The walking simulator genre is perhaps the most divisive in gaming. Detractors take issue with the sometimes limited interactivity you get in these sorts of titles. However, fans of the genre appreciate how the best walking simulators are able to keep their attention without the inclusion of an abundance of gameplay mechanics.

They don't generally provide combat sections, skill trees, or loot. Instead, they give you compelling narratives to experience or exciting worlds to explore. At least, the best ones do, as like every other genre, there are good and bad walking simulators. Thankfully, Xbox Game Pass provides some of the best.

Updated February 14, 2024 By Ben Jessey: Xbox Game Pass offers you the chance to play several great walking simulators. Yet, the service doesn't have a defined 'walking sim' section, so it isn't easy to find them all. Therefore, we created this list to highlight the best ones, and we've now updated it to add a few more to the collection.

17 Close To The Sun

In Close To The Sun, you play as a journalist named Rose Archer, who explores the sea cruiser called Helios. Her goal is to find her sister. However, that is easier said than done because the cruiser isn't exactly teeming with life.

Walking around the place is fairly unsettling, as you experience a fair amount of scary and gruesome moments. So, it isn't the most relaxing of walking simulators. From a gameplay perspective, you complete the odd puzzle and participate in some chase scenes. But mostly, you're walking around and reading things. It's very atmospheric.

16 Those Who Remain

Those Who Remain isn't an outright walking sim, but it certainly contains aspects of the genre. After all, much of the title sees you walking around and interacting with things. But there are also plenty of puzzles, a bit of stealth, and some decisions you have to make.

It's also a horror game, so you experience a lot of creepiness and scares as you make your way through the title. Much of this comes from the shadowy figures that lurk in the darkness and are usually watching you. So, don't expect a calm and tranquil experience with this game.

15 Spirit Of The North

In Spirit of the North, you play as a regular fox who has joined with a magical spirit. Together, you roam around Iceland, learning more about the spirit and the world in the process.

There are some puzzles, but the game is mainly about walking and being enamored with the world around you. As such, there is no narration or conversation as you wander. You’re encouraged to just focus on the beautiful surroundings and take it all in. It makes for a very chill and soothing experience.

14 Gris

The term 'walking simulator' is perhaps not a perfect way to describe Gris. After all, this is a game with a fair amount of platforming and puzzle-solving. Neither of these things is particularly taxing, though. The game isn't meant to be a challenge.

You're meant to play through it at your own pace while being wowed by the visuals and world. The said world is a place that has manifested from the protagonist's painful experiences. The game is all about getting over her sorrow. So, it's an emotional one.

13 Firewatch

In Firewatch, you control a fire lookout who works in a National Forest. That sounds like the premise of a management simulator, but it isn't. This is a first-person walking sim that largely consists of you exploring the area while talking to your supervisor, Delilah.

The relationship between her and your character is the main selling point of the title. Their interactions with one another are sweet, funny, and compelling. In fact, this is one of the best-written walking simulators ever.

12 A Short Hike

Instead of a walking simulator, A Short Hike is perhaps better described as a hiking simulator. This is because you play as a little bird who needs to hike up to the top of a mountain to get cell reception.

It sounds simple enough, but there are plenty of distractions and obstacles as you ascend. So, it takes several hours to reach the end. In that time, you will meet plenty of other characters and do some short activities.

11 Dordogne

You'd be hard-pressed to find a walking simulator as visually appealing as Dordogne. The colorful watercolor art style looks really beautiful. And there is plenty of substance to go with that style.

The substance is a narrative about a woman who travels to Dordogne following her grandmother's passing. While there, she remembers the time she spent with her grandmother and thinks back to some of her most important memories of her. You get to play these flashbacks.

10 The Walking Dead Season One

TellTale's The Walking Dead blends the line between an adventure game and a walking simulator. It shares enough of the conventions of the latter to be considered one. After all, this is a game where gameplay consists of walking around, making dialog choices, and hitting the occasional button prompt.

The most interesting thing about the title is the story. It all begins when protagonist Lee finds himself caught amid a zombie outbreak. He quickly finds a little girl called Clementine and becomes responsible for protecting her. The duo then embarks on an adventure where their only goal is to survive as long as they can. All the seasons of The Walking Dead are on Game Pass, but this first one is the best.

