Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom similar games & best alternatives

Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One • 2019

Should you play it?

A legendary series returns with a grand new adventure! Enjoy a colorful action-adventure game made alongside Ryuichi Nishizawa, creator of the original Wonder Boy in Monster World series.

What works
  • Beautiful hand-drawn graphics and animations
  • Engaging metroidvania gameplay with multiple forms
  • Excellent soundtrack by renowned composers
  • Large interconnected world with many secrets
  • Well-balanced difficulty and progression
Things to keep in mind
  • Some difficulty spikes and frustrating puzzles
  • Story is simple and minimal
  • Combat can feel limited or clunky
  • Some bugs and minor technical issues reported
  • Price considered high by some players

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Catmaze

  • Ghost 1.0

  • Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition

  • Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Director's Cut

  • BIOMORPH

  • Vernal Edge

  • Lone Fungus

  • Aggelos

  • Cookie Cutter: Overkill Edition
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • BIOMORPH

  • Vernal Edge

  • Aggelos
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Exploration

    Riven (1997)
  • Fantasy

    Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
  • Progression

    DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE

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).

Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, Leadership.

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

    4

    "Players can freely switch between three character forms with distinct abilities to solve puzzles and navigate levels, indicating high control over actions and decisions."

    Capsule for Adventures of Pip Adventures of Pip

    "Players can freely choose and switch between multiple animal forms with unique abilities to solve puzzles and progress, showing high player control and decision-making."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "The game offers a variety of platforming challenges, puzzles, and boss fights that require skill, though some tasks can be repetitive or easy."

    Capsule for Yooka-Laylee Yooka-Laylee

    "The game offers a moderate to high challenge with platforming, puzzles, and boss fights that require skill and learning, though some early parts are easier."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal progression and exploration without competitive or ranked multiplayer elements."

    Capsule for Super Lucky's Tale Super Lucky's Tale

    "Focus is on individual exploration and progression without competitive or ranked multiplayer elements."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Players report long play sessions, multiple playthroughs, and desire for more content, indicating strong attachment and habitual play."

    Capsule for Battle Suit Aces Battle Suit Aces

    "Players report long play sessions, extensive exploration, and motivation to complete 100% of the game, indicating strong attachment and habitual play."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Single-player experience focused on individual play without multiplayer or cooperative mechanics."

    Capsule for Until Dawn™ Until Dawn™

    "Single-player experience focused on individual gameplay without cooperative multiplayer or teamwork."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Players creatively solve unique, handcrafted puzzles and explore intricate mechanisms with some customization of approach."

    Capsule for The Room Three The Room Three

    "Players creatively use different animal forms and equipment to solve puzzles and explore, with many secrets and customization options."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is personal and non-competitive."

    Capsule for Typoman Typoman

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is personal and non-competitive."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game as a nostalgic, joyful escape into colorful, whimsical worlds reminiscent of childhood."

    Capsule for Yooka-Replaylee Yooka-Replaylee

    "The nostalgic, colorful world and engaging gameplay provide a strong escape from real life, evoking childhood memories."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, with no indication of obligation or pressure."

    Capsule for The Outlast Trials The Outlast Trials

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, with no indication of obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Game encourages trying new things, exploring mechanics, and discovering secrets."

    Capsule for Goat Simulator 3 Goat Simulator 3

    "The game encourages trying new forms and abilities to overcome challenges and discover secrets, supporting exploration and experimentation."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Large interconnected world with many secrets and areas to discover."

    Capsule for Riven (1997) Riven (1997)

    "Large interconnected world with many secrets, collectibles, and backtracking for discovery, strongly supporting exploration."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Character appearance changes with equipment and players can customize party composition, though no deep avatar personalization noted."

    Capsule for Archaelund Archaelund

    "Players customize equipment and choose forms, expressing playstyle preferences, though no deep avatar personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "The game features a highly imaginative fictional world with unique creatures and a strong narrative fantasy setting."

    Capsule for Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee

    "The game features anthropomorphic animals, magic, and a whimsical fantasy world, emphasizing imaginative fiction."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "Experience is solitary with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    Capsule for Luto Luto

    "Experience is solitary with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop skills, learn mechanics, and improve through progression and equipment upgrades."

    Capsule for GOD EATER 2 Rage Burst GOD EATER 2 Rage Burst

    "Players develop skills, learn puzzles, and improve through gameplay progression and equipment upgrades."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for NARAKA: BLADEPOINT NARAKA: BLADEPOINT

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement due to challenging platforming and puzzles."

    Capsule for MO:Astray MO:Astray

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement due to platforming challenges and puzzles."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No close social relationships or emotional sharing; single-player experience."

    Capsule for Black Skylands Black Skylands

    "No close social relationships or emotional sharing; single-player experience."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; purely individual gameplay."

    Capsule for Slay the Spire Slay the Spire

    "No leadership or group management roles; purely individual gameplay."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on leveling up, collecting items, unlocking skills, and upgrading equipment."

    Capsule for DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE

    "Strong emphasis on collecting items, upgrading equipment, unlocking new forms, and completing achievements."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Generally enjoyable and satisfying gameplay with moments of challenge and tension."

    Capsule for Megabyte Punch Megabyte Punch

    "Generally enjoyable and satisfying gameplay with some frustration from difficulty spikes and challenging puzzles."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Vibrant visuals, stylized art, and an engaging soundtrack provide sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

    Capsule for Umurangi Generation Umurangi Generation

    "Vibrant visuals, smooth animations, and a memorable soundtrack provide sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Ostriv Ostriv

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

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    1

    "Story is minimal and serves as a backdrop; narrative immersion is limited but present."

    Capsule for For The King For The King

    "Story is simple and serves mainly as a backdrop; narrative immersion is limited but present."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Players must plan routes, manage resources, and solve puzzles requiring logical thinking and problem solving."

    Capsule for Hidden Deep Hidden Deep

    "Players must plan form usage, equipment, and puzzle solving strategies, requiring mental challenge and problem solving."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    1

    "Some tension in boss fights and platforming challenges, but overall low risk and mild suspense."

    Capsule for Pumpkin Jack Pumpkin Jack

    "Some suspense in platforming and boss fights, but overall controlled and fair challenge without excessive tension."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Players generally feel the game offers good value for its price and content length."

    Capsule for Trap Shrine Trap Shrine

    "Players find good value in the game's length, quality, and content despite some complaints about price and difficulty spikes."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -3

    "Combat exists but is simple and not a focus; game emphasizes puzzle solving and exploration over violence."

    Capsule for Supraland Supraland

    "Combat exists but is not emphasized as violent or destructive; gameplay focuses more on exploration and puzzle solving."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    2

    "Players must manage health and avoid hazards, though survival elements are not extreme."

    Capsule for Indiana Jones® and the Infernal Machine™ Indiana Jones® and the Infernal Machine™

    "Players must manage health and avoid hazards, but the game is not primarily about survival under threat."

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Last update: 01/06/2026