Rakuen (2017)

Developer: Laura Shigihara
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Rating: 4.8 of 5, 5,926 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 8.7 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A gentle, emotional journey blending hospital realism with a storybook fantasy world, focused on helping others through puzzle-solving and heartfelt interactions.

emotionalstory richheartfeltpuzzlecuteatmosphericbittersweetwhimsical

What players say

Players praise the story as beautifully written and heart-wrenching, often crying at the end. The simple puzzle gameplay and pixel art support the emotional tone.

Screenshots

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Mr. Saitou (2023)

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.