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Moons of Madness

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

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Quick resume

Moons of Madness is a first-person, story-driven cosmic horror game where the scientific exploration of Mars meets the supernatural dread of Lovecraft.

Global score

77/100

Genres

Adventure, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging lovecraftian story and atmosphere
    • Well-designed environments and visuals
    • Immersive audio and voice acting
    • Balanced pacing and narrative progression
    • Accessible puzzles and gameplay

    Cons

    • Linear and scripted gameplay limits autonomy
    • Short playtime with limited replayability
    • Some clunky controls and qte mechanics
    • Occasional pacing and tonal inconsistencies
    • Lack of combat and action depth

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Autonomy, Strategy, Experimenting, Competence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Survival. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Idle, Intimacy.

    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

      "The game is largely linear with scripted pathing and limited player choice, restricting freedom of action."

    • Competence
      1

      "Puzzles are mostly straightforward and easy, with some minor challenge; gameplay is simple and not skill-intensive."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive elements or player comparison; focus is on solo narrative experience."

    • Continuation
      1

      "Short playtime and limited replayability, but story and atmosphere motivate completion in one or few sessions."

    • Cooperation
      -5

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

    • Creativity
      0

      "Some environmental and narrative creativity but gameplay follows established walking sim and puzzle conventions."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No social dominance or power over others; experience is solitary and narrative-driven."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Strong atmospheric and narrative immersion provides escape from reality into a sci-fi horror setting."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily driven by interest in Lovecraftian horror and story rather than obligation."

    • Experimenting
      -2

      "Gameplay is mostly linear and scripted with limited exploration or mechanic experimentation."

    • Exploration
      -1

      "Some environmental exploration but within confined, linear levels and limited discovery."

    • Expression
      -4

      "No character customization or player expression; presentation is standardized and fixed."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Strong Lovecraftian cosmic horror and sci-fi fantasy themes dominate the narrative and setting."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No community or social interaction elements; solitary single-player experience."

    • Growth
      1

      "Some narrative and puzzle learning, but limited skill development or personal growth opportunities."

    • Health
      -5

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

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement; not designed for background or idle play."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Limited emotional connection mostly through narrative; no social or relationship building."

    • Leadership
      -5

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

    • Progression
      2

      "Narrative progression and puzzle completion provide a sense of advancement, but no item collection or upgrades."

    • Relaxation
      1

      "Atmospheric and immersive but includes tense moments and jump scares, balancing relaxation and suspense."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Visuals, sound design, and horror elements provide sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status mechanics; focus is on individual narrative experience."

    • Story
      5

      "Strong narrative immersion with complex Lovecraftian plot and character development."

    • Strategy
      -3

      "Minimal strategic or problem-solving depth; puzzles are simple and gameplay is straightforward."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Some suspense and jump scares create moments of thrill, though overall tension is moderate."

    • Value
      0

      "Mixed user opinions on price versus content; generally recommended on sale for good value."

    • Violence
      -4

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on survival and evasion rather than violence."

    • Survival
      2

      "Elements of survival such as oxygen management and evading threats are present but not highly challenging."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026