BELOW similar games & best alternatives

BELOW

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One • 2018

Should you play it?

BELOW is a solitary journey through the haunted depths of a forbidden isle. Explore. Survive. Discover.

What works
  • Immersive atmosphere and sound design
  • Deep exploration and discovery
  • Challenging but fair gameplay
  • Minimalist ui and storytelling
  • Rewarding progression and shortcuts
Things to keep in mind
  • Punishing permadeath and backtracking
  • Steep learning curve with little guidance
  • Slow pacing and repetitive early levels
  • Limited character customization
  • Some technical issues and bugs

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • ROUTINE

  • Skautfold: Shrouded in Sanity

  • Dungeon Souls

  • Unworthy

  • Wick

  • Eldritch

  • Pathologic Classic HD

  • La-Mulana

  • Lamentum

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Wick

  • Lamentum

  • Spark in the Dark

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Escapism

    Obduction

  • Exploration

    Book of Travels

  • Survival

    My Summer Car

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).

BELOW: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Expression, Relaxation, 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

    4

    "Players have freedom to explore, experiment, and discover mechanics on their own with minimal hand-holding or guidance."

    Capsule for Serin Fate Serin Fate

    "Players have freedom to explore, experiment, and discover mechanics on their own with minimal guidance or tutorials."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Game requires skillful resource management, tactical combat, and strategic decision-making, though combat can feel clunky."

    Capsule for March of the Living March of the Living

    "The game requires skillful combat, resource management, and learning from failure to progress, though combat mechanics are relatively simple."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal survival and exploration without competitive or ranked elements."

    Capsule for Total Chaos Total Chaos

    "Focus is on personal exploration and survival without competitive or ranked elements."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players invest many hours despite difficulty and frequent deaths, showing strong attachment."

    Capsule for Haydee Haydee

    "Players invest long hours and repeatedly retry after death, showing attachment despite punishing mechanics."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Cookie Clicker Cookie Clicker

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

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players can creatively approach combat and exploration using various weapons, stealth, environmental tactics, and crafting."

    Capsule for Far Cry 3 Far Cry 3

    "Players experiment with crafting, item combinations, and tactical approaches to combat and exploration."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; purely individual experience."

    Capsule for Deadlight Deadlight

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; purely individual experience."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    5

    "Strong immersion in a mysterious, otherworldly environment provides escape from reality."

    Capsule for Obduction Obduction

    "Strong immersion in a mysterious, atmospheric world provides escape from real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and curiosity despite difficulty and frustration."

    Capsule for Fear & Hunger Fear & Hunger

    "Players engage voluntarily out of curiosity and intrinsic interest despite difficulty and frustration."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Game encourages trying new things, exploring mechanics, and discovering secrets."

    Capsule for Goat Simulator 3 Goat Simulator 3

    "Game encourages trying new strategies, exploring mechanics, and discovering secrets."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Core motivation is discovering new areas, secrets, and lore in a richly detailed world."

    Capsule for Book of Travels Book of Travels

    "Core motivation is discovering new areas, secrets, and lore through careful exploration."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -3

    "Limited character customization; focus is on gameplay and story rather than self-expression."

    Capsule for Teslagrad 2 Teslagrad 2

    "Limited character customization; focus is on gameplay and atmosphere rather than self-expression."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Imaginative fantasy setting with metaphysical themes and fictional narrative."

    Capsule for Revita Revita

    "Imaginative, mysterious setting with fantasy elements and abstract storytelling."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "Solo play with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    Capsule for Detention Detention

    "Solo play with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players learn game mechanics and improve strategic skills through repeated play."

    Capsule for Sigma Theory: Global Cold War Sigma Theory: Global Cold War

    "Players learn game mechanics, improve skills, and gain knowledge through repeated play."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements; long sessions encouraged."

    Capsule for Star Traders: Frontiers Star Traders: Frontiers

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; long sessions encouraged."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention during play; not a casual or background game."

    Capsule for [Chilla's Art] Night Delivery | 例外配達 [Chilla's Art] Night Delivery | 例外配達

    "Requires focused attention and deliberate play; not a casual or background game."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No close social relationships or emotional sharing; solitary experience."

    Capsule for Perception Perception

    "No close social relationships or emotional sharing; solitary experience."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; single player only."

    Capsule for Idle Pixel Fantasy Idle Pixel Fantasy

    "No leadership or group management roles; single player only."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Players accumulate items, keys, and upgrades to progress through the game."

    Capsule for Dino Crisis Dino Crisis

    "Players accumulate items, upgrades, and unlock shortcuts to progress deeper."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -2

    "Tense atmosphere and challenging gameplay create sustained pressure rather than relaxation."

    Capsule for System Shock System Shock

    "Atmospheric but tense and punishing gameplay creates sustained pressure and challenge."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    4

    "Strong sensory immersion with detailed sound design, visual effects, and emotional intensity."

    Capsule for Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad with Rising Storm Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad with Rising Storm

    "Strong sensory immersion through visuals, sound design, and music."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems; individual focus."

    Capsule for Remothered: Tormented Fathers Remothered: Tormented Fathers

    "No social recognition or status systems; individual focus."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Narrative is delivered through environmental storytelling and notes, requiring player interpretation."

    Capsule for Haydee 2 Haydee 2

    "Narrative is environmental and implicit, encouraging player interpretation and discovery."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Requires planning, resource management, and tactical combat decisions."

    Capsule for Sons Of The Forest Sons Of The Forest

    "Requires planning, resource management, and tactical combat decisions."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    4

    "Tense moments of near death and uncertainty create suspense and thrill."

    Capsule for Near Death Near Death

    "Tense moments, risk of death, and suspenseful exploration provide thrill."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Players perceive good value through rich content, story, and unique experience."

    Capsule for Shenmue I & II Shenmue I & II

    "Players perceive good value through deep, rewarding gameplay and atmosphere."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    2

    "Combat and defeating monsters is part of gameplay, but not gratuitous or central focus."

    Capsule for Don't Starve Together Don't Starve Together

    "Combat and defeating enemies is part of gameplay but not gratuitous or central."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    5

    "Strong survival elements including managing hunger, thirst, stress, and avoiding death."

    Capsule for My Summer Car My Summer Car

    "Strong survival mechanics including hunger, thirst, temperature, and resource management."

Last update: 01/06/2026