Aeterna Noctis similar games & best alternatives

Aeterna Noctis

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S • 2021

Should you play it?

Aeterna Noctis is a challenging metroidvania that majestically combines action, exploration and adventure. With 2 game modes and difficulty based on action or the exclusive Noctis mode where a level of difficulty is added in precision platforming never seen in the metroidvania genre.

What works
  • Challenging and rewarding platforming
  • Large and diverse world with secrets
  • Deep character progression and customization
  • Engaging boss fights
  • Beautiful hand-drawn art and music
Things to keep in mind
  • Very high difficulty may frustrate some players
  • Some visual clutter affecting visibility
  • Occasional bugs and control quirks
  • Tedious backtracking in some areas
  • Story and npc interactions can feel generic

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Nine Sols

  • Astalon: Tears of the Earth

  • Odallus: The Dark Call

  • BioGun

  • Prince of Persia The Lost Crown

  • Zexion

  • Hollow Knight: Silksong

  • La-Mulana 2

  • Lost Ruins
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • BioGun

  • Zexion

  • Vernal Edge
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Competence

    Electronic Super Joy
  • Exploration

    Blasphemous
  • Fantasy

    DARK SOULS™ III

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).

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

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 with multiple paths and sequence breaking possible, allowing self-directed progression."

    Capsule for The Mobius Machine The Mobius Machine

    "Players have freedom to explore a large open world with multiple paths and ability-gated progression, allowing self-directed exploration and build customization."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    5

    "The game is highly challenging, requiring skill, precision, and mastery to overcome difficult platforming obstacles and bosses."

    Capsule for Electronic Super Joy Electronic Super Joy

    "The game is highly challenging with precise platforming, difficult combat and bosses, requiring mastery of mechanics and rewarding skill development."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on personal progression and overcoming game challenges rather than competing against other players."

    Capsule for Lost Ruins Lost Ruins

    "Focus is on personal challenge and overcoming difficult platforming and bosses rather than competing against other players."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Long playtime (80-150+ hours), multiple characters, and extensive quests encourage habitual and extended play sessions."

    Capsule for King's Bounty: Dark Side King's Bounty: Dark Side

    "Long playtime (40-80+ hours), large world, many collectibles and quests encourage extended engagement and habitual play."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Star Birds Star Birds

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

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players customize builds via skill trees, item combinations, and class selections, enabling creative strategies."

    Capsule for Our Darker Purpose Our Darker Purpose

    "Players can customize builds via skill trees and gems, and explore a diverse world with unique biomes and puzzles."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is individual and skill-based."

    Capsule for Phoenix Force Phoenix Force

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is individual and skill-based."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game as a deep, immersive escape with engaging fantasy world and strategic challenges."

    Capsule for Aethermancer Aethermancer

    "Players engage deeply in a challenging fantasy world, using the game as a form of immersive escape and mental engagement."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest and challenge; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Surviving Mars Surviving Mars

    "Players choose to engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest and challenge; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players experiment with different ability builds and platforming techniques; some exploration of mechanics encouraged."

    Capsule for Constance Constance

    "Players experiment with different builds, abilities, and platforming techniques to overcome challenges."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Large interconnected world with many secrets, hidden areas, and lore encourages discovery and curiosity."

    Capsule for Blasphemous Blasphemous

    "Large interconnected world with many secrets, collectibles, and ability-gated areas encourages discovery and curiosity."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Character customization and build choices allow some self-expression, though cosmetic customization is limited."

    Capsule for 河洛群俠傳 (Ho Tu Lo Shu ： The Books of Dragon) 河洛群俠傳 (Ho Tu Lo Shu ： The Books of Dragon)

    "Character builds and weapon/gem customization allow some degree of self-expression, though no cosmetic customization noted."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Set in a dark fantasy world with mythical creatures, lore, and supernatural elements."

    Capsule for DARK SOULS™ III DARK SOULS™ III

    "Set in a dark fantasy world with mythical themes, supernatural powers, and an imaginative narrative."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; experience is solitary and focused on individual achievement."

    Capsule for Azure Striker Gunvolt Azure Striker Gunvolt

    "No social or community features; experience is solitary and focused on individual achievement."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on skill improvement, learning boss patterns, and mastering mechanics."

    Capsule for Chippy Chippy

    "Strong emphasis on skill acquisition, learning boss patterns, mastering platforming, and character progression."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Requires long sedentary play sessions with high mental focus; no physical activity or health benefits noted."

    Capsule for Nioh: Complete Edition Nioh: Complete Edition

    "Requires long sedentary play sessions with intense mental focus; no physical activity or health benefits indicated."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires continuous attention and focus; platforming and combat demand active engagement."

    Capsule for TRON 2.0 TRON 2.0

    "Requires constant attention and precision; platforming and combat demand uninterrupted engagement."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for D'LIRIUM D'LIRIUM

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

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; gameplay is individual and self-directed."

    Capsule for Devil May Cry 5 Devil May Cry 5

    "No leadership or group management roles; gameplay is individual and self-directed."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Character levels up, gains skills, acquires equipment, and crafts items; progression is core to gameplay."

    Capsule for Risen Risen

    "Character progression through skill trees, gems, weapons, and collectibles is a core gameplay element."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -3

    "High difficulty and punishing mechanics create tension and challenge rather than relaxation or flow."

    Capsule for Vagante Vagante

    "High difficulty and punishing platforming create tension and challenge rather than relaxation or flow."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable visual and auditory stimuli from hand-drawn art and music."

    Capsule for 100 hidden eternals 100 hidden eternals

    "Enjoyable visual and auditory design with hand-drawn art and music enhance sensory engagement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal achievement rather than social recognition or popularity."

    Capsule for Desperados III Desperados III

    "Focus is on personal achievement rather than social recognition or popularity."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Narrative is present and engaging with character interactions and world lore, though some find it generic."

    Capsule for Aegis Defenders Aegis Defenders

    "Narrative is present and engaging with voice acting and lore, though some find it generic or less compelling."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Requires planning upgrade layouts, learning enemy patterns, and tactical combat decisions."

    Capsule for Bloody Hell Bloody Hell

    "Requires planning builds, learning enemy patterns, and devising strategies for platforming and combat."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    4

    "High tension and suspense from difficult platforming and boss fights create thrilling experiences."

    Capsule for Wings of Vi Wings of Vi

    "Suspense and tension from difficult platforming and boss fights provide excitement and relief upon success."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    5

    "Extensive content and long playtime offer excellent value for money and time invested."

    Capsule for X4: Foundations X4: Foundations

    "Large amount of content and long playtime provide strong perceived value for money and time invested."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Combat and boss fights involve destruction and defeating enemies."

    Capsule for Perennial Order Perennial Order

    "Combat and boss fights involve destruction and defeating enemies, though not gratuitously violent."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Players must avoid death and manage health and resources to progress through threats."

    Capsule for JUMP KING QUEST JUMP KING QUEST

    "Players must avoid death and manage health carefully to progress through challenging threats and platforming."

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Last update: 01/06/2026