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Backfirewall_ similar games & best alternatives

Backfirewall_

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

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Quick resume

Hello and welcome to Backfirewall_, a first-person tragicomic adventure set inside a smartphone. You are the update assistant. Solve wacky puzzles to counter the update and save the previous operating system from deletion. The fate of the System is in your hands!

Global score

92/100

Genres

Adventure, Casual, Indie, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging and emotional story
    • Creative and humorous writing
    • Unique and imaginative setting
    • Accessible and fun puzzles
    • Strong voice acting and sound design

    Cons

    • Lack of replayability features like chapter select
    • Some bugs and optimization issues
    • Missable collectibles requiring full playthrough
    • Short game length
    • Minor control and ui frustrations

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Intimacy, Survival, Violence, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Story. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fellowship.

    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
      4

      "Players have control over their actions and decisions, exploring the smartphone world and choosing how to interact with characters and puzzles."

    • Competence
      2

      "Puzzles are creative and satisfying but generally easy to moderate in difficulty, providing a sense of effectiveness without high challenge."

    • Competition
      -4

      "Focus is on personal story progression and puzzle solving without competitive elements or player comparison."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players express strong attachment to characters and story, with desire for replay to explore alternate endings and collectables."

    • Cooperation
      -3

      "Gameplay is primarily single-player and narrative-driven with limited social or cooperative interaction."

    • Creativity
      4

      "Game features unique setting, inventive puzzles, and creative world-building inside a smartphone OS."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control over others; interactions are balanced and respectful."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game to immerse in a fictional, imaginative world with humor and emotional storytelling."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players explore different puzzle solutions and alternate story paths, encouraged by multiple endings and secrets."

    • Exploration
      4

      "Game rewards discovering hidden areas, collectables, and story elements throughout the smartphone environment."

    • Expression
      2

      "Some character and environment personalization through choices and interactions, though limited customization."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Strong imaginative fiction with anthropomorphized OS and apps, meta humor, and surreal narrative."

    • Fellowship
      -3

      "Primarily a solo experience with minimal social or community engagement described."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop problem-solving skills and gain knowledge through puzzles and story progression."

    • Health
      -5

      "No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention and engagement to solve puzzles and follow story; not a casual or background game."

    • Intimacy
      3

      "Players form emotional attachments to characters and experience meaningful narrative connections."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or authority roles; player follows story and interacts without directing others."

    • Progression
      3

      "Players collect items, achievements, and unlock story content, showing clear progression through the game."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Game balances light challenge with humor and story to create a relaxing and enjoyable flow state."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Enjoyable audio-visual design, voice acting, and humor provide positive sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      -4

      "Achievements and collectibles exist but social recognition or popularity is not a core focus."

    • Story
      5

      "Strong narrative immersion with well-developed characters, emotional depth, and multiple endings."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Puzzles require some problem solving and planning but are generally straightforward and accessible."

    • Thrill
      1

      "Some emotional tension and suspense in story, but gameplay is mostly controlled and low risk."

    • Value
      4

      "Players report high perceived value for price due to story, humor, and replayability."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on constructive puzzle solving and narrative."

    • Survival
      -4

      "No survival mechanics or threat avoidance; stable gameplay environment."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026