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Paint it Back similar games & best alternatives

Paint it Back

PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Linux • 2015

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Quick resume

Use logic as your paintbrush to restore lost works of pixel art. Try the demo!

Global score

98/100

Genres

Casual, Indie, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Large variety of puzzles and difficulty levels
    • Intuitive and smooth controls
    • Workshop support for user-created puzzles
    • Charming pixel art and humor
    • High replay value and content volume

    Cons

    • Limited soundtrack variety
    • Only one puzzle save slot at a time
    • Some puzzles require guessing despite logic focus
    • Music can become repetitive
    • Lack of some quality of life features like multi-save

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. 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, Continuation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on 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
      4

      "Players freely choose puzzles, difficulty levels, and can solve puzzles in any order with multiple modes and workshop content."

    • Competence
      5

      "The game offers a wide range of puzzle difficulties, including very challenging large puzzles that require logical thinking and skill."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on personal puzzle solving without direct competition or leaderboards; random challenge mode exists but is not competitive."

    • Continuation
      5

      "High replay value with hundreds of puzzles, workshop support, and random modes encouraging long-term engagement."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Single-player puzzle game with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Players can create and share puzzles via Steam Workshop, adding creative content beyond base game."

    • Domination
      -5

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

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game to relax and unwind, escaping with engaging logic puzzles and charming art."

    • Expectation
      -4

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

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players can experiment with different difficulty modes, puzzle sections, and use mark-up modes to test solutions."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Exploration is limited to discovering new puzzles and artworks; no open-world or spatial exploration."

    • Expression
      2

      "Limited expression through puzzle creation in workshop and some humor in puzzle titles and art."

    • Fantasy
      -2

      "Game is based on realistic logic puzzles with minimal fictional narrative or fantasy elements."

    • Fellowship
      -4

      "Primarily a solo experience with minimal social interaction beyond workshop content sharing."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop logical thinking and puzzle-solving skills progressively through increasing difficulty."

    • Health
      -5

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

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention and logical thinking; not suited for idle or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No social or emotional relationship building; purely individual puzzle solving."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements present."

    • Progression
      4

      "Progression through unlocking galleries, earning medals, achievements, and accessing new puzzles."

    • Relaxation
      4

      "Puzzle solving provides a relaxing, flow-inducing experience with balanced challenge."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Pleasant visual and auditory feedback with colorful pixel art and sound effects, but not intense sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      -4

      "No social status or recognition systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."

    • Story
      1

      "Minimal narrative framing with a light story about restoring paintings; story is not a major focus."

    • Strategy
      5

      "Strong emphasis on logical reasoning, planning, and problem solving in puzzle completion."

    • Thrill
      -3

      "Low suspense or risk; gameplay is calm and methodical rather than thrilling or tense."

    • Value
      4

      "Players report good value for money due to extensive content and replayability."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No violence; gameplay is constructive and peaceful."

    • Survival
      -5

      "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable and safe puzzle environment."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026