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Draugen similar games & best alternatives

Draugen

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, PlayStation 4 • 2019

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Quick resume

Draugen is a single-player, first-person Fjord Noir mystery set in 1920s Norway. Explore a forgotten coastal village in your search for your missing sister, accompanied by your independent and enigmatic young ward. Norwegian Game of the Year 2019.

Global score

74/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Beautiful and atmospheric setting
    • Strong narrative and character interaction
    • Engaging soundtrack and voice acting
    • Relaxing and immersive experience
    • Well-crafted companion dynamic

    Cons

    • Short gameplay length
    • Linear and minimal gameplay
    • Predictable story elements
    • Some narrative loose ends
    • Limited replay value

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Strategy, Survival, Competence, Violence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Cooperation, Fellowship. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Value.

    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
      4

      "Players explore the village and interact with objects at their own pace, with some freedom in dialogue choices, though the story is linear."

    • Competence
      -3

      "Gameplay is minimal and predictable, mostly walking and listening, with no real puzzles or skill challenges."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive elements or comparison to others; focus is on personal narrative experience."

    • Continuation
      -2

      "Short game (~3-4 hours) with limited replay value; some players felt no reason to replay."

    • Cooperation
      3

      "Interaction with companion Alice is a core feature, providing dialogue and narrative cooperation."

    • Creativity
      1

      "Some exploration and interpretation of story, but mostly following a linear narrative with limited modification."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; cooperative and equal interactions."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game to immerse in a mysterious, atmospheric world, escaping real life stresses."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in story and atmosphere, not obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      -2

      "Mostly linear story with limited exploration and no major experimentation with mechanics."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Players explore a detailed, atmospheric village with some secrets and narrative clues to discover."

    • Expression
      -3

      "Limited customization or self-expression; players experience a preset narrative and environment."

    • Fantasy
      2

      "Contains some supernatural and psychological mystery elements, but grounded in a realistic setting."

    • Fellowship
      3

      "Strong sense of companionship with Alice; some social interaction though mostly a two-person dynamic."

    • Growth
      1

      "Players learn about story and characters, but minimal skill or knowledge development."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay typical of walking simulators; no physical activity involved."

    • Idle
      3

      "Pace is slow and relaxed, allowing for breaks and casual play."

    • Intimacy
      3

      "Close relationship and emotional connection between player character and companion Alice."

    • Leadership
      -4

      "No leadership roles; player follows a linear narrative and cooperates with companion."

    • Progression
      2

      "Narrative progression and some collectible drawings, but no power or item upgrades."

    • Relaxation
      4

      "Atmospheric, calm, and immersive experience promoting relaxation and flow."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Enjoyable visuals, music, and sound design provide sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social status or recognition mechanics; experience is personal and narrative-driven."

    • Story
      5

      "Strong narrative immersion with well-written characters, dialogue, and unfolding mystery."

    • Strategy
      -4

      "Minimal strategic or problem-solving elements; gameplay is straightforward and linear."

    • Thrill
      1

      "Some suspense and eerie moments, but overall controlled and calm experience."

    • Value
      -2

      "Mixed opinions on value; short length and limited gameplay make full price questionable."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destruction; focus on exploration and narrative."

    • Survival
      -5

      "No survival or threat mechanics; stable, low-risk environment."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026