35 Best Games Like Life is Strange But For Xbox One

1. Life is Strange: True Colors

As a mainline entry in the series, Life is Strange: True Colors is the most direct and modern comparison. You play as Alex Chen, a young woman with the supernatural ability to feel and manipulate the emotions of others. When her brother dies in a suspicious "accident," she must use her powers to uncover the truth in a small, picturesque town.

This game is the epitome of the Life is Strange formula: a relatable young protagonist, a central mystery to solve, a supernatural power that is central to the gameplay, and a huge emphasis on building relationships with a charming cast of characters. Your choices directly impact the story and your bonds with others, making it the perfect starting point for anyone wanting more.

2. Life is Strange 2

Life is Strange 2 is a bold and ambitious entry that takes the series' themes on the road. You play as Sean Diaz, who must protect and raise his younger brother Daniel, who has telekinetic powers, as they flee towards Mexico after a tragic accident.

While it features a new cast, the core DNA is pure Life is Strange. The game is entirely about choice and consequence, but here, your decisions not only affect the plot but also shape the morality and personality of your younger brother. It’s a powerful, emotional, and often heartbreaking journey that explores the bonds of family in the face of immense hardship.

3. Tell Me Why

From the original creators of Life is Strange, DONTNOD Entertainment, Tell Me Why is a spiritual successor in every sense. The game follows twins Alyson and Tyler Ronan, who reunite after ten years to sell their childhood home. They soon discover they share a supernatural bond that allows them to witness and explore their shared memories.

This is a must-play for any LiS fan. It features a compelling mystery rooted in family trauma, a beautiful small-town Alaskan setting, and a unique supernatural ability used to solve puzzles and uncover the truth. The focus on the bond between two siblings and the impact of memory makes it feel incredibly similar to Life is Strange.

4. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage

From the new studio founded by the creative minds behind the original Life is Strange, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is poised to be the next great game in this genre. It tells the story of four high school friends in the 90s whose bond is shattered by a dark secret, only for them to reunite 27 years later to confront the past.

While it’s a new story, it is being designed by the team that invented the formula. Expect a heavy focus on teenage friendship, a nostalgic setting, a central mystery, and the kind of impactful, character-driven storytelling that made the original game a cultural phenomenon.

5. As Dusk Falls

If the choice-and-consequence mechanic is what you love most, As Dusk Falls is a masterclass in branching narratives. Presented in a unique motion-comic art style, this crime drama tells the story of two families whose lives become entangled after a robbery goes wrong.

Every decision you make has significant weight, not only determining who survives but also shaping the characters and their relationships over decades. It features an incredibly detailed "story tree" at the end of each chapter, showing you the immense impact of your choices. It's a mature, gripping story that perfectly captures the high stakes of a Life is Strange narrative.

6. Oxenfree

Oxenfree is a fantastic indie title that perfectly captures the "teenagers dealing with a supernatural mystery" vibe. The game follows a group of friends who accidentally open a ghostly rift on an old military island. The gameplay is driven by a unique and natural-feeling dialogue system where every conversation choice shapes your relationships and the story's outcome.

It excels at building an eerie atmosphere and a compelling supernatural mystery, and the witty, realistic dialogue between the teenage cast will feel very familiar to fans of the Arcadia Bay crew.

7. The Quarry

For those who enjoyed the darker, more suspenseful moments of Life is Strange, The Quarry is an excellent choice. From the developers of Until Dawn, this cinematic horror game follows a group of teenage camp counselors on the last night of summer. Your choices determine who lives and who dies.

While it leans more into horror, it shares so much DNA: a large cast of well-developed teenage characters, a story where your choices have permanent and deadly consequences, and a central supernatural mystery to unravel. It feels like a darker, higher-stakes version of a Life is Strange story.

8. What Remains of Edith Finch

While it's a "walking simulator" with very few choices, What Remains of Edith Finch is an absolute must-play for fans of emotional storytelling. You play as Edith, the last surviving member of her family, as you explore her ancestral home to learn how each of her relatives died.

