Know by heart similar games & best alternatives

Know by heart

PlayStation 4, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch • 2022

Should you play it?

Childhood friends reunite after spending a long time apart, revisiting old memories and rekindling their friendship. However, something beyond their control will ruin this reunion.

What works
  • Strong emotional narrative
  • Immersive nostalgic atmosphere
  • Beautiful music and voice acting
  • Meaningful character relationships
  • Accessible gameplay
Things to keep in mind
  • Limited gameplay depth
  • Technical bugs and camera issues
  • Linear story with minimal player impact
  • Some players find pacing slow
  • Lack of replayability and save options

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • The Heroes Around Me

  • Open Roads

  • A Story Beside

  • Shan Gui II: Sweet Osmanthus II

  • Home is Where One Starts...

  • Mixtape

  • The Berlin Apartment

  • As Long As You're Here

  • Japanese School Life

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • The Heroes Around Me

  • Open Roads

  • A Story Beside

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Story

    This War of Mine

  • Escapism

    QUIET DAN

  • Relaxation

    Long Dream

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).

Know by heart: 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 Fellowship, Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy.

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 some freedom to explore locations and choose dialogue options, but the story progression is mostly linear with limited player control."

    Capsule for Chicken Police - Paint it RED! Chicken Police - Paint it RED!

    "Players have freedom to explore the town and choose dialogue options, but the story is mostly linear with limited impact of choices."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    -3

    "Gameplay involves simple walking and minimal puzzles with little challenge or skill variation."

    Capsule for Homeless Homeless

    "Gameplay is simple and predictable, mostly walking and basic puzzles with minimal skill challenge."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for White Shadows White Shadows

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

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players tend to engage in long sessions to uncover story and multiple endings, though some find pacing slow and disengage."

    Capsule for Tren0 Tren0

    "Players tend to engage in long sessions to experience the story and explore memories, though some find the gameplay slow."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Single-player experience focused on individual narrative without multiplayer or cooperative elements."

    Capsule for The Letter - Horror Visual Novel The Letter - Horror Visual Novel

    "Single-player experience focused on individual narrative without multiplayer or cooperative elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players creatively explore memories and clues to influence story, though within a fixed narrative framework."

    Capsule for The Novelist The Novelist

    "Players piece together memories and photographs, but within predefined story structure and limited modification."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No elements of dominance or superiority over others; interactions are narrative and equal."

    Capsule for Hana no No ni Saku Utakata no Hana no No ni Saku Utakata no

    "No elements of dominance or superiority over others; interactions are narrative-driven and equal."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Strong escapism through immersion in a dark, psychological story that distracts from real life and evokes emotional reflection."

    Capsule for QUIET DAN QUIET DAN

    "Strong escapism through immersion in nostalgic memories and emotional story, providing distraction from real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and emotional connection, not obligation."

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

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and emotional connection, not obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    -2

    "Gameplay is mostly routine puzzle solving; some experimentation with skills but limited novelty."

    Capsule for Through time the girl puzzle Through time the girl puzzle

    "Limited experimentation; gameplay is mostly routine walking and puzzle solving with little novelty exploration."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Large maps with secrets and hidden loot encourage exploration, though some areas are linear or reused."

    Capsule for SpellForce 3 Reforced SpellForce 3 Reforced

    "Exploration of the town and discovery of memory points is encouraged, though the map is limited and linear."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -3

    "Minimal character customization or self-expression; mostly fixed character and presentation."

    Capsule for Indiana Jones® and the Infernal Machine™ Indiana Jones® and the Infernal Machine™

    "Minimal character customization or self-expression; characters are predefined and visually simple."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    -4

    "Grounded in realistic, dramatic scenarios without fantasy or sci-fi elements."

    Capsule for As Dusk Falls As Dusk Falls

    "Grounded in realistic, nostalgic setting with no fantasy or improbable events."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    1

    "Some sense of community through chatroom and shared narrative, but primarily a solitary experience."

    Capsule for 寄居隅怪奇事件簿 Hermitage Strange Case Files 寄居隅怪奇事件簿 Hermitage Strange Case Files

    "Some sense of community through shared memories and relationships, but primarily a solitary experience."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    2

    "Some players report personal development and emotional growth from the narrative experience."

    Capsule for Hitler is my crush Hitler is my crush

    "Players experience emotional and narrative growth through story progression and reflection."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for The Forever Winter The Forever Winter

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    3

    "Gameplay includes long periods of waiting and slow progression, allowing for casual engagement."

    Capsule for Per Aspera Per Aspera

    "Gameplay includes slow-paced walking and waiting, allowing for casual engagement."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    3

    "Focus on close personal relationships and emotional interactions with characters."

    Capsule for Fleeting Iris Fleeting Iris

    "Focus on close personal relationships and emotional bonds between characters."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management; player follows narrative without directing others."

    Capsule for Journal Journal

    "No leadership or group management; player follows narrative without directing others."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    2

    "Progression through story and unlocking memories; no item or power accumulation."

    Capsule for Last Day of June Last Day of June

    "Progression through collecting memories and unlocking story elements, though no power or item accumulation."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    4

    "Calm pacing, gentle music, and reflective atmosphere promote relaxation and emotional flow."

    Capsule for Long Dream Long Dream

    "Calm, melancholic atmosphere with music and pacing that promote relaxation and reflection."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Pleasant visuals and music provide sensory enjoyment, though subdued and atmospheric rather than intense."

    Capsule for Locke(d) Locke(d)

    "Sensory experience through music and visuals is pleasant but subdued, not intense or thrilling."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social status or recognition mechanics; focus is on personal narrative."

    Capsule for Taiwan Love Story⁵ Taiwan Love Story⁵

    "No social status or recognition mechanics; focus is on personal narrative."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Strong narrative immersion with emotional storytelling and character development."

    Capsule for This War of Mine This War of Mine

    "Strong narrative immersion with emotional storytelling and character development."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for Screen Cat Screen Cat

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

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    -4

    "Lacks suspense or risk; experience is contemplative and calm rather than thrilling."

    Capsule for Kentucky Route Zero: PC Edition Kentucky Route Zero: PC Edition

    "Lacks suspense or risk; experience is calm and contemplative."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    2

    "Good perceived value for players seeking a short, emotional narrative experience."

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

    "Good perceived value for emotional and narrative experience despite short length."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -5

    "No violence or combat; focus on peaceful exploration and story."

    Capsule for Gone Home Gone Home

    "No violence or combat; focus on peaceful exploration and story."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Everything Everything

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

Last update: 12/07/2026