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Catmaze similar games & best alternatives

Catmaze

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Linux • 2018

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Quick resume

Catmaze is a fairy metroidvania inspired by Slavic myths. Age-old tales will come to life in the unforgettable adventure of Alesta, a sorceress whose courage guides her through mysterious paths and dark forests in search of the lost road to Nav, the world of the dead.

Global score

84/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Platform

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging exploration and map design
    • Unique slavic mythology setting
    • Varied familiars and combat options
    • Strong narrative and characters
    • Appealing pixel art and music

    Cons

    • Some control and hitbox issues
    • Minor bugs and glitches
    • Clunky platforming sections
    • Lack of polish in animations
    • Limited replayability beyond 100%

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Cooperation, Leadership, Violence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Story. 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
      4

      "Players have freedom to explore a large map non-linearly and make choices affecting story outcomes; not heavily guided."

    • Competence
      3

      "Combat and platforming require skill and precision, with some challenging boss fights and puzzles."

    • Competition
      -4

      "Focus is on personal exploration and story progression without competitive elements or leaderboards."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Players report long play sessions, replaying the game, and engagement with side quests and exploration."

    • Cooperation
      -5

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

    • Creativity
      3

      "Players customize combat style via familiars and amulets; exploration and puzzle solving encourage creative approaches."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; game is single-player and story-driven."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game to immerse in a fantasy world based on Slavic mythology, escaping real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

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

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players try different familiars and strategies; exploration and puzzle solving encourage experimentation."

    • Exploration
      5

      "Strong emphasis on discovering secrets, backtracking, and exploring a large interconnected map."

    • Expression
      2

      "Some character customization via familiars and amulets, but limited cosmetic or avatar personalization."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Game is deeply rooted in Slavic mythology and fantasy storytelling with magical elements."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "Single-player game with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop skills, learn enemy patterns, and improve through upgrades and exploration."

    • Health
      -5

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

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement; not designed for idle or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Limited to narrative character interactions; no close social relationships or multiplayer bonding."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements; single-player experience."

    • Progression
      4

      "Players accumulate familiars, upgrades, and items to advance and unlock new areas."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Generally balanced challenge with moments of flow; some frustration reported but overall enjoyable."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Appealing pixel art, music, and atmospheric design provide sensory enjoyment."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems; individual-focused gameplay."

    • Story
      4

      "Narrative immersion with engaging characters, side quests, and multiple endings."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Combat and exploration require planning and tactical use of familiars and upgrades."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Some suspense in boss fights and platforming challenges, but mostly controlled gameplay."

    • Value
      4

      "Players report good value for time and money, especially given game length and content."

    • Violence
      2

      "Combat involves defeating enemies but is not focused on gratuitous violence or destruction."

    • Survival
      1

      "Some resource management and avoiding damage, but overall moderate threat level."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026