Absent in the Rain similar games & best alternatives

Absent in the Rain - absent-in-the-rain_1.avif
Absent in the Rain - absent-in-the-rain_2.avif
Absent in the Rain - absent-in-the-rain_3.avif
Absent in the Rain - absent-in-the-rain_4.avif
Absent in the Rain - absent-in-the-rain_5.avif
Absent in the Rain - absent-in-the-rain_6.avif

Absent in the Rain

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2022

Should you play it?

A mysterious senpai. A serial murder case that has taken the world by storm. And a giant, shadowy fish swimming at my feet... What if all of them are connected and surround me like a circle? What should I do?

What works
  • Strong atmospheric and melancholic mood
  • Beautiful monochrome art style
  • Effective and soothing rain sound design
  • Meaningful, symbolic narrative with multiple endings
  • Free to play
Things to keep in mind
  • Very short gameplay duration
  • Limited interactivity and choices
  • Some localization and translation issues
  • Lack of fullscreen mode and ui polish
  • Story can feel vague or anticlimactic to some

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Ballads at Midnight

  • Z.A.T.O. // I Love the World and Everything In It

  • Your Dry Delight

  • Fujiwara Bittersweet

  • Serena

  • A Space For The Unbound - Prologue

  • Misericorde: Volume One

  • Locke(d)

  • Without a Voice
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Misericorde: Volume One

  • Without a Voice

  • Perfect Gold - Yuri Visual Novel
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Value

    Off-Peak
  • Escapism

    Heal
  • Relaxation

    VOCÊ É UM DEFUNTO MECÂNICO

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).

Absent in the Rain: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Strategy, Experimenting, Competence, Survival. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Intimacy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Idle.

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, make dialogue choices, and pursue multiple endings, though within a structured narrative."

    Capsule for Lunar Mirror:The Pavilion of Desire Lunar Mirror:The Pavilion of Desire

    "Players have freedom to interpret the story and explore at their own pace, with minimal handholding and a single meaningful choice affecting endings."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    -3

    "Gameplay is minimal and predictable, mostly reading text with no skill challenges."

    Capsule for VOCÊ É UM DEFUNTO MECÂNICO VOCÊ É UM DEFUNTO MECÂNICO

    "Gameplay is minimal and predictable, mostly reading and clicking through text with no skill challenges."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "No competitive elements or comparison to others; experience is solitary and personal."

    Capsule for Genesis Noir Genesis Noir

    "No competitive elements or comparison to others; experience is solitary and personal."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Multiple endings encourage replaying the short game to see all outcomes, though overall playtime is brief."

    Capsule for He Needs His Medicine He Needs His Medicine

    "Some players felt drawn to complete both endings and extra content, but overall playtime is short and sessions are brief."

  • 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

    2

    "Players can explore and interpret the story in their own way, but no creation or modification mechanics."

    Capsule for Home is Where One Starts... Home is Where One Starts...

    "Players engage in interpretation and imagination of story themes, though no creation or modification mechanics exist."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are narrative-focused and equal."

    Capsule for The Crooked Man The Crooked Man

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are narrative-focused and equal."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Atmospheric and emotional experience that allows players to reflect and escape into a melancholic, symbolic world."

    Capsule for Heal Heal

    "Strongly atmospheric and melancholic experience that allows players to escape into a reflective, fictional world."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and intrinsic motivation to experience the story and emotions."

    Capsule for Midnight Witch Midnight Witch

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and intrinsic motivation to experience the story and mood."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    -3

    "Linear story with limited choices; little opportunity for experimentation or exploring mechanics."

    Capsule for The Dearest Person The Dearest Person

    "Linear narrative with limited choices; little opportunity for novel experimentation or mechanic exploration."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Exploration is narrative and choice-based, discovering different story branches and endings rather than physical environments."

    Capsule for Soul Gambler Soul Gambler

    "Exploration is narrative and thematic rather than spatial, discovering story fragments and symbolism."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -4

    "No character customization or visual expression options; presentation is standardized."

