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The Big Con similar games & best alternatives

The Big Con

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 • 2021

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Quick resume

Hustle your way across ‘90s America as a runaway teen con artist. Choose how to make your scratch as you don disguises, pick pockets, and rip people off in this comedic crime-filled adventure. Experience the totally rad '90s in all its plaid and payphone glory!

Global score

94/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Point-and-click

Similar games

    Pros

    • Charming 90s art style and music
    • Engaging and humorous story
    • Accessible and chill gameplay
    • Fun characters and dialogue
    • Good replay value with collectibles and achievements

    Cons

    • Short game length
    • Repetitive pickpocketing minigame
    • Some bugs and glitches reported
    • Lack of gameplay depth or challenge
    • No voice acting and limited player choice impact

    Analysis

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

    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, choose dialogue options, and decide how to approach cons and pickpocketing, though the overall structure is linear."

    • Competence
      1

      "Gameplay is simple and accessible with easy pickpocketing minigames and straightforward puzzles, offering some skill challenge but mostly predictable tasks."

    • Competition
      -4

      "Focus is on personal story progression and exploration without competitive elements or player comparison."

    • Continuation
      2

      "Players often replay to collect missed achievements and secrets, showing some habitual engagement despite the short length."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Single-player experience focused on individual tasks and personal story, no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players can customize character appearance with cosmetics and explore different dialogue options, but gameplay follows predefined structures."

    • Domination
      -5

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

    • Escapism
      4

      "Strong nostalgic 90s aesthetic and lighthearted story provide an enjoyable escape from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and nostalgia without obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      2

      "Some exploration and trying different dialogue or approaches to cons, but overall gameplay is repetitive and linear."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Encouraged to explore vibrant 90s-themed environments and find collectibles and secrets."

    • Expression
      3

      "Customization of character cosmetics and playful self-expression through outfits and accessories."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Imaginative 90s cartoon style with a fictional story about a teenage con artist and a ghost companion."

    • Fellowship
      -3

      "Primarily a solo experience with limited social interaction beyond NPCs."

    • Growth
      2

      "Players learn to master simple minigames and puzzles, and discover story details through exploration."

    • Health
      -5

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

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires player attention and interaction; not designed for background or casual intermittent play."

    • Intimacy
      1

      "Some emotional connection to characters and story, but limited to scripted interactions."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements; player follows a linear narrative."

    • Progression
      3

      "Players accumulate money, collectibles, and cosmetics to advance through the story."

    • Relaxation
      4

      "Chill, low-stress gameplay with a laid-back vibe and no harsh penalties."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Bright colorful visuals and catchy 90s soundtrack provide enjoyable sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      -4

      "No social status or recognition systems; focus is on personal story and achievements."

    • Story
      4

      "Strong narrative focus with engaging characters, humor, and nostalgic 90s themes."

    • Strategy
      1

      "Simple puzzles and minigames require minimal planning or problem solving."

    • Thrill
      1

      "Mild suspense from pickpocketing minigames but overall low risk and tension."

    • Value
      -2

      "Some players feel the game is short for its price, though others find it worth the cost especially on sale."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on stealth and conning."

    • Survival
      -4

      "No survival mechanics or threats; stable and safe game environment."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026