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, which both fantasy, story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing.
- ABZU is tagged Relaxing, Atmospheric, Underwater, Exploration, Great Soundtrack, Adventure, Singleplayer, Casual by Steam players. Those tags are what the matching runs on.
- 24 games qualify, each with at least fifty player reviews behind its sentiment figure.
- 2 are free to download, so you can test the resemblance yourself at no cost.
How these were matched
Steam tags carry the most weight, because players apply them and they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Souls-like, Atmospheric and Cozy exist as tags and as nothing else, which is exactly the vocabulary this question needs. Formal genres count for less, themes and a shared studio for more.
Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are thrown out before matching. Nearly everything is tagged Singleplayer, so matching on it is matching on nothing. That cutoff is computed from the catalogue rather than fixed, so it moves as the catalogue grows.
All 24, closest first
- 1
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Why it matched: both fantasy, story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 10 player tags including Story Rich, Controller and Indie; published by the same company; released around the same time (2013).
Guide two brothers on an epic fairy tale journey from visionary Swedish film director, Josef Fares and top-tier developer Starbreeze Studios. Control both brothers at once as you experience co-op play in single player mode, like never before.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons at a glance Released 2013 Studio Starbreeze Studios Player sentiment 94% positive of 41,281 Price $14.99 Story RichControllerIndieShortFantasyBeautifulGreat SoundtrackThird Person
- 2
Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons
Why it matched: both fantasy, story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 10 player tags including Story Rich, Controller and Indie; published by the same company; released around the same time (2013).
Guide two brothers on an epic fairy tale journey from visionary Swedish film director, Josef Fares and top-tier developer Starbreeze Studios. Control both brothers at once as you experience co-op play in single player mode, like never before.
Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons at a glance Released 2013 Studio Starbreeze Studios AB Player sentiment 94% positive of 41,281 Price $14.99 Story RichControllerIndieShortFantasyBeautifulGreat SoundtrackThird Person
- 3
The Witness
Why it matched: both open world, story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 9 player tags including Exploration, Colorful and Indie; released around the same time (2016).
You wake up, alone, on a strange island full of puzzles that will challenge and surprise you.
The Witness at a glance Released 2016 Studio Thekla, Inc. Player sentiment 84% positive of 21,324 Price $39.99 ExplorationColorfulIndieWalking SimulatorRelaxingCasualGreat SoundtrackStory Rich
- 4
Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP
Why it matched: both fantasy, story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 9 player tags including Indie, Great Soundtrack and Fantasy; released around the same time (2012).
Traverse a mythic little realm, use a sword to do battle & evoke sworcery to solve mystical musical mysteries.
Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP at a glance Released 2012 Studio Capybara Player sentiment 77% positive of 2,654 Price $7.99 IndieGreat SoundtrackFantasyRelaxingBeautifulCasualStory RichExploration
- 5
Firewatch
Why it matched: both open world, story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 8 player tags including Story Rich, Walking Simulator and Exploration; released around the same time (2016).
Firewatch is a single-player first-person mystery set in the Wyoming wilderness, where your only emotional lifeline is the person on the other end of a handheld radio.
Firewatch at a glance Released 2016 Studio Campo Santo Player sentiment 91% positive of 99,328 Price $19.99 Story RichWalking SimulatorExplorationIndieGreat SoundtrackShortColorfulCasual
- 6
GRIS
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 9 player tags including Beautiful, Great Soundtrack and Indie; released around the same time (2018).
Gris is a hopeful young girl lost in her own world, dealing with a painful experience in her life. Her journey through sorrow is manifested in her dress, which grants new abilities to better navigate her faded reality.
GRIS at a glance Released 2018 Studio Nomada Studio Player sentiment 96% positive of 96,216 Price $14.99 BeautifulGreat SoundtrackIndieRelaxingStory RichColorfulCasualExploration
- 7
Journey
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 9 player tags including Beautiful, Indie and Exploration; released around the same time (2012).
Explore the ancient, mysterious world of Journey as you soar above ruins and glide across sands to discover its secrets.
Journey at a glance Released 2012 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 94% positive of 38,401 Price $3.74 BeautifulIndieExplorationRelaxingGreat SoundtrackWalking SimulatorCasualStory Rich
- 8
Slime Rancher
Why it matched: both open world, fantasy and relaxing; shares 8 player tags including Exploration, Colorful and Casual; released around the same time (2017).
Slime Rancher is the tale of Beatrix LeBeau, a plucky, young rancher who sets out for a life a thousand light years away from Earth on the ‘Far, Far Range’ where she tries her hand at making a living wrangling slimes.
