I Was a Teenage Exocolonist similar games & best alternatives

Why it matches

• Both explore closeness between characters Players form emotional attachments to characters and their relationships, with deep social and romantic storylines.
• Both are about getting better Players develop characters over time, learning tactical skills and narrative consequences, with evolving story arcs.
• Both are carried by their story Narrative immersion is central, with emergent stories, character arcs, and meaningful choices.

Why it matches

• Both are about getting better Players develop skills, learn mechanics, and improve through challenging gameplay and character progression.
• Both build little anticipation Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and love for the genre and Touhou, not out of obligation.
• Both are built to keep you coming back Very long game with over 70-100+ hours of content, new game plus, and replay value encouraging extended play.

Why it matches

• Both are about getting better Players develop skills, unlock cards, and improve characters through meta-progression
• Both are carried by their story Narrative-driven gameplay with branching storylines, character arcs, and worldbuilding
• Both invite you to experiment Encourages trying different decks, negotiation vs combat approaches, and story branches

Why it matches

• Both explore closeness between characters Strong emotional connections and deep character relationships are central to the experience.
• Both are about getting better Players learn character stories, develop strategies, and improve skills to achieve better outcomes and endings.
• Both are carried by their story Narrative-driven game with deep character arcs, emotional engagement, and multiple branching storylines.

Why it matches

• Both explore closeness between characters Players form close emotional connections with characters through deep conversations and storylines.
• Both are built to keep you coming back Highly replayable with many endings, long sessions, and players report habitual play and deep engagement.
• Both are carried by their story Rich narrative immersion with character development, overarching plots, and emotional story arcs.

Why it matches

• Both explore closeness between characters Players form close emotional bonds with characters, including romance and friendship options.
• Both are carried by their story Strong narrative immersion with complex plot, character development, and multiple endings.
• Both are built to keep you coming back Players report long play sessions, emotional investment, and desire to replay for different endings and relationship paths.

Why it matches

• Both explore closeness between characters Emotional bonds and meaningful interactions with characters are a core part of the experience.
• Both are carried by their story Deep narrative immersion with branching storylines, character development, and multiple endings.
• Both are seen as worth the money Players find high value in story, replayability, and unique gameplay for the time and money invested.

Why it matches

• Both explore closeness between characters Emotional bonding with daughter and other characters, including romantic and familial relationships.
• Both are about getting better Focus on learning, skill acquisition, and personal development of daughter through classes and activities.
• Both are built to keep you coming back Highly replayable with many endings, new game plus, and carryover bonuses encouraging long-term habitual play.

Why it matches

• Both are about getting better Players develop skills in deck management, tactical combat, and learn new mechanics progressively throughout the campaign.
• Both are carried by their story Narrative immersion is a core feature with fully voiced characters, episodic storytelling, and rich lore.
• Both are built to keep you coming back Players report long play sessions, multiple playthroughs, and desire for more content, indicating strong attachment and habitual play.