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DISTRAINT 2 similar games & best alternatives

DISTRAINT 2

PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Android, Nintendo Switch • 2018

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Quick resume

You are Price, a man who sold his humanity to get a partnership from a leading company: McDade, Bruton & Moore. DISTRAINT 2 follows on from the events of the first game. It's a sinister tale about restoring hope and finding your purpose.

Global score

96/100

Genres

Adventure, Casual, Indie, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Deep emotional and philosophical story
    • Unique pixel art and atmospheric sound design
    • Accessible and straightforward puzzles
    • Short and impactful gameplay experience
    • Strong themes of hope and personal growth

    Cons

    • Very short game length
    • Limited gameplay complexity
    • Minimal replayability
    • Some players find puzzles too easy
    • Lack of multiplayer or social features

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Intimacy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, Experimenting.

    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
      3

      "Players explore and solve puzzles at their own pace with some freedom in interaction, though within a narrative structure."

    • Competence
      1

      "Puzzles are generally easy and straightforward, providing mild skill challenge but mostly focusing on story progression."

    • Competition
      -5

      "Single-player narrative experience with no competitive elements or player comparison."

    • Continuation
      2

      "Short game length and one-time experience, but players are emotionally engaged and invested in the story."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Entirely single-player with no cooperative or multiplayer features."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players solve puzzles and explore symbolic environments, but within a fixed narrative and game design."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; focus is on personal emotional journey."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Strong psychological horror and emotional narrative allow players to escape reality and explore inner feelings."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily driven by intrinsic interest in story and emotional themes."

    • Experimenting
      -2

      "Gameplay involves familiar puzzle-solving routines with limited novelty or mechanic experimentation."

    • Exploration
      1

      "Players explore new symbolic and varied environments, though within a linear narrative."

    • Expression
      -4

      "No character customization or player-driven expression; fixed protagonist and story presentation."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Surreal and psychological horror elements create an imaginative, symbolic experience beyond realism."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "Solo play with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    • Growth
      4

      "Strong themes of personal development, emotional healing, and self-reflection throughout the narrative."

    • Health
      -5

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

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires focused attention to puzzles and story; not designed for background or casual intermittent play."

    • Intimacy
      2

      "Emotional connection to story and characters fosters some depth of feeling, though limited social bonding."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements present."

    • Progression
      1

      "Progression is narrative-driven with item collection for puzzles, but no extensive upgrades or accumulation."

    • Relaxation
      1

      "Atmospheric and emotional pacing offers moments of calm, though tension and psychological pressure are present."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Strong sensory atmosphere through pixel art, sound design, and music evoke emotional and sensory engagement."

    • Status
      -5

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

    • Story
      5

      "Highly praised narrative immersion with deep emotional and philosophical storytelling."

    • Strategy
      -2

      "Simple puzzle-solving with minimal strategic complexity."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Psychological horror elements create suspense and emotional tension, though not intense or frequent."

    • Value
      3

      "Players feel the game offers good value for price due to emotional impact and quality despite short length."

    • Violence
      -3

      "Minimal violence; focus is on psychological themes rather than combat or destruction."

    • Survival
      1

      "Some avoidance of threats and hiding mechanics, but low risk and minimal survival challenge."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026