Best Emotional Games on Steam

Steam currently has 3,932 Emotional games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Emotional game rankings were last updated on 11/16/2024.

Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:

1. ATRI -My Dear Moments-

"As the world sank, I found you." In the near future, a sudden and unexplained sea rise has left much of human civilization underwater. In a little town slowly being enveloped by the ocean, an unforgettable summer is about to begin for a boy and a mysterious robot girl...

ATRI -My Dear Moments- banner

ATRI -My Dear Moments- holds the #1 spot for "best Emotional game on Steam" with a Player Score of 96. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 19,540 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 19,269 positive reviews and 271 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $20.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $20.99
Release Date 6/18/2020
Franchise ANIPLEX.EXE
Developers
Publishers
Steam App Id 1230140

2. Grimm's Hollow

A spooky, freeware RPG where you search the afterlife for your brother. Reap ghosts with your scythe, explore haunted caves, and eat ghostly treats on your journey through death.

Grimm's Hollow banner

Grimm's Hollow has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Emotional games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 13,511 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,326 positive reviews and 185 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Grimm's Hollow on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Release Date 10/30/2019
Developer ghosthunter
Publisher ghosthunter
Steam App Id 1170880

3. The Walking Dead

A five-part adventure horror series set in the same universe as Robert Kirkman’s award-winning comic book series.

The Walking Dead banner

The Walking Dead has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Emotional games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 70,566 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 68,626 positive reviews and 1,940 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $14.99
Release Date 4/24/2012
Developer Telltale Games
Publisher Skybound Games
Steam App Id 207610

4. Pineapple on pizza

Can a video game convey a flavor?

Pineapple on pizza banner

Pineapple on pizza has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Emotional games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 22,974 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 22,492 positive reviews and 482 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Release Date 3/28/2023
Franchise Majorariatto
Developer Majorariatto
Publisher Majorariatto
Steam App Id 2263010

5. CLANNAD

From the world renowned visual novel studio Key, the highly rated story of CLANNAD is now available on Steam! Improved visuals, achievement integration, and Dangopedia make this the best version of CLANNAD to date.

CLANNAD banner

CLANNAD has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Emotional games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,114 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,985 positive reviews and 129 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $44.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run CLANNAD on the Steam Deck.

Steam Price $44.99
Release Date 11/23/2015
Franchise VISUAL ARTS
Developer VisualArts/Key
Publisher Sekai Project
Steam App Id 324160

6. Persona 4 Golden

A coming of age story that sets the protagonist and his friends on a journey kickstarted by a chain of serial murders.

Persona 4 Golden banner

Persona 4 Golden has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Emotional games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 73,313 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 71,152 positive reviews and 2,161 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $19.99
Release Date 6/13/2020
Franchise ATLUS
Developer ATLUS
Publisher SEGA
Steam App Id 1113000

7. Finding Paradise

A story-driven experience about two doctors traversing backwards through a dying man's memories to fulfill his last wish.

Finding Paradise banner

Finding Paradise has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Emotional games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 17,989 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,602 positive reviews and 387 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Finding Paradise on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 12/14/2017
Franchise Freebird Games
Developer Freebird Games
Publisher Freebird Games
Steam App Id 337340

8. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Play the critically acclaimed masterpiece. Embark on a new journey in a vast, exotic world where you’ll encounter towering enemies and challenging puzzles on your quest to unravel Ori’s destiny.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps banner

Ori and the Will of the Wisps has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Emotional games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 131,434 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 126,973 positive reviews and 4,461 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $29.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Ori and the Will of the Wisps on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $29.99
Release Date 3/11/2020
Franchise Ori Franchise
Developer Moon Studios GmbH
Publisher Xbox Game Studios
Steam App Id 1057090

9. Before Your Eyes

Embark on an emotional first-person narrative adventure where you control the story—and affect its outcomes—with your real-life blinks. With this innovative technique you will fully immerse yourself in a world of memories, both joyous and heartbreaking, as your whole life flashes before your eyes.

Before Your Eyes banner

Before Your Eyes has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Emotional games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 15,244 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 14,920 positive reviews and 324 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Before Your Eyes on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 4/8/2021
Franchise Skybound Games
Developer GoodbyeWorld Games
Publisher Skybound Games
Steam App Id 1082430

10. Persona 5 Royal

Don the mask and join the Phantom Thieves of Hearts as they stage grand heists, infiltrate the minds of the corrupt, and make them change their ways!

Persona 5 Royal banner

Persona 5 Royal has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Emotional games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 86,284 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 83,452 positive reviews and 2,832 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $59.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $59.99
Release Date 10/21/2022
Franchise ATLUS
Developer ATLUS
Publisher SEGA
Steam App Id 1687950

More Emotional Games

Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Emotional games available on Steam.

ImageName
Actions
ATRI -My Dear Moments- steam charts
68
6/18/2020
96
$20.99
Steam Charts
Grimm's Hollow steam charts
7
10/30/2019
96
Free
Steam Charts
The Walking Dead steam charts
109
4/24/2012
96
$14.99
Steam Charts
Pineapple on pizza steam charts
5
3/28/2023
96
Free
Steam Charts
CLANNAD steam charts
38
11/23/2015
95
$44.99
Steam Charts
Persona 4 Golden steam charts
1,169
6/13/2020
95
$19.99
Steam Charts
Finding Paradise steam charts
15
12/14/2017
95
$9.99
Steam Charts
Ori and the Will of the Wisps steam charts
594
3/11/2020
95
$29.99
Steam Charts
Before Your Eyes steam charts
9
4/8/2021
95
$9.99
Steam Charts
Persona 5 Royal steam charts
6,941
10/21/2022
95
$59.99
Steam Charts
Kind Words (lo fi chill beats to write to) steam charts
5
9/12/2019
95
$4.99
Steam Charts
东北之夏 steam charts
6
1/9/2023
95
Free
Steam Charts
God of War steam charts
1,201
1/14/2022
95
$49.99
Steam Charts
Sally Face - Episode One steam charts
88
12/14/2016
95
$2.00
Steam Charts
The Last Campfire steam charts
71
10/7/2021
95
$14.99
Steam Charts
Outcore: Desktop Adventure steam charts
22
9/26/2022
95
Free
Steam Charts
100 hidden frogs steam charts
1
11/15/2021
95
Free
Steam Charts
To the Moon steam charts
21
9/7/2012
95
$9.99
Steam Charts
Summer Pockets steam charts
17
2/5/2020
95
$44.99
Steam Charts
Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk steam charts
5
8/26/2020
95
$1.49
Steam Charts
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Soures & References

Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.

  • Valve Corporation. (2024, November 16). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, November 16). ATRI -My Dear Moments- on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, November 19). Grimm's Hollow on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, November 4). The Walking Dead on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, November 9). Pineapple on pizza on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, November 21). CLANNAD on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, October 29). Persona 4 Golden on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, October 16). Finding Paradise on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, November 16). Ori and the Will of the Wisps on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, November 4). Before Your Eyes on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, November 17). Persona 5 Royal on Steam. Steam Store.

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