Slime Rancher at a glance Released 2017 Studio Monomi Park Player sentiment 98% positive of 156,780 Price $19.99 ExplorationColorfulCasualSimulationFantasyFamily FriendlyIndieGreat Soundtrack
- 9
Euro Truck Simulator 2
Why it matched: both open world, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 8 player tags including Simulation, Relaxing and Exploration; released around the same time (2012).
Travel across Europe as king of the road, a trucker who delivers important cargo across impressive distances! With dozens of cities to explore, your endurance, skill and speed will all be pushed to their limits.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 at a glance Released 2012 Studio SCS Software Player sentiment 97% positive of 940,049 Price $19.99 SimulationRelaxingExplorationControllerFamily FriendlyThird PersonCasualIndie
- 10
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
Why it matched: both open world, fantasy, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 7 player tags including Great Soundtrack, Story Rich and Fantasy; released around the same time (2016).
“Ori and the Blind Forest” tells the tale of a young orphan destined for heroics, through a visually stunning Action-Platformer crafted by Moon Studios.
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition at a glance Released 2016 Studio Moon Studios GmbH Player sentiment 95% positive of 71,430 Price $19.99 Great SoundtrackStory RichFantasyIndieControllerFamily FriendlyBeautiful
- 11
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 8 player tags including Story Rich, Great Soundtrack and Short; released around the same time (2018).
Have you ever dreamt of being a superhero? Meet Chris, a creative and imaginative 9 year old boy who escapes reality with fantastical adventures as his alter ego, the Awesome Captain Spirit! Captain Spirit is a free demo set in the Life is Strange universe. Contains links to Life is Strange 2
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit at a glance Released 2018 Studio DONTNOD Entertainment Player sentiment 93% positive of 15,089 Price Free Story RichGreat SoundtrackShortWalking SimulatorThird PersonControllerCasualIndie
- 12
Townscaper
Why it matched: both open world, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 8 player tags including Relaxing, Casual and Short.
Instant town building toy. Place housing blocks and watch them transform, piece by piece, into idyllic ocean-side towns, pastoral gardens, or sweeping cities on the sea.
Townscaper at a glance Released 2021 Studio Oskar Stålberg Player sentiment 95% positive of 21,622 Price $2.39 RelaxingCasualShortSimulationIndieFamily FriendlyColorfulController
- 13
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Why it matched: both open world, fantasy, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 6 player tags including Beautiful, Great Soundtrack and Story Rich; released around the same time (2020).
Play the critically acclaimed masterpiece. Embark on a new journey in a vast, exotic world where you’ll encounter towering enemies and challenging puzzles on your quest to unravel Ori’s destiny.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps at a glance Released 2020 Studio Moon Studios Player sentiment 97% positive of 146,084 Price $29.99 BeautifulGreat SoundtrackStory RichExplorationIndieFantasy
- 14
Child of Light
Why it matched: both fantasy, story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 6 player tags including Fantasy, Great Soundtrack and Story Rich; released around the same time (2014).
Aurora, a young girl from 1895 Austria, awakens on the lost fairytale continent of Lemuria. To return home she must fight against the dark creatures of the Queen of the Night, who have stolen the sun, the moon and the stars. At stake is not only Lemuria, but Aurora’s true destiny.
Child of Light at a glance Released 2014 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 91% positive of 13,481 Price $14.99 FantasyGreat SoundtrackStory RichBeautifulIndieCasual
- 15
Slime Rancher 2
Why it matched: both open world, fantasy, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 6 player tags including Relaxing, Colorful and Simulation.
Continue the adventures of Beatrix LeBeau as she journeys across the Slime Sea to Rainbow Island, a land brimming with ancient mysteries, and bursting with wiggly, new slimes to wrangle in this sequel to the smash-hit, Slime Rancher.
Slime Rancher 2 at a glance Released 2025 Studio Monomi Park Player sentiment 95% positive of 49,802 Price $29.99 RelaxingColorfulSimulationFamily FriendlyCasualFantasy
- 16
Risen 2: Dark Waters
Why it matched: both open world, fantasy, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 6 player tags including Third Person, Fantasy and Exploration; released around the same time (2012).
Set several years after the end of Risen, raging titans have devastated the world and pushed humanity to the brink of existence. Subsequently, monstrous creatures have risen from the watery depths of the sea and their attacks have brought all seafaring to a grinding halt.
Risen 2: Dark Waters at a glance Released 2012 Studio Piranha Bytes Player sentiment 80% positive of 6,790 Price $9.99 Third PersonFantasyExplorationStory RichGreat SoundtrackController
- 17
Dust: An Elysian Tail
Why it matched: both fantasy, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 7 player tags including Indie, Fantasy and Great Soundtrack; released around the same time (2013).
Immerse yourself in a gorgeous hand-painted world on a search for your true identity. As the mysterious warrior, Dust, your action-packed journey will take you from peaceful glades to snowy mountaintops and beyond.
