Single-player games like CD-ROM
Below are 8 single-player Steam games similar to CD-ROM, ranked by player overlap. Every pick carries Steam's Single-player category, so multiplayer-only titles or always-online games don't sneak in. imho.run pulls the category data from Steam directly — Single-player here matches what the store labels.
Want the full alternatives list (paid + free + Steam Deck + cheaper picks)? See the parent games like CD-ROM page.
Ranked picks
- 1
The Roottrees are Dead
Single-player alternative to CD-ROM — playable solo, no multiplayer required.
A genealogical mystery straight out of 1998. Scour the early Internet for clues, uncover hidden connections, and piece together the family tree behind the secretive Roottree Corporation.
- 2
The Crimson Diamond
Single-player alternative to CD-ROM — playable solo, no multiplayer required.
Follow amateur geologist and reluctant detective Nancy Maple to the ghost town of Crimson, Ontario to investigate the discovery of a massive diamond in this retro-inspired, EGA text parser mystery adventure!
- 3
Kathy Rain
Single-player alternative to CD-ROM — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with CD-ROM.
Set in the '90s, Kathy Rain tells the story of a strong-willed journalism major who has to come to terms with her troubled past as she investigates the mysterious death of her recently deceased grandfather.
- 4
Azazel's Christmas Fable
Single-player alternative to CD-ROM — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with CD-ROM.
A wacky 8-bit retro-style point and click Christmas adventure, reminiscent of '90s classics. Explore Santa's village as a devilish imp with a mischievous knack for getting into trouble. Solve puzzles and uncover mysteries while meeting some peculiar characters along the way.
- 5
Not Another Weekend
Single-player alternative to CD-ROM — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with CD-ROM.
A hilariously madcap point-and-click adventure as a determined bellboy tasked with clearing out a bustling hotel in just one wild weekend! Can he manage the chaos and evict all the guests? The clock is ticking!
- 6
Lamplight City
Single-player alternative to CD-ROM — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with CD-ROM.
A steampunk-ish detective adventure from the creator of A Golden Wake and Shardlight! Can you help private investigator Miles Fordham find justice for his clients and track down his partner's killer before his entire world comes apart?
- 7
The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark
Single-player alternative to CD-ROM — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with CD-ROM.
Delouse your room with sage and pack up your travel-sized ouija board, it’s time to re-enter Twin Lakes - America’s 34th most haunted city. Join Detective McQueen as he puzzles his way through 9 chilling cases, risking life and pixelated limb to solve the macabre mysteries that plague the poor town.
- 8
The Darkside Detective
Single-player alternative to CD-ROM — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with CD-ROM.
Grab your trench coat, tune your sixth sense and join the Darkside Division as they investigate the outright bizarre, the downright dangerous and the confusing cases of Twin Lakes. Flesh-hungry tentacles, mafian zombies, and the occasional missing sock are no match for The Darkside Detective.