Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality
24 games like Braid (2026)
Every game below overlaps with Braid 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: World of Goo, which both story-rich, atmospheric, strategy, puzzle, relaxing and difficult.
- Braid is tagged Puzzle-Platformer, Puzzle, 2D Platformer, Platformer, Indie, Time Manipulation, 2D, Singleplayer 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.
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
World of Goo
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, strategy, puzzle, relaxing and difficult; shares 9 player tags including Puzzle, Indie and Great Soundtrack; released around the same time (2008).
World of Goo is a multiple award winning physics based puzzle / construction game made entirely by two guys.
World of Goo at a glance Released 2008 Studio 2D Boy Player sentiment 94% positive of 6,589 Price $14.99 PuzzleIndieGreat SoundtrackCasual2DClassicDifficultStory Rich
- 2
Papers, Please
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, strategy, puzzle, relaxing and difficult; shares 8 player tags including Indie, Puzzle and Story Rich.
Congratulations. The October labor lottery is complete. Your name was pulled. For immediate placement, report to the Ministry of Admission at Grestin Border Checkpoint. An apartment will be provided for you and your family in East Grestin. Expect a Class-8 dwelling.
Papers, Please at a glance Released 2013 Studio Lucas Pope Player sentiment 97% positive of 80,337 Price $9.99 IndiePuzzleStory Rich2DGreat SoundtrackStrategyCasualDifficult
- 3
Mark of the Ninja
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, strategy, puzzle and relaxing; shares 9 player tags including Platformer, Indie and 2D.
In Mark of the Ninja, you'll know what it is to truly be a ninja. You must be silent, agile and clever to outwit your opponents in a world of gorgeous scenery and flowing animation. Marked with cursed tattoos giving you heightened senses, every situation presents you with options.
Mark of the Ninja at a glance Released Not recorded Studio Klei Entertainment Player sentiment 97% positive of 15,877 Price Not listed PlatformerIndie2DSide ScrollerPuzzleShortStory RichStrategy
- 4
Limbo
Why it matched: both atmospheric, puzzle, relaxing and difficult; shares 9 player tags including Puzzle-Platformer, Indie and Puzzle; released around the same time (2010).
Uncertain of his sister's fate, a boy enters LIMBO
Limbo at a glance Released 2010 Studio Playdead Player sentiment 92% positive of 62,016 Price $12.49 Puzzle-PlatformerIndiePuzzlePlatformer2DShortSide ScrollerDifficult
- 5
GRIS
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, puzzle and relaxing; shares 9 player tags including Beautiful, Great Soundtrack and Indie.
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 SoundtrackIndiePlatformer2DStory RichPuzzlePuzzle-Platformer
- 6
FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S: HELP WANTED
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, strategy, puzzle, relaxing and difficult; shares 6 player tags including Casual, Difficult and Puzzle.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted is a collection of classic and original mini-games set in the Five Nights universe. Experience the horror in flat (non-VR) mode or VR. Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are supported. A VR Headset is NOT required to play.
FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S: HELP WANTED at a glance Released 2019 Studio Steel Wool Studios Player sentiment 96% positive of 13,118 Price $29.99 CasualDifficultPuzzleStory RichIndieStrategy
- 7
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, puzzle and difficult; shares 9 player tags including Great Soundtrack, Platformer and Story Rich.
“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 SoundtrackPlatformerStory RichDifficult2DIndiePuzzleSide Scroller
- 8
Baba Is You
Why it matched: both atmospheric, strategy, puzzle, relaxing and difficult; shares 7 player tags including Puzzle, Indie and Difficult.
Baba Is You is a puzzle game where the rules you have to follow are present as blocks you can interact with. By manipulating them, you can change how the game works, repurpose things you find in the levels and cause surprising interactions!
Baba Is You at a glance Released 2019 Studio Hempuli Oy Player sentiment 98% positive of 24,536 Price $14.99 PuzzleIndieDifficult2DGreat SoundtrackCasualStrategy
- 9
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, puzzle and difficult; shares 8 player tags including Beautiful, Platformer and Great Soundtrack.
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 BeautifulPlatformerGreat SoundtrackStory RichPuzzle2DIndieDifficult
- 10
The Witness
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, puzzle, relaxing and difficult; shares 7 player tags including Puzzle, Indie and Difficult.
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 PuzzleIndieDifficultCasualGreat SoundtrackStory RichBeautiful
- 11
Peggle
Why it matched: both strategy, puzzle, relaxing and difficult; shares 7 player tags including Casual, Puzzle and 2D; released around the same time (2007).
Take your best shot with energizing arcade fun! Aim, shoot, clear the orange pegs, then sit back and cheer as 10 whimsical teachers guide you to Peggle greatness.
Peggle at a glance Released 2007 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 98% positive of 14,434 Price $4.99 CasualPuzzle2DClassicStrategyDifficultGreat Soundtrack
- 12
Little Nightmares
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, strategy and puzzle; shares 8 player tags including Puzzle-Platformer, Puzzle and Indie.
Take on the role of Six, a lone child lost in a massive metal vessel known as the Maw, surrounded by dangerous, distorted versions of adults. You’ll need to do your best to escape in one piece or your fate will be worse than you ever dared dream.
Little Nightmares at a glance Released 2017 Studio Tarsier Studios Player sentiment 95% positive of 116,529 Price $19.99 Puzzle-PlatformerPuzzleIndieStory RichPlatformerGreat SoundtrackShortStrategy
- 13
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, puzzle and relaxing; shares 8 player tags including Story Rich, Indie and Puzzle.
