Close To The Sun similar games & best alternatives

Close To The Sun

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Xbox One • 2020

Should you play it?

Deep in international waters, Tesla’s Helios stands still. An unbound utopia for scientific research, Rose Archer steps aboard in search of her sister, quickly to discover not all is as it seems. A single word covers the entrance… QUARANTINE!

What works
  • Stunning art deco visuals
  • Immersive atmosphere
  • Engaging story and characters
  • Well-crafted environments
  • Good voice acting and sound design
Things to keep in mind
  • Slow and clunky movement
  • Trial-and-error chase sequences
  • Short length and limited replayability
  • Linear and scripted gameplay
  • Some technical issues and lack of customization

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • The Land of Pain

  • You Deserve

  • The Lightkeeper

  • The Cursed Forest

  • DreadOut: Keepers of The Dark

  • Late Shift

  • Welcome to Kowloon

  • Observer: System Redux

  • This Book Is A Dungeon

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • The Cursed Forest

  • This Book Is A Dungeon

  • The Alien Cube

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Escapism

    Resident Evil 3 Nemesis (1999)

  • Fantasy

    Singularity™

  • Story

    Fears to Fathom - Woodbury Getaway

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).

Close To The Sun: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Status. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Strategy, Experimenting, Expression.

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

    2

    "Players have some freedom in exploration and choice of actions, but the game is currently quite linear and restrictive with scripted missions."

    Capsule for Corsairs Legacy - Pirate Action RPG & Sea Battles Corsairs Legacy - Pirate Action RPG & Sea Battles

    "Players explore a linear environment with some freedom to find collectibles but overall guided on rails with scripted events."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    1

    "Gameplay involves light puzzles and some chase sequences that require timing, but overall low skill demand."

    Capsule for Layers of Fear 2 (2019) Layers of Fear 2 (2019)

    "Gameplay involves simple puzzles and some chase sequences requiring timing and memorization, but overall low skill ceiling."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "No multiplayer or competitive elements; focus is on personal exploration and story."

    Capsule for The Cursed Forest The Cursed Forest

    "No competitive or multiplayer elements; focus is on personal exploration and story experience."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    1

    "Short game with some replay value; players enjoy the story and atmosphere but it is not designed for long habitual play."

    Capsule for Camp Sunshine Camp Sunshine

    "Short game with limited replay value; some players enjoy the atmosphere enough to replay but generally a one-time experience."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for From The Darkness From The Darkness

    "Single player experience with no cooperative gameplay or multiplayer interaction."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players can explore and piece together story elements, but no creation or modification mechanics."

    Capsule for Cloud Climber Cloud Climber

    "Players can explore and discover story elements and collectibles, but no creation or modification mechanics."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No social dominance or power dynamics; purely individual experience."

    Capsule for Monument Valley Monument Valley

    "No social dominance or power dynamics; purely individual experience."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players immerse themselves in a tense, fictional survival horror world to escape real life, with atmospheric storytelling."

    Capsule for Resident Evil 3 Nemesis (1999) Resident Evil 3 Nemesis (1999)

    "Players immerse themselves in a fictional alternate history and horror setting to escape reality."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -3

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by interest in story and atmosphere rather than obligation."

    Capsule for Vampyr Vampyr

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by interest in story and atmosphere rather than obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    -1

    "Some exploration and puzzle solving, but mostly following established paths and routines."

    Capsule for Amenti Amenti

    "Some exploration and puzzle solving but mostly following established paths and scripted events."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Some exploration of detailed environments and collectibles is encouraged, though within linear level design."

    Capsule for Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream

    "Encouraged to explore detailed environments and find collectibles, though within linear level design."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -5

    "No character customization or player expression options."

    Capsule for STASIS STASIS

    "No character customization or player expression options."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Strong sci-fi and alternate history setting with imaginative time travel and supernatural elements."

    Capsule for Singularity™ Singularity™

    "Alternate history with sci-fi and horror elements, fictionalized Tesla and supernatural events."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Has-Been Heroes Has-Been Heroes

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

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    1

    "Some learning through puzzle solving and story comprehension but limited skill development."

    Capsule for The Alien Cube The Alien Cube

    "Some learning through puzzle solving and story comprehension but limited skill development."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related mechanics."

    Capsule for Detroit: Become Human Detroit: Become Human

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related mechanics."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention to progress; not designed for casual or background play."

    Capsule for Among the Sleep - Enhanced Edition Among the Sleep - Enhanced Edition

    "Requires focused attention to progress; not designed for casual or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "Limited emotional connection mainly through story; no social or relationship building."

    Capsule for Mind Snares: Alice's Journey Mind Snares: Alice's Journey

    "Limited emotional connection mainly through story; no social or relationship building."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements."

    Capsule for High On Life High On Life

    "No leadership or group management elements."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    2

    "Players progress through story chapters and collect items, though no complex upgrade systems."

    Capsule for Rumu Rumu

    "Progress through chapters and collect items; no complex upgrade or leveling system."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Atmospheric and immersive, but some tense chase sequences create moments of stress."

    Capsule for The Shore The Shore

    "Atmospheric and immersive but includes tense chase sequences that increase stress."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Strong atmospheric audio and visual style with jump scares provide sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Skinfreak Skinfreak

    "Visually impressive with strong audio design and jump scares providing sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social status or recognition systems."

    Capsule for Half-Life: Alyx Half-Life: Alyx

    "No social status or recognition systems."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    4

    "Strong narrative focus with immersive storytelling, character development, and plot twists."

    Capsule for Fears to Fathom - Woodbury Getaway Fears to Fathom - Woodbury Getaway

    "Strong narrative focus with immersive storytelling and character-driven plot."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    -1

    "Puzzles require some problem solving but are generally simple and linear; minimal strategic depth."

    Capsule for The Plucky Squire The Plucky Squire

    "Simple puzzles and trial-and-error chase sequences; minimal strategic depth."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Jump scares and chase sequences provide suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Garten of Banban 4 Garten of Banban 4

    "Jump scares and chase sequences provide moments of suspense and adrenaline."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    2

    "Generally considered good value especially on sale for the short but polished experience."

    Capsule for Titan Station Titan Station

    "Generally considered good value especially on sale for a short but polished experience."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Includes combat avoidance and encounters with a threatening entity, involving violent chase elements."

    Capsule for Crypt Crypt

    "Includes gore and dismembered bodies; chase sequences involve escaping violent threats."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    2

    "Chase sequences and avoiding death provide survival challenges within the narrative."

    Capsule for Pocket Mirror ~ GoldenerTraum Pocket Mirror ~ GoldenerTraum

    "Chase sequences require avoiding death; no complex survival mechanics."

Last update: 01/06/2026