Maize Thumbnail

Maize similar games & best alternatives

Maize

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2016

Related articles

Quick resume

Maize is a first-person adventure game about what happens when two scientists misinterpret a memo from the U.S. Government and create sentient corn. And that last sentence is pretty much the least ridiculous thing about the game.

Global score

81/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie

Similar games

    Pros

    • Original and humorous story
    • Charming characters and voice acting
    • Engaging light puzzles
    • Pleasant art and music
    • Encourages exploration and discovery

    Cons

    • Short length with limited replay value
    • Repetitive humor and dialogue
    • Lack of subtitles and language options
    • Some performance and optimization issues
    • Limited gameplay depth and customization

    Analysis

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

    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 explore freely and solve puzzles with some choice in item use, though progression is linear."

    • Competence
      2

      "Puzzles are simple and logical, providing light skill challenge without frustration."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive elements; focus is on solo exploration and story."

    • Continuation
      1

      "Short game with some replay interest due to humor and collectibles, but limited long-term engagement."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Single player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative features."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Creative story, characters, and humor; some puzzle creativity though gameplay is straightforward."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No social dominance or power dynamics; interactions are narrative-driven."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Provides a humorous, absurd world for players to escape into and enjoy lighthearted fun."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for entertainment and humor, not out of obligation."

    • Experimenting
      2

      "Players try different item combinations and explore environments, though within a guided structure."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Encourages exploration of environments and discovery of collectibles and story elements."

    • Expression
      -3

      "Limited customization; player character is silent and no avatar personalization."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Absurd, imaginative fiction with sentient corn and a talking teddy bear companion."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "Solo play with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    • Growth
      1

      "Light learning through puzzle solving and story comprehension, but limited skill development."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay typical of adventure and walking simulator genres."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention to find items and solve puzzles; not designed for idle play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No close social or emotional relationships formed through gameplay."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements present."

    • Progression
      3

      "Progression through item collection and puzzle completion unlocks new areas and story."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Light puzzles and humorous tone create a relaxed, enjoyable experience."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Visuals and audio contribute to a pleasant sensory experience, though not intense."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or ranking systems."

    • Story
      4

      "Strong narrative focus with humor, character dialogue, and environmental storytelling."

    • Strategy
      1

      "Simple puzzle solving requires some reasoning but no complex strategy."

    • Thrill
      -3

      "Low suspense or risk; gameplay is light and comedic rather than thrilling."

    • Value
      1

      "Mixed opinions on price vs content; generally seen as worth it on sale for humor and story."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on exploration and puzzle solving."

    • Survival
      -5

      "No survival mechanics or threat avoidance."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026