Blacksad: Under the Skin Thumbnail

Blacksad: Under the Skin similar games & best alternatives

Blacksad: Under the Skin

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 • 2019

Related articles

Quick resume

BLACKSAD: Under the Skin - A dark corruption scandal in the heart of the New York City's underworld for charismatic detective John Blacksad!

Global score

83/100

Genres

Adventure, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging noir story with multiple endings
    • Immersive jazz soundtrack and atmosphere
    • Meaningful player choices shaping character
    • Interesting anthropomorphic characters
    • Deduction mechanics add depth

    Cons

    • Clunky and slow controls
    • Technical issues and bugs
    • Unskippable cutscenes hinder replay
    • Limited exploration and linear progression
    • Some qtes frustrating and poorly balanced

    Analysis

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

    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 can explore small areas freely, make dialogue choices affecting character traits and story outcomes, but overall story progression is mostly linear."

    • Competence
      2

      "Game involves deduction mechanics and clue gathering requiring some skill, but gameplay is generally easy with some frustrating QTEs."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive elements or player comparison; focus is on individual story experience."

    • Continuation
      2

      "Players report being engaged through the story and wanting to finish it, but clunky controls and unskippable cutscenes reduce replay motivation."

    • Cooperation
      -5

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

    • Creativity
      1

      "Players can shape their character's personality through choices, but no building or customization beyond narrative decisions."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are balanced and narrative-driven."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Strong noir atmosphere and immersive story provide escape from real life, despite some technical issues."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in story and genre; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      2

      "Some exploration of dialogue options and deduction combinations, but largely follows established narrative paths."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Players explore small, detailed environments to find clues, though areas are limited and mostly familiar after first play."

    • Expression
      2

      "Character personality shaped by player choices; no avatar customization or cosmetic modifications."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Anthropomorphic animal characters and noir setting create an imaginative fictional world distinct from reality."

    • Fellowship
      -5

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

    • Growth
      2

      "Players develop detective skills through deduction and story understanding, though gameplay is not highly challenging."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention on story, dialogue, and timed events; not suitable for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy
      1

      "Some emotional engagement with characters and relationships, but limited to narrative interactions."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements; player acts alone."

    • Progression
      3

      "Players collect clues and cards, and character traits evolve based on choices, showing clear progression."

    • Relaxation
      1

      "Story-driven pacing with some tension from timed events and QTEs; overall moderate relaxation."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Enjoyable jazz soundtrack and atmospheric visuals provide sensory stimulation, though graphics are sometimes clunky."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or leaderboard features; achievements are personal."

    • Story
      5

      "Highly praised narrative with multiple endings, character development, and immersive noir storytelling."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Deduction mechanics and dialogue choices require some reasoning, but overall gameplay is straightforward."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Some suspenseful moments and plot twists create tension, balanced by slow pacing and exploration."

    • Value
      1

      "Generally considered worth the price on sale; full price seen as high by some players."

    • Violence
      1

      "Contains some combat via QTEs and investigation of violent crime, but no gratuitous violence or destruction."

    • Survival
      -3

      "No survival mechanics; low risk environment focused on investigation."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026