12 bananas Thumbnail

12 bananas similar games & best alternatives

12 bananas

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2020

Related articles

Quick resume

Leap over treacherous chasms, navigate past a sea of hazards, and locate all 12 bananas as you embark on an epic quest and travel the patience-testing path that lies ahead in this infuriatingly challenging, unforgiving, puzzling, memey platformer.

Global score

85/100

Genres

Action, Platform

Similar games

    Pros

    • Challenging and rewarding gameplay
    • Amazing soundtrack and audio experience
    • Deep and moving story
    • Free to play with high quality
    • High replay value and mastery

    Cons

    • Unforgiving difficulty with no saving
    • Frustrating controls and physics
    • Some bugs and glitches reported
    • Lack of multiplayer or cooperative modes
    • Steep learning curve may deter casual players

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Relaxation, Survival, Violence, Fellowship. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Competition, Status. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      3

      "Players have control over their platforming actions and decisions, with no saving or pausing, requiring self-directed mastery."

    • Competence
      5

      "The game is highly challenging, demanding precision and skill, with a steep learning curve and rewarding mastery."

    • Competition
      2

      "Leaderboards and speedrunning are mentioned, indicating some competitive elements, though not the main focus."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Players report habitual play, repeated retries, and strong attachment despite frustration, indicating high continuation."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "The game is a solo platformer with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

    • Creativity
      1

      "Some players mention discovering tech and strategies, but gameplay is mostly about mastering preset challenges."

    • Domination
      -4

      "Interactions are individual and respectful; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

    • Escapism
      5

      "Players describe the game as life-changing, immersive, and a way to relieve stress and escape real-life problems."

    • Expectation
      -5

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and personal desire, with no obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players explore game mechanics and discover advanced techniques, indicating some experimentation."

    • Exploration
      2

      "The game involves finding hidden bananas and exploring levels, though within a known map."

    • Expression
      -4

      "No customization or avatar personalization; players use the fixed banana character."

    • Fantasy
      2

      "The game has whimsical and meme elements with a fictional banana protagonist, though grounded in platforming."

    • Fellowship
      -4

      "The experience is primarily solitary with minimal social interaction or community focus."

    • Growth
      5

      "Players report learning, skill improvement, and personal development through overcoming challenges."

    • Health
      -5

      "No physical activity involved; sedentary gameplay."

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires constant attention and focus due to unforgiving difficulty and no saving."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No evidence of forming close relationships or emotional social interactions within the game."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management roles; purely individual gameplay."

    • Progression
      4

      "Progression through collecting bananas and mastering levels, though no complex item upgrades."

    • Relaxation
      -3

      "The game is described as stressful and unforgiving, causing frustration rather than relaxation."

    • Sensation
      4

      "Highly praised soundtrack and immersive audio-visual experience provide strong sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      1

      "Some recognition through leaderboards and community praise, but not a dominant motivation."

    • Story
      3

      "Players mention a deep, moving story and lore that enhances immersion beyond gameplay."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Requires planning, problem-solving, and strategic use of game mechanics to succeed."

    • Thrill
      4

      "The game provides suspense, tension, and relief through its challenging platforming and risk of failure."

    • Value
      5

      "Free to play with high quality and depth, players perceive excellent value for time invested."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destruction; gameplay focuses on platforming and collecting."

    • Survival
      4

      "Players must avoid failure and death, restarting from the beginning, emphasizing survival under pressure."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026