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Mad Father similar games & best alternatives

Mad Father

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch • 2016

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Quick resume

Witness the tale of a most foolish family. A remake of the classic horror exploration game makes its way to Steam.

Global score

97/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging horror story with multiple endings
    • Atmospheric audio and visuals
    • Puzzle and exploration gameplay
    • Affordable price with replay value
    • Improved remake with additional content

    Cons

    • Short gameplay length
    • Some qtes may frustrate players
    • Lack of multiplayer or social features
    • Limited character customization
    • Minor bugs reported in some versions

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Violence, Exploration, Value.

    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 control Aya and make choices affecting story and endings, with freedom to explore mansion and solve puzzles."

    • Competence
      2

      "Gameplay involves puzzle solving and QTEs that require skill but are generally accessible and not overly difficult."

    • Competition
      -5

      "Single-player experience focused on personal story progression without competitive elements."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Multiple endings and collectible gems encourage replay and extended engagement."

    • Cooperation
      -5

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

    • Creativity
      1

      "Players explore and solve puzzles but within a fixed narrative and environment; limited creative modification."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No social or multiplayer dominance; interactions are narrative-driven and solitary."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Strong horror atmosphere and story provide immersive escape from reality."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and nostalgia, not obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      2

      "Exploration and puzzle solving encourage trying different approaches and discovering secrets."

    • Exploration
      4

      "Players explore a large mansion with hidden areas and secrets to uncover."

    • Expression
      -3

      "Limited character customization; expression mainly through narrative choices rather than visual personalization."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Supernatural horror story with ghosts, curses, and mad science elements."

    • Fellowship
      -5

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

    • Growth
      2

      "Players learn puzzles, story details, and game mechanics through play."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay typical of RPG Maker games; no physical activity involved."

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires focused attention on puzzles, story, and QTEs; not suitable for passive or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Emotional connection mainly to story and characters, but no social intimacy or multiplayer interaction."

    • Leadership
      -5

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

    • Progression
      3

      "Progression through story, puzzle completion, and collecting gems to unlock endings and gallery."

    • Relaxation
      1

      "Atmospheric and immersive but includes tension and suspense typical of horror games."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Engaging audio-visual horror elements and jump scares provide sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social status or recognition systems; focus is on personal experience."

    • Story
      5

      "Strong narrative focus with multiple endings, character development, and lore."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Puzzle solving and QTEs require some planning and quick thinking."

    • Thrill
      4

      "Horror atmosphere, suspense, and jump scares create tension and thrill."

    • Value
      4

      "Affordable price with good replay value and content additions over original free version."

    • Violence
      4

      "Contains gore, combat avoidance, and violent themes consistent with horror genre."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must avoid death through QTEs and careful exploration, managing threats in mansion."

    Last update: 29/04/2026