Dust: An Elysian Tail at a glance Released 2013 Studio Humble Hearts LLC Player sentiment 95% positive of 19,062 Price $14.99 IndieFantasyGreat SoundtrackExplorationStory RichControllerBeautiful
- 18
Figment
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 7 player tags including Indie, Great Soundtrack and Colorful; released around the same time (2017).
Figment is an action-adventure game that invites you to explore a unique surreal universe filled with music, humor and multi layered narrative. Join Dusty and his ever-optimistic friend, Piper, on an adventure through the different sides of the mind seeking to restore the courage that's been lost.
Figment at a glance Released 2017 Studio Bedtime Digital Games Player sentiment 87% positive of 5,696 Price $3.99 IndieGreat SoundtrackColorfulControllerStory RichCasualExploration
- 19
PowerWash Simulator
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 7 player tags including Casual, Relaxing and Simulation.
Release the Pressure with PowerWash Simulator! Wash away your worries with the soothing sounds of high-pressure water. Fire up your power washer and blast away every speck of dirt and grime you can find, all with the simple satisfaction of power-washing to a sparkling finish.
PowerWash Simulator at a glance Released 2022 Studio FuturLab Player sentiment 96% positive of 58,640 Price $9.99 CasualRelaxingSimulationFamily FriendlyColorfulStory RichIndie
- 20
Unpacking
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 7 player tags including Relaxing, Casual and Story Rich.
Unpacking is a zen puzzle game about the familiar experience of pulling possessions out of boxes and fitting them into a new home. Part block-fitting puzzle, part home decoration, you are invited to create a satisfying living space while learning clues about the life you’re unpacking.
Unpacking at a glance Released 2021 Studio Witch Beam Player sentiment 93% positive of 40,694 Price $19.99 RelaxingCasualStory RichSimulationIndieFamily FriendlyColorful
- 21
DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT
Why it matched: both open world, story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing; shares 6 player tags including Story Rich, Walking Simulator and Great Soundtrack.
From legendary game creator Hideo Kojima comes a genre-defying experience, now expanded in this definitive DIRECTOR’S CUT. As Sam Bridges, your mission is to deliver hope to humanity by connecting the last survivors of a decimated America. Can you reunite the shattered world, one step at a time?
DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT at a glance Released 2022 Studio KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS Player sentiment 92% positive of 67,641 Price $39.99 Story RichWalking SimulatorGreat SoundtrackExplorationThird PersonRelaxing
- 22
Hogwarts Legacy
Why it matched: both open world, fantasy, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 6 player tags including Fantasy, Exploration and Story Rich.
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG. Now you can take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world.
Hogwarts Legacy at a glance Released 2023 Studio Avalanche Software Player sentiment 90% positive of 371,874 Price $5.99 FantasyExplorationStory RichThird PersonGreat SoundtrackFamily Friendly
- 23
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Why it matched: both open world, fantasy, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 6 player tags including Fantasy, Third Person and Story Rich.
The minds of New York Times bestselling author R.A. Salvatore, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion lead designer Ken Rolston have combined to create Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, a new role-playing game set in a world worth saving.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning at a glance Released Not recorded Studio Big Huge Games Player sentiment 88% positive of 13,009 Price Not listed FantasyThird PersonStory RichExplorationControllerGreat Soundtrack
- 24
Mabinogi
Why it matched: both open world, fantasy, story-rich and relaxing; shares 5 player tags including Casual, Simulation and Fantasy; released around the same time (2012).
Embark on amazing adventures, build lasting friendships or even find romance in this unique social game, where a welcoming community with thousands of devoted players await! Whoever you are, or whatever your heart’s desire, come express it in Mabinogi and start living your fantasy life!
Mabinogi at a glance Released 2012 Studio NEXON Korea Corporation Player sentiment 74% positive of 4,197 Price Free CasualSimulationFantasyGreat SoundtrackStory Rich
Common questions
What game is most like ABZU?
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, on the evidence we have. It both fantasy, story-rich, atmospheric and relaxing. That is a statement about overlap, not a promise you will like it as much: two games can share every tag and still feel different to play.
How is "similar to ABZU" decided?
By overlap on the tags Steam players applied to each game, the formal genres, the themes both sit in, and whether the same studio made them. Tags carry the most weight because players write them, so they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are ignored: matching on "Singleplayer" is matching on nothing. Every entry below shows exactly what it matched on.
Are these ranked by quality?
No. They are ordered by how much they overlap with ABZU. Where two games overlap equally, the better received one goes first, but that only moves a game a place or two. Each entry shows its own player sentiment so you can weigh that separately.
Do you get paid for these recommendations?
No. The order is computed from tag and genre overlap and nothing else. No placement here can be bought, and a game appearing high on this page is a statement about resemblance rather than an endorsement.