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Cleo - a pirate's tale similar games & best alternatives

Cleo - a pirate's tale

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Mac • 2021

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Quick resume

Cleo is a solo-developed, top-down, pixel-art, retro, pirate adventure with a lot of nostalgic flair, humor and a linear story, inspired by the old Zelda games and the classic LucasArts adventure games.

Global score

98/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Puzzle, Point-and-click

Similar games

    Pros

    • Charming pixel art and animation
    • Excellent voice acting
    • Engaging and well-written story
    • Accessible and enjoyable puzzles
    • Unique card mini-game (kraken fodder)

    Cons

    • Short game length
    • Some minor ui and control quirks
    • Mandatory luck-based mini-game sections
    • Few minor translation and text issues
    • Limited replayability beyond story

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Expression. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story, Thrill. 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, solve puzzles, and choose actions within a narrative-driven adventure."

    • Competence
      3

      "Puzzles require thought and problem solving, with some challenge but generally accessible."

    • Competition
      -4

      "Focus is on personal story progression and puzzle solving without player-vs-player competition."

    • Continuation
      2

      "Players enjoy the story and world, with some replay value and engagement, but game length is short."

    • Cooperation
      -5

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

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players engage in puzzle solving and some mini-games but limited creation or modification."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; cooperative and story-focused."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Immersive story and charming world provide a strong escape from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

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

    • Experimenting
      2

      "Some exploration of puzzles and mini-games, but mostly guided by narrative progression."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Players explore a colorful world with some hidden items and secrets to discover."

    • Expression
      -3

      "Limited customization; players mostly experience predefined characters and environments."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Imaginative pirate adventure with supernatural elements and whimsical storytelling."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "Primarily a solo experience with minimal social interaction."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop problem-solving skills and progress through story-based challenges."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay typical of adventure games."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention to solve puzzles and follow story; not idle or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Limited social or emotional connection beyond story; no multiplayer or relationship building."

    • Leadership
      -5

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

    • Progression
      3

      "Players collect items and unlock story chapters, progressing through puzzles and mini-games."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Generally relaxing gameplay with light puzzles and charming atmosphere."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Enjoyable pixel art, voice acting, and music provide sensory pleasure without intense stimulation."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social status or recognition mechanics; focus is on personal experience."

    • Story
      5

      "Strong narrative immersion with well-written characters, voice acting, and emotional depth."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Puzzles and mini-games require some mental challenge but are generally straightforward."

    • Thrill
      1

      "Some suspense and plot twists, but overall a lighthearted and low-risk experience."

    • Value
      3

      "Good perceived value especially on sale; praised for quality despite short length."

    • Violence
      -4

      "Minimal violence; focus on puzzle solving and story rather than combat or destruction."

    • Survival
      -5

      "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable and safe game environment."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026