A role-playing video game that came onto the scene in 2020, Omori was both developed and published by Omocat, an indie studio. The story is centered on controlling a hikikomori boy, who goes by the name of Sunny, as well as his dream world alter-ego, Omori.
The duo explore both the real and dream world in an attempt to overcome their darkest fears and their deepest secrets. The way in which the boy and his alter-ego interact is dependent on the choices that you, the player, makes, and as a result, several endings can come about.
If you’re a fan of Omori and its turn-based battle system, the role-playing theme, or both, then you’re in luck, because there are several different options available. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the top video games that are similar to Omori.
Omori Game Features
 Release Date: | December 25, 2020 |
 Developer: | OMOcat LLC |
 Publisher: | OMOcat LLC |
 Platforms: | macOS Microsoft Windows Nintendo Switch Xbox One Xbox Series X/S PlayStation 4 |
 Genre: | Role-playing |
 Setting: | Fantasy World |
 Game Modes: | Single-player |
1. Hylics
First up on our list of games that are similar to Omori is Hylics. It was developed and published by Mason Lindroth, and like Omori, Hylics is also a role-playing video game. The title was released on Windows in October of 2015. The Claymation graphics illustrate a surreal, fantasy world, which lend to the mystery and the uniqueness of this title.
You’ll play as the main character, a humanoid being named Wayne, who has yellow-colored skin and crescent-shaped horns. The majority of the NPCs in this game speak via random text generation a way that is described as being deliberately misleading and a red herring; however, it is consistent with the setting of the game, with the goals of the player being illustrated via environmental design instead.
Both the world and the characters are referred to in a way that makes it seem as if they are post-human, and the objective of the game is to beat Gibby, the king of the moon.
Gameplay in Hylics is similar to standard JRPG, regardless of the game’s surreal setting. The Hit points have been replaced with “flesh”, and “will” replaces magic points. Battles are displayed from a first-person perspective, and the hands of the main character are shown completing the tasks.
When he is defeated, Wayne loses all of his flesh; however, he doesn’t die, but rather warps into an “afterlife” form from which he can travel back to the previous location. The battle items used in this game are unusual, too; for example, a frozen burrito can be used as an attack weapon.
2. Psychonauts
Next up on our list of games that are like Omori is Psychonauts, a platform video game that was released in 2005. The title was developed by Double Fine Productions, and it was originally published by Majesco Entertainment and THQ for Microsoft Windows, PS2, and Xbox. Double Fine acquired the rights to the title in 2011, and the company republished the title, complete with updates for modern gaming systems and ports for Linux and Mac OS X.
Razputin (aka “Raz”) is the main character of Psychonauts. This young boy, who is gifted with psychic abilities, runs away from the circus and attempts to sneak into a summer camp for others who have powers that are similar to the powers he possess, in order to become a “Psychonaut”, or a spy who has psychic abilities.
Raz discovers a sinister plot at the camp that only he is able to stop. The game is based on exploring the unique and creative minds of various characters that Raz comes into contact with as a Psychonaut-in-training (a “Psycadet”) in order to help them face and overcome their fears or memories of their pasts so that he can gain their help and the game can progress.
Raz then gains use of a variety of psychic abilities throughout the game that he uses for both attacking adversaries and for solving puzzles.
Psychonauts was based on Tim Schafer’s abandoned concept when he was developing Full Throttle, which he later expanded into a full game via the company that he had recently created, known as Double Fine. The game incorporates a variety of adventure elements and you’ll control Raz in the third-person, with a 3D view, helping him uncover the mysteries at the camp.
3. Contact
Contact is yet another role-playing video game. This title was developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and was published by Marvelous Entertainment in Japan in 2006 and by Atlus USA in North America in 2006, and by Rising Star Games in Australia, Europe, and Asia in early 2007. All publishers released the game on the Nintendo DS.
In this game, the main character, a scientist, called simply “Professor” escapes through space from a mysterious enemy that is only referred to as “CosmoNOTs” (which stands for Cosmic Nihilist Organization for Terror). The Professor crashes on weird planet, and when he does, he loses the cells that power his ship. Because he doesn’t have power, he is now stranded on the planet.
To escape, he enlists the help of a young boy named Terry, who agrees to help the Professor by helping him locate the cells he lost. The only way that Terry will be able to get home is by helping the professor; however, the evil Klaxon Army are tracking the duo.
The cells are hidden in dangerous locations, and as story progresses, the intentions of the Professor become more and more mysterious.
The gameplay in Contact involves several unique mechanics, which ensures some alienation between the player, the Professor, and Terry. Unless a lot of RPGs, experience gains occur instantaneously during battles, and this complements the real time combat system. The game is unique, entertaining, and is sure to be a title that fans of Omori will enjoy.
