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Sundered®: Eldritch Edition similar games & best alternatives

Sundered®: Eldritch Edition

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2017

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Quick resume

Sundered is a chaotic hand­-drawn metroidvania where you resist or embrace ancient eldritch powers, a challenging and unique take on a classic genre from the creators of Jotun, now with local co-op!

Global score

82/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Indie

Similar games

    Pros

    • Beautiful hand-drawn art and animation
    • Fluid and satisfying combat system
    • Multiple endings and replayability
    • Engaging boss fights
    • Atmospheric sound design and music

    Cons

    • Some grind required for upgrades
    • Procedural map sections can feel repetitive
    • Horde mechanics may overwhelm some players
    • Story is minimal and subtle
    • Camera and controls can be awkward at times

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Cooperation, Leadership, Violence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Cooperation, Fellowship, Violence.

    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 can choose different paths, abilities, and upgrade strategies; non-linear boss order and multiple endings support player control."

    • Competence
      3

      "Combat requires skillful dodging and combo execution; boss fights are challenging and rewarding; some grind involved for upgrades."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on personal progression and exploration; no evidence of ranked or PvP competition."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report multiple playthroughs for different endings and full upgrades; some grind and replayability encourage continued play."

    • Cooperation
      2

      "Local co-op available and positively received, but main gameplay is solo oriented."

    • Creativity
      4

      "Hand-drawn art, ability customization, and choice-driven skill upgrades encourage creative playstyles."

    • Domination
      -4

      "Interactions are mostly solo or cooperative without evidence of dominance or power over others."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Strong immersion in eldritch world, atmospheric art and sound design provide escapist experience."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and exploration; no indication of obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players try different abilities, upgrade paths, and playthrough styles; procedural map encourages new experiences."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Exploration of a semi-randomized map with hidden areas and secrets is a core feature."

    • Expression
      2

      "Ability and perk customization allow some self-expression; no heavy cosmetic personalization noted."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Strong eldritch horror and cosmic fantasy themes dominate the game world and story."

    • Fellowship
      1

      "Some community and co-op play, but mostly individual experience."

    • Growth
      4

      "Skill acquisition, character upgrades, and learning boss patterns provide growth and development."

    • Health
      -4

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with intense focus; no physical activity elements."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires continuous attention and focus during combat and exploration."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Minimal social interaction beyond co-op; mostly individual play."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or management roles; gameplay is individual or cooperative without hierarchy."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong emphasis on accumulating upgrades, perks, and abilities to progress through the game."

    • Relaxation
      1

      "Some players find flow in combat and exploration, but intense hordes and boss fights create tension."

    • Sensation
      4

      "Rich sensory experience with detailed hand-drawn visuals, sound design, and atmospheric music."

    • Status
      -4

      "No social status or recognition systems evident; focus is on personal achievement."

    • Story
      3

      "Narrative is present with multiple endings and lore, though some find it minimal or subtle."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Combat and upgrade choices require tactical thinking; boss fights demand pattern recognition and planning."

    • Thrill
      4

      "Horde attacks and challenging bosses create suspense and adrenaline rushes."

    • Value
      3

      "Generally considered good value especially on sale; multiple playthroughs add to replayability."

    • Violence
      4

      "Combat involves destroying hordes of enemies and bosses with melee and ranged attacks."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must avoid death and manage health/shield resources against overwhelming enemy waves."

    Last update: 29/04/2026