LEAVES - The Return similar games & best alternatives

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LEAVES - The Return - leaves-the-return_6.avif

LEAVES - The Return

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2017

Should you play it?

Mononino and the Treefruities fared well without you - until another disaster scattered the leaves of their home tree. Once more, take on the journey and challenging puzzles along the way.

What works
  • Unique handcrafted surreal art style
  • Challenging and varied puzzles
  • Calm, meditative atmosphere
  • Intriguing exploration and discovery
  • Voluntary, self-paced gameplay
Things to keep in mind
  • Tedious backtracking and navigation
  • Minimal narrative and emotional engagement
  • Short game length and limited replayability
  • Clunky ui and technical issues on some systems
  • Lack of innovation from first game

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • LEAVES - The Journey

  • Hyperbolica

  • Slice of Sea

  • Iris.Fall

  • Maize

  • Pan-Pan

  • Crushed In Time

  • Awareness Rooms

  • Four Last Things
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Slice of Sea

  • Pan-Pan

  • Crushed In Time
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Autonomy

    LEAVES - The Journey
  • Creativity

    My Brother Rabbit
  • Escapism

    Birth

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 Return: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Thrill, Competition. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Story, Continuation, Intimacy.

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

    Capsule for LEAVES - The Journey LEAVES - The Journey

    "Players freely explore surreal environments and solve puzzles at their own pace without pressure or timers."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Puzzles require observation, logic and experimentation; not overly difficult but engaging and rewarding."

    Capsule for Paper Beast Paper Beast

    "Puzzles require observation, logic, and experimentation; some are challenging but solutions are satisfying."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "No competitive elements or comparison with others; focus is on personal puzzle solving."

    Capsule for Pan-Pan Pan-Pan

    "No competitive elements or comparison to others; focus is on personal puzzle solving experience."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    -2

    "Game is relatively short with limited replayability; some players find it frustrating or tedious, leading to less habitual play."

    Capsule for STAR WARS™ Dark Forces (Classic, 1995) STAR WARS™ Dark Forces (Classic, 1995)

    "Short game length and limited replayability; some players found backtracking tedious and disengaging."

  • Cooperation

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

    Capsule for Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition

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

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Creative puzzle design, imaginative fantasy world, and unique art style encourage exploration and interaction beyond standard hidden object mechanics."

    Capsule for My Brother Rabbit My Brother Rabbit

    "Unique handcrafted art style and surreal environments encourage creative exploration and puzzle interaction."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No elements of dominance or control over others; experience is solitary and contemplative."

    Capsule for Necrophosis Necrophosis

    "No elements of dominance or control over others; experience is solitary and contemplative."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game as a relaxing, soothing escape from real life, enjoying a calming and surreal atmosphere."

    Capsule for Birth Birth

    "Players use the game as a meditative, dreamlike escape from reality with calming atmosphere and sound."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest in puzzles, atmosphere, and story, not due to obligation."

    Capsule for Flood of Light Flood of Light

    "Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest in puzzles and atmosphere, not out of obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Encourages trying different rotations and placements to solve puzzles, fostering experimentation."

    Capsule for Birds Organized Neatly Birds Organized Neatly

    "Puzzles encourage experimentation and exploration of visual clues rather than rote routines."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Players explore various surreal planets and environments, discovering interactive elements."

    Capsule for Samorost 2 Samorost 2

    "Players explore handcrafted, surreal diorama-like worlds discovering clues and hidden leaves."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -3

    "Minimal character customization or self-expression; focus is on puzzle interaction and environment."

    Capsule for The Witness The Witness

    "Minimal character customization or self-expression; focus is on puzzle solving and environment."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Surreal, dreamlike world with imaginative creatures and abstract storytelling."

    Capsule for Tiny Echo Tiny Echo

    "Surreal, whimsical fantasy world with imaginative creatures and abstract storytelling."

  • Fellowship

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

    Capsule for Demon Hunter 2: New Chapter Demon Hunter 2: New Chapter

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

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop observational skills and puzzle-solving abilities through varied challenges."

    Capsule for The Tiny Bang Story The Tiny Bang Story

    "Players develop puzzle-solving skills and observational abilities through varied challenges."

  • 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

    "Requires focused attention to solve puzzles; not suitable for background or idle play."

    Capsule for Divide By Sheep Divide By Sheep

    "Requires focused attention to solve puzzles; not suitable for background or idle play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship-building elements."

    Capsule for Terra Nil Terra Nil

    "No social or emotional relationship-building elements."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management mechanics; purely individual play."

    Capsule for shapez shapez

    "No leadership or group management mechanics; purely individual play."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    2

    "Progression through story and puzzle completion with item collection limited and purposeful."

    Capsule for The Blind Prophet The Blind Prophet

    "Progression through puzzle completion and collecting leaves, though limited in scope and length."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    4

    "Calm, meditative atmosphere with soothing music and gentle pacing promotes relaxation."

    Capsule for The Little UNI The Little UNI

    "Calm, meditative atmosphere with ambient sound and gentle pacing promotes relaxation."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable visual style, sound design, and tactile interactions provide pleasant sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for The August Before The August Before

    "Unique tactile visual style and ambient audio provide sensory enjoyment."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems."

    Capsule for Lake Haven - Chrysalis Lake Haven - Chrysalis

    "No social recognition or status systems."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    -2

    "Minimal narrative; atmosphere and setting provide context but no deep story immersion."

    Capsule for Buckshot Roulette Buckshot Roulette

    "Minimal narrative conveyed through atmosphere and puzzles rather than explicit story."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    2

    "Puzzles require logical thinking and problem solving but no complex strategic planning."

    Capsule for FRACT OSC FRACT OSC

    "Puzzles require logical thinking and problem solving but no complex strategic planning."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    -3

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

    Capsule for Haven Moon Haven Moon

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

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    -1

    "Mixed opinions on value due to short length; recommended to buy on sale for better cost-benefit."

    Capsule for My Brother Rabbit My Brother Rabbit

    "Mixed opinions on value; short length and reused assets make full price less justified."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -5

    "No combat or destructive elements; focus on constructive puzzle solving."

    Capsule for 100 hidden eternals 100 hidden eternals

    "No combat or destructive elements; focus on constructive puzzle solving."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

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

    Capsule for Gorogoa Gorogoa

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

Last update: 12/07/2026