The Complex: Expedition similar games & best alternatives

The Complex: Expedition

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2025

Should you play it?

When a routine expedition into The Complex goes horribly wrong, you're left alone and lost, wandering the seemingly infinite maze of hallways, otherwise known as the Backrooms. Might there be something following you?

What works
  • Exceptional atmosphere and sound design
  • Faithful representation of backrooms liminal spaces
  • Immersive vhs visual effects
  • Nonlinear exploration with multiple paths
  • Psychological horror without cheap jump scares
Things to keep in mind
  • Short gameplay length
  • Limited interaction and progression
  • Lack of accessibility options
  • Some performance and control issues
  • Minimal narrative depth

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • LOST EMBER

  • Liminalcore

  • The Invincible

  • The Moon Sliver

  • POOLS

  • The Complex: Found Footage

  • Great Toilet Simulator

  • Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing

  • Genesis Noir
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Liminalcore

  • The Complex: Found Footage

  • Great Toilet Simulator
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Escapism

    Happy's Humble Burger Farm
  • Exploration

    Pseudoregalia
  • Sensation

    Folklore Hunter

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • 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 (hidden on purpose).

The Complex: Expedition: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Strategy, Experimenting, Competence, Survival. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Thrill. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Progression.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    3

    "Players navigate maze-like environments with some freedom to explore and make decisions, though objectives and progression are somewhat directed."

    Capsule for HBDIE: 2 HBDIE: 2

    "Players can explore multiple routes and choose their own pace in a nonlinear maze-like environment, though the game is a walking simulator with limited interaction."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    -2

    "Gameplay is simple and mostly walking, light puzzles, and exploration with minimal challenge."

    Capsule for 11-11 Memories Retold 11-11 Memories Retold

    "Gameplay is mostly walking and exploration with minimal challenge or skill tests; some navigation and puzzle-like elements but overall low difficulty."

  • Competition

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    -5

    "No competitive elements or player versus player interaction; focus is on personal exploration and progression."

    Capsule for Fe Fe

    "No competitive elements, leaderboards, or player versus player interactions; focus is on solitary exploration."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

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    "Players report enjoying multiple playthroughs and exploring collectibles, indicating some habitual engagement despite the game's short length."

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    "Players report multiple playthroughs to explore alternate paths and discover secrets, indicating some habitual engagement despite short playtime."

  • Cooperation

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    "Single-player experience with no cooperative gameplay or social collaboration."

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  • Creativity

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    "Players explore levels with hidden passages and secrets, but no mention of building or customization; moderate creativity in exploration."

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  • Domination

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    "No social dominance or power dynamics; experience is solitary and introspective."

    Capsule for Layers of Fear (2016) Layers of Fear (2016)

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  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

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    "Strong immersion in a surreal, dark, and eerie world; players use the game as a form of escape from reality."

    Capsule for Happy's Humble Burger Farm Happy's Humble Burger Farm

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  • Expectation

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    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and intrinsic motivation; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for CUCKOLD SIMULATOR: Life as a Beta Male Cuck CUCKOLD SIMULATOR: Life as a Beta Male Cuck

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and intrinsic motivation; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

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    "Some exploration and puzzle-solving encourage trying new paths, but overall gameplay is straightforward and linear."

    Capsule for Dread Flats Dread Flats

    "Some exploration of multiple routes and secrets encourages trying new paths, but overall gameplay is consistent and routine."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

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    "Core gameplay involves discovering new areas, backtracking, and finding secrets in a maze-like interconnected world."

    Capsule for Pseudoregalia Pseudoregalia

    "Core gameplay revolves around discovering new areas, secrets, and environmental storytelling in a maze-like setting."

  • Expression

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    "No character customization or self-expression features; presentation is fixed and standardized."

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  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

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    "The game features surreal, psychological horror and liminal spaces with imaginative elements beyond realistic scenarios."

    Capsule for Subliminal Subliminal

    "Game presents an imaginative, surreal liminal space with psychological horror elements, though grounded in a found footage aesthetic."

  • Fellowship

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    "No social or community features; solitary experience."

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  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

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    "Minimal learning or skill development; mostly familiar walking and observation."

    Capsule for Liminalcore Liminalcore

    "Limited learning or skill development; mostly familiar walking and exploration mechanics."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

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

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  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

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    "Game supports casual, relaxed play sessions; some players use it as a background or chill-out activity."

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  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

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    "No social or emotional connections formed; isolated single-player gameplay."

    Capsule for Giant Machines 2017 Giant Machines 2017

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  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

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    "No leadership or group management roles; single-player experience."

    Capsule for Forgive Me Father Forgive Me Father

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  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

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    "Minimal progression mechanics; focus is on exploration rather than item collection or upgrades."

    Capsule for The Complex: Found Footage The Complex: Found Footage

    "Minimal progression mechanics; no item collection or upgrades, mostly static exploration."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

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    "Atmospheric and immersive experience provides contemplative relaxation despite some unsettling themes"

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    "Atmosphere induces tension and unease but also moments of calm and contemplation; balance between horror and relaxation."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

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    "Immersive audio and visual effects create strong sensory stimulation and emotional impact."

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    "Strong sensory stimulation through immersive sound design, visuals, and VHS effects creating emotional impact."

  • Status

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    "No social recognition or status systems."

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    "No social recognition or status systems."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Some lore and narrative elements present but minimal; focus is on atmosphere and exploration rather than plot."

    Capsule for The Complex: Found Footage The Complex: Found Footage

    "Some narrative elements and lore present but minimal and subtle; story is secondary to atmosphere and exploration."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    -3

    "Minimal strategic or problem-solving elements; navigation is straightforward."

    Capsule for Google Earth VR Google Earth VR

    "Limited strategic or problem-solving elements; mostly straightforward navigation and exploration."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Atmospheric tension and suspense create moments of psychological thrill rather than jump scares."

    Capsule for Post Trauma Post Trauma

    "Psychological tension and suspense through atmosphere and uncertainty rather than jump scares or action."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

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    "Mixed opinions on value; some find the experience worth the price, others feel content is limited for cost."

    Capsule for ASYLUM ASYLUM

    "Mixed opinions on value; some find price fair for experience and quality, others note short length and limited content."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

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    "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on exploration and atmosphere."

    Capsule for Summer of '58 Summer of '58

    "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on exploration and atmosphere."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

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    "No survival mechanics or resource management; stable low-risk environment."

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    "No survival mechanics or threats requiring resource management; low-risk environment."

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Last update: 01/06/2026