Maize similar games & best alternatives

Maize

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One • 2016

Should you play it?

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.

What works
  • Original and humorous story
  • Charming characters and voice acting
  • Engaging light puzzles
  • Pleasant art and music
  • Encourages exploration and discovery
Things to keep in mind
  • 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

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Firmament

  • AER Memories of Old

  • Truberbrook / Trüberbrook

  • The Unfinished Swan

  • Ether One

  • COCOON

  • Kairo

  • Botany Manor

  • The Journey Down: Chapter One
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Mr. Pumpkin Adventure

  • NAIAD

  • XING: The Land Beyond
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Escapism

    Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
  • Fantasy

    Slime Rancher
  • Story

    Cybernetic Fault

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).

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

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 have freedom to explore locations, solve puzzles, and choose how to use items, though progression is linear and guided."

    Capsule for Frankenstein: Master of Death Frankenstein: Master of Death

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

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    2

    "Puzzles are simple and straightforward but require some thought, providing mild skill challenges without frustration."

    Capsule for The Supper The Supper

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

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Conarium Conarium

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

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    1

    "Short game with some replayability due to multiple endings and achievements, but limited long-term engagement."

    Capsule for The Long Reach The Long Reach

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

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for The Mooseman The Mooseman

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

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Unique story concept and character designs with some puzzle solving and exploration, though gameplay is mostly predefined."

    Capsule for LiEat LiEat

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

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Lucy Dreaming Lucy Dreaming

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

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players enjoy a whimsical, humorous world with absurd scenarios, providing a lighthearted escape from reality."

    Capsule for Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion

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

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for Make America Great Again: The Trump Presidency Make America Great Again: The Trump Presidency

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

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    2

    "Players explore environments and try different item combinations; some puzzles require novel approaches."

    Capsule for The Fall The Fall

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

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Exploration of detailed environments and discovery of collectibles and story elements is encouraged."

    Capsule for Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Lost Records: Bloom & Rage

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

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -3

    "Limited customization; players use preset characters and environments with no avatar personalization."

    Capsule for Nuclear Blaze Nuclear Blaze

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

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Imaginative setting with fictional creatures and whimsical story elements."

    Capsule for Slime Rancher Slime Rancher

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

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Detention Detention

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

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    1

    "Light learning through puzzle solving and story progression, but overall low complexity limits growth."

    Capsule for Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley

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

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay typical of walking simulators and adventure games."

    Capsule for [Chilla's Art] Missing Children | 行方不明 [Chilla's Art] Missing Children | 行方不明

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

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

    Capsule for The Emerald Maiden: Symphony of Dreams The Emerald Maiden: Symphony of Dreams

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

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Jurassic World Evolution Jurassic World Evolution

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

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements present."

    Capsule for Trover Saves the Universe Trover Saves the Universe

    "No leadership or group management elements present."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Progression through story and puzzle completion; collecting items and unlocking new areas."

    Capsule for Ether One Ether One

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

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Light puzzles and humor create a relaxed, casual experience without high tension."

    Capsule for Space Pilgrim Episode I: Alpha Centauri Space Pilgrim Episode I: Alpha Centauri

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

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Visuals and audio create a pleasant sensory experience, though not highly stimulating or intense."

    Capsule for Whiskerwood Whiskerwood

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

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or ranking systems."

    Capsule for Trover Saves the Universe Trover Saves the Universe

    "No social recognition or ranking systems."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    4

    "Strong narrative focus with engaging, satirical plot and environmental storytelling."

    Capsule for Cybernetic Fault Cybernetic Fault

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

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    1

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

    Capsule for Amenti Amenti

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

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    -3

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

    Capsule for Her Majesty's SPIFFING Her Majesty's SPIFFING

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

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    1

    "Mixed opinions on price vs content; generally considered good value on sale but less so at full price."

    Capsule for The Textorcist: The Story of Ray Bibbia The Textorcist: The Story of Ray Bibbia

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

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Hypnospace Outlaw Hypnospace Outlaw

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

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -5

    "No survival mechanics or threat avoidance."

    Capsule for Thimbleweed Park™ Thimbleweed Park™

    "No survival mechanics or threat avoidance."

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Last update: 01/06/2026