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Shenmue III similar games & best alternatives

Shenmue III

PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4 • 2020

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Quick resume

Shenmue III sees the eagerly anticipated continuation of the epic story-driven saga. Take control of Ryo Hazuki, a teenage martial artist, determined to unravel the mystery behind his father's murder and to exact revenge on the killer.

Global score

73/100

Genres

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

Similar games

    Pros

    • Faithful continuation of shenmue series
    • Detailed and immersive environments
    • Long playtime with varied activities
    • Strong narrative and character interactions
    • Nostalgic appeal for fans

    Cons

    • Slow pacing and repetitive grinding
    • Awkward voice acting and dialogue
    • Combat system criticized as clunky
    • Story progression feels rushed or incomplete
    • Some character models and animations are stiff

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. 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. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Creativity, Expression.

    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 can explore environments freely, choose when to engage in side quests or main story, and manage their own time and activities."

    • Competence
      2

      "Combat requires skill and training, but also involves repetitive grinding and predictable mini-games."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on personal progress and story rather than competing against others; no mention of PvP or leaderboards."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Many players report long playtimes, multiple playthroughs, and habitual engagement with the game."

    • Cooperation
      -4

      "Gameplay is primarily single-player with limited social interaction beyond NPC dialogue."

    • Creativity
      -2

      "Players interact with a fixed world and story; limited customization or creative building."

    • Domination
      -4

      "Interactions are balanced and respectful; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game to immerse in a detailed world and escape real-life stress through exploration and story."

    • Expectation
      -3

      "Players engage out of personal desire and nostalgia rather than obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      1

      "Some exploration and trying new moves, but largely following established routines and story progression."

    • Exploration
      4

      "Players explore detailed environments, discover secrets, and interact with many NPCs with unique routines."

    • Expression
      -3

      "Limited character customization; mostly fixed character appearances and preset aesthetics."

    • Fantasy
      1

      "Story grounded in martial arts and realistic settings, but with some mystical and narrative elements."

    • Fellowship
      -4

      "Experience is solitary with minimal social connection beyond NPC interactions."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop skills through training and learn story details, showing personal development."

    • Health
      -4

      "Gameplay encourages sedentary play with no physical activity; stamina system is in-game only."

    • Idle
      3

      "Players engage in slow-paced, relaxed gameplay with opportunities for short or long sessions."

    • Intimacy
      -3

      "Interactions are mostly surface-level with NPCs; no evidence of forming close emotional bonds."

    • Leadership
      -4

      "No leadership roles; players follow story and complete tasks without managing others."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong focus on acquiring items, upgrading skills, and completing quests to advance."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Game offers a chill, slow-paced experience with moments of flow and tension release."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Visuals and music provide sensory enjoyment, though some character models are awkward."

    • Status
      -3

      "Achievements exist but social recognition is minimal; focus is on personal experience."

    • Story
      4

      "Strong narrative immersion continuing a long-running plot with character interactions."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Combat and quest completion require some planning and skill, though many tasks are repetitive."

    • Thrill
      -2

      "Game is slow-paced with limited suspense or risk; QTEs are challenging but not thrilling."

    • Value
      3

      "Players feel the game offers good value through long playtime and nostalgic appeal."

    • Violence
      1

      "Combat is present but not emphasized; game also focuses on non-violent activities like fishing."

    • Survival
      1

      "Some resource management (stamina, money) but low risk of failure or death."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026