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Retention

19 Cozy games like Retention that you should try

Games like Retention · Find similar →

We filtered the 28 games similar to Retention down to the 19 that fit the “Cozy” category. Flower Shop: Winter In Fairbrook, VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action and Heileen 3: New Horizons top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Retention.

NextGameLike35/ 100

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GenreCasualSubgenreVisual Novel
Tags
CasualNarrativeSolo
Year 2015Dev Sometimes You
Stores

Quick answer

Within the “Cozy” category, the closest game to Retention is Flower Shop: Winter In Fairbrook — scoring 87/100 on our similarity scale. VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action and Heileen 3: New Horizons follow close behind.

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The best cozy games like Retention

19 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

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.

1

Flower Shop: Winter In Fairbrook

87
NGL63
Flower Shop: Winter In Fairbrook
Closest overall match
CasualVisual Novel
SoloCasualNarrativeCozy2D
Year 2014Dev Winter WolvesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

With Retention it shares deep simulation, a casual, approachable feel and single-player focus. Both also lean on 2D presentation. The distance is in visuals — its own ground is a first-person view.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals64
2

VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action

87
NGL89
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
CasualVisual Novel
SoloNarrativeCasualCozy2D
Year 2016Dev Wolfgame · Ysbryd GamesPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

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.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals53
3

Heileen 3: New Horizons

84
NGL63
Heileen 3: New Horizons
CasualVisual Novel
SoloNarrativeCasualCozyAnime
Year 2014Dev Winter WolvesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

Held in common with Retention: deep simulation, strong narrative focus and single-player focus. Its own ground is an anime aesthetic.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100
4

Always Remember Me

84
NGL61
Always Remember Me
CasualVisual Novel
SoloNarrativeCasualCozyAnime
Year 2014Dev Winter WolvesPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

With Retention it shares visual novel storytelling, strong narrative focus and single-player focus. Its own ground is an anime aesthetic.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100
5

Flower Shop: Summer In Fairbrook

76
NGL66
Flower Shop: Summer In Fairbrook
Closest on visuals
CasualVisual Novel
SoloCasualNarrativeCozy2D
Year 2014Dev Winter WolvesPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

If Retention worked for you because of deep simulation, a casual, approachable feel and single-player focus, the same is here. The common ground extends to 2D presentation. It sets itself apart with an anime aesthetic.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100
6

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!

75
NGL91
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!
CasualVisual Novel
SoloNarrativeCasualCozy2D
Year 2021Dev Team Salvato · Serenity ForgeOn PS4 · PC · PS5

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.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Tone90
7

Spirited Heart Deluxe

75
NGL46
Spirited Heart Deluxe
CasualVisual Novel
SoloCasualNarrativeCozy2D
Year 2014Dev Winter WolvesPlaytime ~6hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

If Retention worked for you because of deep simulation, a casual, approachable feel and single-player focus, the same is here. Both also lean on 2D presentation. The distance is in progression — its own ground is resource management.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Progression0
8

NEKO-NIN exHeart

73
NGL89
NEKO-NIN exHeart
CasualVisual Novel
SoloCasualNarrativeCozyDark
Year 2017Dev Whirlpool · Sekai ProjectPlaytime ~4hOn PC

What carries over from Retention is deep simulation, a casual, approachable feel and single-player focus. What it adds of its own: dark, oppressive atmosphere and an anime aesthetic.

Genre100Game mode100Tone94
9

planetarian HD

72
NGL99
planetarian HD
CasualVisual Novel
SoloNarrativeCasualCozyAnime
Year 2017Dev VisualArts/Key · VisualArtsPlaytime ~3hOn PC

Held in common with Retention: visual novel storytelling, strong narrative focus and single-player focus. They part company on visuals: this one brings a first-person view.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals0
10

The Sims™ 4

70
NGL75
The Sims™ 4
CasualVisual Novel
SoloCozyCasualNarrativeRelaxing
Year 2014Dev Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

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.

Genre100Game mode100Tone81Progression0
11

Kitty Powers' Matchmaker

64
NGL83
Kitty Powers' Matchmaker
CasualVisual Novel
SoloCasualNarrativeCozy2D
Year 2014Dev Magic NotionPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

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.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Progression0
12

NEKO-NIN exHeart +PLUS Nachi

63
NGL94
NEKO-NIN exHeart +PLUS Nachi
CasualVisual Novel
SoloCasualNarrativeCozyMelee
Year 2017Dev Whirlpool · Sekai ProjectPlaytime ~1hOn PC

With Retention it shares visual novel storytelling, a casual, approachable feel and single-player focus. What it adds of its own: melee combat and an anime aesthetic.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100
13

NEKO-NIN exHeart +PLUS Saiha

63
NGL92
NEKO-NIN exHeart +PLUS Saiha
CasualVisual Novel
SoloCasualNarrativeCozyMelee
Year 2017Dev Whirlpool · Sekai ProjectPlaytime ~1hOn PC

The thread back to Retention runs through deep simulation, a casual, approachable feel and single-player focus. What it adds of its own: melee combat and an anime aesthetic.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100
14

CLANNAD

63
NGL91
CLANNAD
CasualVisual Novel
SoloNarrativeCasualCozyAnime
Year 2015Dev VisualArts/Key · Sekai ProjectPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Nintendo

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.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100
15

Highway Blossoms

62
NGL79
Highway Blossoms
CasualVisual Novel
SoloNarrativeCasualCozyDark
Year 2016Dev AlienWorks · Sekai ProjectPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

Held in common with Retention: visual novel storytelling, strong narrative focus and single-player focus. It sets itself apart with dark, oppressive atmosphere and an anime aesthetic.

Genre100Game mode100Tone92

More similar-games lists to keep going

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.

Explore games similar to Retention by category

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.

Rankings in the same genre

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.