Each family member's story is told through a unique and surreal gameplay vignette. It’s a beautiful, heartbreaking, and unforgettable game that perfectly captures the sense of family history, mystery, and magical realism that is so central to the Life is Strange series.

9. The Walking Dead

Telltale's The Walking Dead is a foundational game in the modern narrative adventure genre. The game is famous for its gut-wrenching moral dilemmas, forcing you to make impossible choices under extreme pressure. Your decisions directly impact your relationships and determine the fate of the characters around you.

The focus on the relationship between protagonist Lee and the young girl Clementine is one of the most powerful in all of gaming. If you are looking for a game where your choices truly matter and will leave you emotionally devastated, this is essential playing.

10. Firewatch

For players who were captivated by the character relationships and the central mystery of Life is Strange, Firewatch is an essential experience. You play as Henry, a man who has taken a job as a fire lookout in the Wyoming wilderness to escape his past. The gameplay is driven by your conversations with your supervisor, Delilah, through a walkie-talkie.

The dialogue choices you make directly shape your relationship with her and color your perception of the game's events. It excels at creating a powerful sense of isolation and suspense, wrapping you in a compelling mystery that unfolds at your own pace.

11. Night in the Woods

Night in the Woods is a beautiful and poignant game that perfectly captures the feeling of returning to your struggling hometown after being away. You play as Mae Borowski, a college dropout who comes home to find that things have changed and her friends have grown up without her.

The game explores mature themes of mental health, economic anxiety, and the pains of growing up. It shares Life is Strange's focus on young adult angst, witty dialogue, a cast of memorable characters, and a slow-burn mystery that lurks beneath the surface of the town.

12. Beacon Pines

Beacon Pines is a unique and charming adventure game with a cute storybook art style that hides a surprisingly creepy mystery. You play as both the reader of a book and its main character, Luka. At key moments, you choose a word to fill in a blank, which drastically alters the story's path.

This clever mechanic is a fantastic representation of the "butterfly effect," as you can go back to previous choices and try a different word to unlock entirely new story branches. It's a fantastic choice for those who love the idea of exploring alternate timelines and seeing the direct consequences of their decisions.

13. Gone Home

Gone Home is a landmark title in the "walking simulator" genre and a huge inspiration for the exploration elements of Life is Strange. You arrive home after a year abroad to find your family's new house empty. Your goal is to explore the house and piece together what happened by examining objects and reading notes.

It tells a deeply personal and emotional story about family, identity, and love. While it lacks player choice, the feeling of uncovering a personal mystery by exploring a lived-in space is something it shares directly with Life is Strange.

14. The Wolf Among Us

From the creators of The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us is a gritty neo-noir mystery set in a world where fairytale characters live in secret in New York City. You play as Sheriff Bigby Wolf, and your choices in dialogue and investigation determine how the case unfolds.

This is a great choice for players who love the mystery and investigation aspects of Life is Strange. It's a masterfully told story with a fantastic atmosphere and characters, where your decisions have a real impact on your path to the truth.

15. Road 96

Road 96 is a unique procedural narrative adventure where you play as different teenagers trying to flee a totalitarian country. Each journey to the border is different, as you meet a diverse cast of characters and make choices that will not only shape your own story but also influence the fate of the entire nation.

The game is all about choice and consequence, with a focus on freedom and rebellion that will resonate with fans of Chloe Price. The feeling of being on a journey where anything can happen is incredibly strong.

16. A Plague Tale: Innocence

While these are linear action-stealth games, the A Plague Tale series is included for its incredible focus on the relationship between two siblings, Amicia and Hugo. The entire story is about their bond and Amicia's fierce determination to protect her younger brother against overwhelming odds.

For players who were deeply invested in the protective relationships of Life is Strange (Max and Chloe, Sean and Daniel), this series offers one of the most powerful and well-written sibling dynamics in all of gaming, wrapped in a stunning and brutal historical setting.

