Arise: A Simple Story similar games & best alternatives

Arise: A Simple Story - Trailer
Arise: A Simple Story - arise-a-simple-story_1.avif
Arise: A Simple Story - arise-a-simple-story_2.avif
Arise: A Simple Story - arise-a-simple-story_3.avif
Arise: A Simple Story - arise-a-simple-story_4.avif
Arise: A Simple Story - arise-a-simple-story_5.avif
Arise: A Simple Story - arise-a-simple-story_6.avif

Arise: A Simple Story

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

Should you play it?

Embark on an emotional journey of losing the love of one's life. Manipulate time, solve puzzles, reshape surroundings as you push forward into the bittersweet recollections of a past life. This is a story about happiness and hardship, joy and sorrow. A story that all of us will one day experience.

What works

  • Beautiful and emotional story
  • Unique time manipulation mechanics
  • Stunning visuals and soundtrack
  • Accessible yet engaging platforming
  • Support for local co-op play

Things to keep in mind

  • Camera control limitations
  • Some frustrating platforming sections
  • Short game length
  • Lack of control customization
  • Occasional bugs and janky controls

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

Less social

Games that feels like Arise: A Simple Story but with less teamwork and cooperation

Less intimate

Games that feels like Arise: A Simple Story but with less focus on close relationships

Less survival-focused

Games that feels like Arise: A Simple Story but with less survival pressure

Choose your own criteria ->

Similarity map

How to compare these games

Compare nearby games

Each card is a nearby game on the similarity map, compared with Arise: A Simple Story. Swipe sideways to move between games. Titles already listed in What to play next are left out.

  • Cover and title: open that game’s page.
  • What works / keep in mind: the same highlights as the desktop comparison panel.
  • Bars: the main motivational differences versus this game.
How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • 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 to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

Swipe to compare nearby games with Arise: A Simple Story. These titles are not in What to play next.

Arise: A Simple Story: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Competition, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Cooperation, Survival, Fellowship.

Last update: 23/08/2026