Summary

  • Walking simulators offer compelling narratives and immersive worlds, minus combat or complex mechanics.
  • Xbox Game Pass provides access to some of the best walking simulators available.
  • Titles like Harold Halibut and Sea Of Solitude offer unique visual styles and emotional experiences.

The walking simulator genre is perhaps🐎 the most divisive i🐈n gaming. Detractors take issue with the sometimes limited interactivity you get in these sorts of titles. However, fans of the genre appreciate how the best walking simulators are able to keep their attention without the inclusion of an abundance of gameplay mechanics.

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They don't generally provide combat sections, skill trees, or loot. Instead, they give you compelling narratives to experience or exciting worlds to explore. At least, the best ones do, as like every other genre, there are good and bad walking simulators. Thankfully, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Game Pass provides some of the best.

Updated June 25, 2024 By Ben Jessey: Game Pass contains many different titles, including several walking simulators. We put the best ones on this list. However, new titles like Still Wakes The Deep have been released since we created the collection, so we've returned to it to add a few more games.

18 Still Wakes The Deep 𒁏

Brodie Telling Us His Plan In Still Wakes The Deep

Released
💛June 18, 2024
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Use of Tobacco, Strong Language 𒐪
Developer(s)
The Chine💞se Room 🧸

Still Wakes The Deep is a well-written narrative-focused walking simulator set on an oil rig. At the start of the game, an incident occurs that l𓆏eaves the rig in poor shape and its crew in trouble. So, you must navigate the place and try to help as best you can.

Unfortunately, that means having some run-ins with the dangerous and scary monsters aboard. You have no way to fight them, so you have to try to run and hide from these beasts. When you aren't getting chased by monsters, you're usually witnessing compelling conversations involving great writing and excellent voice acting.

17 🥀 🌠 Somerville

Somerville Family on sofa

In Somerville, you play as a father who has been separated from his family and must find them. This isn't ever a great situation, but it's made even worse by the fact aliens are currently invading the world.

At least you gain a strange power that allows you to manipulate the environment. You use this to solve the game's various puzzles. So, it's partially a puzzle game. Yet, you spend much of your time walking around and exploring the environment.

16 Harold Halibut 💃 🧸

Harold Halibut Talking to person behind Sweets Stall

ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violenc♑e, Use of Tobacco
Developer(s)
🅘 Slow Bros.

Harold Halibut is one of the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:many interesting and crea🐈tive indie titles that are available through Game Pass. It immediately catches the eye because of its visual style. The developers scanned their handmade clay dolls and sets to put them into the game. It's a unique technique that helps Harold Halibut be one of the most visually charming games in recent memory.

The story is captivating, too, as it revolves around the titular🃏 character and his life aboard a city-sized spaceship. Despite living on a ship in space, his life has been quite ordinary up until one significant encounter changes his life forever. Much of the adventure is about going around and talking to people, but there are also a few mini-games.

15 💖 Open Roads

Opal driving as Tess closes her eyes and lets the wind hit her face as they take a drive in Open Roads.

Open Roads is set in the early 2000s and revolves around a teenage girl, Tess, and her mother, Opal. Opal's own mother just recently passed, and the two are attempting to deal with it. So, it's a deep tale about family and grief, plus there's a coming-of-age element to the story, too.

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It's an engaging adventure throughout, mainly due to the gorgeous and unique art style. The gameplay revolves around talking to others and exploring areas. In fact, you spend plenty of time walking around homes and interacting with things. It's laid-back and interesting.

14 🌟 Close To The Sun

Close To The Sun screenshot showing a wide, art deco styled room, with a Wardenclyffe logo and a picture of Nikola Tesla.

In Close To The Sun, you play as one of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:gaming's many fictional journalists. Her name is Rose Archer, and she explores the sea cruiser called Helios. Her goal is to find her sister. However, that is easier said than done because the cruiser isn't exactly teeming with life.

Walking around the place is fairly unsettling, as you experience a fair amount of scary and gruesome moments. So, it isn't the most relaxing of walking simulators. From a gameplay perspective, you complete the odd puzzle and participate in some chase scenes. But mostly, you're walking around and reading things. It's very atmospheric.

13 Those Who Re💯main ♔

Those Who Remain Screenshot Of Arms On Walls

Those Who Remain isn't an outright walking sim, but it certainly contains aspects of the genre. After all, much of the title sees you walking around and interacting with things. But there are also plenty of puzzles, a bit of stealth, and some decisions you have to make.

It's also a horror game, so you experience a lot of creepiness and scares as you make your way through the title. Much of this comes from the shadowy figures that lurk in the darkness and are usually watching you. So, don't expect a calm and tranquil experience with this game.

12 Spirit Of The North ಌ

Spirit-of-the-North fox walking through snow

In Spirit of the North, you play as a regular fox who has joined with a magical spirit. Together, you roam around Iceland, learning more about the spirit and💞 the world in the process.

There are some puzzles, but the game is mainly about walking and being enamored with the world around you. As such, there is no narration or conversation as you wander. You’re encouraged to just focus on the beautiful surroundings and take it all in. It makes for a very chill and soo♈thing experience.

11 Gris

Gris - Gris Stands Beside A New Friend In The Woods

The term 'walking simulator' is perhaps not a perfect way to describe Gris. After all, this is a game with a fair amount of platforming and puzzle-solving. Neither of these things is particularly taxing, though. The game isn't meant to be a challenge.

You're meant to play through it at your own pace while being wowed by the visuals and world. The said world is a place that has manifested from the protagonist's painful experiences. The game is all about getting over her sorrow. So, it's an emotional one.

10 Firewatch

A figure holds a picture of a man and a woman in Firewatch.

Released
🌼 February 9, 2016
ESRB
M For Ma𓆏ture 17+ due to Suggestive Themes, Nudity, Drug and Alcohol Reference, Strong Language
Developer(s)
💯 Campo Santo

In Firewatch, you control a fire lookout who works in a National Forest. That sounds like the premise of a management simulator, but it isn't. This is a first-person walking sim that largely consists of you exploring the area while talking to your supervisor, Delilah.

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The relationship beꦉtween her and your character is the main selling point of the title. Their interactions with one anothe⭕r are sweet, funny, and compelling. In fact, this is one of the best-written walking simulators ever.

9 ✱ A Short Hike

Claire with a deer on a small island in A Short Hike

Instead of a walking 𒈔si🦂mulator, A Short Hike is perhaps better described as a hiking simulator. This is because you play as a little bird who needs to hike up to the top of a mountain to get cell reception.

It sounds simple enough, but there are plenty of distractions and obstacles as you ascend. So, it takes several hours to reach the end. In that time, you will meet plenty of other characters and 𒆙do some short activities.