F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch similar games & best alternatives

F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S • 2021

Should you play it?

F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch is a Metroidvania action game featuring exploration, intense combat and challenging platforming.

What works
  • Beautiful graphics and animations
  • Fluid and satisfying combat system
  • Large, detailed map with secrets and collectibles
  • Engaging exploration and backtracking
  • Good value for price and content length
Things to keep in mind
  • Some technical issues and occasional crashes
  • Combat can be clunky or frustrating at times
  • Underwater sections and puzzles criticized
  • Story is serviceable but not deeply compelling
  • Limited fast travel points leading to tedious backtracking

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Cookie Cutter: Overkill Edition

  • Catmaze

  • Lone Fungus

  • Vernal Edge

  • BIOMORPH

  • Aggelos

  • Guns of Fury

  • Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Director's Cut

  • Lost Ruins
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Vernal Edge

  • BIOMORPH

  • Aggelos
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Autonomy

    Cookie Cutter: Overkill Edition
  • Competence

    AI LIMIT
  • Escapism

    Brush Burial: Gutter World

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).

F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Sensation, Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on 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 explore the map, choose weapons and abilities, and approach combat with various combos and tactics."

    Capsule for Cookie Cutter: Overkill Edition Cookie Cutter: Overkill Edition

    "Players have freedom to explore a large map, choose weapons and combos, and decide their approach to combat and exploration."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "Combat requires skillful timing, parrying, and learning enemy patterns; bosses provide challenging tests of player ability."

    Capsule for AI LIMIT AI LIMIT

    "Combat requires skillful timing, learning combos, parrying, and pattern recognition; bosses provide challenging tests of player ability."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on single-player experience with no evidence of competitive modes or leaderboards."

    Capsule for Tales of Zestiria Tales of Zestiria

    "Focus is on single-player experience with no evidence of competitive modes or leaderboards."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Many players report long playtimes, exploration, and achievement hunting, indicating habitual and extended engagement."

    Capsule for STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™ STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™

    "Players report long playtimes, backtracking, and exploration incentives encouraging extended engagement."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "The game is single-player with no cooperative multiplayer or teamwork elements."

    Capsule for Super Chibi Knight Super Chibi Knight

    "Game is a single-player Metroidvania with no cooperative multiplayer or teamwork elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players can customize builds, switch weapons and skills, and experiment with different combat styles."

    Capsule for Black Myth: Wukong Black Myth: Wukong

    "Players can customize weapon paint schemes and experiment with combos and weapon switching to create unique fighting styles."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over other players; interactions are single-player focused."

    Capsule for Deep Sky Derelicts Deep Sky Derelicts

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over other players; interactions are single-player focused."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Immersive world and gameplay provide strong distraction and escape from real life."

    Capsule for Brush Burial: Gutter World Brush Burial: Gutter World

    "Immersive world, story, and gameplay provide a strong escape from real life stress and offer engaging distraction."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment; no indications of obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Avowed Avowed

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment; no indications of obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players try different weapons, combos, and strategies to overcome tough challenges."

    Capsule for NINJA GAIDEN Σ [NINJA GAIDEN: Master Collection] NINJA GAIDEN Σ [NINJA GAIDEN: Master Collection]

    "Players try different combos, weapons, and explore new areas; some sequence breaking possible."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Large interconnected map with secrets and backtracking encourages discovery and curiosity-driven play."

    Capsule for Vomitoreum Vomitoreum

    "Large interconnected map with secrets, collectibles, and gating abilities encourages discovery and backtracking."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Weapon skins and character outfits allow for some self-expression, though mostly cosmetic."

    Capsule for BRAIN / OUT BRAIN / OUT

    "Weapon skins and paint schemes allow some degree of self-expression, though limited to cosmetic changes."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Imaginative setting with anthropomorphic animals, mechs, and boomerang combat creates a strong fantasy experience."

    Capsule for TY the Tasmanian Tiger 2 TY the Tasmanian Tiger 2

    "Anthropomorphic animals in a dieselpunk world with exaggerated combat moves create a strong fantasy experience."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for Poke ALL Toads Poke ALL Toads

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

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players learn combat combos, improve skills, and gain new abilities, supporting personal development and mastery."

    Capsule for AWAKEN - Astral Blade AWAKEN - Astral Blade

    "Players learn combos, master combat mechanics, and acquire new abilities that enhance gameplay and progression."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Typical sedentary gaming experience with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for ARMORED CORE™ VI FIRES OF RUBICON™ ARMORED CORE™ VI FIRES OF RUBICON™

    "Typical sedentary gaming experience with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement; not suitable for casual or background play."

    Capsule for Resident Evil Resident Evil

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement; not suitable for casual or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing; primarily a solo experience."

    Capsule for Far Cry® Far Cry®

    "No evidence of forming close relationships or emotional sharing; primarily a solo experience."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements; single-player gameplay."

    Capsule for Minit Minit

    "No leadership or group management elements; single-player focused gameplay."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Players collect items, weapons, and upgrades to advance through the game and overcome challenges."

    Capsule for Haydee 2 Haydee 2

    "Players collect items, unlock weapons and abilities, and complete challenges to advance and upgrade."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Generally enjoyable and smooth gameplay with some tension during boss fights and challenging sections."

    Capsule for DRAINUS DRAINUS

    "Generally enjoyable and satisfying gameplay with some tension during boss fights and difficult sections."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    4

    "High-quality graphics, animations, and sound design provide strong sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Marvel's Spider-Man 2

    "High-quality graphics, animations, sound effects, and music provide strong sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "No social status or recognition systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."

    Capsule for Hogwarts Legacy Hogwarts Legacy

    "No social status or recognition systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Narrative is present with cutscenes and lore, providing context and immersion though not deeply complex."

    Capsule for Sea Salt Sea Salt

    "Narrative with characters and cutscenes is present and moderately engaging, though not deeply complex."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Combat and boss fights require tactical thinking; puzzles require problem solving and planning."

    Capsule for Darksiders™ Darksiders™

    "Combat and boss fights require learning patterns, timing, and planning combos; some puzzle elements present."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Boss fights and challenging platforming sections provide moments of suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Ultimate Edition Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Ultimate Edition

    "Boss fights and difficult platforming sections provide moments of suspense and challenge."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players report good value for price with many hours of content and replayability; minor complaints about content length."

    Capsule for HAAK HAAK

    "Players report good content length and quality for price; seen as a worthwhile purchase."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat focused on sword fighting and boss battles; stylized violence is central to gameplay."

    Capsule for Ato Ato

    "Combat focused on melee attacks and defeating robotic enemies; stylized violence is central to gameplay."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    2

    "Players must avoid damage and manage resources to survive enemy encounters."

    Capsule for Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken

    "Players must avoid damage and defeat enemies to survive; resource management is minimal but present."

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Last update: 01/06/2026