The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile similar games & best alternatives
The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile
2017
Related articles
Quick resume
The followup to 2009's Dead Samurai, The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is a combo-fueled, fast-paced, stylistic 2D action platformer that features the series' staple gritty, graphic novel-inspired art style, built on a new engine that allows for an even more visually gruesome experience.
Global score
95/100
Genres
Action, Indie
Similar games
Pros
- Fast and satisfying combat
- Unique art style and atmosphere
- Great soundtrack
- Multiple characters and weapons
- Local and online co-op
Cons
- Short story and game length
- Some visual effects may cause eyestrain
- Online co-op can be glitchy
- Repetitive enemy patterns
- No port of first game on pc
Analysis
Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Violence, Competition. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation.
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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Autonomy4
"Players can choose between two characters with distinct weapons and playstyles, and can switch weapons mid-combo, allowing freedom in combat decisions."
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Competence5
"The game features challenging combat with a high skill ceiling, requiring mastering combos, dodging, and weapon switching, with multiple difficulty levels including very hard modes."
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Competition1
"Includes local and online co-op modes and challenges, but no strong emphasis on ranked or leaderboard competition."
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Continuation3
"Players report long playtimes, replayability through multiple characters, challenges, and arcade modes encouraging habitual play."
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Cooperation3
"Supports local and online co-op play, allowing players to work together to complete the game."
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Creativity4
"Players can customize loadouts with various weapons, magic, and beads; the game includes unique combos and special moves."
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Domination-3
"No evidence of trash talk or power imposition; interactions appear balanced and cooperative."
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Escapism4
"Dark, gritty atmosphere with intense combat and gore provides strong escapism and immersion away from real life."
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Expectation-4
"Players express intrinsic motivation and enthusiasm for the game, often citing personal desire and nostalgia."
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Experimenting3
"Players experiment with different weapons, combos, and strategies to master combat and progress."
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Exploration2
"Includes some metroidvania elements and hidden secrets, though mostly linear progression."
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Expression2
"Customization through beads and weapon upgrades allows some player expression, though no avatar personalization noted."
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Fantasy4
"Set in a dark, dystopian moon world with vampires, cyborgs, and magic, featuring a highly stylized fictional narrative."
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Fellowship2
"Community aspects exist through co-op play and shared experiences, though many players also enjoy solo play."
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Growth4
"Players develop skills in fast-paced combat, learn enemy patterns, and improve mastery over weapons and combos."
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Health-4
"Requires long sessions of intense, sedentary play with high visual stimulation; no physical activity involved."
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Idle-4
"Requires constant attention and focus due to fast-paced, challenging combat and quick reflexes."
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Intimacy0
"Limited data on forming close relationships; co-op play suggests some social interaction but no deep intimacy."
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Leadership-2
"No evidence of leadership roles; cooperative play appears balanced without hierarchical control."
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Progression4
"Players accumulate upgrades, weapons, magic, and beads that enhance abilities and combat effectiveness."
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Relaxation-3
"Fast, intense, and sometimes stressful gameplay with flashing effects and high difficulty reduces relaxation."
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Sensation5
"Strong sensory stimulation from fast combat, gore, flashing visuals, and energetic soundtrack."
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Status0
"No clear evidence of social recognition or status seeking in reviews or gameplay."
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Story2
"Story told through comic-style cutscenes and character perspectives; narrative is present but secondary to gameplay."
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Strategy4
"Requires strategic weapon switching, timing, and combo execution to overcome enemies and bosses."
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Thrill4
"High tension and adrenaline from challenging combat, boss fights, and fast-paced action."
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Value5
"Players report excellent value for price with many hours of gameplay and replayability."
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Violence5
"Extremely violent with abundant gore, brutal executions, and blood effects integral to gameplay and style."
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Survival3
"Players must avoid damage and manage health in challenging combat scenarios to survive."
Last update: 29/04/2026