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I Am Fish similar games & best alternatives

I Am Fish

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S • 2021

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Quick resume

I Am Fish is a charming, physics-based adventure starring four intrepid fish friends, forcibly separated from their home in a pet shop fish tank. Swim, fly, roll and chomp your way to the open ocean in a bid for freedom and to re-unite once again.

Global score

74/100

Genres

Adventure, Simulator, Platform, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Charming and whimsical art style
    • Unique physics-based challenging gameplay
    • Varied fish abilities and level design
    • Engaging and humorous story
    • Good replayability with collectibles and alternate paths

    Cons

    • Frustrating controls and physics leading to player irritation
    • Some levels overly difficult or poorly explained
    • Checkpoint system can be punishing
    • Minor bugs and occasional glitches
    • Short overall game length

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Relaxation, Survival, Violence, Fellowship. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, Thrill, Expression.

    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 control over four different fish with unique abilities and can choose different paths in levels, indicating a high degree of personal agency and decision-making."

    • Competence
      4

      "The game is challenging with physics-based puzzles requiring skill mastery and precision, rewarding persistence and learning."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on individual progression and personal achievement; leaderboards or direct player-vs-player competition are not emphasized."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report long play sessions, replayability through collectibles and star ratings, and some habitual engagement despite frustration."

    • Cooperation
      -4

      "Gameplay is primarily single-player with limited cooperative elements; fish mostly operate independently except for a few finale levels."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Players can explore multiple routes and use different fish abilities creatively to solve puzzles, though within designed level structures."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are individual and cooperative rather than competitive or dominating."

    • Escapism
      4

      "The whimsical, humorous, and absurd premise offers a strong escape from reality and stress relief."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and challenge, with no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players experiment with fish abilities and different paths, exploring game mechanics and puzzle solutions."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Levels feature multiple paths and secrets like hidden bread pieces, encouraging discovery and curiosity."

    • Expression
      -2

      "Limited customization or self-expression; players control fish characters but do not significantly personalize appearance or environment."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "The game features imaginative, whimsical scenarios with anthropomorphic fish and absurd situations."

    • Fellowship
      -3

      "Primarily a solo experience with minimal social or community interaction."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop skills mastering challenging physics and controls, improving over time."

    • Health
      -5

      "No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; sedentary play."

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement due to challenging controls and puzzles."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Minimal social interaction or emotional sharing; focus is on individual gameplay."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management roles; gameplay is individual."

    • Progression
      3

      "Players collect bread pieces and star ratings to unlock bonus content, showing item and achievement accumulation."

    • Relaxation
      -3

      "Gameplay is often frustrating and tense, requiring patience and persistence rather than relaxation."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Colorful visuals, humorous sound effects, and dynamic environments provide sensory enjoyment."

    • Status
      -4

      "No social status or recognition systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."

    • Story
      3

      "The game has a lighthearted narrative with character-driven moments and cutscenes enhancing immersion."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Players solve puzzles requiring reasoning and planning, using fish abilities strategically."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Some suspense and tension from challenging sections and timed sequences, but overall moderate thrill."

    • Value
      3

      "Generally considered worth the price especially on sale, with good content and replayability for the cost."

    • Violence
      -3

      "Minimal violence; gameplay focuses on navigation and puzzles rather than combat or destruction."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must avoid hazards and manage fish survival (e.g., staying in water), adding a survival element."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026