9 Sea Of Solitude

Walking simulators have a reputation for providing peaceful gaming experiences. That is not quite the case in Sea Of Solitude. This title is an emotional and sometimes scary entry in the genre. But it is also a thought-provoking one, as you control a young woman who's suffering heavily from loneliness.

As her, you set sail across the sea. Along the journey, you meet dark metaphorical creatures that you must overcome. There is some puzzle-solving to be done, so it isn't a pure walking sim.

8 Soma

While underwater levels are generally disliked, there are some great underwater games, such as Soma. In this horror title, you don't swim around with fish. Instead, you explore an underwater research facility. The goal is to discover more about the creepy place and figure out why your character is there.

There are also some deeper questions that crop up about consciousness and what it means to be alive. So, it's certainly a thought-provoking title. Along with exploration, there are several puzzles and a few stealth sections. But the compelling story is certainly the main aspect of the game.

7 The Walking Dead: Michonne

Along with multiple main seasons, Telltale's The Walking Dead also has a couple of short mini-series, including one revolving around Michonne. It gives you an insight into what the character was doing between issues 126 and 139 of the comic book series.

Yet, even if you haven't read a single issue, this narrative-focused game still tells a tale that can keep you engaged. It is all about the titular character trying to overcome the loss of her kids. So, it's an emotional ride.

6 Opus: Echo Of Starsong

Opus: Echo Of Starsong blends visual novels and walking simulators together. It tells the tale of a girl who can hear special soundwaves known as starsongs. She teams up with a man who is in search of the source of those soundwaves. As them, you journey across the galaxy, seeking these special sounds out.

Much of the game revolves around scanning and analyzing different planets to see what's there. Also, some places allow you to go out on foot to explore them. These are the most special parts of the game as you typically walk around fascinating areas.

5 TheHunter: Call Of The Wild

As you'd expect by its name, TheHunter: Call Of The Wild is a hunting game and a great one at that. Yet, it also works very well as a walking sim. This is because the game allows you to roam around the game's large and incredibly detailed maps. There's nothing forcing you to track and hunt.

You can just walk around and enjoy the beautiful visuals and amazing sound design. Both of those things make you feel like you're actually in the wild. It's an incredibly peaceful experience for you and the animals, as it means nobody is shooting them.

4 Disneyland Adventures

Once upon a time, Disneyland Adventures was a Kinect game, but that is no longer the case. Now you can simply use a controller to walk around the open world. This isn't just any open world, though. This is a virtual re-creation of Disneyland.

Thus, it's filled with classic Disney characters to interact with, like Goofy and Donald Duck. You can even go on rides, which are represented through mini-games. So, you essentially get to experience a trip to Disneyland from the comfort of your own home. It's certainly a lot cheaper than a real-life trip.

3 Scorn

'Unsettling' is the best word to describe Scorn, as both the environment and the protagonist are visually disturbing. This is kind of the point of the game, as it's a horror title that replaces jump scares with general creepiness.

Plus, if you're scared of the unknown, this game will be terrifying, as it pretty much tells you nothing about who you are, where you are, or what you're doing. You have to figure things out for yourself by freely exploring the weird world. There is a bit of combat in the game, but you spend most of your time walking around and completing puzzles.

2 Amnesia Collection

The Amnesia games came out before walking simulators were really an established genre. So, in many ways, the early titles were trendsetters. And they remain some of the scariest walking simulators ever.

This collection contains Amnesia: The Dark Descent, Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs, and the expansion for TDD, Amnesia: Justine. There are differences between each one of them, but they are generally similar in premise. You play as an amnesiac character who must explore a very spooky place while trying to avoid monsters and solve puzzles.

1 Tell Me Why

Tell Me Why is a narrative-focused game revolving around two twins who reunite for the first time in many years. The reunion takes place in their old hometown. While there, they decide to investigate the death of their mother. Naturally, this sort of crusade involves plenty of sneaking around and keeping secrets. So, the main characters' ability to telepathically communicate with one another helps a lot.

As the story progresses, you learn more about their difficult childhood and their mother's part in it. And the whole thing serves as a compelling mystery with multiple surprises. During it, you make a bunch of dialog choices and solve some interesting puzzles. The game is also noteworthy for featuring a trans protagonist, which is still a rare thing in the gaming industry.