The Windows Are Gone similar games & best alternatives

The Windows Are Gone

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2023

Should you play it?

Haunted by grief and guilt after a tragic accident, you start seeing a house in your dreams. No matter what you do, you can't get its image out of your mind. You feel it calling for you, so you answer it.

What works
  • Excellent atmosphere and sound design
  • Engaging psychological horror story
  • Creative unpacking and decorating mechanics
  • Multiple endings and secrets
  • Free to play
Things to keep in mind
  • Lack of save system causing frustration
  • Bugs and softlocks reported
  • Slow pacing at start
  • Some narrative over-explanation
  • Limited replayability due to linear progression

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Sherlock Holmes Chapter One

  • ENA: Dream BBQ

  • Zefyr: A Thief's Melody

  • Tchia

  • The Knightling

  • Dujanah

  • Title_Pending

  • Rental

  • Yooka-Laylee
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Zefyr: A Thief's Melody

  • The Knightling

  • Dujanah
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Story

    Who's Lila?
  • Value

    waxweaver
  • Escapism

    The Designer's Curse

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).

The Windows Are Gone: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Competition, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Thrill, Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Strategy.

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

    3

    "Players have freedom to explore the house and make choices such as hiding or investigating, though within a scripted narrative."

    Capsule for Fears to Fathom - Home Alone Fears to Fathom - Home Alone

    "Players have freedom to unpack and decorate the house as they see fit, but progression is sometimes forced by scripted events limiting full autonomy."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    2

    "Gameplay involves puzzle solving and exploration with some trial and error, requiring moderate skill and problem solving."

    Capsule for Corpse Party (2021) Corpse Party (2021)

    "Gameplay involves simple tasks like moving and unpacking boxes with some puzzle elements, providing moderate skill engagement."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "No competitive elements; focus is on personal experience and story exploration."

    Capsule for Layers of Fear 2 (2019) Layers of Fear 2 (2019)

    "No competitive elements; focus is on personal experience and story exploration."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players often replay to explore multiple endings; some reports of bugs and short length may limit prolonged engagement."

    Capsule for Aviary Attorney Aviary Attorney

    "Players often replay to discover secrets and alternate endings, but bugs and lack of save system hinder prolonged engagement."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer features."

    Capsule for Accounting+ Accounting+

    "Single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer features."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players can customize homes with furniture and decorations, and personalize character appearance."

    Capsule for Denizen Denizen

    "Players can creatively decorate and arrange items in the house, expressing personal style within the game."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; experience is solitary and introspective."

    Capsule for The Stillness of the Wind The Stillness of the Wind

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; experience is solitary and introspective."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Strong psychological horror atmosphere and immersive story provide escape from reality."

    Capsule for The Designer's Curse The Designer's Curse

    "Strong psychological horror atmosphere and narrative provide immersive escape from reality."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and intrinsic motivation, no external pressure noted."

    Capsule for Black Closet Black Closet

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and intrinsic motivation, with no external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players explore interactions and discover subtle environmental details, encouraging curiosity and experimentation."

    Capsule for Gnomes & Goblins (preview) Gnomes & Goblins (preview)

    "Players explore decorating options and uncover secrets, encouraging experimentation within the environment."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Exploration of detailed, surreal environments and uncovering story elements and collectibles drives curiosity."

    Capsule for KARMA: The Dark World KARMA: The Dark World

    "Exploration of the house and discovery of secrets and VHS tapes drive curiosity and engagement."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Customization through deck building and cosmetic items allows player self-expression."

    Capsule for Faeria Faeria

    "Customization through item placement and decoration allows self-expression in the game environment."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Game features imaginative horror elements, surreal environments, and a fictional narrative with supernatural undertones."

    Capsule for Out of Sight Out of Sight

    "The game features surreal and psychological horror elements with a fictional narrative and eerie atmosphere."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Stellar Blade™ Stellar Blade™

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

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    2

    "Players learn story details, character backgrounds, and solve mysteries, but limited skill development."

    Capsule for Sword of Asumi Sword of Asumi

    "Players learn story details and uncover secrets, though gameplay skill development is limited."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention on story and exploration; not designed for casual or background play."

    Capsule for Dreamfall: The Longest Journey Dreamfall: The Longest Journey

    "Requires focused attention to unpack, explore, and follow story; not designed for casual or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "Minimal social interaction; emotional engagement is with narrative rather than other players."

    Capsule for Martha Is Dead Martha Is Dead

    "Minimal social interaction; emotional engagement is with the narrative rather than other players."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements present."

    Capsule for Trover Saves the Universe Trover Saves the Universe

    "No leadership or group management elements present."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Progression through story advancement, unlocking endings, and collecting secrets."

    Capsule for The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope

    "Progression through story, unlocking endings, and collecting secrets provides a sense of advancement."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Atmosphere induces tension and unease but balanced pacing allows moments of calm exploration."

    Capsule for Hollowbody Hollowbody

    "Slow pacing and atmospheric tension create a balance of calm and unease, offering a unique flow experience."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    4

    "Strong sensory stimulation through sound design, lighting, and eerie visuals to evoke emotional responses."

    Capsule for [Chilla's Art] The Ghost Train | 幽霊列車 [Chilla's Art] The Ghost Train | 幽霊列車

    "Strong sensory stimulation through sound design and eerie visuals enhances emotional impact."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems; focus is on personal experience."

    Capsule for Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments

    "No social recognition or status systems; focus is on personal experience."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Narrative immersion is central, with complex, layered storytelling and multiple endings."

    Capsule for Who's Lila? Who's Lila?

    "Narrative immersion is central, with multiple endings, secrets, and emotional storytelling."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    -2

    "Minimal strategic or problem-solving demands; gameplay is straightforward and exploratory."

    Capsule for CAT Interstellar CAT Interstellar

    "Minimal strategic or problem-solving demands; gameplay is straightforward and narrative-driven."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Psychological horror and tension build suspense and unease."

    Capsule for The Moon Sliver The Moon Sliver

    "Psychological horror and suspense build tension and deliver moments of unease and fright."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    5

    "Highly praised as a free game with substantial content and quality, offering excellent value."

    Capsule for waxweaver waxweaver

    "Highly praised for quality and content given that it is a free game, offering excellent value."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -5

    "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on psychological horror."

    Capsule for Lights Off! Lights Off!

    "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus is on exploration and psychological horror."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Crime Scene Cleaner Crime Scene Cleaner

    "No survival mechanics or threat avoidance; environment is stable though unsettling."

Come talk about it on Discord!

Last update: 01/06/2026