17. Vampyr

Also from DONTNOD, Vampyr is an action RPG where your choices have a direct and devastating impact on the world. You play as a doctor-turned-vampire in 1918 London. To grow stronger, you must feed on citizens, but every person you kill has a name, a story, and a role in their community. Killing them will permanently alter the health of a district.

This creates a constant moral dilemma: do you sacrifice innocent people for power, or do you struggle to save a city that fears you? It's a fantastic example of player choice having tangible, game-changing consequences.

18. Lake

If you're looking for a purely relaxing, choice-driven experience, Lake is a wonderful choice. You play as Meredith Weiss, who takes a break from her big-city career to spend two weeks delivering mail in her peaceful hometown.

There is no supernatural mystery or high-stakes drama. The gameplay is simply about driving the mail truck, delivering parcels, and having conversations with the local residents. The choices you make will determine what kind of relationships you build and what Meredith decides to do with her life. It’s a "slice-of-life" game that captures the small-town nostalgia of Life is Strange.

19. Twin Mirror

Another narrative adventure from DONTNOD, Twin Mirror follows an investigative journalist named Sam Higgs who returns to his hometown for a funeral. He soon gets wrapped up in a new investigation, using his deductive "Mind Palace" to piece together clues.

The game shares the familiar DONTNOD DNA: a protagonist returning to their hometown, a central mystery to solve, and a unique mental gameplay mechanic. While not as expansive as their other titles, it's a solid choice for fans of the developer's signature style.

20. Coffee Talk

Coffee Talk is a cozy and relaxing "talking simulator." You are a barista in a late-night coffee shop in a fantasy version of Seattle. Your job is to listen to the problems of your various customers (elves, orcs, succubi, and more) and serve them the warm drinks they're looking for.

While you don't make dialogue choices, you influence the story by what you serve. It's a game about creating a safe space and the quiet intimacy of listening to people's stories, perfectly capturing the calmer, character-focused moments of the Life is Strange series.

21. Arise: A Simple Story

Arise: A Simple Story is a beautiful puzzle-platformer where you journey through the bittersweet memories of an old man's life. The main mechanic is the ability to manipulate time, shifting seasons or the flow of events to solve environmental puzzles.

While it is not a choice-driven game, its powerful, wordless storytelling and its focus on memory, love, and loss create a deeply emotional experience that will appeal to fans of Life is Strange's heartfelt narratives.

22. Coffee Talk: Episode 2 - Hibiscus & Butterfly

The continuation of the beloved barista simulator, Coffee Talk Episode 2 expands on the cozy and heartfelt experience of the original. You once again take on the role of the late-night barista, serving warm drinks to a cast of returning and new characters, each with their own personal stories and problems to share.

This sequel continues to be a perfect game for those who love the quieter, character-focused moments of Life is Strange. The gameplay is all about listening to people and creating a safe, comforting space for them. By serving the right drinks, you can influence their conversations and help them find clarity, making it a wonderful and relaxing narrative experience.

23. The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes

From the developers of The Quarry, House of Ashes is a cinematic horror game where your choices determine who lives or dies. Set during the Iraq War, a group of soldiers unearths a Sumerian temple filled with ancient monsters. It’s a great choice for those who want a choice-driven game but with more action and horror than Life is Strange.

24. Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds is a critically acclaimed exploration and mystery game. You are a rookie astronaut in a solar system trapped in a 22-minute time loop that ends with the sun going supernova. Your goal is to explore different planets and uncover the secrets of a long-dead alien race to figure out why this is happening.

While it's not a character-driven story, it perfectly captures the feeling of piecing together a massive mystery. For players who loved the "detective" work of Life is Strange and the thrill of discovery, Outer Wilds is a masterpiece of game design.

25. Tacoma

From the creators of Gone Home, Tacoma is a narrative exploration game set on an abandoned space station. You use an augmented reality system to watch holographic recordings of the crew's final days, allowing you to follow their stories and piece together the mystery of what happened on the station.

Like Gone Home, it's about uncovering a story by exploring a space. Its unique storytelling mechanic and focus on the personal lives and relationships of the crew make it a great choice for fans of environmental narrative.

