Best Emotional Games on Steam
Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated emotional games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free emotional games are available at the bottom of the page.
Most played emotional games on Steam
Take a look at the top emotional games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of June 14th 2025.
1. Spiritfarer®: Farewell Edition
Spiritfarer® is a cozy management game about dying. As ferrymaster to the deceased, build a boat to explore the world, care for your spirit friends, and release them into the afterlife. The Spiritfarer Farewell Edition includes the heartwarming base game and three major content updates. Spiritfarer®: Farewell Edition is a emotional, story rich and indie game developed and published by Thunder Lotus Games. Released on August 18th 2020 has received 46,417 reviews of which 44,192 were positive and 2,225 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played emotional game, thanks to its 419 peak concurrent players over the last day.2. In Stars And Time
Live with the ever-present burden of being trapped in a time loop only you can know about in this turn-based RPG. Create a better future for you and your friends. Find hope where there is none left. Pray to the stars and free yourself from time. In Stars And Time is a story rich, rpg and lgbtq+ game developed by insertdisc5 and published by Armor Games Studios. Released on November 20th 2023 has received 6,184 reviews of which 6,035 were positive and 149 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. While seeing 129 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among emotional games based on player count.3. Until Then
A fateful meeting sets off a chain reaction, upending Mark's life. People disappear and memories prove unreliable. Uncover a hidden truth with Mark and his friends in this narrative adventure and race to unravel the mystery before it's too late. Until Then is a visual novel, pixel graphics and emotional game developed by Polychroma Games and published by Maximum Entertainment. Released on June 25th 2024 has received 9,868 reviews of which 9,622 were positive and 246 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. While seeing 110 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among emotional games based on player count.4. Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Hunt ghosts as two memorable characters in a story-driven Action-RPG where your decisions carry dramatic consequences. Torn between honoring your oath to the living and saving your departed partner, how far will you go for love? Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a narration, lore-rich and third person game developed by DON'T NOD and published by Focus Entertainment. Released on February 12th 2024 has received 6,128 reviews of which 5,288 were positive and 840 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. With 107 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played emotional games.5. Biped
Biped is a coop action adventure game with a strong focus on moment-to-moment collaboration between 2 players. Biped is a character customization, emotional and co-op game developed by NEXT Studios and published by NEXT Studios and META Publishing. Released on March 26th 2020 has received 8,822 reviews of which 7,597 were positive and 1,225 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played emotional games.6. Growing Up
This is the story of your life. Experience the entire journey from toddler to adulthood. Go to schools, learn new things, meet new friends, and have wild adventures! Every choice you make will influence your future career, and decide who your romantic partner will be. Who will you become? Growing Up is a life sim, story rich and choices matter game developed by Vile Monarch and published by Vile Monarch and Spiral Up Games. Released on October 13th 2021 has received 3,279 reviews of which 2,879 were positive and 400 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played emotional games.7. Your Mother
《Your Mother》is a computer desktop companion. Experience the love and kindness from mothers. Your Mother is a anime, female protagonist and 2d game developed and published by M for Mother. Released on February 28th 2025 has received 4,375 reviews of which 3,989 were positive and 386 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played emotional games.8. To the Moon
A story-driven experience about two doctors traversing backwards through a dying man's memories to artificially fulfill his last wish. To the Moon is a story rich, great soundtrack and indie game developed by Freebird Games and published by Freebird Games and Serenity Forge. Released on September 07th 2012 has received 80,261 reviews of which 77,246 were positive and 3,015 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played emotional games.9. Before Your Eyes
Embark on an emotional first-person narrative adventure where you control the story—and affect its outcomes—with your real-life blinks. With this innovative technique you will fully immerse yourself in a world of memories, both joyous and heartbreaking, as your whole life flashes before your eyes. Before Your Eyes is a emotional, narrative and story rich game developed by GoodbyeWorld Games and published by Skybound Games. Released on April 08th 2021 has received 17,499 reviews of which 17,136 were positive and 363 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played emotional games.10. Summer Pockets
From the creators of Angel Beats! and CLANNAD, Key, comes their latest emotional, award-winning journey. Follow protagonist Takahara Hairi as he travels to the secluded island Torishirojima, where he rediscovers what it means to enjoy summer vacation. Summer Pockets is a adventure, visual novel and casual game developed by VisualArts/Key and published by VisualArts. Released on February 05th 2020 has received 4,336 reviews of which 4,279 were positive and 57 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played emotional games.Best deals on emotional games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of emotional games available on Steam right now, updated on June 14th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted emotional games.
