BADLAND: Game of the Year Edition similar games & best alternatives

BADLAND: Game of the Year Edition

PlayStation 3, Mac, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Linux, Wii U, Xbox One, PlayStation Vita • 2015

Should you play it?

With BADLAND: Game of the Year Edition, experience the multi-award-winning action adventure like never before - redesigned for Steam.

What works
  • Beautiful atmospheric art and sound
  • Challenging and addictive gameplay
  • Local co-op and multiplayer modes
  • Large amount of levels and community content
  • Intuitive controls with varied power-ups
Things to keep in mind
  • Can become repetitive over time
  • Some technical bugs and crashes reported
  • Lack of online multiplayer
  • Minimal narrative or story depth
  • Price considered high without discount

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Vellum

  • Windlands 2

  • The Greatest Penguin Heist of All Time

  • Bounty of One

  • GONE Fishing

  • HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed

  • The Headliners

  • Victor Vran ARPG

  • Ember Knights
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • FurryFury: Smash & Roll

  • Commander Cool 2

  • Inglorious Waifu VS Nazi Zombies
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Competence

    Heavenly Bodies
  • Cooperation

    Commander Cool 2
  • Escapism

    No More Room in Hell

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).

BADLAND: Game of the Year Edition: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Competition, Status. 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

    3

    "Players control the fly's movement upward with simple inputs, allowing some freedom in navigation despite the linear goal."

    Capsule for The Plan The Plan

    "Players control a flying creature with simple inputs but can choose different power-ups and strategies to overcome obstacles, allowing some freedom in approach."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "The game requires mastering difficult controls and physics puzzles, providing skill challenges and rewarding player effectiveness."

    Capsule for Heavenly Bodies Heavenly Bodies

    "The game requires skillful timing, precision, and mastery of physics-based controls, with increasing difficulty and challenging puzzles."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    2

    "Includes versus multiplayer mode and leaderboards, encouraging some player comparison, though many play casually or solo."

    Capsule for Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef

    "Includes local versus multiplayer and leaderboards, encouraging some player comparison, but many play casually or solo."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Many players report addictive gameplay and long play sessions, though some find later levels frustrating and take breaks."

    Capsule for Zombie Night Terror Zombie Night Terror

    "Many players report addictive gameplay with hundreds of levels and frequent retries, encouraging long play sessions."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    4

    "Supports local co-op for up to 4 players, with many reviews highlighting fun multiplayer experiences."

    Capsule for Commander Cool 2 Commander Cool 2

    "Supports local co-op for up to 4 players, with cooperative gameplay praised as a highlight."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players can collect and use various power-ups and upgrades that modify gameplay, and levels feature unique mechanics and design."

    Capsule for Angry Video Game Nerd II: ASSimilation Angry Video Game Nerd II: ASSimilation

    "Players can use various power-ups that modify character size, speed, and abilities, and community-created levels add creative content."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -3

    "Interactions emphasize cooperation and shared goals rather than dominance or power over others."

    Capsule for Windward Horizon Windward Horizon

    "Interactions emphasize cooperation and shared goals rather than dominance or power over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Immersive atmosphere and tension provide strong escapism from real life stresses."

    Capsule for No More Room in Hell No More Room in Hell

    "Atmospheric visuals and sound design provide immersive escapism from real life stresses."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and nostalgia, with no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Overlord™ Overlord™

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and nostalgia, with no indication of obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "New weapons, power-ups, and level designs encourage players to try different strategies and experiment with gameplay."

    Capsule for Chicken Invaders 5 Chicken Invaders 5

    "Varied power-ups and level designs encourage players to try different strategies and experiment with mechanics."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    2

    "Players explore various detailed locations and environments, though within a linear progression."

    Capsule for Silence Silence

    "Players explore diverse levels and environments, though mostly linear progression through designed stages."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Character customization is limited to party composition and ability choices; no deep avatar personalization."

    Capsule for Indivisible Indivisible

    "Customization is limited to power-up effects changing character appearance; no deep avatar personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "The game features imaginative, abstract worlds and creatures, evoking a surreal, artistic fantasy experience."

    Capsule for Ynglet Ynglet

    "The game features imaginative, surreal creatures and environments, creating a fantasy atmosphere."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    3

    "Community and multiplayer foster a sense of belonging and shared experience."

    Capsule for Aloft Aloft

    "Local multiplayer and community level sharing foster a sense of belonging and shared experience."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop skills and strategies to overcome challenging levels."

    Capsule for Sneak Thief Sneak Thief

    "Players develop skills and strategies to overcome increasingly difficult levels and challenges."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Primarily a sedentary game with no physical activity elements."

    Capsule for BattleBlock Theater® BattleBlock Theater®

    "Primarily a sedentary game with no physical activity component."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and timing; not suitable for casual background play."

    Capsule for Pinball Spire Pinball Spire

    "Requires focused attention and precise timing; not suited for casual background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    2

    "Local co-op play encourages social interaction and bonding, though no evidence of deep emotional connections."

    Capsule for Blazing Beaks Blazing Beaks

    "Local co-op play encourages social interaction and bonding, though no deep emotional connections described."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -2

    "Gameplay focuses on cooperative participation rather than explicit leadership or authority roles."

    Capsule for King of Meat King of Meat

    "Gameplay emphasizes cooperative participation rather than leadership or authority roles."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Players accumulate weapons, power-ups, and unlock new levels and achievements."

    Capsule for Platypus Reclayed Platypus Reclayed

    "Players collect power-ups, unlock levels, and achieve goals, showing clear progression and rewards."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Some players find the game immersive and relaxing; others note difficulty spikes causing tension."

    Capsule for City of Chains City of Chains

    "Early gameplay is relaxing and atmospheric, though difficulty spikes can cause tension."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Visuals and sound design provide strong sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

    Capsule for DREAM LOGIC DREAM LOGIC

    "Visuals and sound design provide rich sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    1

    "Some social recognition through achievements and leaderboards, but not a major focus."

    Capsule for Golf Around! Golf Around!

    "Some social recognition through achievements and leaderboards, but not a primary focus."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    1

    "Minimal narrative conveyed through visuals and atmosphere rather than explicit story or characters."

    Capsule for Spring Falls Spring Falls

    "Minimal narrative conveyed through visuals and atmosphere; story is subtle and not central."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Players must plan shots, use power-ups strategically, and solve level puzzles."

    Capsule for Worms Crazy Golf Worms Crazy Golf

    "Players must plan use of power-ups and timing to solve puzzles and navigate levels."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Offers suspense and excitement through traps, challenging enemies, and unpredictable gameplay."

    Capsule for Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition

    "Challenging levels and traps create suspense and excitement, though controlled within game design."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Considered good value especially on sale, with extensive content and replayability."

    Capsule for Dead Rising 2: Off the Record Dead Rising 2: Off the Record

    "Considered good value especially on sale, with extensive content and replayability."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    2

    "Includes cartoonish combat elements like pies and traps used against opponents, but no realistic violence."

    Capsule for Garfield Kart - Furious Racing Garfield Kart - Furious Racing

    "Contains cartoonish destruction of player characters by traps, but no graphic or realistic violence."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Core gameplay revolves around avoiding death and overcoming hazards to survive descent."

    Capsule for Freedom Fall Freedom Fall

    "Core gameplay involves avoiding death and hazards to survive and progress through levels."

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Last update: 01/06/2026