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Retention

5 Games like Retention on Xbox that you should try

Games like Retention · Find similar →

We filtered the 28 games similar to Retention down to the 5 that fit the “Xbox” category. Venba, Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! and The Sims™ 4 top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Retention.

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GenreCasualSubgenreVisual Novel
Tags
CasualNarrativeSolo
Year 2015Dev Sometimes You
Stores

Quick answer

Within the “Xbox” category, the closest game to Retention is Venba — scoring 84/100 on our similarity scale. Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! and The Sims™ 4 follow close behind.

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The best games like Retention on Xbox

5 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

Venba

84
NGL88
Venba
Closest overall match
CasualVisual Novel
SoloNarrativeCasualExploration2D
Year 2023Dev Visai GamesOn Xbox · PC · PS5

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.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Tone76Progression52
2

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
3

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
4

Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth

70
NGL79
Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth
CasualVisual Novel
SoloNarrativeCasual2DDark
Year 2017Dev Daedalic EntertainmentPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

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.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Tone69
5

Kitty Powers' Matchmaker

64
NGL83
Kitty Powers' Matchmaker
Closest on tone
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

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.