LEAVES - The Journey similar games & best alternatives

LEAVES - The Journey

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2017

Should you play it?

Travel to the mystic lands of Mononino and help the Treefruities to recover the lost leaves of their home tree. Search for clues to master the many puzzles and challenges on your journey.

What works
  • Unique surreal art style
  • Varied and challenging puzzles
  • Calming atmosphere and sound
  • Good value for price
  • Engaging exploration
Things to keep in mind
  • Some ui and navigation issues
  • Occasional bugs reported
  • Lack of story depth
  • Tedious backtracking
  • No fast travel

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Hyperbolica

  • Mr. Pumpkin Adventure

  • Isle of Ewe

  • THE CORRIDOR

  • The Whispered World Special Edition

  • Slice of Sea

  • Anemoiapolis: Chapter 1

  • Space Pilgrim Episode I: Alpha Centauri

  • Hand of Doom
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Mr. Pumpkin Adventure

  • Slice of Sea

  • Hand of Doom
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Fantasy

    Hylics
  • Autonomy

    Samorost 2
  • Creativity

    FORM

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

LEAVES - The Journey: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Competition, Thrill. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Expression, Thrill.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players freely explore surreal environments and solve puzzles with no imposed routines or strict guidance."

    Capsule for Samorost 2 Samorost 2

    "Players freely explore a surreal world and solve puzzles at their own pace with no forced linearity or scripted routines."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Puzzles vary in difficulty, some challenging and requiring problem solving, with feedback and progression tied to puzzle completion."

    Capsule for True Fear: Forsaken Souls Part 2 True Fear: Forsaken Souls Part 2

    "Puzzles vary from easy to challenging, requiring logical thinking and problem solving, with feedback through puzzle completion."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "No competitive elements or player comparison; focus is on individual exploration and puzzle solving."

    Capsule for Cybernetic Fault Cybernetic Fault

    "No competitive elements or player comparison; focus is on individual puzzle solving and exploration."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players engage in repeated short sessions with some grinding and replaying levels for upgrades and achievements, showing moderate attachment."

    Capsule for Battle Group 2 Battle Group 2

    "Players often engage in multiple sessions and some replay for achievements, showing moderate attachment."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer features."

    Capsule for Little Inferno Little Inferno

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer features."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Unique puzzle designs and surreal environments encourage creative problem solving and exploration."

    Capsule for FORM FORM

    "Players engage in creative problem solving and exploration within a unique surreal art world."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No social dominance or power over others; gameplay is solitary and respectful."

    Capsule for Toki Tori Toki Tori

    "No social dominance or power dynamics; gameplay is solitary and respectful."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "The surreal, artistic world and challenging puzzles provide an immersive escape from reality."

    Capsule for The Bridge The Bridge

    "The surreal, dreamlike atmosphere and immersive puzzles provide a strong escape from reality."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and intrinsic interest in puzzles and story."

    Capsule for Carto Carto

    "Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest and enjoyment of puzzles and art."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players explore shifting environments and puzzles that require trying different approaches and thinking outside the box."

    Capsule for Luto Luto

    "Players explore and test puzzle solutions, often thinking outside the box to progress."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Exploration of surreal environments and discovery of secrets and story elements is central to gameplay."

    Capsule for The Void The Void

    "Exploration of many unique, surreal locations is central to gameplay and puzzle solving."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -3

    "Limited customization or self-expression; focus is on puzzle solving rather than avatar personalization."

    Capsule for Last Room Last Room

    "Limited customization or self-expression; focus is on puzzle interaction rather than avatar personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Highly imaginative, surreal, and abstract fantasy world with no realistic grounding"

    Capsule for Hylics Hylics

    "Strongly imaginative, surreal, and artistic fantasy world with no realistic elements."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; solitary play."

    Capsule for Monument Valley Monument Valley

    "No social or community features; solitary play experience."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop logical thinking and puzzle-solving skills through gameplay."

    Capsule for Lines X Free Lines X Free

    "Players develop puzzle-solving skills and logical thinking through gameplay."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    Capsule for World of Tanks Blitz World of Tanks Blitz

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention and active puzzle solving; not suited for passive or background play."

    Capsule for Escape Memoirs: Mini Stories Escape Memoirs: Mini Stories

    "Requires focused attention and active puzzle solving rather than passive or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship building; purely individual experience."

    Capsule for BPM: BULLETS PER MINUTE BPM: BULLETS PER MINUTE

    "No social or emotional relationship building; purely individual experience."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; single-player puzzle focus."

    Capsule for The Room The Room

    "No leadership or group management roles; single-player puzzle focus."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Progression through unlocking and using new plant forms to advance puzzles and story."

    Capsule for Sprout Sprout

    "Progression through collecting leaves and unlocking new areas and puzzles."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Atmosphere and music create a calming experience, though some puzzles induce mental challenge and tension."

    Capsule for Superliminal Superliminal

    "Generally calming atmosphere and music, though some puzzles cause frustration."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable visual and auditory stimuli with humorous and chaotic effects."

    Capsule for Goat Simulator 3 Goat Simulator 3

    "Enjoyable visual and auditory surreal stimuli, though some find sound repetitive."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems present."

    Capsule for Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Resident Evil 7 Biohazard

    "No social recognition or status systems present."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    1

    "Minimal narrative conveyed through environment and quests; story is simple and not deeply immersive."

    Capsule for Bloody Walls Bloody Walls

    "Minimal narrative conveyed through environment and puzzles, not a strong story focus."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Puzzles require logical reasoning and planning to solve."

    Capsule for Unmechanical Unmechanical

    "Puzzles require logical reasoning and planning to solve."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    -3

    "Low suspense or risk; gameplay is calm and contemplative rather than thrilling."

    Capsule for Storyteller Storyteller

    "Low suspense or risk; gameplay is calm and contemplative rather than thrilling."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Good value for price especially on sale; provides several hours of enjoyable gameplay."

    Capsule for Go Home Dinosaurs! Go Home Dinosaurs!

    "Good value for price especially on sale; provides several hours of engaging gameplay."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -5

    "No violence; gameplay centers on constructive puzzle solving."

    Capsule for The Room Three The Room Three

    "No violence; gameplay centers on constructive puzzle solving."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -5

    "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable and safe environment."

    Capsule for Date Everything! Date Everything!

    "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable and safe environment."

Come talk about it on Discord!

Last update: 01/06/2026