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Intake similar games & best alternatives

Intake

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2013

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Quick resume

Intake is the new retro-futuristic drugstep arcade shooter from Cipher Prime. In this polychromatic love child of Dr. Mario and Ikaruga, you battle a never-ending barrage of pills, pushing your skill and reflexes to the limit to avoid a lethal dosage.

Global score

91/100

Genres

Action, Indie, Music, Shooter

Similar games

    Pros

    • Addictive and challenging gameplay
    • Excellent reflex and aiming skill training
    • Stylish neon visuals and immersive dubstep soundtrack
    • Variety of unlockable power-ups and modes
    • Leaderboards and achievements for competition

    Cons

    • Limited music tracks and repetitive soundtrack
    • Steep difficulty spikes especially at certain levels
    • Lack of tutorial or clear instructions
    • Can cause physical strain from intense mouse use
    • No narrative or social multiplayer features

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Creativity, Exploration, Expression, Story. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Status. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, Relaxation.

    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 aiming, shooting, and color switching, with freedom to choose upgrades and starting levels."

    • Competence
      5

      "The game is a challenging reflex and aiming test with increasing difficulty and skill-based progression."

    • Competition
      3

      "Includes leaderboards and score challenges against others, encouraging competitive play."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Highly addictive gameplay with players returning repeatedly to improve scores and unlock content."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Single-player focused with no cooperative or team-based elements."

    • Creativity
      -2

      "Gameplay follows a fixed mechanic with some customization via upgrades but limited creative expression."

    • Domination
      -4

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are individual and balanced."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Fast-paced, intense arcade action with immersive visuals and music provides a strong escape from reality."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and challenge without obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Unlocking different power-ups and modes encourages trying new strategies and gameplay variations."

    • Exploration
      -3

      "Gameplay occurs in a fixed environment with no exploration of new areas or secrets."

    • Expression
      -3

      "Limited customization mostly related to power-ups and music unlocks rather than personal expression."

    • Fantasy
      2

      "The drug and rave theme adds a stylized, imaginative layer beyond realistic scenarios."

    • Fellowship
      -4

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

    • Growth
      4

      "Players improve reflexes and aiming skills, with measurable progress through levels and unlocks."

    • Health
      -4

      "Sedentary gameplay with intense mouse use; some risk of physical strain noted."

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires continuous attention and fast reactions; not suitable for passive or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No close social relationships or emotional sharing involved."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management roles present."

    • Progression
      4

      "Unlockable power-ups, music tracks, and modes provide a sense of advancement and accumulation."

    • Relaxation
      -3

      "High intensity and fast pace create tension rather than relaxation or flow."

    • Sensation
      5

      "Bright neon visuals, flashing effects, and dubstep soundtrack provide strong sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      2

      "Leaderboards and achievements offer some social recognition but limited broader status impact."

    • Story
      -4

      "No narrative or plot; gameplay is context-free and focused on score attack."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Some strategic choice in upgrade selection and power-up use, but core gameplay is reflex-based."

    • Thrill
      4

      "Fast-paced, intense gameplay with risk of failure creates suspense and excitement."

    • Value
      2

      "Generally considered good value for money, especially on sale, with replayability and unlocks."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No violent or destructive gameplay; focused on shooting colorful pills."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must avoid failure by managing falling pills and limited lives, requiring skillful defense."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026