Games like Retention · Find similar →
We filtered the 28 games similar to Retention down to the 8 that fit the “PlayStation” category. VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action, Venba and Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Retention.
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Quick answer
Within the “PlayStation” category, the closest game to Retention is VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action — scoring 87/100 on our similarity scale. Venba and Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! follow close behind.
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Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Retention. Each one has been evaluated across 10 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.
What carries over from Retention is visual novel storytelling, strong narrative focus and single-player focus. To that it adds 2D presentation. They part company on visuals: this one brings pixel art.
It meets Retention on puzzle design, strong narrative focus and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. The distance is in progression — its own ground is crafting mechanics.
Released 8 years after Retention.
It shares the essentials of what Retention does: visual novel storytelling, strong narrative focus and single-player focus. The common ground extends to 2D presentation. It sets itself apart with horror tension and dark, oppressive atmosphere.
Released 6 years after Retention.
The thread back to Retention runs through deep simulation, cozy, relaxing feel and single-player focus. The distance is in progression — its own ground is skill tree progression.
It meets Retention on adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and single-player focus. The common ground extends to 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is tone: dark, oppressive atmosphere.
It meets Retention on visual novel storytelling, strong narrative focus and single-player focus. What it adds of its own: an anime aesthetic.
If Retention worked for you because of visual novel storytelling, a casual, approachable feel and single-player focus, the same is here. The common ground extends to 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is progression: skill tree progression.
Its point of contact with Retention is visual novel storytelling, strong narrative focus and single-player focus. What it adds of its own: an anime aesthetic.
Found one on the list you already love? Open its own list: the games that play most like it, ranked, with the reason for each.
If Retention left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the puzzle or the simulation that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on PlayStation, Xbox and Mobile, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.
Sometimes what you want is not a Retention look-alike but simply the best Visual Novel Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Casual Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.