The Hand of Merlin similar games & best alternatives
The Hand of Merlin
2022
Related articles
Quick resume
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!
Global score
71/100
Genres
Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical, Card & Board Game
Similar games
Pros
- Engaging tactical combat
- Strong fantasy theme and story
- Meaningful character customization
- Good replayability and progression
- Responsive developers
Cons
- 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
Analysis
A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Leadership, Survival, Violence, Strategy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Fantasy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fellowship, Status.
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 have significant control over character builds, skill choices, and route planning on the map, allowing freedom in tactical and strategic decisions."
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Competence4
"The game offers challenging turn-based tactical combat requiring skillful planning and execution, with meaningful feedback and progression."
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Competition-3
"Focus is on personal progression and overcoming game challenges rather than direct competition or leaderboards."
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Continuation3
"Multiple reviews mention replayability and returning to try new builds and runs, though some note eventual repetition."
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Cooperation-4
"Gameplay centers on controlling a small party of characters independently; no multiplayer or cooperative play is mentioned."
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Creativity3
"Players customize characters via skill choices and relics, experimenting with different builds and strategies."
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Domination-5
"No evidence of exerting control over other players; interactions are single-player focused and balanced."
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Escapism4
"Players engage in a fantasy setting with immersive story and tactical gameplay, providing a strong escape from reality."
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Expectation-4
"Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment; no indication of obligation or external pressure."
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Experimenting4
"High emphasis on trying new skill combinations, builds, and strategies each run to adapt and optimize play."
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Exploration2
"Players explore different nodes on a map with varied encounters, though map design and route planning can be tedious."
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Expression2
"Character customization through skill and relic choices allows some self-expression, but no avatar personalization."
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Fantasy5
"Strong fantasy theme based on Arthurian legend with magical and mythical elements central to the experience."
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Fellowship-5
"Single-player experience with minimal social interaction or community involvement described."
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Growth4
"Players develop skills and knowledge through repeated runs, unlocking new characters, abilities, and strategies."
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Health-5
"No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; typical sedentary gaming experience."
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Idle-3
"Requires focused attention during tactical combat and decision making; not designed for passive or background play."
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Intimacy-5
"No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing; purely individual gameplay."
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Leadership3
"Players lead a small party of heroes, making strategic decisions and managing team tactics."
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Progression4
"Strong progression through unlocking characters, spells, relics, and skill upgrades across runs."
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Relaxation1
"Some players find the game engaging and rewarding, but others note frustration and difficulty spikes."
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Sensation2
"Enjoyable art, music, and satisfying combat animations provide moderate sensory stimulation."
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Status-5
"No social recognition or status systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."
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Story4
"Narrative is a strong component with well-written story nodes and lore integrated into gameplay."
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Strategy5
"Core gameplay revolves around tactical turn-based combat and strategic route planning with complex decision making."
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Thrill3
"Challenging combat and risk of permanent character death create suspense and tension."
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Value3
"Many players feel the game offers good value for its price, especially with replayability and content."
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Violence3
"Combat involves attacking and defeating enemies with weapons and magic; destruction is a gameplay focus."
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Survival4
"Players must manage health, armor, resources, and tactical positioning to avoid defeat and progress."
Last update: 29/04/2026