Max: The Curse of Brotherhood similar games & best alternatives

Max: The Curse of Brotherhood

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox 360 • 2014

Should you play it?

Max: The Curse of Brotherhood is a cinematic adventure filled with action-packed platforming and creative puzzle-solving. Armed with only a Magic Marker, Max must confront evil at every turn in a hostile and fantastical world in order to save his kid brother, Felix. Join Max on his great adventure!

What works
  • Creative and unique marker drawing mechanic
  • Engaging puzzles and platforming
  • Beautiful, colorful graphics and animation
  • Family friendly and accessible difficulty
  • Good pacing and level design
Things to keep in mind
  • Short game length
  • Some control imprecision especially with drawing
  • Limited replay value beyond collectibles
  • Occasional frustrating timed sequences
  • Lack of multiplayer or social features

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Darwin's Paradox!

  • Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

  • SCP: Secret Files

  • Penny’s Big Breakaway

  • UnMetal

  • Voodoo Vince: Remastered

  • Sherlock Holmes The Awakened

  • Bye Sweet Carole

  • Creepy Tale 2
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Darwin's Paradox!

  • Bat to the Heavens

  • Underhero
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Fantasy

    Magic Research 2
  • Creativity

    GIGA WRECKER
  • Escapism

    Lost Lands: The Golden Curse Collector's Edition

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).

Max: The Curse of Brotherhood: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, Leadership, Competition.

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 puzzles and communicate solutions creatively, though puzzle structure guides actions."

    Capsule for In Sink: A Co-op Escape Adventure In Sink: A Co-op Escape Adventure

    "Players have freedom to draw various elements to solve puzzles and navigate, though drawing is limited to specific points."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "The game offers a moderate challenge with platforming and puzzle elements that require skillful timing and problem solving, though not overly difficult."

    Capsule for Adventures of Pip Adventures of Pip

    "The game offers a moderate challenge with puzzles and platforming requiring skill and timing, especially in later levels."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of competitive or ranked modes; focus on individual puzzle-platforming."

    Capsule for Color Symphony Color Symphony

    "No evidence of competitive or ranked modes; focus is on individual puzzle solving and platforming."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players tend to engage for several hours and some replay for collectibles, but limited replayability overall."

    Capsule for First Class Escape: The Train of Thought First Class Escape: The Train of Thought

    "Players tend to engage for a few hours with some replayability via collectibles and achievements."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek

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

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Core mechanic involves creative manipulation of debris to solve puzzles and build platforms; level editor supports player creativity."

    Capsule for GIGA WRECKER GIGA WRECKER

    "Core mechanic involves creative use of a magic marker to draw and manipulate environment elements."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No player versus player or dominance interactions; cooperative or equal participation only."

    Capsule for Kraven Manor Kraven Manor

    "No player-versus-player or dominance interactions; cooperative and equal participation is the norm."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Fantasy setting and immersive puzzles provide a strong escape from real life."

    Capsule for Lost Lands: The Golden Curse Collector's Edition Lost Lands: The Golden Curse Collector's Edition

    "The fantasy setting and engaging puzzles provide a pleasant escape from real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and personal interest without obligation or pressure."

    Capsule for Trombone Champ Trombone Champ

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and personal interest without obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players experiment with drawing different shapes and objects to solve puzzles in multiple ways."

    Capsule for Draw a Stickman: EPIC Draw a Stickman: EPIC

    "Players experiment with drawing different shapes and combinations to solve puzzles."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    2

    "Some exploration in levels to find collectibles and secrets, though mostly linear progression."

    Capsule for Splasher Splasher

    "Some exploration encouraged to find collectibles and secrets, though levels are mostly linear."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Players express themselves by creatively shaping the environment and choosing paths."

    Capsule for Tiny and Big: Grandpa's Leftovers Tiny and Big: Grandpa's Leftovers

    "Players express creativity through drawing and shaping environmental elements."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Strong fantasy theme with magic, spells, and an imaginative story world."

    Capsule for Magic Research 2 Magic Research 2

    "Strong fantasy theme with magical powers, otherworldly settings, and imaginative story."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; strictly single player."

    Capsule for The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales

    "No social or community features; strictly single player."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop skills and learn to use new abilities and mechanics throughout the game."

    Capsule for Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack

    "Players learn new marker abilities and improve skills as game progresses."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Adventure Time: Finn and Jake's Epic Quest Adventure Time: Finn and Jake's Epic Quest

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and puzzle solving; not designed for casual or idle play."

    Capsule for Candle Candle

    "Requires focused attention and active puzzle solving; not a casual or idle experience."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of forming close relationships or emotional social interactions."

    Capsule for Glittermitten Grove Glittermitten Grove

    "No evidence of forming close relationships or emotional social interactions."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; single player experience."

    Capsule for Yoku's Island Express Yoku's Island Express

    "No leadership or group management roles; single player experience."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Progression through unlocking powers, collecting items, and completing puzzles."

    Capsule for Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of The Baskervilles Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of The Baskervilles

    "Progression through unlocking new marker powers and collecting items."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Generally relaxing with some moments of tension due to time limits and challenge spikes."

    Capsule for Battle for Blood - Epic battles within 30 seconds! Battle for Blood - Epic battles within 30 seconds!

    "Generally relaxing with some moments of tension during timed platforming sections."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Colorful visuals and sound effects provide enjoyable sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for HOARD HOARD

    "Colorful visuals and sound design provide enjoyable sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems present."

    Capsule for Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Resident Evil 7 Biohazard

    "No social recognition or status systems present."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Narrative is a classic fantasy rescue quest with some unique twists; story engages players despite being short."

    Capsule for Memories of a Vagabond Memories of a Vagabond

    "Simple but engaging narrative about brotherly rescue in a fantasy world."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Puzzles require logical thinking and planning to solve."

    Capsule for Creepy Tale Creepy Tale

    "Puzzles require logical thinking and planning to solve."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    2

    "Some chase sequences and tense moments provide suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Darwin's Paradox! Darwin's Paradox!

    "Some suspenseful chase sequences and timed challenges add excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players find good value in the game's unique experience and replayability, especially at sale prices."

    Capsule for DEFCON DEFCON

    "Players find good value especially at sale prices for the engaging gameplay and replayability."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -3

    "Minimal violence; focus is on puzzle solving and exploration rather than combat."

    Capsule for Endless Fables: The Minotaur's Curse Endless Fables: The Minotaur's Curse

    "Minimal violence; focus is on puzzle solving and platforming rather than combat."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    2

    "Some avoidance of threats and timed challenges, but low-risk overall."

    Capsule for American Arcadia American Arcadia

    "Some avoidance of hazards and timing challenges, but overall low threat environment."

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Last update: 01/06/2026