Afterlove EP is an adventure gamethat uses elements from visual novels and rhythm-focused titles to tackle themes of love, loss, and everything in between. Set in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, you follow a young guitarist and songwriter named Rama as he tries to reconnect with his friends and the world after an unexpected loss.
You play through a month in Rama’s shoes as he attempts to get his old band together for one last gig that will determine their future together. There are multiple endings to the game that are determined by the decisions you make along the way. If you enjoyed Afterlove EP and want to play something else like it, these are the games you should check out next.
Florence is a short but sweet adventure game that follows the titular character as she begins a relationship with a man named Krish. Instead of using dialogue to progress the story, the game requires you to complete simple minigames - like brushing your teeth - to keep moving forward.
It’s incredible how effective Florence is at conveying emotions without relying on dialogue. Instead, the game uses colors and music to set the atmosphere and provide insight into how the characters are feeling at any given time. It’s only an hour long, but asingle playthrough could stick with you for a lifetime.
Oxenfree is the perfect game for anyone who enjoyed the branching dialogue trees and exploration of Afterlove EP but wants to play something a little spookier. When a group of teenagers travel to Edwards Island for a beach party, they stumble upon a terrifying secret that splits them apart and threatens to trap them there forever.
As you reunite with friends and explore the island together, you spend a lot of time talking to each other about past traumas that have affected your relationships with everyone. Despite the tense situation you’re in, Oxenfree cleverly uses the time spent traveling between locations to discuss relatable topics that help you forge a bond with the characters.
If there are any complaints about Afterlove EP, one of them could be about how little time you actually spend playing guitar, either alone or with your band. If all you want to do is wail on a guitar while exploring gorgeous vistas across outer space, The Artful Escape is an essential experience that focuses more on music than sentimental storytelling.
You play as Francis Vendetti, the nephew of a famous musician who is struggling to get the attention he knows he deserves. One night, Francis is visited by an alien who brings him up to space to perform a gig that will unite the cosmos. You’ll need to explore psychedelic planets to create a new persona and build the courage Francis needs to play the best show the galaxy has ever seen.
Coffee Talk was the breakout game from the late developer of Afterlove EP, and while the two games look very different, they share a lot in common. In their own unique ways, they’re both about groups of misfits bonding over shared interests and helping each other out whenever possible.
You are a barista at the titular Coffee Talk, where most of your patrons are mystical beings like mermaids, vampires, and more. As your guests continue to visit you, you’ll learn more about their daily struggles and will try to help bybrewing them a delicious beverage to soothe their souls. The vibes in Coffee Talk are immaculate, and you may hop into the sequel as soon as you finish the first game.
Goodbye Volcano High follows a group of teenage dinosaurs as they face their final year of high school together. Things start to fall apart around them once they realize they might be growing apart from each other, and the news of a sudden meteor heading toward the planet only heightens the tension between them.
Similar to Afterlove EP, the main group of characters in Goodbye Volcano High are in a band together, and there are multiple sequences where you get to play their music through a rhythm-based minigame. The two games have a lot more in common though, and both of their protagonists - Rama and Fang - experience similar arcs.
Saying goodbye is never easy, and few games tackle this subject as eloquently as Spiritfarer. You play as Stella, a young woman whose job is to provide safe passage for the spirits of the deceased into the afterlife. To take care of your passengers, you’ll need to find resources to improve your boat and complete side quests to help them find closure before they disappear forever.
While that may sound bleak, Spiritfarer also focuses on how important it is to celebrate someone’s life with music and laughter. Stella and her crew will share a lot of great memories as they travel across the ocean and grow together as a family. Playing Spiritfarer isjust as comforting as the hugs Stella gives the spirits during their final farewell.
What Comes After was also created by the late developer of Afterlove EP and shares a ton of similarities with it. Both are side-scrolling adventure games that use eye-catching visuals and humor to deliver a heartwarming story about taking care of yourself. What Comes After is only an hour long, but that’s all the time it needs to leave a strong impression.
You play as Vivi, a young woman who finds herself on a train that transports souls to the afterlife. Your main goal is to interact with them to learn more about their lives. From other people to animals and plants, there are a variety of different things that have had unique experiences that are surprisingly easy to relate to.
Like Afterlove EP, A Space for the Unbound takes place in Indonesia and follows a young man named Atma as he explores the area, solves puzzles, and mingles with the locals. One night, Atma has a dream where a young girl gives him a book that gives him the ability to enter other people’s minds.
Atma can use this ability to dive into other people’s psyches to see what they’re thinking about and can manipulate objects to help them find resolutions. Things quickly get out of hand when Atma and his girlfriend, Raya, begin using the power too much, and strange things begin unfolding in their town. A Space for the Unbound is an essential adventure game filled with humor, surprises, and cats.
Night in the Woods is about a young cat named Mae who returns to her hometown after dropping out of college. It’s clear that things have changed during her time away, but Mae does her best to rekindle connections with old friends and form bonds with new ones. You’ll spend each day in the game exploring and hanging out with friends while the town’s dark secret begins to unravel around you.
The biggest difference between Night and the Woods and Afterlove EP is that one stars humans and the other has anthropomorphic animals. Both games feature characters in bands that reunite with old pals after a period away from each other. Similar themes are present in both as well, so if you enjoyed Rama’s story in Afterlove, you’re guaranteed to have a good time with Night in the Woods.
