Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura Thumbnail

Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura similar games & best alternatives

Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2016

Related articles

Quick resume

Imagine a place of wonder, where magick and technology coexist in an uneasy balance, and an adventurer might just as easily wield a flintlock pistol as a flaming sword. Welcome to the land of Arcanum.

Global score

89/100

Genres

Role-playing (RPG)

Similar games

    Pros

    • Extensive character customization and roleplay freedom
    • Deep and immersive fantasy-steampunk world
    • Multiple quest solutions and high replayability
    • Rich story and moral complexity
    • Active fan community with patches and mods

    Cons

    • Dated graphics and interface
    • Buggy and unstable without unofficial patches
    • Clunky and unbalanced combat system
    • Steep learning curve and lack of tutorials
    • Requires patience and sustained attention

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story, Expression, Exploration.

    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
      5

      "Players have extensive freedom to create characters, choose playstyles, and solve quests in multiple ways."

    • Competence
      3

      "Character builds and skill development require thoughtful planning and mastery, though combat can be unbalanced and buggy."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on personal roleplay and exploration rather than competing against others; multiplayer is minimal and not emphasized."

    • Continuation
      5

      "Highly replayable with many playthroughs reported; players return repeatedly for new experiences."

    • Cooperation
      3

      "Players can recruit companions with unique personalities and manage party dynamics, though companions act semi-autonomously."

    • Creativity
      5

      "Strong emphasis on character customization, crafting, and multiple solutions to quests."

    • Domination
      -4

      "Interactions emphasize roleplay and mutual respect; no evidence of power-over or trash talk dynamics."

    • Escapism
      5

      "Players immerse in a rich fantasy-steampunk world to escape real life, with deep story and atmosphere."

    • Expectation
      -5

      "Engagement is driven by intrinsic interest, nostalgia, and personal desire rather than obligation."

    • Experimenting
      5

      "Players experiment with diverse character builds, skills, and quest approaches."

    • Exploration
      5

      "Open world with many hidden locations and secrets encourages discovery."

    • Expression
      5

      "Character creation and roleplay allow for strong self-expression."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Set in a unique fantasy-steampunk world with magic, mythical races, and imaginative fiction."

    • Fellowship
      2

      "Community and fan patches/mods exist; some social interaction through companions and fan communities."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop skills, learn game mechanics, and improve through multiple playthroughs."

    • Health
      -4

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with long sessions and minimal physical activity."

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires sustained attention and focus; not suited for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy
      1

      "Some emotional connection with companions and community, but limited to in-game relationships."

    • Leadership
      2

      "Players lead a party of companions with some autonomy, balancing group dynamics."

    • Progression
      5

      "Strong progression through skills, items, crafting, and character development."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "Atmospheric and immersive but combat and bugs can cause frustration and tension."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Enjoyable soundtrack and art style provide sensory pleasure, though graphics are dated."

    • Status
      -3

      "Focus is on individual experience rather than social recognition or popularity."

    • Story
      5

      "Deep narrative with branching quests, moral ambiguity, and rich lore."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Requires planning character builds, quest approaches, and combat tactics."

    • Thrill
      1

      "Some suspense in quest outcomes and combat, but overall moderate emotional intensity."

    • Value
      5

      "High perceived value due to extensive content, replayability, and low price."

    • Violence
      1

      "Combat is present but players can choose pacifist or violent approaches; violence is not glorified."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players manage resources, avoid threats, and overcome challenges in a dynamic world."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026