Overboard! similar games & best alternatives

Overboard!

Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS • 2021

Should you play it?

GET AWAY WITH MURDER. Highly replayable detective game where you're the one whodunnit. From the creators of 80 Days and Heaven's Vault.

What works
  • Unique reverse murder mystery premise
  • High replayability with multiple endings
  • Engaging narrative and writing
  • Stylish 1930s art and music
  • Player freedom in strategy and choices
Things to keep in mind
  • Short overall playtime
  • Some repetition in dialogue
  • Limited character customization
  • Price considered high by some
  • Requires use of guides for full completion

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller

  • Raging Loop

  • Beyond Shadowgate

  • Trans-Siberian Railway Simulator

  • Lakeview Valley

  • Umineko When They Cry - Answer Arcs

  • Don't Escape Trilogy

  • The Drifter

  • Swordbreaker The Game

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Beyond Shadowgate

  • Zelle

  • Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Experimenting

    Choice of Robots

  • Story

    Dyscourse

  • Autonomy

    The Deed

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).

Overboard!: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Domination. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Value, Expression.

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 have freedom to choose dialogue options, murder weapons, evidence placement, and framing targets, allowing control over their actions and decisions."

    Capsule for The Deed The Deed

    "Players have freedom to choose how to approach the murder cover-up, including framing others, manipulating evidence, or direct confrontation."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Game requires skillful stealth, timing, and puzzle solving; players report challenge and need to learn enemy behaviors."

    Capsule for CASE: Animatronics CASE: Animatronics

    "The game requires skillful planning, timing, and strategic decision-making to successfully evade suspicion."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on personal progression and exploration rather than competing against other players."

    Capsule for Maneater Maneater

    "Focus is on personal strategy and exploration rather than competing against other players."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "High replay value with multiple endings and secrets encourages repeated playthroughs."

    Capsule for Undertale Undertale

    "High replayability with multiple endings and secrets encourages repeated playthroughs."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -4

    "Gameplay centers on individual player decisions and personal advancement rather than teamwork or multiplayer cooperation."

    Capsule for Ambition: A Minuet in Power Ambition: A Minuet in Power

    "Gameplay centers on individual problem-solving and manipulation rather than teamwork."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Players creatively construct murder plans, select evidence, and manipulate dialogue to frame others, allowing for varied approaches."

    Capsule for The Deed: Dynasty The Deed: Dynasty

    "Players experiment with different strategies, dialogue choices, and approaches to cover up the crime."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    2

    "Player exerts control over characters through discipline mechanics, but interactions are mostly respectful and story-driven."

    Capsule for Criminal Girls: Invite Only Criminal Girls: Invite Only

    "Players exert control over other characters through framing, blackmail, or murder, but interactions are balanced and narrative-driven."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the immersive 1920s mystery setting and character-driven story to escape real life."

    Capsule for Best Served Cold Best Served Cold

    "Players immerse themselves in a fictional 1930s murder mystery setting to escape real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and curiosity rather than obligation."

    Capsule for World of Guns: Gun Disassembly World of Guns: Gun Disassembly

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and curiosity rather than obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    5

    "The game encourages trying different choices and exploring many story branches."

    Capsule for Choice of Robots Choice of Robots

    "The game encourages trying new approaches and exploring different narrative branches with each playthrough."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Players discover new story elements, character backgrounds, and secrets through multiple playthroughs."

    Capsule for Angels with Scaly Wings™ / 鱗羽の天使 Angels with Scaly Wings™ / 鱗羽の天使

    "Players discover new secrets, character backstories, and outcomes through multiple runs."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -2

    "Limited character customization; expression mainly through choice of actions and dialogue."

    Capsule for Undertale Undertale

    "Limited character customization; expression mainly through choice of dialogue and actions."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Players engage in an exaggerated, fictional scenario of a serial killer at parties with surreal elements like aliens and bosses."

    Capsule for Party Hard 2 Party Hard 2

    "Players experience a fictional noir murder mystery with imaginative scenarios and characters."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -3

    "Primarily a solo experience with limited social interaction beyond narrative."

    Capsule for ROBOTICS;NOTES ELITE ROBOTICS;NOTES ELITE

    "Primarily a solo experience with minimal social interaction beyond narrative."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players learn mechanics, character schedules, and story secrets over multiple playthroughs."

    Capsule for Lakeview Valley Lakeview Valley

    "Players learn character routines, secrets, and optimal strategies over multiple playthroughs."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    Capsule for World of Tanks Blitz World of Tanks Blitz

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires sustained attention; slow pacing and unskippable dialogue demand focus."

    Capsule for Agatha Christie - Murder on the Orient Express Agatha Christie - Murder on the Orient Express

    "Requires focused attention to manage time and dialogue choices effectively."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -3

    "Interactions are limited to surface-level scripted conversations without deep emotional connection."

    Capsule for SIMULACRA SIMULACRA

    "Interactions are mostly surface-level dialogue choices without deep emotional connections."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -4

    "Player acts independently without leading or managing others."

    Capsule for Rustler (Grand Theft Horse) Rustler (Grand Theft Horse)

    "Player acts independently without leading or managing others cooperatively."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Players unlock achievements, new endings, and story chapters, showing accumulation of progress."

    Capsule for Evil Nun: The Broken Mask Evil Nun: The Broken Mask

    "Players unlock new endings, achievements, and story branches as they progress."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "The game balances challenge and flow, providing satisfying gameplay though timed elements add some tension."

    Capsule for Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe

    "The game balances challenge and flow but includes some tension due to time limits."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Enjoyable art and music provide sensory pleasure, though gameplay is primarily text-based."

    Capsule for Fujiwara Bittersweet Fujiwara Bittersweet

    "Stylish art and period music provide sensory enjoyment but gameplay is text-heavy."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "Achievements exist but social recognition or competition is minimal."

    Capsule for Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams

    "Achievements exist but social recognition or competition is minimal."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Strong narrative focus with branching plots, character development, and multiple endings."

    Capsule for Dyscourse Dyscourse

    "Strong narrative focus with branching plots, character development, and multiple endings."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Requires planning and timing to solve puzzles and coordinate character movements effectively."

    Capsule for Kalimba Kalimba

    "Requires planning, timing, and logical reasoning to manipulate events and characters."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Tension from challenging timing and risk of failure creates suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Ragdoll Runners Ragdoll Runners

    "Tension from time constraints and risk of failure creates suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    0

    "Mixed player opinions on price vs. content; some find it worth full price, others recommend sale purchase."

    Capsule for Greak: Memories of Azur Greak: Memories of Azur

    "Mixed user opinions on price vs. content; some find it worth full price, others recommend sale purchase."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Game involves murder and executions as core themes; combat is narrative-driven rather than action-based."

    Capsule for Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony

    "Gameplay involves murder, framing, and manipulation, though presented in a stylized narrative context."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players must avoid failure by managing suspicion and evidence to survive investigations."

    Capsule for The Deed: Dynasty The Deed: Dynasty

    "Players must avoid failure by managing threats of suspicion and evidence within limited time."

Last update: 01/06/2026