Shenmue I & II Thumbnail

Shenmue I & II similar games & best alternatives

Shenmue I & II

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, PlayStation 4 • 2018

Related articles

Quick resume

SEGA®’s most requested re-release of all time finally comes to a new generation. Shenmue delivers an epic story of revenge within a unique open world that is still unrivalled in depth and detail. Return to the epic saga that defined modern gaming. The saga begins…again.

Global score

89/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up

Similar games

    Pros

    • Immersive and detailed world
    • Strong narrative and characters
    • Innovative for its time
    • Unique blend of exploration and combat
    • Rich cultural atmosphere

    Cons

    • Slow pacing and waiting times
    • Clunky controls and dated mechanics
    • Repetitive tasks and minigames
    • Some frustrating qtes
    • Story progress gating by time

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Idle, Thrill, Violence, Survival. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story, Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy.

    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 have freedom to explore, interact with NPCs, and choose how to spend their time, though story progression is gated by time and events."

    • Competence
      2

      "Combat and QTEs provide skill challenges, but much gameplay involves repetitive or slow-paced tasks."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on personal exploration and story; minimal competitive elements or player comparison."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players often invest long hours and habitual play to experience the story and world, though some find pacing tedious."

    • Cooperation
      -4

      "Gameplay centers on solo exploration and investigation with limited multiplayer or cooperative features."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Players can interact with many objects and explore environments in detail, though within predefined structures."

    • Domination
      -4

      "Interactions are generally respectful and balanced; no emphasis on exerting power over others."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Immersive world and story provide strong escape from real life through detailed simulation and narrative."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily driven by curiosity and intrinsic interest rather than obligation."

    • Experimenting
      2

      "Players explore and discover clues and secrets, though some gameplay loops are repetitive and routine."

    • Exploration
      4

      "Strong emphasis on discovering new areas, NPC routines, and hidden items in detailed environments."

    • Expression
      2

      "Some character customization and collection elements, but mostly standardized presentation."

    • Fantasy
      -3

      "Grounded in realistic 1980s Japan and China settings with plausible story and daily life simulation."

    • Fellowship
      -3

      "Focus on individual experience and story; limited social or community features."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop skills in combat and investigation, and progress through story and character development."

    • Health
      -4

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

    • Idle
      4

      "Gameplay involves waiting for in-game time to pass and engaging in low-intensity activities."

    • Intimacy
      -3

      "Interactions with NPCs are mostly surface-level and functional rather than emotionally intimate."

    • Leadership
      -4

      "Player follows story and NPC schedules without leading or managing others."

    • Progression
      3

      "Players accumulate moves, items, and story progress, though some resets occur between games."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Slow pacing and ambient world create a relaxing, immersive experience despite some tedious parts."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Visual and auditory details provide sensory enjoyment, though graphics are dated."

    • Status
      -4

      "Achievements and progress are personal; minimal social recognition or status elements."

    • Story
      5

      "Strong narrative focus with immersive storytelling and character development."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Investigation and combat require some planning and problem solving, though often straightforward."

    • Thrill
      -2

      "Gameplay is mostly controlled and predictable with limited suspense or risk."

    • Value
      3

      "Players perceive good value through rich content, story, and unique experience."

    • Violence
      -2

      "Combat exists but is limited and less emphasized compared to exploration and story."

    • Survival
      -3

      "Game operates in stable conditions with minimal threat or resource management."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026