Curious Expedition similar games & best alternatives

Curious Expedition

Mac, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Linux, Xbox One • 2016

Should you play it?

Curious Expedition is a roguelike expedition simulation set in the late 19th century. Together with famous personalities you will venture on unprecedented expeditions to regions never explored before for fame, science and treasures.

What works
  • Unique exploration roguelike gameplay
  • High replayability with procedural generation
  • Engaging emergent narrative and event system
  • Varied characters with distinct abilities
  • Active developer support and updates
Things to keep in mind
  • Steep learning curve and punishing difficulty
  • Some repetitive events and limited content variety
  • Combat system can be unintuitive
  • Lack of multiplayer and social features
  • Limited cosmetic customization

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Curious Expedition 2

  • Back to the Dawn

  • Northgard: Definitive Edition

  • ENDLESS™ Legend

  • Star Traders: Frontiers

  • Across the Obelisk

  • Homeworld Remastered Collection

  • SpellForce 3 Fallen God

  • Pit People®

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Conquest of Elysium 4

  • Zorbus

  • Doom & Destiny Advanced

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Exploration

    La-Mulana

  • Strategy

    Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles

  • Autonomy

    Talisman: Digital Classic Edition

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).

Curious Expedition: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Competition, Status, Leadership.

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 choose characters, paths, and strategies with many options and house rules"

    Capsule for Talisman: Digital Classic Edition Talisman: Digital Classic Edition

    "Players have freedom to choose characters, companions, routes, and strategies with meaningful consequences"

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Requires skillful resource management, combat tactics, and strategic planning to survive and progress."

    Capsule for Subterrain Subterrain

    "Requires skillful resource management, strategic planning, and dice-based combat mastery"

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    3

    "Presence of online leaderboards and time trials encourages comparing performance with others, though AI races are easy and casual."

    Capsule for Barro GT Barro GT

    "Competes against AI explorers for fame and fastest discovery, with leaderboards and ranking"

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Strong replayability with procedural generation and progression encourages habitual play."

    Capsule for Invisible, Inc. Invisible, Inc.

    "High replayability with procedural generation and multiple characters encourages habitual play"

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    2

    "Party-based gameplay involves managing companions with unique personalities and quests, but mostly single-player cooperation."

    Capsule for Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition

    "Players manage a party with companions and animals cooperating to survive and explore"

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players experiment with different strategies and party compositions; some customization in combat and choices."

    Capsule for Ash of Gods: Redemption Ash of Gods: Redemption

    "Players experiment with different party compositions and strategies, though within set mechanics"

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -3

    "Interactions emphasize survival and evasion rather than exerting control or superiority over others."

    Capsule for Obama Maze Obama Maze

    "Interactions emphasize survival and exploration rather than exerting power over others"

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Immersive world, exploration, and story provide strong escape from real life stresses and engage imagination."

    Capsule for Pine Pine

    "Immersive narrative and exploration provide escape from real life stress and routine"

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by curiosity and intrinsic interest in exploration and puzzles."

    Capsule for INFRA INFRA

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by curiosity and intrinsic interest in exploration"

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Randomized traits, classes, and procedural levels encourage trying new strategies and adapting to novel situations."

    Capsule for Rogue Legacy Rogue Legacy

    "Encourages trying new characters, strategies, and adapting to procedural randomness"

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Core gameplay revolves around discovering new areas, secrets, and piecing together clues across a huge map."

    Capsule for La-Mulana La-Mulana

    "Core gameplay revolves around discovering new map areas, secrets, and events"

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    1

    "Some avatar and graphical style customization, but limited character personalization."

    Capsule for TOKYO WARFARE TOKYO WARFARE

    "Some character and party customization, but limited cosmetic or avatar personalization"

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    2

    "Game features whimsical, imaginative plants and characters blending historical and fantastical elements."

    Capsule for Crazy Plant Shop Crazy Plant Shop

    "Mixes historical figures with fantastical elements like magic, dinosaurs, and cosmic horror"

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    1

    "Strong story focus on group dynamics within the party, but limited social multiplayer or community interaction."

    Capsule for NEO: The World Ends with You NEO: The World Ends with You

    "Party members form a small group with emergent stories, but minimal social multiplayer"

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players learn game mechanics, develop strategies, and improve skills over time"

    Capsule for 100% Orange Juice 100% Orange Juice

    "Players learn mechanics, improve strategies, and level up characters over time"

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved"

    Capsule for Strata Strata

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved"

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires continuous attention and focus due to survival threats and time-limited expeditions."

    Capsule for MISERY MISERY

    "Requires focused attention and strategic decision making throughout expeditions"

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    1

    "Some emotional engagement with characters and story, but limited to narrative rather than real social bonds."

    Capsule for Tron: Identity Tron: Identity

    "Some emotional attachment to party members through emergent narrative events"

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    3

    "Players lead and manage a party and make strategic decisions affecting group survival."

    Capsule for The Banner Saga 3 The Banner Saga 3

    "Player leads and manages a party with strategic decisions impacting group survival"

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Strong progression through unlocking characters, items, and perks; meta-progression systems present."

    Capsule for Dungeon Clawler Dungeon Clawler

    "Progression through unlocking characters, gaining perks, and acquiring items"

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Offers moments of flow and immersion, but also involves sustained tension and strategic challenges."

    Capsule for Stellaris Stellaris

    "Offers moments of flow and immersion but also sustained tension from resource management"

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    1

    "Atmospheric audio and pixel art provide moderate sensory stimulation; not highly intense."

    Capsule for SKYHILL SKYHILL

    "Simple pixel art and atmospheric music provide moderate sensory stimulation"

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    2

    "Recognition through ranks and notoriety within the game world."

    Capsule for Sid Meier's Pirates! Sid Meier's Pirates!

    "Recognition through fame points and leaderboards within the game context"

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    4

    "Engaging narrative with character backstories and ongoing events enrich story immersion."

    Capsule for Onmyoji Onmyoji

    "Strong emergent narrative with event chains and character backstories enhancing immersion"

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "Highly strategic gameplay involving risk management, dice manipulation, and turn sequencing."

    Capsule for Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles

    "Heavy emphasis on planning, risk management, and tactical dice-based combat"

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Tense combat and resource scarcity create suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander

    "Tense situations from resource scarcity, random events, and permadeath create suspense"

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "High perceived value due to extensive content, replayability, and ongoing developer support."

    Capsule for Rabi-Ribi Rabi-Ribi

    "High perceived value due to depth, replayability, and developer support"

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    2

    "Combat is a significant part of gameplay, though balanced with diplomacy and management."

    Capsule for Old World Old World

    "Combat and hunting are part of gameplay but balanced with exploration and diplomacy"

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Core challenge is managing health, avoiding hazards, and staying alive."

    Capsule for Miasmata Miasmata

    "Core challenge is managing sanity, resources, and threats to keep party alive"

Last update: 01/06/2026