Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU similar games & best alternatives
Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU
2024
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Quick resume
Wield the dance of the shaman. Reclaim your father’s spirit. Brave the beautiful and treacherous land of Kenzera with the God of Death in Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU, a metroidvania-style adventure crafted by Surgent Studios.
Global score
83/100
Genres
Action, Adventure, Indie, Platform, Puzzle
Similar games
Pros
- Emotional and well-told story
- Beautiful art and soundtrack
- Fluid and responsive combat and movement
- Unique african mythology setting
- Good value for price
Cons
- Mostly linear with limited exploration
- Some platforming and chase sequences frustrating
- Combat can become repetitive late game
- Minor control and camera issues reported
- Lack of deep customization or multiplayer
Analysis
A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Value, Story. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Exploration.
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
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Autonomy3
"Players can switch between two masks with different combat styles and abilities, choose paths and tackle challenges, though the game is mostly linear with limited exploration."
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Competence3
"Combat and platforming provide a moderate challenge that ramps up, especially in late game and boss fights, rewarding skill and strategy."
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Competition-4
"Focus is on personal progression and story experience without competitive or ranked elements."
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Continuation2
"Players report engaging story and gameplay that encourage completion and some replay, though the game is relatively short."
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Cooperation-5
"Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative features."
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Creativity2
"Players can customize combat style by switching masks and upgrading skills, but level design and progression are mostly predefined and linear."
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Domination-5
"No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; game is single-player and narrative focused."
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Escapism4
"Players use the game to immerse in a unique African-inspired world and story, providing emotional engagement and distraction from real life."
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Expectation-4
"Players engage voluntarily out of interest in the story, setting, and gameplay; no indication of obligation or pressure."
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Experimenting3
"Players experiment with mask switching, combat strategies, and platforming challenges, though within a mostly linear structure."
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Exploration-3
"Game is mostly linear with limited backtracking and exploration; maps reveal entire areas on entry reducing discovery."
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Expression-3
"No significant character customization or avatar personalization; visual style is fixed and consistent."
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Fantasy4
"Set in an imaginative African mythology-inspired world with shamanic powers and spiritual themes."
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Fellowship-5
"No social or community features; strictly single-player experience."
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Growth3
"Players develop skills and abilities through upgrades and experience points, improving combat and traversal."
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Health-5
"No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; standard sedentary gaming."
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Idle-4
"Requires focused attention on platforming and combat; not suited for background or idle play."
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Intimacy-4
"Emotional engagement with narrative and characters but no social or relationship-building features."
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Leadership-5
"No leadership or group management elements; single-player narrative."
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Progression4
"Players accumulate upgrades, skills, and collectibles that enhance combat and survivability."
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Relaxation2
"Generally balanced challenge with moments of flow; some frustration reported in platforming and chase sequences."
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Sensation4
"Vibrant visuals, dynamic combat effects, and a rich soundtrack provide strong sensory stimulation."
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Status-5
"No social recognition or status systems; individual experience."
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Story5
"Highly praised narrative with emotional depth, voice acting, and cultural themes central to the experience."
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Strategy3
"Combat requires tactical mask switching and enemy prioritization; platforming demands timing and planning."
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Thrill2
"Some suspense in boss fights and platforming challenges; generally moderate risk and tension."
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Value4
"Players feel the game offers good value for its price with quality content and polish."
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Violence3
"Combat involves defeating enemies with melee and ranged attacks, though not excessively violent or gory."
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Survival2
"Players manage health and avoid instant-death hazards; some challenge in staying alive during combat and platforming."
Last update: 29/04/2026