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

Cleo - a pirate's tale

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

Should you play it?

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.

What works
  • Charming pixel art and animation
  • Excellent voice acting
  • Engaging and well-written story
  • Accessible and enjoyable puzzles
  • Unique card mini-game (kraken fodder)
Things to keep in mind
  • 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

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • The Darkside Detective

  • The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark

  • Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet

  • Monkey Island™ 2 Special Edition: LeChuck’s Revenge™

  • Deponia Doomsday

  • Children of Silentown

  • Lucy Dreaming

  • Loco Motive

  • Follow the meaning
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet

  • Lucy Dreaming

  • Irony Curtain: From Matryoshka with Love
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Story

    Wylde Flowers
  • Autonomy

    Legend of Mysteria RPG
  • Escapism

    ELEX

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • 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 (hidden on purpose).

Cleo - a pirate's tale: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Competition, Thrill. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Expression, Intimacy, Fellowship.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players have freedom to explore, investigate, choose dialogue options, and decide how to solve puzzles and progress the story."

    Capsule for Legend of Mysteria RPG Legend of Mysteria RPG

    "Players have freedom to explore, solve puzzles, and choose actions within a narrative-driven adventure."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

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    "Puzzles require thinking and problem solving but are generally accessible and not overly difficult."

    Capsule for The Book of Unwritten Tales The Book of Unwritten Tales

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

  • Competition

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    "Focus is on personal story progression and puzzle solving without competitive elements or player comparison."

    Capsule for Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma

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

  • Continuation

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    "Players often replay the game for nostalgia and story, but the game length is relatively short."

    Capsule for The Dig® The Dig®

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

  • Cooperation

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

    Capsule for Blasphemous Blasphemous

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

  • Creativity

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    "Players engage in puzzle solving and exploration but limited creation or modification of game elements."

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

  • Domination

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

    Capsule for Syberia II Syberia II

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

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

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    "Immersive world and story provide strong escape from real life"

    Capsule for ELEX ELEX

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

  • Expectation

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

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

  • Experimenting

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    "Some exploration and puzzle experimentation, but mostly guided by the story and linear progression."

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  • Exploration

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    "Players explore various locations, uncover mysteries, and discover secrets within the game world."

    Capsule for Dreams in the Witch House Dreams in the Witch House

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

  • Expression

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

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

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

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    "Pirate theme with supernatural elements and imaginative fiction create a strong fantasy experience."

    Capsule for Windrose Windrose

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

  • Fellowship

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    "Primarily a solo experience with minimal social interaction."

    Capsule for 暖雪 Warm Snow 暖雪 Warm Snow

    "Primarily a solo experience with minimal social interaction."

  • Growth

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

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

  • Health

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    "Sedentary gameplay typical of classic adventure games."

    Capsule for Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation (1999) Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation (1999)

    "Sedentary gameplay typical of adventure games."

  • Idle

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

    Capsule for NAIRI: Tower of Shirin NAIRI: Tower of Shirin

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

  • Intimacy

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

    Capsule for SCP: Secret Files SCP: Secret Files

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

  • Leadership

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

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  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

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    "Players collect items, unlock puzzles, and advance through story chapters with achievements and collectibles."

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

  • Relaxation

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    "Generally relaxing gameplay with balanced puzzles and atmospheric music."

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  • Sensation

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

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  • Status

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

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  • Story

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    "Strong narrative immersion with voice acted characters, emotional plot, and rich lore."

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  • Strategy

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    "Puzzles require some planning and problem solving, but overall gameplay is straightforward."

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

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

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    "Some suspenseful moments and plot twists, but overall low risk and tension."

    Capsule for Grim Legends 3: The Dark City Grim Legends 3: The Dark City

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

  • Value

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    "Good perceived value especially on sale; short length balanced by quality and humor."

    Capsule for Stick it to The Man! Stick it to The Man!

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

  • Violence

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

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

  • Survival

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

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

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Last update: 01/06/2026