4. OneShot
Though it isn’t an RPG game, OneShot is similar to Omori for several reasons. This title was developed by Future Cat, an indie studio and it was published by Degica.
It’s based on the 2014 free version of the same name, and it was released on Steam on December 8, 2016, and in March of 2020, it was released on itch.io. Later on, the title was released on PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One in 2002 as OneShot: World Machine Edition.
OneShot is described as a game in which “the world knows you exist”. Metafictional elements are incorporated in both the plot and the gameplay. There are lots of puzzles that involve interacting with an operating system outside of the game’s application.
The player is a separate character from Niko, the protagonist. You’ll control Niko, a child, who finds himself in an unfamiliar, dark world. The game shows Niko’s point-of-view only, using a top-down perspective; however, the player is a separate character.
The gameplay largely involves solving puzzles, and the game doesn’t have a combat system. You can use items to interact with particular locations or you can combine them to form new items.
OneShot is action-packed and full of unique experiences that will be sure to keep you engaged. If you’re a fan of Omori, there’s no doubt that you’re going to want to check out this title.
5. Off
Off is perhaps the most unique game on our list. Like Omori, it is a RPG game, but it’s in the French language. Unproductive Fun Time, a Belgian team, released the title in 2008, and it has generated a loyal fan base of a decent size; especially considering the story, the characters, and the atmosphere. In 2011, the game was translated to English.
Off is a story that follows an enigmatic humanoid being named Batter. This character is on a sacred mission to rid the world of Off. It travels through four strange Zones within the world, and more and more about this bizarre world is revealed as the game progresses.
The gameplay is similar to other RPGs in that the Batter advances by leveling up, gaining new party members, and upgrading its stats; attack and defense, for example. It also advances by acquiring “competences”, which are special capabilities.
What’s really unique about Of is that the system in which characters are able to attack once a cooldown has passed; in other words, adversaries and players are capable of attacking one another at the same time. There are four numbered Zones (labeled 0 through 3), as well as a fifth zone (known as The Room), where the final act takes place.
Zones can only be accessed when a player obtains Zodiac Cards, which are gained via previous Zone’s Guardian upon death. The player then travels between them through a map that is dubbed the “nothingness”.
6. Yume Nikki
Next on our list of titles that are similar to Omori. An adventure horror game was created by Kikiyama, a Japanese developer. It was first released in 2004 on 2channel as freeware for Microsoft Windows, and later updated continued until 2007.
The game was developed using RPG maker 2003, and while it doesn’t have a lot of the gameplay elements that are usually associated with RPGs, it has attracted a cult following and received massive praise for the surreal visual style and emphasis on open-ended exploration.
In January of 2018, Playism published Yume Nikki on Steam. It has also received a 3D reboot, dubbed Yume Nikki: Dream Diary, and as manga and light novel adaptations. The gameplay is an exploration-based adventure game. There isn’t any dialogue, plot, or combat.
You’ll control a girl, Madotsuki, who lives in a single-room apartment on her own. The game starts inside her apartment, and you’re unable to leave at first. When you sit at Madotsuki’s desk and write in her dream diary, you can save progress, and you’ll start dreaming when you sleep in her bed.
The main character’s dream starts in a room that looks like her apartment, which you can leave. Upon leaving, your lead into a room that is often referred to as the Nexus, and there are 12 doors, which lead to different parts of the dream world.
Each of the different areas behind the doors features distinct environments and designs. You can collect items by interacting with specific objects, as well as NPCs; however, there are some items and NPCs that can send you back to different areas.
With that said, there isn’t any way to encounter a “game over”. As the game progresses, random events continue to occur, which can include cut scenes or that can feature interactive elements that can be used for gameplay. The game ends when you unlock all 24 effects, and at the ending, Madotsuki jumps off her apartment’s balcony.
7. Lisa: The Painful
An RPG video game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, Lisa: The Painful was both developed and published by Dingaling Productions, an American indie studio, and it was released in 2014 on OS X, Windows, and Linux. Lisa: The Painful is the second installment in the Lis Trilogy.
The first game in the series was Lisa: The First, which was released in 2012, and the third installment was List: The Joyful, which was released in 2015.
In this game, you’ll control Brad Armstrong, the main character. He’s a balding, middle-aged man who has a very troubled past. Brad travels through the post-apocalyptic wasteland, known as Olathe, and he’s on a mission to find his adoptive daughter, named Buddy.
As he progresses, he is forced to make decisions that will affect both his own well-being, as well as the well-being of party members. This title features a combination of traditional turn-based RPG combat, which is presented in a 2D side-scrolling overworld.
Brad, the main character, along with some party members, are hooked on Joy, a drug that can dramatically boost their power, but creates serious withdrawal effects when they come down.
