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Perfect Tides similar games & best alternatives

Perfect Tides

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2022

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Quick resume

Perfect Tides is a point and click adventure game about the agony and anticipation of being a teen. Set in the year 2000, you follow Mara, an internet-obsessed young writer who lives on a so-called island paradise.

Global score

97/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Point-and-click

Similar games

    Pros

    • Deep, relatable narrative and character writing
    • Nostalgic and authentic setting
    • Emotional and personal storytelling
    • Charming pixel art and animation
    • Engaging soundtrack

    Cons

    • Obtuse and sometimes frustrating puzzle design
    • Lack of gameplay guidance and direction
    • Pixel hunting required
    • No autosave and ui quirks
    • Short game length

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Intimacy, Survival, Violence, Competition. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy, Expression, Competence.

    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 make choices affecting story outcomes and explore the world at their own pace, reflecting personal decision-making rather than fixed routines."

    • Competence
      -2

      "Gameplay involves simple point-and-click puzzles and pixel hunting with some obtuse elements, offering limited skill challenge."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No evidence of competitive elements; focus is on personal narrative and exploration without social comparison."

    • Continuation
      2

      "Players report emotional attachment and desire to revisit the game, though it is relatively short and can be completed in a few hours."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Single-player experience focused on individual story; no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

    • Creativity
      1

      "Some freedom in exploration and puzzle solving, but mostly uses predefined narrative and environments with limited player modification."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions emphasize empathy and personal growth."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game to emotionally engage with a fictional coming-of-age story, providing a form of escape and reflection."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and emotional connection rather than obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      2

      "Exploration and puzzle solving encourage trying different interactions and discovering multiple story outcomes."

    • Exploration
      4

      "Game encourages discovering new areas, secrets, and side stories on a small island setting."

    • Expression
      -3

      "Limited customization; players experience a fixed protagonist and world with no avatar personalization."

    • Fantasy
      -4

      "Grounded in realistic, autobiographical teenage experiences without fantasy or improbable events."

    • Fellowship
      -3

      "Focus on individual narrative with some social interactions, but no community or multiplayer aspects."

    • Growth
      5

      "Strong emphasis on personal development, emotional growth, and self-reflection through narrative."

    • Health
      -5

      "No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; sedentary point-and-click experience."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention on story and puzzles; not designed for background or casual play."

    • Intimacy
      4

      "Deep emotional connections and relationships are central to the narrative experience."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements; player follows protagonist's personal journey."

    • Progression
      3

      "Players collect items and complete puzzles that influence story endings, reflecting narrative progression."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Laid-back pacing and reflective tone promote relaxation and emotional flow."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Enjoyable pixel art, animation, and soundtrack provide moderate sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or ranking systems; focus is on personal story."

    • Story
      5

      "Narrative-driven game with strong character development and emotional storytelling."

    • Strategy
      -2

      "Simple puzzles with limited strategic depth; gameplay focuses on exploration and narrative."

    • Thrill
      -3

      "Game avoids suspense or risk; emotional tone is contemplative rather than thrilling."

    • Value
      4

      "Players report strong emotional payoff and meaningful experience relative to game length and price."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on constructive narrative and relationships."

    • Survival
      -5

      "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable, low-risk environment."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026