Gloom similar games & best alternatives
Gloom
2017
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Quick resume
Afflicted by severe amnesia, you drift deep into the Common Dream. You scour for the lost pages of the Necronomicon, while clinging on to any little purpose you have left. Faced with mad dreamers, horrible abominations and eldritch deities, you feel drawn to the dark Abyss deep within.
Global score
83/100
Genres
Action, Adventure, Indie
Pros
- Challenging and rewarding combat
- Atmospheric art style and music
- Intriguing lore and story via item descriptions
- Addictive roguelike replayability
- Good value for price
Cons
- Limited content and short game length
- Linear level design with little exploration
- Clunky or slow controls reported by some
- Lack of multiplayer or social features
- Some rng frustration and repetitive runs
Motivations
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Autonomy4
"Players have control over their combat style, weapon choice, and item pickups in each run, allowing personal decision-making despite the linear level design."
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Competence5
"The game is challenging and requires mastering enemy patterns, stamina management, and precise timing, providing strong skill-based feedback."
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Competition-3
"Focus is on individual progression and learning rather than direct competition; no mention of ranked modes or leaderboards."
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Continuation4
"Players report addictive 'one more run' motivation and habitual replay despite permadeath and short runs."
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Cooperation-5
"Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."
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Creativity3
"Players experiment with different weapons, item combinations, and builds each run, though within predefined structures."
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Domination-5
"No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is solo and self-focused."
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Escapism4
"The dark, atmospheric world and lore provide immersive escapism from real life."
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Expectation-4
"Players engage voluntarily out of interest and intrinsic motivation, enjoying the challenge and lore."
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Experimenting4
"High degree of experimentation with weapons, items, and strategies encouraged by roguelike randomness."
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Exploration-2
"Levels are linear and repeated, with limited environmental exploration; focus is on enemy encounters and item discovery."
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Expression-3
"Minimal character customization or visual expression; art style is fixed and simple."
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Fantasy5
"Strong Lovecraftian and dark fantasy themes create an imaginative fictional experience."
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Fellowship-5
"No social or community features; entirely solo play."
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Growth4
"Players improve skills and knowledge of enemy patterns and item effects through repeated runs."
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Health-4
"Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; challenging difficulty may cause stress but no physical engagement."
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Idle-4
"Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during runs; not suited for idle or background play."
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Intimacy-5
"No social or emotional relationship-building features."
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Leadership-5
"No leadership or group management roles; solo gameplay only."
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Progression3
"Progression occurs within runs via item pickups and upgrades; no persistent progression between runs except tokens."
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Relaxation-1
"While some find the game rewarding, the high difficulty and tension reduce relaxation and flow states."
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Sensation3
"Atmospheric visuals and music provide sensory stimulation; combat feedback is satisfying though not flashy."
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Status-4
"Achievements exist but social recognition or popularity is minimal; game is underappreciated and niche."
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Story4
"Lore and narrative are conveyed through item descriptions and optional reading, creating narrative immersion."
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Strategy4
"Combat and item choices require strategic thinking, pattern recognition, and resource management."
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Thrill3
"High difficulty and risk of permadeath create suspense and tension during runs."
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Value4
"Players feel the game offers good value for its price, especially on sale, with satisfying gameplay and lore."
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Violence4
"Combat involves melee and ranged attacks, defeating enemies and bosses with violent actions."
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Survival4
"Players must avoid death and manage stamina and health carefully to survive through runs."
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Last update: 06/03/2026