9th Dawn III similar games & best alternatives

9th Dawn III

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android, iOS • 2020

Should you play it?

9th Dawn III: Shadow of Erthil is a massive open world RPG/dungeon crawler packed full of content – featuring more than 270 monsters to fight and capture, a fun card game with 180 cards to collect, and over 1,400 unique items to hoard!

What works
  • Large open world with exploration freedom
  • Deep crafting and skill progression systems
  • Local co-op and pet taming features
  • Addictive gameplay with long playtimes
  • Active developer engagement and updates
Things to keep in mind
  • Graphics and ui are basic and sometimes clunky
  • Some grind and repetitive crafting minigames
  • Lack of online multiplayer
  • Combat can become repetitive and unbalanced
  • Some quality of life features missing or limited

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Star Valor

  • Crea

  • ELEX II

  • Windward Horizon

  • Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Prophecy

  • Planet Centauri

  • Rum & Gun

  • Monsters Domain: Prologue

  • Sea of Stars
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Windward Horizon

  • Rum & Gun

  • Devil Spire Falls
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Continuation

    RAM: Random Access Mayhem
  • Exploration

    Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
  • Fantasy

    The Bloodline

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

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

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • 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 (hidden on purpose).

9th Dawn III: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Violence, Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players have freedom to explore a large open world, choose quest order, and customize party and skills extensively."

    Capsule for Avernum: Escape From the Pit Avernum: Escape From the Pit

    "Players have freedom to explore a large open world, choose quests or ignore them, and customize their character and playstyle extensively."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Game involves skill development through combat, questing, and crafting with some grind and boss fights."

    Capsule for Block Story™ Block Story™

    "The game involves skill progression through use, crafting minigames, and combat challenges including bosses requiring attention."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on individual progression and skill improvement; multiplayer is local co-op without ranked competition."

    Capsule for Caveblazers Caveblazers

    "Focus is on personal progression and exploration; multiplayer is local coop without ranked or leaderboard competition."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    5

    "Players report long play sessions, addictive gameplay, and desire to keep playing for hundreds of hours."

    Capsule for RAM: Random Access Mayhem RAM: Random Access Mayhem

    "Players report long playtimes, addictive gameplay, and habitual grinding and exploration over many hours."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    2

    "Local co-op supported, allowing cooperative play, but no online multiplayer; cooperation is possible but limited."

    Capsule for Salt and Sanctuary Salt and Sanctuary

    "Local co-op is supported with a companion character and pets, encouraging teamwork but no online multiplayer."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Extensive character customization, skill mixing, crafting, and building allow creative player expression."

    Capsule for Gedonia Gedonia

    "Deep crafting system, character customization, skill builds, and pet taming allow creative player expression."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -4

    "Interactions emphasize shared progression and cooperation; no evidence of dominance or power imposition over others."

    Capsule for Dragonkin: The Banished Dragonkin: The Banished

    "Interactions emphasize cooperation and shared progression; no evidence of dominance or power imposition over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game for relaxation, stress relief, and immersion in a fantasy world."

    Capsule for HARVESTELLA HARVESTELLA

    "Players use the game for relaxation, stress relief, and immersion in a large fantasy world."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or pressure."

    Capsule for Deep Rock Galactic Deep Rock Galactic

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "The game encourages trying new builds, skills, and strategies each run, fostering exploration of mechanics."

    Capsule for Touhou Dystopian Touhou Dystopian

    "The game encourages trying different builds, exploring dungeons, and experimenting with skills and crafting."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Large open world with secrets, dungeons, and varied environments encourages curiosity-driven discovery."

    Capsule for Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

    "Huge open world with many dungeons, secrets, and puzzles incentivizes curiosity-driven discovery."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    4

    "Character and pet customization, housing, and deck building provide avenues for self-expression."

    Capsule for Wizard101 Wizard101

    "Character customization, pet taming, and equipment choices provide avenues for self-expression."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Strong fantasy setting with magic, mythical creatures, and imaginative lore."

    Capsule for The Bloodline The Bloodline

    "Strong fantasy setting with magic, mythical creatures, and imaginative lore."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    1

    "Some social interaction through local co-op, but mostly single player experience with limited community engagement."

    Capsule for The Baconing The Baconing

    "Some community engagement and local co-op, but mostly individual play with limited social connection."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Skill leveling by use and learning new abilities supports personal development."

    Capsule for Devil Spire Falls Devil Spire Falls

    "Skill and ability progression through use and exploration supports learning and personal development."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

    Capsule for Colt Canyon Colt Canyon

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention during combat and crafting; not a background or idle game."

    Capsule for Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout

    "Requires active attention during combat and crafting; some grinding but not background or idle play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "Social interactions are limited and mostly surface-level; no evidence of close relationship formation."

    Capsule for Obama Maze Obama Maze

    "Social interactions are limited to surface-level exchanges; no evidence of close relationship formation."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    1

    "Players lead their party and direct AI companions, but no evidence of managing or guiding other human players."

    Capsule for Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization Deluxe Edition Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization Deluxe Edition

    "Players can manage companions and pets, but no evidence of leading other human players or authoritative roles."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong focus on leveling, loot collection, pet evolution, skill upgrades, and completing achievements."

    Capsule for 9th Dawn Remake 9th Dawn Remake

    "Strong emphasis on leveling skills, acquiring items, crafting upgrades, and evolving pets."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Many players find the game relaxing and enjoyable, though some frustration from grinding and difficulty spikes exists."

    Capsule for Ancient Planet Tower Defense Ancient Planet Tower Defense

    "Players find the game relaxing and enjoyable, though some difficulty spikes and grind exist."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Visual and auditory feedback is enjoyable but not intense; pixel art and sound effects provide moderate stimulation."

    Capsule for 9 Kings 9 Kings

    "Visual and auditory style is retro pixel art with satisfying combat feedback, but not highly stimulating."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -3

    "No competitive ranking or social status systems; achievements exist but social recognition is limited."

    Capsule for Torchlight II Torchlight II

    "No competitive ranking or social status systems; achievements exist but social recognition is limited."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Contains some storyline and quests but story is not the main focus."

    Capsule for Bakso Simulator Bakso Simulator

    "Story is present but not the main focus; quests and lore provide context but gameplay is primary."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Puzzle solving and combat require planning and problem solving; some players note clever dungeon design."

    Capsule for Dungeons of Hinterberg Dungeons of Hinterberg

    "Skill builds, ability choices, and dungeon puzzles require planning and problem solving."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    2

    "Combat provides moments of tension and satisfaction, but overall gameplay is predictable and grindy."

    Capsule for Ascend: Reborn Ascend: Reborn

    "Combat includes some challenge and tension, especially bosses, but overall gameplay is steady and predictable."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    5

    "Players report high value for money with many hours of engaging gameplay."

    Capsule for Evolution of Ages: Settlements Evolution of Ages: Settlements

    "Players report high value for money with extensive content and hours of gameplay."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Combat and defeating enemies is a core enjoyable aspect."

    Capsule for Sacred 2 Gold Sacred 2 Gold

    "Combat and defeating enemies is a core enjoyable element involving destruction and violence."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    2

    "Players manage health, resources, and avoid death; some challenge in staying alive but not extreme survival mechanics."

    Capsule for Rum & Gun Rum & Gun

    "Players must avoid death and manage resources; some challenge but not extreme survival mechanics."

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Last update: 01/06/2026