1. Dordogne
Immerse yourself in a unique narrative experience and explore the thousand summer colors of Dordogne as you revisit your childhood to uncover lost family secrets in this touching formative journey. Dordogne is a narrative, wholesome and cute game developed by UN JE NE SAIS QUOI and UMANIMATION and published by Focus Entertainment. Released on June 13th 2023 has received 1,086 reviews of which 999 were positive and 87 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. Featuring a massive 98% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for emotional category.2. Eliza
Eliza is a visual novel about an AI counseling program, the people who develop it, and the people who use it. Follow Evelyn Ishino-Aubrey as she reconnects with people from her past, gets to know the people of Seattle who use Eliza for counseling, and decides the course of her future. Eliza is a female protagonist, visual novel and emotional game developed and published by Zachtronics. Released on August 12th 2019 has received 1,673 reviews of which 1,518 were positive and 155 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 98% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in emotional games.3. Beacon Pines
Beacon Pines is a cute and creepy adventure set within a mysterious book. Sneak out late, make new friends, uncover hidden truths, and collect words that will change the course of fate! Beacon Pines is a visual novel, story rich and emotional game developed by Hiding Spot and published by Fellow Traveller. Released on September 22nd 2022 has received 3,495 reviews of which 3,417 were positive and 78 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 97% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in emotional games.4. Arise: A Simple Story
Embark on an emotional journey of losing the love of one's life. Manipulate time, solve puzzles, reshape surroundings as you push forward into the bittersweet recollections of a past life. This is a story about happiness and hardship, joy and sorrow. A story that all of us will one day experience. Arise: A Simple Story is a emotional, 3d platformer and time manipulation game developed by Piccolo Studio and published by Untold Tales. Released on December 03rd 2020 has received 2,468 reviews of which 2,259 were positive and 209 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 97% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for emotional games.5. Arietta of Spirits
Arietta of Spirits is a story-driven action-adventure game, with easy to approach game mechanics. Follow Arietta on her journey to unveil the mysteries of the Spirit Realm and immerse yourself in a story filled with emotion and surprising turns. Arietta of Spirits is a story rich, emotional and action-adventure game developed by Third Spirit Games and published by Third Spirit Games and Red Art Games. Released on August 20th 2021 has received 602 reviews of which 517 were positive and 85 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 97% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for emotional games.6. Wandersong
A musical platforming adventure with an emotional story. Play as a silly bard and use music to interact with everything on a journey around the world. Along the way you'll explore, solve puzzles, and meet a huge cast of characters! Wandersong is a music, adventure and comedy game developed by Wishes Ultd., Greg Lobanov and A Shell in the Pit and published by Greg Lobanov. Released on September 27th 2018 has received 3,613 reviews of which 3,443 were positive and 170 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 96% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for emotional games.7. Still There
Every day is the same on the faraway Bento space-lighthouse - until a mysterious radio message breaks through. Evade the past, welcome oblivion, make the perfect Italian coffee. Still There is a psychological adventure game about grief, technical puzzles, wacky AIs and dark humour. How far is far enough? Still There is a point & click, emotional and adventure game developed by GhostShark and published by Iceberg Interactive. Released on November 20th 2019 has received 1,286 reviews of which 1,111 were positive and 175 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.2 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 96% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for emotional games.8. Finding Paradise
A story-driven experience about two doctors traversing backwards through a dying man's memories to fulfill his last wish. Finding Paradise is a story rich, emotional and pixel graphics game developed and published by Freebird Games. Released on December 14th 2017 has received 18,763 reviews of which 18,353 were positive and 410 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 95% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for emotional games.9. Impostor Factory
A bonkers time-loop tragicomedy murder mystery thriller featuring multiple casualties and a suspicious cat, from the creator of To the Moon & Finding Paradise. Impostor Factory is a story rich, emotional and pixel graphics game developed and published by Freebird Games. Released on September 30th 2021 has received 11,773 reviews of which 11,287 were positive and 486 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for emotional games.10. Before Your Eyes
Embark on an emotional first-person narrative adventure where you control the story—and affect its outcomes—with your real-life blinks. With this innovative technique you will fully immerse yourself in a world of memories, both joyous and heartbreaking, as your whole life flashes before your eyes. Before Your Eyes is a emotional, narrative and story rich game developed by GoodbyeWorld Games and published by Skybound Games. Released on April 08th 2021 has received 17,499 reviews of which 17,136 were positive and 363 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 90% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for emotional games.Free emotional games on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play emotional games you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on June 14th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play emotional games.