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Tales of the Orient: The Rising Sun similar games & best alternatives

Tales of the Orient: The Rising Sun

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Mac, Linux • 2015

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Quick resume

Dive into an epic story of honor and courage and help a Geisha and a Samurai save the day.

Global score

82/100

Genres

Casual, Indie, Adventure, Strategy, Puzzle, Card & Board Game

Similar games

    Pros

    • Multiple gameplay modes
    • Board rotation mechanic
    • Relaxing music and visuals
    • Good replayability with 100+ levels
    • Accessible difficulty with challenge and relaxed modes

    Cons

    • Minimal story depth
    • Some repetitive gameplay
    • Achievement grind for 200 levels
    • Limited village building impact
    • No multiplayer or social features

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Story, 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
      4

      "Players can choose from three different match-3 modes (swap, chain, pop) and two difficulty modes (challenge with limited moves and relaxed with unlimited moves), plus freely rotate the board and use power-ups, allowing significant control over gameplay."

    • Competence
      3

      "Increasing difficulty over 100 levels with obstacles and limited moves in challenge mode provides skill-based challenges, though overall gameplay remains accessible and casual."

    • Competition
      -4

      "Focus is on personal progress and puzzle completion without competitive or ranked elements."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Many players report long play sessions and habitual engagement, with 100+ levels and replayability through multiple modes encouraging extended play."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative features."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players can choose different play styles and rotate the board, offering some creative problem-solving, but building the village is a fixed progression without customization."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of dominance or power over others; gameplay is individual and non-confrontational."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Relaxing music, casual gameplay, and a simple story provide a stress-relieving, immersive experience away from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and relaxation, with no pressure or obligation reported."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Multiple gameplay modes and board rotation encourage players to try different strategies and approaches."

    • Exploration
      -3

      "Game consists of fixed levels with no open exploration or discovery of new areas."

    • Expression
      -4

      "Limited to no character or environment customization; village building is predetermined and purely functional."

    • Fantasy
      2

      "Set in a stylized, fictionalized version of Edo-period Japan with samurai and geisha, though story is minimal and more thematic than immersive fantasy."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community features; entirely single-player."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop puzzle-solving skills and progress through increasingly difficult levels, with some learning curve."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires active attention and strategic thinking; not designed for idle or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No social or emotional relationship-building elements."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management features."

    • Progression
      4

      "Players accumulate gold to build and upgrade a village, unlocking power-ups and extra moves, providing a clear sense of progression."

    • Relaxation
      4

      "Relaxed mode with unlimited moves, soothing music, and gentle pacing promote relaxation and flow."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Colorful visuals and pleasant sound effects provide sensory enjoyment, though not highly intense."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems."

    • Story
      1

      "Simple narrative framing the puzzle progression, but story depth and character development are minimal."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Players must plan moves, manage limited moves in challenge mode, and use power-ups strategically."

    • Thrill
      -2

      "Game is low-risk and calming rather than suspenseful or thrilling."

    • Value
      3

      "Offers many hours of gameplay and achievements for a low price, especially on sale, providing good value."

    • Violence
      -4

      "No violent or destructive gameplay; focus is on constructive puzzle solving and village building."

    • Survival
      -4

      "No survival or threat avoidance elements; stable, low-risk gameplay."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026