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Chicory: A Colorful Tale similar games & best alternatives

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 • 2021

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Quick resume

A top-down adventure game in a coloring book world full of vibrant characters. Use painting powers to explore, solve puzzles, make friends, and draw on anything! From creators on Wandersong + Celeste.

Global score

98/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Deep and meaningful story
    • Innovative and creative painting mechanics
    • Emotional and therapeutic experience
    • Beautiful art style and soundtrack
    • Accessible puzzles and exploration

    Cons

    • Some clunky controls especially with controller
    • Boss fights can be repetitive or less engaging
    • Painting precision can be frustrating at times
    • Limited challenge for players seeking difficulty
    • Minor bugs reported on some platforms

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Intimacy, Survival, Violence, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Cooperation, Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Thrill.

    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 significant freedom to choose how and where to paint, customize brushes, and explore the world at their own pace."

    • Competence
      3

      "The game offers puzzles and platforming challenges that require skill and problem solving, though generally accessible and forgiving."

    • Competition
      -4

      "Focus is on personal creative expression and exploration without competitive elements or player comparison."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Many players report long playtimes, multiple playthroughs, and attachment to the world and characters."

    • Cooperation
      1

      "Includes local co-op and remote play options, but primarily designed for solo play and personal experience."

    • Creativity
      5

      "Core gameplay revolves around painting and customizing the world, characters, and brushes, encouraging creative expression."

    • Domination
      -5

      "Interactions emphasize mutual respect and emotional connection rather than control or superiority."

    • Escapism
      5

      "Strong emotional narrative and immersive world provide players with meaningful escape and therapeutic experience."

    • Expectation
      -5

      "Players engage voluntarily driven by personal interest, creativity, and emotional resonance."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Players experiment with colors, brush styles, and painting techniques to create unique art and solve puzzles."

    • Exploration
      4

      "The game encourages discovering new areas, secrets, and collectibles across a varied map."

    • Expression
      5

      "Extensive character customization, brush creation, and world painting enable strong self-expression."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "The world is anthropomorphic and whimsical with fantasy elements, though grounded in emotional realism."

    • Fellowship
      2

      "Players connect with a cast of characters and community through story and optional co-op play."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop skills in puzzle solving, platforming, and artistic expression, alongside emotional growth."

    • Health
      -5

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or rehab elements."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention for puzzles and painting, though pacing is relaxed and player-controlled."

    • Intimacy
      3

      "Emotional story and character interactions foster meaningful connections and empathy."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or authoritative roles; gameplay centers on individual journey and collaboration without hierarchy."

    • Progression
      3

      "Players unlock new painting abilities, collect cosmetics and items, and progress through story and puzzles."

    • Relaxation
      4

      "Painting and exploration provide a calming, cathartic experience balanced with light challenge."

    • Sensation
      4

      "Vibrant visuals, varied color palettes, and a memorable soundtrack provide rich sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      -4

      "Focus is on personal fulfillment and creativity rather than social recognition or ranking."

    • Story
      5

      "Deep, emotionally resonant narrative addressing mental health, creativity, and personal growth."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Puzzles and ability use require some planning and problem solving, though not highly complex."

    • Thrill
      -3

      "Gameplay is low risk and relaxing, with occasional tension during boss fights but generally controlled."

    • Value
      4

      "Players report high satisfaction and emotional return for the time and money invested."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus is on creation and restoration."

    • Survival
      -5

      "Stable, low-risk environment with no threat or failure states impacting survival."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026