In the overworld, there are a variety of settlements, complete with bars and shops, in which party members can be found. There are a total of 30 possible companions; however, all of them (with the exception of Brad) are prone to permanent death via either scripted events (Russian Roulette, for example) or against certain adversaries that use permanent kill moves on occasion.
The game is intense, captivating, and will be sure to pull you in. If you’re a fan of Omori and you’re looking for a game that offers a similar story and style, then Lisa: The Painful is a title that you are totally going to want to check out.
8. Undertale
Undertale is a 2D RPG smash hit that was released in 2015. It was created by Toby Fox, an American indie developer. In 2015, the game was released on Microsoft Windows and OS X, and it was ported to Linux in 2016.
In the summer of 2017, PS4 and PS Vita released the game, and in the fall of 2018, it was released on Nintendo Switch. Finally, Xbox One released the game in March of 2021. Across all platforms, Undertale has been well-received, thanks to its intuitive combat system, thematic material, storyline, uniqueness, characters, and dialogue. The game was a smash-hit, selling more than 1 million copies, and it was even nominated for several awards and accolades.
In Undertale, you’ll control a child who has falling into the Underground, an expansive, secluded region that is located underneath the surface of the earth. A magical barrier separates the earth from the Underground. Your goal is to get back to the surface of the earth by traveling through the Underground, and throughout your journey, you will meet several monsters, and some of those monsters may engage you in a fight.
The combat system in Undertale involves navigating through a mini-bullet hell attacks that are put out by your adversaries. You can choose to pacify the monsters or subdue them to spare them rather than kill them. The decision that you make will have a direct impact on the game, including the characters, the dialogue, and the story all changing.
The gameplay is a top-down perspective. As you try to make your way back to the surface of the earth, you’ll explore towns and caves, and you’ll need to solve several puzzles, too. The monsters that you encounter will speak to you while you’re engaged in battle, and the game will let you know what the monsters feelings and actions are. Adversary attacks will change according to the number of players that interact with them.
Overall, Undertale is quite similar to Omori. The plot, the storyline, and the imagery are all highly engaging and will be sure to draw you in.
9. EarthBound
Released in Japan as Mother 2: Gigu no Gyakushu, EarthBound is a RPG that was developed by Ape Inc. and HAL laboratory, and it was published by Nintendo for Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Earthbound is the second entry in the Mother series of games, which was initially released in 1994 in Japan, and in 1995 in North America.
The theme of Earthbound is an idiosyncratic portrayal of the American and Western cultures. The game took its own unique approach to RPGs, as it features a modern setting while also parodying several traditional features that are associated with this genre.
You’ll control a party of characters who travel through a 2D world that is comprised of cities, villages, dungeons, and caves. As you make your way throughout the world, you’ll fight battles with adversaries and the party will receive experience points for wins.
If enough experience points are earned, your level will increase. Similar to the title that preceded it, Earthbound Beginnings, Earthbound utilizes random encounters.
The game takes place in the 1990s, several years after the events of Mother took place. It’s set in Eagleland, a fictional country, and a parody of the United States. You’ll start out as Ness, a young boy, as he explores a meteorite crash with Pokey, his neighbor, in an effort to find his neighbor’s brother, who is named Picky.
The duo end up finding Giygas, an alien force, that has engulfed and consumed the world in animosity and that has turned animals, humans, and items into malicious creatures. A small bee-like creature that hails from the future, named Buzz-Buzz, tells Ness that he needs to collect melodies in a device called a Sound Stone, from eight Sanctuaries to stop this evil force; however, is killed soon after when Pokey and Picky’s mother wrongly thinks he is a pest.
On his travels to visit the sanctuaries, Ness encounters cultists of the Happy Happy Village, and he saves Paula, as well as Threed. Once Paula instructs Jeff, telepathically, they continue to progress to Saturn Valley, a village that is crawling with various species of unusual creatures known as Mr Saturn.
The game ends when Ness defeats Giygas, and at the end credits, he receives a note from Pokey, who challenges Ness to find him.
Overall, this game is very well designed. The characters, the setting, the development, and the entire storyline is quite unique and will be sure to draw you in and keep you entertained. If you are a fan of Omori and you are looking for a game that is similar in nature, then EarthBound is definitely a title that is worth checking out.
Summing It Up
Omori has garnered a massive following of fans over the years. If you’re one of the many fans of this game and you are looking for titles that offer a similar experience in terms of the gameplay, the storyline, and the overall look and feel, then you are in luck, because there are numerous options to choose from.
All of the titles that we have included on this list are highly engaging, interactive, and will no doubt appeal to you if you are a fan of Omori. We highly recommend checking out at least one of them; however, we really suggest giving each of these titles a try, as we are certain that they will not disappoint.
