Heretical similar games & best alternatives

Heretical

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2024

Should you play it?

Die. Adapt. Strike back. Climb Sanctora in this brutal Rogue-lite where every death unlocks powers, heroes, and paths to vengeance.

What works
  • Addictive and deep roguelite gameplay loop
  • Well-designed meta-progression and unlock systems
  • Engaging combat with challenging bosses
  • Handcrafted map with exploration and shortcuts
  • Active and responsive developer community
Things to keep in mind
  • Early access with some bugs and polish needed
  • Fixed camera and control issues reported
  • Some builds and items unbalanced
  • Lack of multiplayer or cooperative features
  • Narrative and audio could be further developed

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Cinderia

  • AI LIMIT

  • Bleak Faith: Forsaken

  • Cultivation Story: Reincarnation

  • Into the Necrovale

  • Samurai Bringer

  • Black Myth: Wukong

  • Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter

  • Trench Tales
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Into the Necrovale

  • Card Survival: Fantasy Forest

  • Sonny Legacy Collection
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Continuation

    HoloCure - Save the Fans!
  • Experimenting

    Flamebreak
  • Growth

    Hero's Adventure: Road to Passion

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).

Heretical: 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 Violence, Expression. 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 customize characters, choose skills, stats, and build strategies with many options."

    Capsule for Swords and Sandals Immortals Swords and Sandals Immortals

    "Players have freedom to choose characters, builds, routes, and skill allocations each run, with meta-progression unlocking new options."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "Game challenges players with increasing difficulty, requiring skillful movement, resource management, and tactical combat."

    Capsule for Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor

    "Game challenges players with difficult combat, boss fights, and strategic build choices requiring skill and adaptation."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on personal progression and overcoming game challenges rather than direct player-vs-player competition."

    Capsule for Shortest Trip to Earth Shortest Trip to Earth

    "Focus is on personal progression and overcoming challenges rather than direct player-vs-player competition."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    5

    "Highly addictive gameplay loop with many unlockables, meta progression, and side activities encourages long sessions and habitual play."

    Capsule for HoloCure - Save the Fans! HoloCure - Save the Fans!

    "Strong motivation to keep playing due to addictive gameplay loop, meta-progression, and desire to unlock new content."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "The game is primarily a single-player experience with no mention of cooperative multiplayer or teamwork."

    Capsule for Tower Tactics: Liberation Tower Tactics: Liberation

    "Game is primarily a single-player experience with no mention of cooperative multiplayer or teamwork."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Players experiment with character synergies, formations, and build combinations, creating diverse and personalized playstyles."

    Capsule for WARRIORS: Abyss WARRIORS: Abyss

    "Players experiment with many build combinations, skill synergies, and route choices, enabling creative playstyles."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control over other players; interactions are with AI in a balanced challenge."

    Capsule for Hello Neighbor Alpha 1 Hello Neighbor Alpha 1

    "Interactions are focused on overcoming AI challenges rather than exerting control over other players."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Dark fantasy setting and immersive gameplay provide strong escape from real life stresses."

    Capsule for Deck of Ashes Deck of Ashes

    "Dark fantasy atmosphere and immersive gameplay provide a strong escape from real life stress."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by intrinsic interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or pressure."

    Capsule for Deadzone: Rogue Deadzone: Rogue

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by intrinsic interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on trying new builds, skill combinations, and strategies each run."

    Capsule for Flamebreak Flamebreak

    "High emphasis on trying new builds, skills, and strategies each run to discover synergies and optimize play."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Players explore new maps, secrets, and modifiers, with some procedural and handcrafted content offering discovery opportunities."

    Capsule for Dungeon Warfare 3 Dungeon Warfare 3

    "Handcrafted map with shortcuts and secrets encourages discovery, though environment is fixed rather than procedural."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Character customization through skill and equipment choices allows personal expression in gameplay style."

    Capsule for Cosmic Star Heroine Cosmic Star Heroine

    "Customization through character choice, skill builds, and equipment allows personal expression within gameplay."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Dark fantasy lore, mythical setting, and roguelike elements create an imaginative fictional experience."

    Capsule for Dragon Is Dead Dragon Is Dead

    "Dark fantasy setting with roguelite and soulslike elements creates an imaginative fictional experience."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -4

    "Minimal social interaction; community exists but gameplay is solo focused."

    Capsule for Into the Necrovale Into the Necrovale

    "Minimal social interaction; community exists but gameplay is focused on solo runs."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    5

    "Character development, skill mastery, and meta progression provide continuous learning and improvement."

    Capsule for Hero's Adventure: Road to Passion Hero's Adventure: Road to Passion

    "Meta-progression, skill unlocks, and build experimentation foster continuous learning and personal development."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Adventure Time: Finn and Jake's Epic Quest Adventure Time: Finn and Jake's Epic Quest

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during runs; not a casual or background game."

    Capsule for The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during runs; not a casual or background game."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing in gameplay."

    Capsule for Alwa's Legacy Alwa's Legacy

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing in gameplay."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; purely individual player experience."

    Capsule for Anger Foot Anger Foot

    "No leadership or group management roles; purely individual player experience."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong progression system with unlocking towers, upgrades, heroes, and achievements motivating continued play."

    Capsule for Bloons TD 6 Bloons TD 6

    "Strong progression systems with prophecies, unlocks, skill trees, and permanent upgrades motivate players."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Game balances challenge and flow, providing satisfying tension release but also moments of stress."

    Capsule for From Glory To Goo From Glory To Goo

    "Game balances challenge and flow, providing moments of tension release but also sustained difficulty."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Pleasant visuals, sound effects, and music contribute to sensory enjoyment."

    Capsule for Spooky Bonus Spooky Bonus

    "Visual style and atmospheric audio contribute to sensory enjoyment, though some desire for richer sound was noted."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal achievement rather than social recognition or popularity."

    Capsule for Desperados III Desperados III

    "Focus is on personal achievement rather than social recognition or popularity."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Light narrative and lore present, but story is secondary to gameplay."

    Capsule for Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon

    "Dark fantasy lore and worldbuilding present but narrative is light and secondary to gameplay."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Players must plan routes, manage resources, and choose tactics carefully to succeed."

    Capsule for Void Bastards Void Bastards

    "Players must plan routes, build synergies, and manage resources strategically to succeed."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    4

    "Challenging encounters and suspenseful boss fights create tension and excitement."

    Capsule for Blasphemous Blasphemous

    "Boss fights and escalating difficulty provide suspense, tension, and rewarding relief."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players perceive good value from extensive content, replayability, and challenge for the price."

    Capsule for Nimbus Nimbus

    "Players perceive good value through extensive content, replayability, and engaging progression for price."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Combat and destruction of enemies are central gameplay elements."

    Capsule for Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster

    "Combat and destruction of enemies are central gameplay elements."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Players must manage resources, avoid death, and overcome threats to progress."

    Capsule for Risk of Rain Returns Risk of Rain Returns

    "Players must manage threats, increasing difficulty, and resource use to stay alive and progress."

Come talk about it on Discord!

Last update: 01/06/2026