Afterimage similar games & best alternatives

Afterimage

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S • 2023

Should you play it?

Afterimage is a hand-drawn 2D action adventure that emphasizes fast-paced combat with diversified character builds, non-linear levels, and a gripping story set in the ruins of a fantasy world.

What works
  • Massive and beautiful map
  • Fluid and responsive combat
  • Variety of weapons and skills
  • Engaging exploration and secrets
  • Good value for price
Things to keep in mind
  • Convoluted and hard to follow story
  • Some translation and dialogue issues
  • Limited fast travel early on (patched)
  • Occasional unclear quest directions
  • Weapon balance issues

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Blasphemous 2

  • ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist

  • Catmaze

  • The Last Case of Benedict Fox Definitive Edition

  • Phoenotopia: Awakening

  • Apotheon

  • Cookie Cutter: Overkill Edition

  • Super Chibi Knight

  • BIOMORPH

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • BIOMORPH

  • Vernal Edge

  • Aggelos

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Exploration

    Catmaze

  • Fantasy

    Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons

  • Progression

    FANTASIAN Neo Dimension

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).

Afterimage: A very typical example of its motivational profile. 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, Relaxation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on 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 the map non-linearly, choose weapons and abilities, and direct their own progression."

    Capsule for Guns of Fury Guns of Fury

    "Players have freedom to explore a large open map non-linearly and choose weapon combos and progression paths."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Combat requires learning enemy patterns and managing skills; some boss fights are challenging and require strategy."

    Capsule for DRAGON QUEST HEROES™ II DRAGON QUEST HEROES™ II

    "Combat is responsive and skill-based with boss fights requiring pattern learning; some grind possible but not mandatory."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal exploration and progression without competitive or leaderboard elements."

    Capsule for SteamWorld Dig 2 SteamWorld Dig 2

    "Focus is on personal exploration and progression without competitive or leaderboard elements."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Large map, many secrets, and side quests encourage long play sessions and habitual exploration."

    Capsule for Knytt Underground Knytt Underground

    "Large map, many secrets, and multiple endings encourage long play sessions and repeated playthroughs."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

    Capsule for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

    "Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Extensive skill tree and weapon customization; players create unique builds and modify equipment with crafting and upgrades."

    Capsule for Salt and Sanctuary Salt and Sanctuary

    "Players can customize weapons, skills, and builds with a large skill tree and equipment variety."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control over others; gameplay is solo and self-directed."

    Capsule for Monster Train 2 Monster Train 2

    "No evidence of exerting control over others; gameplay is solo and self-directed."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Immersive fantasy world and engaging combat provide strong escape from real life."

    Capsule for Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™ Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™

    "Immersive fantasy world with exploration and combat provides strong escape from real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, not obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Fallout 4 Fallout 4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, not obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Encouraged to try different weapons, spells, and tactics; secrets and alternate paths invite exploration."

    Capsule for Arthurian Legends Arthurian Legends

    "Encouraged to try different weapon combos, skills, and exploration routes."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on discovering secrets, backtracking, and exploring a large interconnected map."

    Capsule for Catmaze Catmaze

    "Massive interconnected map with many secrets and backtracking; core motivation is discovery."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Character customization in appearance, skills, and equipment allows personal expression."

    Capsule for Risen 2: Dark Waters Risen 2: Dark Waters

    "Character customization through equipment and skill choices allows personal expression."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Set in a fantastical world with mythical creatures and imaginative storytelling."

    Capsule for Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons

    "Set in a fantastical world with magic, mythical creatures, and imaginative environments."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; experience is solitary."

    Capsule for Stellar Blade™ Stellar Blade™

    "No social or community features; experience is solitary."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop skills, acquire new abilities, and improve character stats through upgrades and progression."

    Capsule for Shantae and the Pirate's Curse Shantae and the Pirate's Curse

    "Players develop skills, unlock abilities, and improve character stats through progression."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Standard sedentary gaming experience without physical activity elements."

    Capsule for Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity

    "Standard sedentary gaming experience without physical activity elements."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during exploration and combat."

    Capsule for Haiku, the Robot Haiku, the Robot

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during exploration and combat."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship building; solo gameplay."

    Capsule for Runestone Keeper Runestone Keeper

    "No social or emotional relationship building; solo gameplay."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles present."

    Capsule for Half-Life: Alyx Half-Life: Alyx

    "No leadership or group management roles present."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on leveling up, skill trees, equipment upgrades, and unlocking new abilities."

    Capsule for FANTASIAN Neo Dimension FANTASIAN Neo Dimension

    "Strong emphasis on leveling, gear upgrades, skill trees, and unlocking new abilities."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Exploration and music provide moments of calm, though combat adds tension."

    Capsule for Rodina Rodina

    "Exploration and music provide a soothing experience, though some combat and bosses add tension."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable visuals, sound design, and satisfying combat animations provide sensory stimulation and fun."

    Capsule for Len's Island Len's Island

    "Enjoyable visuals, sound design, and fluid combat animations provide sensory engagement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems; focus is on individual achievement."

    Capsule for Laundry Store Simulator Laundry Store Simulator

    "No social recognition or status systems; focus is on individual achievement."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Story is present and appreciated by some players but considered simple and secondary to gameplay; narrative adds context but is not deeply immersive."

    Capsule for Gravity Circuit Gravity Circuit

    "Narrative is present but convoluted and secondary to gameplay; story unfolds through exploration."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Combat and progression require tactical thinking, planning, and problem solving."

    Capsule for KINGDOM HEARTS -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX- KINGDOM HEARTS -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX-

    "Combat and progression require tactical thinking, skill combos, and planning builds."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Boss fights and exploration provide moments of suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

    "Boss fights and exploration provide moments of suspense and challenge."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Long gameplay hours and rich content provide good value for price, especially on sale."

    Capsule for Tales of Symphonia Tales of Symphonia

    "Large amount of content and gameplay hours provide good value for price."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat involves defeating enemies and bosses; no excessive gore or gratuitous violence."

    Capsule for Skyborn Skyborn

    "Combat involves defeating enemies and bosses, with some gore but not excessive."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    2

    "Players must manage health and resources to survive challenging enemies and bosses."

    Capsule for Sacred Gold Sacred Gold

    "Players must manage health and resources to survive challenging enemies and bosses."

Last update: 01/06/2026