HIVESWAP: ACT 1 similar games & best alternatives

HIVESWAP: ACT 1

PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac • 2017

Should you play it?

A hand-drawn tribute to hilarious '90s adventure games (with none of the accompanying frustration). Play as Joey Claire, a puzzle-solving teen snatched out of her time (1994) and place (Earth) and stranded on a hostile alien planet on the brink of rebellion.

What works
  • Engaging story and characters
  • Beautiful art and animation
  • Catchy and fitting soundtrack
  • Humorous and detailed item interactions
  • Accessible to newcomers and fans alike
Things to keep in mind
  • Short game length
  • Some bugs and graphical issues
  • Lack of challenging puzzles
  • Achievement unobtainable currently
  • Long wait for future acts

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Smile For Me

  • Carto

  • Yesterday Origins

  • Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse

  • Sally Face - Episode One

  • HIVESWAP: ACT 2

  • Chicken Police - Paint it RED!

  • Great God Grove

  • Mask of the Rose
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse

  • Great God Grove

  • Mask of the Rose
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

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).

HIVESWAP: ACT 1: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Competition, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Fellowship, Intimacy, Experimenting.

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 freely solve puzzles with multiple solutions and can explore different approaches, showing control over their actions."

    Capsule for Gravitas Gravitas

    "Players freely explore environments, combine items in many ways, and solve puzzles at their own pace, showing strong control over actions."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    2

    "Puzzles require some thinking but are generally easy and straightforward, providing moderate skill challenge."

    Capsule for Lucid Dream Lucid Dream

    "Puzzles are generally easy and straightforward but require some thinking and experimentation, providing moderate skill challenge."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "Single-player point-and-click adventure with no competitive elements or player comparison."

    Capsule for Tales of Monkey Island: Complete Season Tales of Monkey Island: Complete Season

    "Single-player point-and-click adventure with no competitive elements or player comparison."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players express desire to replay and wish for more content, indicating attachment and habitual play despite short length."

    Capsule for Unpacking Unpacking

    "Players express eagerness to continue with future acts and replay to unlock achievements, indicating attachment despite short length."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player experience focused on individual puzzle solving and exploration."

    Capsule for Taiji Taiji

    "Entirely single-player experience focused on individual exploration and puzzle solving."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Players combine items in inventive ways and explore a richly detailed world with unique characters and humorous dialogue."

    Capsule for Deponia Deponia

    "Players encouraged to combine every item with every other item, producing unique humorous responses and interactions."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is narrative-driven and cooperative in spirit."

    Capsule for The Bunny Graveyard The Bunny Graveyard

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; cooperative and narrative-driven gameplay."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players enjoy immersive story, characters, and world, providing a strong escape from real life."

    Capsule for Skyborn Skyborn

    "Players enjoy immersive story, humor, and nostalgia, providing a strong escape from real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and fandom enthusiasm, not obligation or pressure."

    Capsule for Hiveswap Friendsim Hiveswap Friendsim

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and fandom enthusiasm, not obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    5

    "Encouraged to try many item combinations and explore dialogue options to discover jokes and solutions."

    Capsule for Time Gentlemen, Please! and Ben There, Dan That! Special Edition Double Pack Time Gentlemen, Please! and Ben There, Dan That! Special Edition Double Pack

    "Strong emphasis on trying all item combinations and exploring dialogue options to discover unique content."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Players explore a small but detailed environment, uncovering secrets and interacting with objects."

    Capsule for Discolored Discolored

    "Players explore richly detailed environments with many clickable objects and secrets, encouraging discovery."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    1

    "Limited character customization; expression mainly through gameplay choices."

    Capsule for Cursed to Golf Cursed to Golf

    "Some character customization and unique character designs, but limited player-driven expression."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Set in a fictional sci-fi universe with imaginative alien worlds and story."

    Capsule for Lifeless Planet Premier Edition Lifeless Planet Premier Edition

    "Set in a fictional universe with aliens, alternate worlds, and imaginative story elements."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    1

    "Some community enthusiasm and shared fandom, but gameplay is solo-focused."

    Capsule for Illusion Carnival Illusion Carnival

    "Strong fandom community presence and shared enthusiasm, but gameplay is solo."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    2

    "Players develop understanding of story and puzzles, gaining knowledge through exploration."

    Capsule for Conarium Conarium

    "Players develop puzzle-solving skills and learn about story and lore through exploration."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    Capsule for Age of Wonders 4 Age of Wonders 4

    "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention to progress through puzzles and story; not designed as a background or idle experience."

    Capsule for Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery

    "Requires focused attention on puzzles and story; not a background or idle experience."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    1

    "Emotional attachment to characters and story, but limited social interaction."

    Capsule for Break the Game Break the Game

    "Emotional attachment to characters and story, but limited social interaction."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for OMORI OMORI

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

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Players collect items and achievements and progress through story acts."

    Capsule for HIVESWAP: ACT 2 HIVESWAP: ACT 2

    "Players collect items and unlock achievements, progressing through story acts."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Humorous and lighthearted tone promotes relaxation and casual enjoyment."

    Capsule for A Simple job A Simple job

    "Generally lighthearted, humorous, and nostalgic tone promotes relaxation and flow."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable art, music, and animations provide sensory pleasure and emotional engagement."

    Capsule for Growing Up Growing Up

    "Enjoyable art, music, and animations provide sensory pleasure and emotional engagement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social status or recognition mechanics; individual experience."

    Capsule for Amnesia: Rebirth Amnesia: Rebirth

    "No social status or recognition mechanics; individual experience."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Strong narrative focus with well-written characters, engaging plot, and rich lore immersion."

    Capsule for The Dark Rites of Arkham The Dark Rites of Arkham

    "Strong narrative focus with engaging characters, humor, and lore immersion."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    1

    "Puzzles require some problem solving and logic but are generally straightforward."

    Capsule for Polarity Polarity

    "Puzzles require some reasoning but are mostly straightforward and simple."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    1

    "Some suspense in puzzle solving and story, but overall low risk and mild tension."

    Capsule for Bugsnax Bugsnax

    "Some tension in puzzle solving and story moments but overall low suspense and risk."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Players feel the game offers good value for price, especially on sale, despite short length."

    Capsule for CAT Interstellar CAT Interstellar

    "Players feel the game offers good value for price despite short length, especially fans."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -3

    "Minimal combat; focus is on puzzle solving and exploration rather than destruction."

    Capsule for Lake Haven - Chrysalis Lake Haven - Chrysalis

    "Minimal combat presented more as puzzles; emphasis on interaction over destruction."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -4

    "No significant threat or resource management; stable and safe gameplay environment."

    Capsule for Wires And Whiskers Wires And Whiskers

    "No significant threat or resource management; stable and safe gameplay environment."

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Last update: 01/06/2026