Games like Life is sad
Games like Life is sad include Quarantine Zone: The Last Check, Emily is Away <3, This War of Mine, Emily is Away Too, and 911 Operator. We matched them by the tags players give Life is sad on Steam (Simulation, Visual Novel, 3D, Solitaire, and Atmospheric): closest matches first, and among equally close ones the better-known games.

Quarantine Zone: The Last Check
Shared: Simulation · Singleplayer · Choices Matter

Emily is Away <3
Shared: Simulation · Choices Matter · Indie

This War of Mine
Shared: Atmospheric · Simulation · Singleplayer

Emily is Away Too
Shared: Simulation · Choices Matter · Indie

911 Operator
Shared: Simulation · Singleplayer · Indie

Beholder
Shared: Choices Matter · Atmospheric · Simulation

The Test
Shared: Simulation · Visual Novel · Singleplayer

Papers, Please
Shared: Simulation · Indie · Singleplayer

Mirror 2: Project X
Shared: 3D · Visual Novel · Singleplayer

Coffee Talk
Shared: Visual Novel · Atmospheric · Simulation

Plague Inc: Evolved
Shared: Simulation · Singleplayer · Indie

Volcano Princess
Shared: Choices Matter · Simulation · Visual Novel

The Test: Hypothesis Rising
Shared: Simulation · Visual Novel · Choices Matter

Tricolour Lovestory
Shared: Visual Novel · Simulation · Casual

Tiny Bunny
Shared: Visual Novel · Atmospheric · Choices Matter

Game Dev Tycoon
Shared: Simulation · Indie · Singleplayer

The Horrorscope
Shared: Simulation · Atmospheric · Visual Novel

House Flipper
Shared: Simulation · Singleplayer · Casual

LoveChoice
Shared: Visual Novel · Choices Matter · Simulation

Chill with You : Lo-Fi Story
Shared: Atmospheric · Visual Novel · Casual

No, I'm not a Human
Shared: Choices Matter · Atmospheric · Singleplayer

Equilinox
Shared: Simulation · Indie · Casual

The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante
Shared: Choices Matter · Visual Novel · Indie

Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut
Shared: Visual Novel · Choices Matter · Singleplayer