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POSTAL 2 similar games & best alternatives

POSTAL 2

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux • 2012

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Quick resume

Live a week in the life of "The POSTAL Dude"; a hapless everyman just trying to check off some chores. Buying milk, returning an overdue library book, getting Gary Coleman's autograph, what could possibly go wrong?

Global score

97/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Indie, Shooter

Similar games

    Pros

    • High player freedom and creativity
    • Dark humor and satire
    • Open world exploration
    • Ongoing developer support and mods
    • Unique and memorable gameplay

    Cons

    • Aged graphics and mechanics
    • Some bugs and crashes
    • Limited multiplayer activity
    • Potentially offensive content
    • Navigation can be confusing

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Cooperation, Leadership, Violence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Domination, Violence, Status.

    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
      5

      "Players have full freedom to choose how to complete tasks, explore the open world, and decide their level of violence or pacifism."

    • Competence
      2

      "Gameplay involves some skill in combat and navigation, but also allows for simple, repetitive tasks and multiple approaches to objectives."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is primarily on individual play and personal choices; multiplayer exists but is rarely active and not a core feature."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Players report long play sessions, replay value through achievements, mods, and exploration."

    • Cooperation
      -4

      "Gameplay is mostly single-player with no co-op campaign; multiplayer modes exist but are not prominent."

    • Creativity
      4

      "High creativity in player actions, including unconventional uses of items, weapon mods, and freedom to cause chaos or play peacefully."

    • Domination
      3

      "Players can exert power over NPCs and others through violence and intimidation, though multiplayer dominance is limited."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game as a stress relief outlet and to escape real-life frustrations through chaotic and darkly humorous gameplay."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and personal interest, not due to obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      5

      "Strong encouragement to try different approaches, explore secrets, and experiment with game mechanics and weapons."

    • Exploration
      4

      "Open world with multiple areas to discover, secrets, and easter eggs rewarding curiosity."

    • Expression
      3

      "Players can customize character appearance with different outfits and modify weapons, expressing personal style."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Game features exaggerated, absurd, and satirical fictional scenarios with dark humor and surreal elements."

    • Fellowship
      -3

      "Primarily a solo experience with limited social interaction; community exists but is niche."

    • Growth
      2

      "Players learn game mechanics, strategies, and achievement challenges, though core tasks are simple."

    • Health
      -4

      "Encourages sedentary play with no physical activity; content is violent and potentially stressful."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires active engagement and attention; some walking and combat involved, not a casual idle game."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Limited to no close social relationships formed in-game; interactions are mostly hostile or superficial."

    • Leadership
      -3

      "No significant leadership roles; player acts independently without managing others."

    • Progression
      3

      "Players collect weapons, items, and unlock achievements, progressing through days and DLC content."

    • Relaxation
      1

      "Some players find humor and chaos relaxing, but gameplay can be tense and challenging at higher difficulties."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Visual gore, sound effects, and absurd humor provide strong sensory stimulation and emotional reactions."

    • Status
      -2

      "Limited social recognition; achievements exist but social status is not a major motivator."

    • Story
      2

      "Has a loose narrative with satirical plot and characters, but story is secondary to gameplay freedom."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Some strategic planning possible in mission approaches and combat, but overall gameplay is straightforward."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Players enjoy the suspense and chaos of violent encounters and unpredictable NPC reactions."

    • Value
      4

      "Offers extensive content, replayability, and ongoing updates for a low price, seen as good value."

    • Violence
      5

      "Violence is a core and celebrated aspect, with graphic combat, dismemberment, and dark humor."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must avoid threats and manage health in hostile environments, especially at higher difficulties."

    Last update: 29/04/2026