Candle Thumbnail

Candle similar games & best alternatives

Candle

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Linux • 2016

Related articles

Quick resume

Candle is an adventure with challenging puzzles. Play as Teku, a young novice on a dangerous journey to rescue his tribe's shaman from the evil tribe of the Wakcha. But the way is littered with sinister traps and difficult obstacles.

Global score

79/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Platform, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Beautiful hand-painted art style
    • Engaging and meaningful story
    • Challenging and clever puzzles
    • Immersive music and sound design
    • Unique blend of adventure and platforming

    Cons

    • Clunky and sometimes frustrating controls
    • Some puzzles require trial and error or external guides
    • Hidden items and paths can be obscure
    • Slow and unskippable dialogue sequences
    • Platforming sections can be irritating

    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 Relaxation, Exploration, Creativity.

    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 have freedom to explore, solve puzzles in various ways, and interact with the environment without strict linear guidance."

    • Competence
      4

      "The game offers challenging puzzles and platforming sections requiring skill, precision, and problem-solving, with frequent feedback through trial and error."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No evidence of competitive elements; gameplay is focused on personal puzzle solving and exploration."

    • Continuation
      2

      "Players report engaging story and art that encourage continued play, though some find difficulty and control issues limit prolonged sessions."

    • Cooperation
      -5

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

    • Creativity
      4

      "Hand-painted art style and puzzles encourage creative thinking and exploration of unique environments."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is solitary and non-competitive."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players appreciate the immersive world, art, and music as a form of escape and relaxation."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, not obligation."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "The game encourages exploration and trying different puzzle solutions, though some puzzles require specific sequences."

    • Exploration
      4

      "Exploration of hand-painted environments and hidden areas is a key part of gameplay."

    • Expression
      -3

      "Limited customization or self-expression; focus is on narrative and puzzle solving rather than avatar personalization."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Set in a mythical world inspired by South American tribal cultures with a fantasy narrative."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community features; primarily a solo experience."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop problem-solving skills and learn puzzle mechanics progressively."

    • Health
      -5

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

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention and puzzle solving; not designed for casual or idle play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No close social interactions or relationship building."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements."

    • Progression
      3

      "Progression through puzzle completion and story advancement with item collection."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Relaxing art and music create a calming atmosphere despite some challenging puzzles."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Visual and auditory stimulation through unique art and soundtrack, though gameplay is more cerebral than sensory."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems."

    • Story
      4

      "Narrative-driven adventure with a meaningful story and character development."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Requires logical thinking and planning to solve puzzles and navigate obstacles."

    • Thrill
      1

      "Some suspense in platforming and puzzle timing, but overall controlled and calm experience."

    • Value
      3

      "Players feel the game offers good value for price, especially on sale, with quality art and gameplay."

    • Violence
      1

      "Some combat and enemy encounters with killing mechanics, but not the main focus."

    • Survival
      2

      "Avoiding traps and enemies is part of gameplay, requiring caution and timing."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026