5 Best Video Games Like Life Is Strange

When talking about the best interactive story games of all time, "Life Is Strange" deserves to be part of that discussion. Developed by Don't Nod Entertainment and published by Square Enix, the 2015 original game was initially released episodically, keeping fans on the hook to see where the tale went next. The game follows high schooler Max Caulfield who discovers she has the ability to rewind time to change how things unfold around her. Max sets out to undo several tragedies occurring around her community, discovering that the entire fate of her town is at stake.

"Life Is Strange" kicked off an entire franchise, each presenting players with their own engrossing stories where decisions carry palpable consequences. For fans of the series, there are plenty of similar games out there, including other titles developed by Don't Nod Entertainment. Rather than the more intense fare of games like "Until Dawn,"  we're highlighting those that align the closest to "Life Is Strange," each offering their own engrossing interactive stories to experience.

Quantic Dream has specialized in interactive story games for much of its history, with this gameplay focus really taking off with its 2010 PlayStation 3 game "Heavy Rain." With 2018's "Detroit: Become Human," the studio offered players a much more science fiction-oriented tale along with its penchant for multiple protagonists. Set in a near-future populated by servantile androids, the game has players control three different synthetic beings from varied backgrounds in Detroit. The story revolves around the growing wave of androids pushing for independence from their working-class roles.

With its triad of main characters, "Detroit: Become Human" takes a long time to beat, particularly if you're trying to see the narrative possibilities linked to every player-based decision. Players are presented with a flowchart upon completing every chapter, letting them see how their choices impacted the story. This invites strong replayability to see how much this narrative can deviate with every playthrough as players try out different options. The most ambitious Quantic Dream title yet, "Detroit: Become Human" is an intriguing sci-fi tale powered by existential themes.

After "Life Is Strange 2," the next project from Don't Nod Entertainment was "Tell Me Why," released in 2020. The game centers on twins Tyler and Alyson Ronan who reunite in their Alaska hometown to investigate their mother's murder. As the pair revisit memories from their past and the surrounding area, it becomes clear that the siblings' recollections don't completely align with each other. Progression is based on which of these conflicting memories players opt to have stand as what occurred in a given scenario as the mystery unfolds.

While not as flashy as its counterparts on the console, "Tell Me Why" is a standout on Xbox platforms. The game is very much in Don't Nod Entertainment's wheelhouse and feels like a "Life Is Strange" experience in all but name. The opposing memory mechanic is certainly an interesting one and invites at least one additional playthrough to see the opposite side of the same story. One of two games on this list that most closely resemble "Life Is Strange," "Tell Me Why" is all about reconciling with trauma and skewed perception of memory.

Escape is the ultimate goal in the 2021 game "Road 96," developed and published by DigixArt. The game is set in a fictional authoritarian nation in the '90s and follows a group of teenagers as they try to flee across the border. This is accomplished by either walking along the game's titular road, hitching a ride, or commandeering vehicles encountered along the way. Players have to maintain their characters' stamina across the arduous journey and avoid capture or execution during each playthrough.

With procedurally generated routes, no two playthroughs of "Road 96" are exactly alike, boasting a stronger replayability than many games on this list. To keep the overall experience engaging, every journey is punctuated by minigames as part of the progression, helping determine success or failure. With its variety in starter characters and premise, the game feels like a dystopian twist on "Oregon Trail," complete with resource management and natural hazards. An interactive story that's all about the journey, "Road 96" keeps players on their toes with each playthrough.

One last project on this list from Don't Nod Entertainment, "Lost Records: Bloom & Rage" is another game that could've easily been a "Life Is Strange" title. The story unfolds across two time periods, one set in the summer of 1995 and the other 27 years later with the main characters as adults rather than teenagers. In the '90s, the story centers on four teenagers who make a pact to remain friends for the rest of their lives. In 2022, the surviving members of this ensemble revisit this promise as they reunite and open a time capsule with secrets from their past.

Looking back, "Lost Records: Bloom & Rage" is one of the best games of 2025 that nobody played. But the game definitely proves that Don't Nod Entertainment was still in their element when it came to new interactive story titles. The multifaceted perspectives expands the scope of the game and the sense of mystery to learn what exactly happened in 1995. A must-play for "Life Is Strange" fans, "Lost Records: Bloom & Rage" is another solid story experience from Don't Nod.

One of the best games of 2026 so far is "Mixtape," developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive. The game takes place in a small Northern California town during the '90s as three lifelong friends finish high school. The trio get into all sorts of mischief around their sleepy community while contending with their uncertain future. Activities include skateboarding throughout town and avoiding cops and overbearing parents trying to spoil the fun.

"Mixtape" is as cozy as interactive story games get, capturing that mid '90s vibe with its coming-of-age tale. This is elevated by a pitch-perfect soundtrack from the era, including songs by Joy Division and the Smashing Pumpkins. But beyond its atmosphere, the game gets players invested in the friendships that form the story's emotional core, ready to replay to relive the experience all over again. An indie title that evokes undeniable warmth, "Mixtape" is an absolute gem to enjoy and revisit.