    Capsule for Penarium Penarium

    "No character customization or visual expression options; presentation is fixed and standardized."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    2

    "Includes supernatural and dream elements, but also grounded in some realistic cultural themes."

    Capsule for EXS1～EthnologySister：Cultural functionalism EXS1～EthnologySister：Cultural functionalism

    "Contains supernatural and surreal elements blended with realistic emotional themes."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "Experience is solitary with no social or community features."

    Capsule for Firework Firework

    "Experience is solitary with no social or community features."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    2

    "Players gain insight and emotional understanding through narrative exploration, though no skill growth."

    Capsule for Home is Where One Starts... Home is Where One Starts...

    "Players gain insight and emotional understanding through story progression, though no skill development."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay typical of visual novels with no physical activity."

    Capsule for Senren＊Banka Senren＊Banka

    "Sedentary gameplay typical of visual novels with no physical activity."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused reading and attention; not suited for background or casual intermittent play."

    Capsule for Lay a Beauty to Rest: The Darkness Peach Blossom Spring Lay a Beauty to Rest: The Darkness Peach Blossom Spring

    "Requires focused reading and attention; not suited for background or casual intermittent play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    3

    "Narrative focuses on developing emotional relationships with characters."

    Capsule for Game Of Fate 3：Clash Of Crowns Game Of Fate 3：Clash Of Crowns

    "Narrative centers on emotional connection and relationship development between characters."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements; purely narrative-driven."

    Capsule for Cross Princess Cross Princess

    "No leadership or group management elements; purely narrative-driven."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    1

    "Progression is narrative-based through unlocking endings; no item or upgrade accumulation."

    Capsule for [Chilla's Art] The Karaoke | ヒトカラ🎤 [Chilla's Art] The Karaoke | ヒトカラ🎤

    "Progression is through story advancement and unlocking endings, with minimal item or upgrade accumulation."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    4

    "Calm, immersive atmosphere with ambient rain sounds promotes relaxation."

    Capsule for VOCÊ É UM DEFUNTO MECÂNICO VOCÊ É UM DEFUNTO MECÂNICO

    "Atmospheric, melancholic mood and soothing rain sounds create a relaxing and contemplative experience."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyment derived from art, music, and emotional storytelling rather than intense sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for ATRI -My Dear Moments- ATRI -My Dear Moments-

    "Enjoyment derived from art style, music, and ambient sound design rather than intense sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems; experience is private and personal."

    Capsule for Without a Dawn Without a Dawn

    "No social recognition or status systems; experience is private and personal."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    4

    "Strong narrative focus with emotional and philosophical storytelling, multiple endings, and meaningful themes."

    Capsule for Slow and Steady Slow and Steady

    "Strong narrative focus with emotional and symbolic storytelling, multiple endings, and thematic depth."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    -4

    "Minimal strategic or problem-solving elements; gameplay is straightforward reading and choice selection."

    Capsule for U-ena -Far fireworks- U-ena -Far fireworks-

    "Minimal strategic or problem-solving elements; gameplay is straightforward reading and choice selection."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    1

    "Some suspense and mystery elements in story, but overall tone is calm and contemplative."

    Capsule for Monobeno-HAPPY END- Deluxe Monobeno-HAPPY END- Deluxe

    "Some suspense and mystery in story, but overall calm and melancholic tone dominates."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    5

    "Free to play with high artistic and experiential value for time invested."

    Capsule for Off-Peak Off-Peak

    "Free to play with high artistic and emotional value for the short time investment."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -3

    "Violence is mostly narrative and implied; gameplay focuses on story rather than combat."

    Capsule for Cemetery Mary Cemetery Mary

    "Violence is narrative and implied rather than explicit or gameplay-focused; emphasis on emotional impact."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -4

    "No survival mechanics or threat management; stable narrative environment."

    Capsule for NORCO NORCO

    "No survival or threat management mechanics; stable, low-risk narrative environment."

Last update: 11/07/2026