It Comes In Waves similar games & best alternatives

It Comes In Waves

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2023

Should you play it?

A short, minimalist, experimental open-world adventure about guilt and grief. Explore, shoot, scavenge and bring a specimen to The Sanctuary. Beware PERMADEATH.

What works
  • Unique atmospheric and emotional experience
  • Engaging open world exploration
  • Retro low-poly art style
  • Meaningful narrative themes
  • Affordable price
Things to keep in mind
  • Very short gameplay length
  • Minimal combat and mechanics depth
  • Some control and collision issues
  • Lack of save system and permadeath can frustrate
  • Limited replayability

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Metal Garden

  • FROSTBITE: Deadly Climate

  • Dread X Collection 5

  • The spy who shot me™

  • SCP: Fragmented Minds

  • Apsulov: End of Gods

  • Nightmare House: The Original Mod

  • The Divine Invasion

  • Lake Haven - Chrysalis
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Dread X Collection 5

  • The spy who shot me™

  • SCP: Fragmented Minds
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Escapism

    Kemono Teatime
  • Exploration

    Death Trash
  • Story

    Sheepy: A Short Adventure

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).

It Comes In Waves: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Status. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Survival. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Competence.

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

    3

    "Players explore a semi-open world with freedom to scout areas, find items, and choose paths, though the story is somewhat linear."

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    "Players explore an open desert world with freedom to choose paths and manage resources, though the overall goal and survival mechanics guide actions."

  • Competence

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    "Gameplay is simple and accessible with some light platforming and hunting, not very challenging but requires some skill."

    Capsule for Paws - A Shelter 2 Game Paws - A Shelter 2 Game

    "Gameplay is simple and accessible with basic shooting and resource management; some challenge from permadeath and water management but low mechanical complexity."

  • Competition

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    "No evidence of competitive elements; focus is on personal survival and exploration."

    Capsule for Dungeon Nightmares II : The Memory Dungeon Nightmares II : The Memory

    "No evidence of competitive elements; focus is on personal survival and exploration without comparison to others."

  • Continuation

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    "Some players replay for speedrunning and improving times, but the game is short and many note it ends quickly, limiting long-term engagement."

    Capsule for Breadsticks Breadsticks

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  • Cooperation

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    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer features."

    Capsule for Little Inferno Little Inferno

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer features."

  • Creativity

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    "Players can explore and interpret story elements creatively, but game structure and puzzles are predefined and linear."

    Capsule for God's Basement God's Basement

    "Players can explore and interpret the world creatively; however, gameplay mechanics and structure are minimal and predefined."

  • Domination

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    "No social dominance or power over others; interactions are with NPCs only."

    Capsule for Cast n Chill Cast n Chill

    "No social dominance or power over others; interactions are limited to NPC enemies without social hierarchy or trash talk."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game to emotionally process grief and loss, escaping into a bittersweet fictional world with heavy themes."

    Capsule for Kemono Teatime Kemono Teatime

    "Strong emotional and atmospheric experience allowing players to escape into a melancholic sci-fi desert world and reflect on grief."

  • Expectation

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    "Players engage voluntarily for story and atmosphere; no obligation or external pressure noted."

    Capsule for Silence Silence

    "Players engage voluntarily for the unique experience and atmosphere; no obligation or external pressure noted."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

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    "Some exploration and discovery of new areas and mechanics, but gameplay loop is repetitive and limited."

    Capsule for Caravan SandWitch Caravan SandWitch

    "Some exploration and resource management experimentation possible, but overall gameplay loop is simple and repetitive."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Open world with quests and hidden lore encourages discovery and curiosity-driven activities."

    Capsule for Death Trash Death Trash

    "Open world with distinct landmarks and hidden lore encourages discovery and curiosity-driven activities."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

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    "Limited customization or personalization; players mostly experience preset aesthetics and characters."

    Capsule for Clawfish Clawfish

    "Limited customization or personalization; players use preset character and environment aesthetics."

  • Fantasy

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    "Set in a sci-fi post-nuclear world with fictional factions and resources, evoking imaginative fiction."

    Capsule for Tempest Rising Tempest Rising

    "Set in a sci-fi desert world with Star Wars-like elements and imaginative narrative, though grounded in survival mechanics."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

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    "No social or community features; solitary gameplay experience."

    Capsule for Taiji Taiji

    "No social or community features; solitary gameplay experience."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players learn and improve skills in planning, physics manipulation, and tool use; campaign progression supports growth."

    Capsule for Teardown Teardown

    "Players develop skills in resource management and navigation; specimen growth mechanic adds a sense of progression."

  • Health

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

    Capsule for DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT

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

  • Idle

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    "Requires player attention and planning; no background or passive play elements."

    Capsule for Shift Shift

    "Requires player attention and deliberate movement; no background or passive play elements."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

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    "No social or emotional relationship building with other players."

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  • Leadership

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    "No leadership or group management roles present."

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    "No leadership or group management roles present."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Progression through acquiring items, unlocking new areas, and collecting upgrades and cards."

    Capsule for Ittle Dew Ittle Dew

    "Progression through collecting items to grow the specimen and unlocking the sanctuary; limited upgrades or inventory complexity."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Atmospheric and slow-paced gameplay provides a balance of tension and calm, though some find it repetitive."

    Capsule for [Chilla's Art] The Ghost Train | 幽霊列車 [Chilla's Art] The Ghost Train | 幽霊列車

    "Atmospheric and slow-paced gameplay offers moments of calm, though permadeath and resource tension add some stress."

  • Sensation

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    "Enjoyable retro visuals, music, and sound effects provide sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

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    "Enjoyable retro visuals, sound design, and music provide sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

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    "No social recognition or status systems."

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    "No social recognition or status systems."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    4

    "Narrative immersion through environmental storytelling, lore, and emotional engagement."

    Capsule for Sheepy: A Short Adventure Sheepy: A Short Adventure

    "Narrative immersion through environmental storytelling, cryptic lore, and emotional themes of grief and redemption."

  • Strategy

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    "Some planning involved in crafting, resource management, and exploration, but combat is simple."

    Capsule for Junk Jack Junk Jack

    "Basic resource and risk management require some planning, but combat and exploration are straightforward."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    2

    "Permadeath and survival elements create some tension and suspense, though combat is not highly challenging."

    Capsule for Wrongworld Wrongworld

    "Permadeath and resource scarcity create tension and suspense, though combat is low risk."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Players generally feel the game offers good value for its low price and unique experience despite short length."

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    "Players generally feel the game offers good value for its low price and short length, providing a unique experience."

  • Violence

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    "Contains some combat and shooting, but violence is minimal and not the main focus."

    Capsule for The Fall The Fall

    "Combat involves shooting enemies for survival, but violence is minimal and not the main focus."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

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    "Core gameplay involves managing resources and water to survive droughts and environmental challenges."

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    "Core gameplay revolves around managing water resources to avoid death and complete objectives."

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Last update: 01/06/2026