The Hand of Merlin similar games & best alternatives

The Hand of Merlin

Mac, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Linux, PlayStation 5, Xbox One • 2022

Should you play it?

The Hand of Merlin is a turn-based rogue-lite RPG in which Arthurian legend meets with sci-fi horror. Recruit mortal heroes to explore lands rife with otherworldly evil, make narrative bending choices in unique interactive encounters, and search for the lost fragments of your soul across the multiverse!

What works
  • Engaging tactical combat
  • Strong fantasy theme and story
  • Meaningful character customization
  • Good replayability and progression
  • Responsive developers
Things to keep in mind
  • Ui can be cumbersome and unclear
  • Some randomness/frustration in rng elements
  • Limited enemy variety
  • Short main campaign length
  • Map navigation and route planning tedious

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Deep Sky Derelicts

  • Epic Battle Fantasy 4

  • Arcanium: Rise of Akhan

  • Age of Fear 2: The Chaos Lord GOLD

  • Tinyfolks

  • Rogue Waters

  • Chrono Ark

  • Abalon: Roguelike Tactics CCG

  • Inkshade
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Arcanium: Rise of Akhan

  • Abalon: Roguelike Tactics CCG

  • Inkshade
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Fantasy

    Arthurian Legends
  • Strategy

    Epic Battle Fantasy 3
  • Autonomy

    Wild Bastards

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 Hand of Merlin: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Leadership, Story, Fantasy.

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

    4

    "Players have freedom to choose characters, upgrades, and strategic paths on maps, enabling control over actions and decisions."

    Capsule for Wild Bastards Wild Bastards

    "Players have significant control over character builds, skill choices, and route planning on the map, allowing freedom in tactical and strategic decisions."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "The game offers challenging tactical turn-based combat requiring strategic thinking and skillful use of positioning, abilities, and resource management."

    Capsule for Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart (Neptunia) Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart (Neptunia)

    "The game offers challenging turn-based tactical combat requiring skillful planning and execution, with meaningful feedback and progression."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on personal progression and overcoming game challenges rather than direct competition or leaderboards."

    Capsule for Luck be a Landlord Luck be a Landlord

    "Focus is on personal progression and overcoming game challenges rather than direct competition or leaderboards."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Many reviews mention replayability, short sessions, and returning to try new strategies or scenarios."

    Capsule for BalanCity BalanCity

    "Multiple reviews mention replayability and returning to try new builds and runs, though some note eventual repetition."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -4

    "Gameplay centers on controlling a single party of characters; no multiplayer or cooperative play."

    Capsule for Legend of Grimrock Legend of Grimrock

    "Gameplay centers on controlling a small party of characters independently; no multiplayer or cooperative play is mentioned."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players can customize characters' skills and equipment, experimenting with different builds and strategies."

    Capsule for Cosmic Star Heroine Cosmic Star Heroine

    "Players customize characters via skill choices and relics, experimenting with different builds and strategies."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control over other players; interactions are single-player focused and balanced."

    Capsule for Dice & Fold Dice & Fold

    "No evidence of exerting control over other players; interactions are single-player focused and balanced."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players engage in a fantasy world with immersive story and gameplay providing escape from real life."

    Capsule for FINAL FANTASY V FINAL FANTASY V

    "Players engage in a fantasy setting with immersive story and tactical gameplay, providing a strong escape from reality."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for Last Train Home Last Train Home

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

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Encouraged to try different skill builds, equipment setups, and strategies to overcome challenges and optimize play."

    Capsule for Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten (DX edition) Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten (DX edition)

    "High emphasis on trying new skill combinations, builds, and strategies each run to adapt and optimize play."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    2

    "Players explore maps with some backtracking and node choices, though map variety and node types are limited."

    Capsule for .Forty-Five .Forty-Five

    "Players explore different nodes on a map with varied encounters, though map design and route planning can be tedious."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Character customization through skills and magic eggs allows some self-expression, but no avatar personalization."

    Capsule for GRANDIA II HD Remaster GRANDIA II HD Remaster

    "Character customization through skill and relic choices allows some self-expression, but no avatar personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Strongly rooted in medieval fantasy with mythical creatures, magic, and Arthurian themes."

    Capsule for Arthurian Legends Arthurian Legends

    "Strong fantasy theme based on Arthurian legend with magical and mythical elements central to the experience."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "Single-player experience with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    Capsule for The Last of Us™ Part I The Last of Us™ Part I

    "Single-player experience with minimal social interaction or community involvement described."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop skills and knowledge through repeated runs, unlocking new cards, powers, and strategies."

    Capsule for Iris and the Giant Iris and the Giant

    "Players develop skills and knowledge through repeated runs, unlocking new characters, abilities, and strategies."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; typical sedentary gaming experience."

    Capsule for FINAL FANTASY XVI FINAL FANTASY XVI

    "No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; typical sedentary gaming experience."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention during tactical combat and strategic decision-making; not designed for passive or background play."

    Capsule for Renowned Explorers: International Society Renowned Explorers: International Society

    "Requires focused attention during tactical combat and decision making; not designed for passive or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing; purely individual gameplay."

    Capsule for Dome Keeper Dome Keeper

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing; purely individual gameplay."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    3

    "Players lead heroes and small squads, making strategic decisions and managing resources."

    Capsule for Disciples Sacred Lands Gold Disciples Sacred Lands Gold

    "Players lead a small party of heroes, making strategic decisions and managing team tactics."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Strong progression through unlocking characters, relics, items, and upgrades during runs."

    Capsule for Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon

    "Strong progression through unlocking characters, spells, relics, and skill upgrades across runs."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    1

    "Some players find the game fun and engaging, but others note frustration and tension from difficulty spikes."

    Capsule for Xpand Rally Xtreme Xpand Rally Xtreme

    "Some players find the game engaging and rewarding, but others note frustration and difficulty spikes."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Enjoyable art, sound, and satisfying combat effects provide sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Asgard's Fall: Origins Asgard's Fall: Origins

    "Enjoyable art, music, and satisfying combat animations provide moderate sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."

    Capsule for Chroma Zero Chroma Zero

    "No social recognition or status systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    4

    "Narrative is a key component, emotionally engaging and integrated into gameplay, though some find it simplistic."

    Capsule for Iris and the Giant Iris and the Giant

    "Narrative is a strong component with well-written story nodes and lore integrated into gameplay."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "Core gameplay revolves around strategic turn-based combat, requiring planning and tactical decision-making."

    Capsule for Epic Battle Fantasy 3 Epic Battle Fantasy 3

    "Core gameplay revolves around tactical turn-based combat and strategic route planning with complex decision making."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Challenging combat and risk of death create suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Looterkings Looterkings

    "Challenging combat and risk of permanent character death create suspense and tension."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Players feel the game offers good value for price, especially given content and replayability."

    Capsule for Thief Simulator 2 Thief Simulator 2

    "Many players feel the game offers good value for its price, especially with replayability and content."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat involves defeating enemies with weapons and magic; destruction is part of gameplay."

    Capsule for Sir Whoopass™: Immortal Death Sir Whoopass™: Immortal Death

    "Combat involves attacking and defeating enemies with weapons and magic; destruction is a gameplay focus."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Players must manage health, heals, and positioning to avoid death and complete objectives."

    Capsule for Space Hulk: Deathwing Enhanced Edition Space Hulk: Deathwing Enhanced Edition

    "Players must manage health, armor, resources, and tactical positioning to avoid defeat and progress."

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Last update: 01/06/2026