A Bastard's Tale similar games & best alternatives

A Bastard's Tale

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2015

Should you play it?

A game about parrying, attacking, and overcoming difficult foes

What works
  • Challenging and rewarding combat
  • Unique 3-directional attack and block mechanics
  • Atmospheric pixel art and music
  • Tight controls and satisfying gameplay
  • Affordable price
Things to keep in mind
  • Very high difficulty and frustration
  • Short game length and limited content
  • Lack of story and progression
  • Some control and readability issues
  • No multiplayer or social features

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Slain: Back from Hell

  • Volgarr the Viking

  • ORCS

  • Dungeon Escape

  • Frenzy Retribution

  • Titan Souls

  • Bot Vice

  • Cursed Castilla (Maldita Castilla EX)

  • TTV2
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Cursed Castilla (Maldita Castilla EX)

  • RITE

  • Slash or Die
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Competence

    Teleglitch: Die More Edition
  • Autonomy

    ALTF4
  • Growth

    Volgarr the Viking

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).

A Bastard's Tale: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Status. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Progression, Story, Creativity.

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 full control over their movements and decisions; success depends on player skill and choice rather than fixed routines."

    Capsule for ALTF4 ALTF4

    "Players control their own actions and decisions with no RPG progression or power-ups; success depends on player skill and learning enemy patterns."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    5

    "High skill ceiling with challenging combat, resource management, and tactical decision-making; players improve through repeated attempts."

    Capsule for Teleglitch: Die More Edition Teleglitch: Die More Edition

    "High skill ceiling with challenging combat requiring precise timing, reflexes, and pattern recognition; players improve through repeated attempts."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -2

    "Focus is on personal progression and overcoming challenges rather than direct competition; leaderboards exist for endless mode but are not central."

    Capsule for Hand of Fate 2 Hand of Fate 2

    "Focus is on personal mastery and overcoming challenges rather than direct competition with others; some leaderboard elements in endless mode."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Addictive gameplay encourages repeated playthroughs and long sessions despite some repetitiveness."

    Capsule for Kingdom: Classic Kingdom: Classic

    "Addictive and rewarding gameplay encourages repeated play despite frustration; some players report long sessions and multiple playthroughs."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

    Capsule for MiSide MiSide

    "Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    -4

    "Players follow predefined routines with no creation or modification; gameplay is rigid and repetitive."

    Capsule for Terroro Terroro

    "Gameplay is based on fixed patterns and limited moves; no customization or modding; players follow established routines to progress."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No social dominance or power over other players; interactions are with AI enemies only."

    Capsule for CARRION CARRION

    "No social dominance or power over others; interactions are solely between player and AI enemies."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "Players use the game as a challenging distraction and stress outlet, escaping real-life frustrations."

    Capsule for oO oO

    "Players use the game as a challenging distraction and stress outlet, escaping real life frustrations through intense gameplay."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic challenge and enjoyment; no obligation or external pressure noted."

    Capsule for Wings of Vi Wings of Vi

    "Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic challenge and enjoyment; no external pressure or obligation noted."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    2

    "Players experiment with timing, tactics, and weapon use to overcome challenges, though within a fixed level design and enemy behavior."

    Capsule for Volgarr the Viking Volgarr the Viking

    "Players experiment with timing and strategies to defeat enemies, but within a limited set of mechanics and fixed enemy behaviors."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    -3

    "Levels are linear and repetitive with little exploration or discovery; focus is on combat arenas."

    Capsule for Onechanbara Z2: Chaos Onechanbara Z2: Chaos

    "Levels are short and linear with no exploration or secrets; focus is on mastering combat rather than discovering new areas."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -5

    "No character customization or player expression; standardized pixel art presentation."

    Capsule for Death Coming/死神来了 Death Coming/死神来了

    "No character customization or visual expression; pixel art and animations are fixed and standardized."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    2

    "Medieval fantasy setting with some magical elements and humorous tone, but grounded in plausible medieval warfare."

    Capsule for Diplomacy is Not an Option Diplomacy is Not an Option

    "Medieval fantasy setting with knights and mythical enemies, but gameplay is grounded in realistic combat mechanics without heavy fantasy elements."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; purely solo experience."

    Capsule for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2

    "No social or community features; purely solo experience."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop skills and knowledge through repeated play and learning enemy patterns, showing clear personal development."

    Capsule for Volgarr the Viking Volgarr the Viking

    "Players develop personal skill and reflexes through repeated play and learning enemy patterns; no in-game character growth."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Sedentary gameplay with some reports of frustration and stress; no physical activity or health benefits noted."

    Capsule for Hand Simulator Hand Simulator

    "Sedentary gameplay with potential for frustration and stress; no physical activity or health benefits."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires constant attention and focus; gameplay is intense and punishing, discouraging idle play."

    Capsule for Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad with Rising Storm Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad with Rising Storm

    "Requires constant attention and focus; gameplay is intense and punishing with no idle or passive elements."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social interactions or relationship building; purely individual play."

    Capsule for EvilQuest EvilQuest

    "No social interaction or relationship building; purely individual play."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; single-player only."

    Capsule for Castle of Illusion Castle of Illusion

    "No leadership or group management roles; single-player only."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    -4

    "No item or upgrade accumulation; progression is skill-based and static in abilities."

    Capsule for Furi Furi

    "No item or character progression; player skill is the only form of advancement."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -3

    "Gameplay is tense and challenging, causing frustration at times, though some players find flow states."

    Capsule for Awaria Awaria

    "Gameplay is tense and challenging, often causing frustration; some players find satisfaction and flow after mastering mechanics."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Engaging pixel art, sound effects, and music provide sensory stimulation and emotional excitement."

    Capsule for Penarium Penarium

    "Enjoyable pixel art, sound effects, and music provide sensory stimulation; combat excitement adds emotional engagement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems; achievements are personal and not widely visible."

    Capsule for NightSky NightSky

    "No social recognition or status systems; achievements are personal and not widely visible."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    -4

    "Minimal narrative; focus is on gameplay rather than story or lore."

    Capsule for Super Duper Party Pooper Super Duper Party Pooper

    "Minimal story with no narrative depth; focus is on gameplay rather than plot or lore."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Requires analytical thinking to learn and counter opponent attack patterns effectively."

    Capsule for Knockout League - Arcade VR Boxing Knockout League - Arcade VR Boxing

    "Requires strategic thinking to read enemy patterns and time attacks and blocks effectively."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    4

    "High tension and excitement from challenging combat and risk of death."

    Capsule for EVERSPACE™ EVERSPACE™

    "High tension and thrill from difficult combat and risk of failure; players experience adrenaline and relief upon success."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    2

    "Good value for price especially on sale; some complaints about short length and limited content."

    Capsule for Spacelines from the Far Out Spacelines from the Far Out

    "Affordable price with good challenge value; some complaints about short length and limited content."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Combat-focused gameplay with sword fighting and defeating enemies."

    Capsule for Cataegis : The White Wind Cataegis : The White Wind

    "Combat-focused game with sword fighting and enemy destruction as core mechanics."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Players must avoid death, manage limited health and ammo, and restart levels upon failure, emphasizing survival."

    Capsule for Shadow Ops: Red Mercury Shadow Ops: Red Mercury

    "Players must avoid death and manage limited health resources; failure results in restarting levels."

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Last update: 01/06/2026