26. A Memoir Blue

A Memoir Blue is another short, interactive poem of a game. It tells the story of a champion swimmer as she dives into her memories to explore her complex relationship with her mother. The gameplay is a series of beautiful, surreal vignettes where you interact with objects to propel the story forward.

Like Florence, it's a fantastic choice for players seeking a purely emotional and artistic narrative experience.

27. The Last Campfire

The Last Campfire is a charming and heartfelt puzzle-adventure game. You play as a lost soul named Ember who must travel through a mysterious world to find other lost souls and light the last campfire, helping them find their way home.

The game has a beautiful storybook art style and a poignant narrative about hope, loss, and finding purpose. It's a relaxing and emotional journey that will appeal to fans of Life is Strange's more sentimental moments.

28. Hindsight

Hindsight is a poignant narrative exploration game about a woman returning to her childhood home after her mother's death. You interact with her possessions, which become windows into her past, as you piece together the story of her life from birth to the present day.

Like What Remains of Edith Finch, it's a game about memory and family history. It’s a beautiful and emotional journey for players who appreciate thoughtful, reflective storytelling.

29. Before I Forget

Before I Forget is a short narrative exploration game where you play as a woman with early-onset dementia. You explore her home, and by interacting with objects, you piece together fragments of her memories to uncover the story of her life.

It's a powerful and empathetic game that explores themes of memory and loss. It's a fantastic, short experience for fans of emotional, character-driven stories.

30. Call of the Sea

Call of the Sea is a first-person adventure-puzzle game set in the 1930s. You play as Norah, a woman who has traveled to a mysterious island in the South Pacific in search of her missing husband's expedition. You must solve environmental puzzles to uncover the secrets of the island and her husband's fate.

While it's a linear puzzle game, it tells a strong, character-driven story with a supernatural mystery at its heart, which will appeal to fans of Life is Strange's narrative.

31. Drizzlepath: Deja Vu

Drizzlepath: Deja Vu is another atmospheric "walking simulator." You play as a man climbing a mountain on a journey of self-discovery. The story is told through the narrator's philosophical musings as you take in the beautiful scenery. It's a very relaxing and contemplative experience.

32. The Dead Tree of Ranchiuna

This is a short "walking simulator" where you play as a man returning to his home village after graduating from university, only to find it abandoned. The story unfolds as you explore the deserted town and learn about the events that transpired. It deals with themes of community and loss.

33. Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost is a "walking simulator" set in an alternate history where World War II never ended. You play as a 12-year-old boy who, after his mother's death, discovers a massive, abandoned Nazi bunker. You explore this desolate space while interacting with a mysterious girl named Ewa through the bunker's technology.

The game focuses on environmental storytelling and uncovering a tragic mystery. Its somber atmosphere and narrative about dealing with grief and loss will resonate with players who appreciate the more melancholic themes of Life is Strange.

34. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

Hellblade is a linear action-adventure game, but it is included here for its groundbreaking and powerful depiction of mental health. You play as a Pict warrior who journeys into Viking hell to save the soul of her dead lover. The game's audio and visuals are designed to immerse you in her experience with psychosis.

For players who were moved by Life is Strange's willingness to tackle serious and mature themes, Hellblade is a dark, beautiful, and unforgettable journey into the mind of its protagonist.

35. Blacksad: Under the Skin

For players who love the detective and mystery-solving aspects of Life is Strange, Blacksad: Under the Skin is an excellent choice. Based on a popular comic book series, this is a narrative adventure game set in a 1950s New York populated by anthropomorphic animals. You play as John Blacksad, a cynical private investigator hired to solve a dark and gritty murder case.

The gameplay is a fantastic blend of exploration, investigation, and dialogue choices. You'll need to find clues, make deductions, and navigate conversations where what you say has a direct impact on the information you receive and how the story unfolds. It perfectly captures the feeling of being a detective piecing together a complex mystery, making it a great fit for fans of the genre.