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 RichIndiePuzzleShortBeautifulGreat SoundtrackPlatformerCasual
- 14
Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, puzzle and relaxing; shares 8 player tags including Story Rich, Indie and Puzzle.
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 RichIndiePuzzleShortBeautifulGreat SoundtrackPlatformerCasual
- 15
Child of Light
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, strategy and relaxing; shares 8 player tags including Great Soundtrack, Platformer and 2D.
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 Great SoundtrackPlatformer2DStory RichBeautifulSide ScrollerIndieCasual
- 16
Machinarium
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, puzzle and relaxing; shares 6 player tags including Puzzle, 2D and Story Rich; released around the same time (2009).
Machinarium is the award-winning independent adventure game developed by the makers of Samorost series, Botanicula and CHUCHEL. Help Josef the robot save his girlfriend Berta kidnapped by the Black Cap Brotherhood gang!
Machinarium at a glance Released 2009 Studio Amanita Design Player sentiment 95% positive of 20,634 Price $3.99 Puzzle2DStory RichCasualIndieGreat Soundtrack
- 17
Fez
Why it matched: both atmospheric, puzzle and relaxing; shares 8 player tags including Platformer, Indie and Puzzle; released around the same time (2012).
Gomez is a 2D creature living in a 2D world. Or is he? When the existence of a mysterious 3rd dimension is revealed to him, Gomez is sent out on a journey that will take him to the very end of time and space. Use your ability to navigate 3D structures from 4 distinct classic 2D perspectives.
Fez at a glance Released 2012 Studio Polytron Corporation Player sentiment 93% positive of 16,237 Price $9.99 PlatformerIndiePuzzleGreat SoundtrackCasualPuzzle-Platformer2DBeautiful
- 18
SpaceChem
Why it matched: both strategy, puzzle, relaxing and difficult; shares 7 player tags including Puzzle, Difficult and Indie; released around the same time (2011).
Zachtronics is back with an ambitious new design-based puzzle game. Take on the role of a Reactor Engineer working for SpaceChem, the leading chemical synthesizer for frontier colonies. Construct elaborate factories to transform raw materials into valuable chemical products!
SpaceChem at a glance Released 2011 Studio Zachtronics Player sentiment 92% positive of 5,085 Price $9.99 PuzzleDifficultIndieGreat Soundtrack2DCasualStrategy
- 19
Celeste
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric and difficult; shares 9 player tags including Difficult, Great Soundtrack and Indie.
Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight platformer from the creators of TowerFall. Brave hundreds of hand-crafted challenges, uncover devious secrets, and piece together the mystery of the mountain.
Celeste at a glance Released 2018 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 97% positive of 146,352 Price $4.99 DifficultGreat SoundtrackIndiePlatformer2D Platformer2DStory RichPuzzle-Platformer
- 20
Zuma
Why it matched: both strategy, puzzle, relaxing and difficult; shares 7 player tags including Puzzle, 2D and Strategy.
Deep in the jungle lie hidden temples bursting with traps and trickery, and it's up to you to uncover their treasures. Fire magical balls from your stone frog idol to make matches of three or more and clear the deadly chain before it reaches the golden skull.
Zuma at a glance Released 2003 Studio Oberon Media Player sentiment 96% positive of 6,806 Price $4.99 Puzzle2DStrategyCasualClassicIndieDifficult
- 21
Trine 2: Complete Story
Why it matched: both atmospheric, puzzle and relaxing; shares 9 player tags including Puzzle-Platformer, Platformer and Beautiful.
Three Heroes make their way through dangers untold in a fairytale world, featuring physics-based puzzles, beautiful sights and online co-op.
Trine 2: Complete Story at a glance Released 2013 Studio Frozenbyte Player sentiment 95% positive of 22,041 Price $19.99 Puzzle-PlatformerPlatformerBeautiful2D PlatformerPuzzleIndieGreat Soundtrack2D
- 22
Bendy and the Dark Revival
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, strategy, puzzle and relaxing; shares 6 player tags including Indie, Story Rich and Puzzle.
Bendy and the Dark Revival® is a first-person survival horror game set in the creepiest cartoon studio to ever exist. Discover the truth. Escape the studio. Above all, fear the Ink Demon…and survive.
Bendy and the Dark Revival at a glance Released 2022 Studio Joey Drew Studios Player sentiment 92% positive of 16,194 Price $5.99 IndieStory RichPuzzleStrategyGreat SoundtrackCasual
- 23
Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, puzzle and relaxing; shares 7 player tags including Indie, Great Soundtrack and Puzzle; 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 SoundtrackPuzzleBeautiful2DCasualStory Rich
- 24
Trine Enchanted Edition
Why it matched: both atmospheric, puzzle and relaxing; shares 8 player tags including Puzzle-Platformer, Beautiful and Platformer; released around the same time (2009).
Three Heroes make their way through dangers untold in a fairytale world of great castles and strange machinery, featuring physics-based puzzles, beautiful sights and online co-op.
Trine Enchanted Edition at a glance Released 2009 Studio Frozenbyte Player sentiment 96% positive of 15,942 Price $14.99 Puzzle-PlatformerBeautifulPlatformerPuzzleGreat SoundtrackIndieCasual2D
Common questions
What game is most like Braid?
World of Goo, on the evidence we have. It both story-rich, atmospheric, strategy, puzzle, relaxing and difficult. 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 Braid" 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 Braid. 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.