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Iris and the Giant

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Android, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Linux • 2020

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Quick resume

Iris and The Giant is a fusion of the CCG, RPG and roguelike genres. You play as Iris, who must brave her fears in her imaginary world. Dive into a melancholic and gripping adventure, filled with cute monsters and buried memories. Ready to face your inner demons?

Global score

88/100

Genres

Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Puzzle, Tactical, Card & Board Game

Similar games

    Pros

    • Unique and engaging deckbuilding mechanics
    • Emotional and touching narrative
    • Beautiful minimalist art style
    • Challenging and strategic gameplay
    • Good value for price especially on sale

    Cons

    • Some bugs and technical issues
    • Limited replayability after main story
    • Lack of detailed tutorials and explanations
    • Fixed level layouts reduce variety
    • Some frustrating difficulty spikes and rng dependence

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Cooperation, Leadership, Violence. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Expression, Continuation, Exploration.

    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
      3

      "Players have meaningful choices in card play, path selection, and upgrades, allowing control over strategy despite some fixed level layouts."

    • Competence
      4

      "The game offers challenging tactical combat requiring skillful deck and resource management, with a learning curve and strategic depth praised by players."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on personal progression and strategy rather than direct competition or leaderboards; players set their own goals and pace."

    • Continuation
      1

      "Some players report replayability through unlocks and achievements, but others find limited long-term engagement after completing main content."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players customize their deck and choose upgrades, but the game uses mostly predefined cards and fixed level designs."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control over others; gameplay is solitary and non-competitive."

    • Escapism
      4

      "The game’s narrative and atmosphere provide emotional immersion and a way to explore inner struggles, serving as an escape from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players experiment with different card combinations, strategies, and upgrade paths to overcome challenges."

    • Exploration
      1

      "Some exploration of secret paths and hidden elements exists, but main levels are mostly static and linear."

    • Expression
      -2

      "Limited customization mostly tied to deck and upgrade choices; no avatar or environment personalization."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Strong fantasy elements with mythical creatures and imaginative narrative representing inner emotional struggles."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community gameplay elements; experience is solitary."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop skills and knowledge through repeated runs, unlocking new cards, powers, and strategies."

    • Health
      -5

      "No physical activity or health-related gameplay aspects."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention and strategic planning; not suited for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No close social interactions or relationship-building features."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management mechanics present."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong progression through unlocking cards, memories, imaginary friends, and upgrades across runs."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Generally described as relaxing with a balanced challenge, though some frustration reported at difficulty spikes."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Enjoyable art, music, and sound design provide pleasant sensory experience, though not highly intense."

    • Status
      -5

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

    • Story
      4

      "Narrative is a key component, emotionally engaging and integrated into gameplay, though some find it simplistic."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Requires tactical thinking, planning card usage and enemy prioritization; praised for strategic depth."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Some tension and challenge in combat, but overall experience is more contemplative than adrenaline-fueled."

    • Value
      3

      "Generally considered good value especially on sale, with many hours of engaging gameplay for the price."

    • Violence
      2

      "Combat involves defeating enemies with cards, but violence is stylized and symbolic rather than graphic."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must manage resources and avoid failure by careful planning and card management."

    Last update: 29/04/2026