DISTRAINT 2 similar games & best alternatives

DISTRAINT 2

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

Should you play it?

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.

What works
  • 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
Things to keep in mind
  • Very short game length
  • Limited gameplay complexity
  • Minimal replayability
  • Some players find puzzles too easy
  • Lack of multiplayer or social features

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Amnesia: Rebirth

  • Luto

  • Evan's Remains

  • Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling

  • ATRI -My Dear Moments-

  • [Chilla's Art] Night Delivery | 例外配達

  • The Descendant

  • The Lightkeeper

  • Conarium
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Evan's Remains

  • Misericorde: Volume One

  • Fear the Spotlight
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Story

    OMORI
  • Escapism

    Traum
  • Growth

    Voices from the Sea

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).

DISTRAINT 2: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Status. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Intimacy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, Strategy.

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

    3

    "Players explore environments and solve puzzles at their own pace with some freedom in interactions."

    Capsule for The Journey Down: Chapter One The Journey Down: Chapter One

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

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    1

    "Puzzles are generally easy and straightforward, with a few requiring some thinking, providing mild skill challenge."

    Capsule for Gibbous - A Cthulhu Adventure Gibbous - A Cthulhu Adventure

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

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Stray Cat Crossing Stray Cat Crossing

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

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

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

    Capsule for Cleo - a pirate's tale Cleo - a pirate's tale

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

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of The Baskervilles Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of The Baskervilles

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

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players creatively solve puzzles and explore, but within a fixed narrative and environment."

    Capsule for Metal Dead Metal Dead

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

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; focus is on empathy and personal experience."

    Capsule for and Roger and Roger

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

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players engage in psychological horror to escape and explore emotional and mental themes."

    Capsule for Traum Traum

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

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for Lost Words: Beyond the Page Lost Words: Beyond the Page

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

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    -2

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

    Capsule for Glass Masquerade Glass Masquerade

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

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    1

    "Players explore various locations and environments, though within a linear narrative path."

    Capsule for Full Throttle Remastered Full Throttle Remastered

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

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -4

    "No character customization or player expression; fixed protagonist and environment."

    Capsule for Deer Man Deer Man

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

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

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

    Capsule for The Cat Lady The Cat Lady

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

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition

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

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Themes of personal development, emotional growth, and self-reflection are central to the story."

    Capsule for Voices from the Sea Voices from the Sea

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

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller

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

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    2

    "Emotional connections to characters and story foster deeper feelings, though social interaction is limited."

    Capsule for The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III

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

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements present."

    Capsule for Trover Saves the Universe Trover Saves the Universe

    "No leadership or group management elements present."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    1

    "Progression is narrative-based with some puzzle completion; no item or upgrade accumulation."

    Capsule for State of Mind State of Mind

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

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    1

    "Atmospheric and emotional experience with some tension but overall balanced pacing."

    Capsule for Angels of Death Angels of Death

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

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Engaging pixel art, atmospheric music, and sound design provide sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

    Capsule for An English Haunting An English Haunting

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

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for God of War God of War

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

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Highly praised narrative immersion with deep emotional and psychological themes."

    Capsule for OMORI OMORI

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

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    -2

    "Simple puzzles with minimal strategic depth or complex problem solving."

    Capsule for Blanc Blanc

    "Simple puzzle-solving with minimal strategic complexity."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    2

    "Psychological horror elements create suspense and emotional tension without intense scares."

    Capsule for last seen online last seen online

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

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Players feel the game offers good emotional and entertainment value despite short length."

    Capsule for Lil Gator Game Lil Gator Game

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

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -3

    "Minimal violence; focus is on psychological horror and narrative rather than combat or destruction."

    Capsule for Amelie Amelie

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

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    1

    "Some stealth and avoidance of threats, but no complex survival mechanics."

    Capsule for SOMA SOMA

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

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Last update: 01/06/2026