Beasts of Maravilla Island Thumbnail

Beasts of Maravilla Island similar games & best alternatives

Beasts of Maravilla Island

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 • 2021

Related articles

Quick resume

Beasts of Maravilla Island is a 3D adventure game where you take on the role of a young wildlife photographer who traverses Maravilla Island's magical ecosystems to discover extraordinary creatures, learn their behaviors, and, most importantly, photograph their majesty.

Global score

87/100

Genres

Adventure, Casual, Indie, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Beautiful and unique creature and environment designs
    • Relaxing and peaceful gameplay
    • Creative photography mechanics with photo album customization
    • Wholesome and simple story
    • Accessible and family-friendly

    Cons

    • Short game length
    • Some clunky controls and minor bugs
    • Limited puzzle complexity
    • Linear exploration with minimal challenge
    • No multiplayer or social features

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Expression. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Thrill, Strategy.

    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
      3

      "Players freely explore the island and choose what to photograph and when to progress, though the path is mostly linear with some light puzzle solving."

    • Competence
      2

      "The game involves simple puzzles and photography challenges that require some observation and timing but overall low difficulty and minimal skill variation."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive elements or player comparison; focus is on personal pace and relaxation."

    • Continuation
      1

      "Some players expressed desire to replay for better photos or achievements, but the game is short and can be completed quickly, limiting long-term habitual play."

    • Cooperation
      -5

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

    • Creativity
      4

      "Players engage creatively by composing photographs and selecting best shots; the game features unique creature and environment designs."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; cooperative and peaceful tone."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Strong escapism through immersion in a magical island with fantastical creatures and relaxing gameplay."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for relaxation and enjoyment without obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      2

      "Some experimentation with camera angles and photo composition, but gameplay is mostly following established paths and objectives."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Players explore three distinct biomes and discover new creatures and plants, though environments are mostly linear."

    • Expression
      3

      "Players express themselves through photo selection and album customization, including choosing main photos and selfies."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "The game features imaginative, fantastical creatures and a magical island setting."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community features; single-player experience."

    • Growth
      2

      "Some learning through observation of creature behaviors and puzzle solving, but overall simple and straightforward."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires player attention to explore and photograph; not designed for background or idle play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No social interaction or relationship building."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements."

    • Progression
      3

      "Progression through collecting photos, completing journal entries, and unlocking new areas."

    • Relaxation
      5

      "Strong emphasis on relaxation, calm exploration, and stress-free gameplay."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Vibrant visuals, colorful environments, and soothing music provide sensory enjoyment."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems."

    • Story
      2

      "A simple, wholesome narrative accompanies the gameplay but is not deeply immersive or complex."

    • Strategy
      -2

      "Minimal strategic challenge; puzzles are simple and solutions often hand-held."

    • Thrill
      -5

      "No suspense or risk; gameplay is calm and predictable."

    • Value
      0

      "Mixed opinions on value; some find it worth the price especially on sale, others feel short length limits value."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on peaceful photography and exploration."

    • Survival
      -5

      "No survival mechanics or threats; stable and safe environment."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026