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CHANGE: A Homeless Survival Experience similar games & best alternatives

CHANGE: A Homeless Survival Experience

PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Android • 2020

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Quick resume

CHANGE is an award nominated homeless survival experience set in a randomly created city with rogue-like elements. Explore, survive, earn perks, find items & kindness to develop your character & escape to a new life. Over 7 years of development & over 200 updates so far!

Global score

91/100

Genres

Adventure, Casual, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy

Similar games

    Pros

    • Meaningful and empathetic portrayal of homelessness
    • Challenging and engaging survival mechanics
    • High replayability with varied characters and perks
    • Active developer support and updates
    • Portion of proceeds donated to homeless charities

    Cons

    • Some bugs and occasional clunky controls
    • Repetitive gameplay loops after progression
    • Limited character customization and expression
    • Some players find happiness mechanics harsh
    • Lack of multiplayer or deeper social interaction

    Analysis

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

    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 make many personal choices about survival strategies, such as begging, busking, stealing, or working jobs, showing control over actions despite some RNG elements."

    • Competence
      3

      "Players face challenging survival mechanics requiring skillful resource management and decision-making, though some repetitive elements exist."

    • Competition
      -4

      "Focus is on individual survival without leaderboards or direct player-vs-player competition; players set personal goals."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Many players report long sessions and repeated playthroughs motivated by unlocking perks and improving strategies."

    • Cooperation
      1

      "Some interaction with NPC homeless characters and minor community elements exist, but gameplay is primarily individual."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players experiment with different survival approaches and character builds, but within a structured game world."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control over others; interactions emphasize empathy and survival rather than dominance."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game to gain perspective and emotional engagement with homelessness, often as a meaningful escape."

    • Expectation
      -4

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

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players try various strategies, perks, and character scenarios to explore different survival experiences."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Players explore a procedurally generated city with randomized shops and events, though environments are limited."

    • Expression
      -2

      "Limited character customization; some cosmetic elements but mostly standardized presentation."

    • Fantasy
      -4

      "Game focuses on realistic, grounded scenarios of homelessness rather than imaginative or fantastical elements."

    • Fellowship
      1

      "Some sense of community with NPC homeless characters, but mostly a solitary experience."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players learn survival skills, manage mental health, and develop strategies to improve outcomes over time."

    • Health
      -4

      "Game depicts unhealthy habits like addiction and poor hygiene as survival challenges rather than promoting health."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires active attention to manage multiple survival meters and time-sensitive tasks."

    • Intimacy
      -3

      "Limited social interaction mostly surface-level with NPCs; no deep relationship building."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership roles; players focus on individual survival without managing or guiding others."

    • Progression
      4

      "Players accumulate items, perks, and unlock new buildings and characters as they progress."

    • Relaxation
      -2

      "Gameplay is tense and challenging with emotional strain, though some find it oddly relaxing."

    • Sensation
      1

      "Simple graphics and sound create an immersive atmosphere but sensory stimulation is moderate."

    • Status
      -3

      "Achievements and progression are personal; no social recognition or visibility elements."

    • Story
      3

      "Narrative elements and character backstories provide emotional immersion and meaningful context."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Players engage in complex resource management, planning, and problem solving to survive."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Random events and risk of failure create suspense and tension during gameplay."

    • Value
      4

      "Players perceive good value due to meaningful gameplay, replayability, and charitable contributions."

    • Violence
      -4

      "Game focuses on survival and resource management rather than combat or destruction."

    • Survival
      5

      "Core gameplay centers on overcoming threats, managing resources, and staying alive in harsh conditions."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026