# Games like When The Past Was Around

> The closest matches to When The Past Was Around: Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery, There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension, Birth, Florence, and Rusty Lake: Roots. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.

## Similar games, ranked

The full ranked list, 24 games, best match first (the HTML page shows the top 8 as cards).

1. [Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery](https://imho.run/games/1634150/behind-the-frame-the-finest-scenery) — Shares puzzle solving with When The Past Was Around. 1,711 Steam reviews, 94% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1634150/)
2. [There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension](https://imho.run/games/1240210/there-is-no-game-wrong-dimension) — Also Interactive Fiction and Romance, like When The Past Was Around. 9,373 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1240210/)
3. [Birth](https://imho.run/games/1889040/birth) — Also Surreal and Hidden Object, like When The Past Was Around. 2,389 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1889040/)
4. [Florence](https://imho.run/games/1102130/florence) — A frequent pick in When The Past Was Around players' libraries, and another Adventure. 4,200 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102130/)
5. [Rusty Lake: Roots](https://imho.run/games/532110/rusty-lake-roots) — A frequent pick in When The Past Was Around players' libraries, and another Indie. 1,696 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/532110/)
6. [Last Day of June](https://imho.run/games/635320/last-day-of-june) — Shares interactive storytelling and puzzle solving with When The Past Was Around. 853 Steam reviews, 84% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/635320/)
7. [My Brother Rabbit](https://imho.run/games/855640/my-brother-rabbit) — Shares interactive storytelling with When The Past Was Around. 677 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/855640/)
8. [Monument Valley 3](https://imho.run/games/3132930/monument-valley-3) — Also Abstract and Surreal, like When The Past Was Around. 371 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3132930/)
9. [The Gardens Between](https://imho.run/games/600990/the-gardens-between) — Also Surreal, like When The Past Was Around. 955 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/600990/)
10. [Leila](https://imho.run/games/2458430/leila) — Shares puzzle solving with When The Past Was Around. 148 Steam reviews, 83% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2458430/)
11. [The Roottrees are Dead](https://imho.run/games/2754380/the-roottrees-are-dead) — Also Interactive Fiction, like When The Past Was Around. 4,456 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2754380/)
12. [Fran Bow](https://imho.run/games/362680/fran-bow) — Shares puzzle solving with When The Past Was Around. 8,241 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/362680/)
13. [OneShot](https://imho.run/games/420530/oneshot) — Shares puzzle solving with When The Past Was Around. 31,336 Steam reviews, 98% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/420530/)
14. [Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest Collector's Edition](https://imho.run/games/601530/darkarta-a-broken-heart-s-quest-collector-s-edition) — Also Hidden Object and Interactive Fiction, like When The Past Was Around. 351 Steam reviews, 91% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/601530/)
15. [LEGO® Builder's Journey](https://imho.run/games/1544360/lego-builder-s-journey) — Also Hidden Object, like When The Past Was Around. 2,370 Steam reviews, 81% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1544360/)
16. [When The Past Was Around - Prologue](https://imho.run/games/1170640/when-the-past-was-around-prologue) — Also Hidden Object, like When The Past Was Around. 257 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1170640/)
17. [Botanicula](https://imho.run/games/207690/botanicula) — Shares puzzle solving with When The Past Was Around. 2,036 Steam reviews, 95% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/207690/)
18. [LUNA The Shadow Dust](https://imho.run/games/465100/luna-the-shadow-dust) — Shares puzzle solving with When The Past Was Around. 373 Steam reviews, 88% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/465100/)
19. [Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut](https://imho.run/games/1989270/slay-the-princess-the-pristine-cut) — A frequent pick in When The Past Was Around players' libraries, and another RPG. 21,995 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1989270/)
20. [IMMORTALITY](https://imho.run/games/1350200/immortality) — Also Hidden Object and Interactive Fiction, like When The Past Was Around. 1,118 Steam reviews, 84% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1350200/)
21. [Machinarium](https://imho.run/games/40700/machinarium) — Also Surreal, like When The Past Was Around. 4,783 Steam reviews, 94% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/40700/)
22. [Neva](https://imho.run/games/2420660/neva) — Same atmospheric mood as When The Past Was Around. 3,598 Steam reviews, 94% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2420660/)
23. [The Tiny Bang Story](https://imho.run/games/96000/the-tiny-bang-story) — Also Surreal and Hidden Object, like When The Past Was Around. 1,637 Steam reviews, 87% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/96000/)
24. [Papetura](https://imho.run/games/593640/papetura) — Also Surreal, like When The Past Was Around. 480 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/593640/)

## Machine-readable

The same ranked list as JSON from the imho.run API for AI assistants (GET, no key, same site as this page):

- Top 20: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=1164050&n=20
- Co-op games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=1164050&n=20&coop=true
- Free games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=1164050&n=20&free=true
- Facts about this game: https://imho.run/api/agent/game-facts?q=1164050
- This page as markdown: https://imho.run/md/game/1164050
- API docs: https://imho.run/developers (OpenAPI: https://imho.run/openapi.json, MCP: https://imho.run/mcp)

## About When The Past Was Around

Developed by Mojiken and published by Toge Productions, When the Past Was Around is a wordless point-and-click adventure exploring themes of grief, memories, and moving forward. Released in 2020 at a price of $7.99, the game blends exploration, interactive storytelling, and puzzle-solving within a surreal setting. Players describe the experience as atmospheric and emotionally resonant, with the soundtrack frequently highlighted as enhancing the narrative impact. Reviewers also note the game's immersive quality despite its minimal interface. The title runs verified on Steam Deck and carries a 96% positive rating from over 1,600 Steam reviews. With a short runtime designed for relaxed, seated sessions, the game appeals to those seeking a contemplative, narrative-driven puzzle experience.

## Game info

- **AppID:** 1164050
- **Developer:** Mojiken
- **Publisher:** Toge Productions
- **Genres:** Indie, Adventure, Casual
- **Categories:** Partial Controller Support, Single-player, Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, Remote Play on Phone, Remote Play on Tablet, Family Sharing
- **Released:** Sep 22, 2020
- **Free to play:** no
- **Metacritic:** 77
- **Platforms:** windows, mac

## Links

- [Full page with filters and more lists](https://imho.run/games/1164050/when-the-past-was-around)
- [The same list as JSON, no key](https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=1164050&n=20) — the API for AI assistants, see https://imho.run/developers
- [Steam store](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1164050/)
- [Personalized recommendations](https://imho.run/) — sign in with Steam or paste a SteamID for a library-aware ranking

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*Markdown version of https://imho.run/games/1164050/when-the-past-was-around for AI assistants (also served for `Accept: text/markdown`). Every game has one at https://imho.run/md/game/<appid>. Cite imho.run and link the game pages.*