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Odyssey - The Story of Science similar games & best alternatives

Odyssey - The Story of Science

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2017

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Quick resume

Odyssey is an enchanting and innovative science adventure game. Help Kai and her family escape their captors on the Wretched Islands - and learn the history of astronomy, mechanics, and scientific reasoning as you read Kai's journal and solve puzzles along the way!

Global score

75/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie

Similar games

    Pros

    • Educational and intellectually stimulating
    • Beautiful and relaxing environment
    • Engaging scientific puzzles
    • Well-written narrative through journal
    • Suitable for all ages, especially educational use

    Cons

    • Short game length
    • Heavy reading may deter some players
    • Linear progression limits exploration freedom
    • Some clunky controls and minor bugs
    • Incomplete story with no current sequel

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fantasy, Violence, Story, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Expression, Survival.

    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 an island and solve puzzles at their own pace with freedom to investigate, though the progression is fairly linear."

    • Competence
      2

      "Puzzles require understanding scientific concepts and reasoning, offering moderate challenge especially for those new to the topics."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive elements; focus is on individual learning and puzzle solving without comparison to others."

    • Continuation
      1

      "Players express interest in continuing with potential sequels, but the game itself is short and linear, limiting habitual long sessions."

    • Cooperation
      -5

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

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players experiment with scientific models and puzzles, though within predefined structures and guided by journal entries."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; purely individual experience."

    • Escapism
      3

      "Provides a relaxing, immersive environment to escape into scientific exploration and discovery."

    • Expectation
      -3

      "Players engage out of personal interest and curiosity rather than obligation; some use it for educational purposes."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Encourages trying out scientific experiments and models to understand concepts, though within guided parameters."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Players explore a visually appealing island environment with multiple areas and puzzles to discover."

    • Expression
      -4

      "Limited customization or personalization; players follow a set narrative and puzzle structure."

    • Fantasy
      -4

      "Grounded in realistic scientific concepts and history rather than imaginative fiction."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community features; solitary gameplay experience."

    • Growth
      5

      "Strong emphasis on learning scientific knowledge, reasoning, and personal intellectual development."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity components."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused reading and puzzle solving; not designed for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No social or emotional relationship building; solitary experience."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements."

    • Progression
      3

      "Progression through unlocking puzzles and advancing scientific understanding, though linear and narrative-driven."

    • Relaxation
      4

      "Relaxing atmosphere, soothing music, and gentle pacing contribute to a calming experience."

    • Sensation
      1

      "Visuals and audio are pleasant but not highly stimulating; focus is on intellectual engagement."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems."

    • Story
      3

      "Narrative told through a journal with a coherent story that integrates with puzzles and scientific discovery."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Requires logical thinking and application of scientific principles to solve puzzles, though solutions are often guided."

    • Thrill
      -3

      "Low suspense or risk; experience is calm and contemplative rather than thrilling."

    • Value
      2

      "Generally considered good value especially on sale; educational content adds perceived worth."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No violence; focus on constructive scientific exploration."

    • Survival
      -5

      "No survival or threat elements; stable and safe environment."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026