The Complex: Found Footage similar games & best alternatives

The Complex: Found Footage

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2022

Should you play it?

Experience the liminal world of the backrooms through a VHS camera, immersing into a mysterious story and wandering the dream-like structures... Might there be something following you?

What works
  • Immersive and realistic graphics
  • Strong atmospheric and psychological horror
  • Free to play
  • Seamless exploration with multiple paths
  • Authentic backrooms experience without cheap jump scares
Things to keep in mind
  • Short game length
  • Limited replayability after multiple playthroughs
  • Performance issues on some systems
  • Lack of entities or interactive threats
  • No multiplayer or social features

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • He Needs His Medicine

  • BABBDI

  • A Place, Forbidden

  • Virtual Virtual Reality

  • The Room Syndrome

  • The Light Remake

  • Summer of '58

  • TELEFORUM

  • Title_Pending
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Title_Pending

  • Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror

  • Sewer Rave
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Exploration

    Riven
  • Value

    Krypta FM
  • Escapism

    Gray Dawn

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: Found Footage: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Competition, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Thrill. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Progression, Expression.

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 complex, non-linear levels with multiple paths and minimal handholding, requiring personal exploration and decision-making."

    Capsule for G String G String

    "Players explore freely with multiple paths and elevators, though some areas are linear; overall good personal control over exploration."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    2

    "Gameplay involves puzzle solving and exploration with some challenge, but overall mechanics are simple and accessible."

    Capsule for Corpse Party Corpse Party

    "Gameplay involves navigating and exploring complex environments with some challenge in orientation and puzzle-like elements, requiring attention and curiosity."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "No competitive elements or comparison to others; purely personal experience."

    Capsule for Proteus Proteus

    "No competitive elements or comparison to others; purely personal exploration experience."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players express desire to replay for atmosphere and exploration, though game length is short."

    Capsule for POOLS POOLS

    "Players express desire to replay to discover new areas and experience atmosphere again, though game is short."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative features."

    Capsule for Loddlenaut Loddlenaut

    "Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative features."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players can explore hidden areas and discover secrets; some freedom in how to approach exploration and interaction."

    Capsule for Journey Journey

    "Players can explore multiple paths and discover hidden areas; some degree of personal exploration and interpretation encouraged."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for FORM FORM

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

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Strong immersion in a surreal, psychological horror world offering escape from real life."

    Capsule for Gray Dawn Gray Dawn

    "Strong immersion in a surreal, liminal space environment that provides psychological escape and dissociation from reality."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in Backrooms and horror; no obligation or pressure reported."

    Capsule for The Backroom - Lost and Found The Backroom - Lost and Found

    "Players engage voluntarily out of curiosity and interest in the backrooms concept; no obligation or pressure reported."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "The game encourages exploration of different choices and secrets, inviting players to try new paths."

    Capsule for The Testing Chamber The Testing Chamber

    "Encourages exploration of different routes and discovery of hidden locations; some novelty in each playthrough."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Core motivation is discovering new areas, secrets, and environmental details in a richly crafted world."

    Capsule for Riven Riven

    "Core motivation is discovering new areas, secrets, and atmospheric details in a mysterious environment."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -5

    "No character customization or player expression; fixed presentation and aesthetics."

    Capsule for April 24th April 24th

    "No character customization or player expression features; standardized presentation with fixed aesthetics."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Immersive horror fiction with supernatural entities and surreal backrooms setting."

    Capsule for Backrooms: Escape Together Backrooms: Escape Together

    "Strongly imaginative and surreal setting inspired by backrooms lore and found footage horror fiction."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; experience is solitary."

    Capsule for Morsels Morsels

    "No social or community features; experience is solitary."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    1

    "Some learning involved in navigating and surviving, but limited skill development."

    Capsule for Shadows Peak Shadows Peak

    "Some learning involved in navigation and understanding environment, but limited skill development."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and immersion; not designed for casual or background play."

    Capsule for Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul

    "Requires focused attention and immersion; not designed for casual or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social interaction or relationship building."

    Capsule for Masterplan Tycoon Masterplan Tycoon

    "No social interaction or relationship building."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements."

    Capsule for High On Life High On Life

    "No leadership or group management elements."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    -3

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

    Capsule for The Complex: Expedition The Complex: Expedition

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

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Atmosphere can be calming but also induces tension and unease; mixed relaxation and stress."

    Capsule for NaissanceE NaissanceE

    "Atmosphere induces tension and unease but also moments of calm and immersion; mixed relaxation and suspense."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    4

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

    Capsule for The Complex: Expedition The Complex: Expedition

    "Strong sensory stimulation through realistic graphics, sound design, and VHS visual effects."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems."

    Capsule for Alan Wake Alan Wake

    "No social recognition or status systems."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

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

    Capsule for The Complex: Expedition The Complex: Expedition

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

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    1

    "Some planning and navigation required to find locations and complete objectives, but overall straightforward."

    Capsule for Krypta FM Krypta FM

    "Limited strategic elements; some planning in navigation and exploration but mostly straightforward."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Psychological tension and suspense create thrill without heavy jump scares."

    Capsule for Golgotha Golgotha

    "Psychological suspense and tension create thrill without jump scares or direct threats."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    5

    "Highly praised free game with rich content and quality, perceived as excellent value for time invested."

    Capsule for Krypta FM Krypta FM

    "Highly praised free game with quality graphics and atmosphere; excellent return on time investment."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -5

    "No combat or destructive elements; peaceful exploration."

    Capsule for Liminalcore Liminalcore

    "No combat or destructive elements; non-violent exploration."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -5

    "No survival mechanics or threats; safe exploration environment."

    Capsule for POOLS POOLS

    "No survival mechanics or threats; safe exploration environment."

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Last update: 01/06/2026