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Heave Ho similar games & best alternatives

Heave Ho

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Mac • 2019

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Quick resume

Heave Ho is a riotous multiplayer party game for up to four players in couch co-op and versus play, or online with Steam Remote Play. Reach out, get a grip, and swing to victory — or meet your messy end!

Global score

91/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Platform, Strategy, Arcade

Similar games

    Pros

    • Highly fun and hilarious multiplayer experience
    • Easy to learn controls with challenging cooperative gameplay
    • Great for parties and social gatherings
    • Good value for price
    • Accessible to non-gamers and all ages

    Cons

    • No built-in online multiplayer, relies on remote play or parsec
    • Short game length and limited content
    • Controls can be awkward and cause hand cramps
    • Lack of level editor or additional game modes
    • Some technical issues with remote play and input devices

    Analysis

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

    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 have freedom to control their character's arms independently and decide how to swing and cooperate."

    • Competence
      3

      "Game offers a moderate challenge with skillful coordination and timing, especially in multiplayer."

    • Competition
      2

      "Some competitive elements exist in mini-games and player vs player modes, but focus is more on cooperative fun."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report long sessions and repeated play due to fun and social nature."

    • Cooperation
      5

      "Core gameplay revolves around working together to progress through levels and solve challenges."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Customization of characters and humorous costumes add creative expression; no level editor yet."

    • Domination
      -3

      "Interactions are playful and balanced; no evidence of dominating or controlling others aggressively."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game as a fun distraction and stress relief with friends and family."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and social enjoyment, not out of obligation."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players explore physics and mechanics creatively to solve puzzles and interact with others."

    • Exploration
      1

      "Some discovery in levels and hidden coins, but mostly fixed obstacle courses."

    • Expression
      3

      "Character customization and funny skins provide self-expression opportunities."

    • Fantasy
      1

      "Cartoonish and silly, but grounded in simple physics rather than deep fantasy."

    • Fellowship
      5

      "Strong sense of community and shared experience playing with friends and family."

    • Growth
      2

      "Players develop coordination and teamwork skills over time."

    • Health
      -4

      "Primarily sedentary play with some reports of hand cramps from controller use."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires active attention and coordination; not a background or idle game."

    • Intimacy
      3

      "Encourages social bonding and laughter among close friends and family."

    • Leadership
      -2

      "Gameplay emphasizes equal participation and cooperation rather than leadership roles."

    • Progression
      2

      "Unlocking costumes and collecting coins provide light progression incentives."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Game balances challenge with humor and fun, creating a relaxed yet engaging experience."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Visuals, sound effects, and silly character voices provide enjoyable sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      -3

      "No emphasis on social status or leaderboards; focus is on shared fun."

    • Story
      -5

      "No narrative or story elements; gameplay is context-free and focused on mechanics."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Requires some planning and coordination to navigate levels and cooperate effectively."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Some suspense and tension in timing swings and avoiding falls, but overall lighthearted."

    • Value
      4

      "Players feel the game offers good value for price due to fun and replayability."

    • Violence
      -4

      "Gameplay is non-violent and focused on cooperative physics-based challenges."

    • Survival
      1

      "Some elements of avoiding falling or failure, but low risk and forgiving mechanics."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026