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Gravel similar games & best alternatives

Gravel

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, PlayStation 4 • 2018

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Quick resume

Gravel is the ultimate off-road experience. The most extreme racing game that will let you try out amazing stunts in the wildest places on the planet!

Global score

76/100

Genres

Racing, Sport, Simulator, Arcade

Similar games

    Pros

    • Fun arcade offroad racing
    • Varied cars and tracks
    • Adjustable difficulty and assists
    • Good progression system
    • Runs well on mid-range pcs

    Cons

    • Short campaign length
    • Multiplayer mostly dead
    • Limited customization
    • Some physics inconsistencies
    • Annoying repetitive announcer

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Creativity, Exploration, Expression, Story. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, Survival.

    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 can tune vehicles, choose assists on/off, and select race modes freely, indicating high control over gameplay decisions."

    • Competence
      3

      "Game offers skill-based driving challenges with adjustable difficulty and AI that can be challenging, though physics can be inconsistent."

    • Competition
      2

      "Includes multiplayer modes and leaderboards, but multiplayer is often dead; competition mostly against AI and personal bests."

    • Continuation
      2

      "Career mode and weekly challenges encourage continued play, but some players note short campaign and limited replay value."

    • Cooperation
      -3

      "Focus is primarily on solo racing; multiplayer exists but is underpopulated and lacks strong cooperative elements."

    • Creativity
      -2

      "Limited customization options; players unlock liveries but no deep car or track editing, following predefined structures."

    • Domination
      -3

      "Interactions with others are balanced; no evidence of trash talk or dominance mechanics, mostly fair AI and multiplayer."

    • Escapism
      3

      "Arcade racing provides fun distraction and stress relief; players enjoy immersive offroad environments and varied tracks."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and nostalgia; no indication of obligation or pressure to play."

    • Experimenting
      2

      "Players can experiment with car tuning and driving assists; some novelty in race modes and track variations."

    • Exploration
      1

      "Varied tracks and environments offer some discovery, but mostly racing on known circuits without deep exploration."

    • Expression
      -3

      "Limited to selecting preset liveries; no extensive avatar or environment customization."

    • Fantasy
      -1

      "Game is grounded in realistic offroad racing cars and tracks, though presented with arcade style and fictional TV show framing."

    • Fellowship
      -3

      "Minimal social interaction; multiplayer is sparse and lacks strong community engagement."

    • Growth
      3

      "Progression through leveling, unlocking cars and liveries, and improving driving skills is present."

    • Health
      -5

      "Standard sedentary gaming experience with no physical activity or rehab elements."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention during races; not designed for background or casual intermittent play."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing; interactions are surface-level or solo."

    • Leadership
      -4

      "No leadership or management roles; players focus on individual racing performance."

    • Progression
      4

      "Clear progression system with XP, unlocking cars, liveries, and new race events."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Arcade racing provides enjoyable flow and catharsis, though some players note occasional frustration with physics or AI."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Visuals, sound effects, and vehicle feedback provide sensory stimulation and excitement."

    • Status
      1

      "Some recognition through rankings and achievements, but limited social visibility due to low multiplayer activity."

    • Story
      1

      "Simple narrative framing with TV show episodes and rival bosses, but minimal plot depth."

    • Strategy
      1

      "Basic strategic elements in car tuning and race approach, but mostly straightforward racing gameplay."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Exciting jumps, drifting combos, and race challenges provide moments of thrill and tension release."

    • Value
      4

      "Good value especially on sale; players appreciate content amount and gameplay for price paid."

    • Violence
      -4

      "Focus on racing and vehicle control; collisions are present but not glorified as destructive violence."

    • Survival
      -2

      "Some challenge in avoiding crashes and staying on track, but no high-risk survival mechanics."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026