The Hex similar games & best alternatives

The Hex

PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac • 2018

Should you play it?

In a creaky old tavern, in a forgotten corner of the video-game universe, a storm is raging. An anonymous caller suggests that there is a murder plot. Six video game protagonists are the only plausible suspects...

What works
  • Unique genre-mashing gameplay
  • Intriguing and complex story
  • Meta-narrative and fourth wall breaks
  • Many secrets and replay value
  • Accessible controls and varied mechanics
Things to keep in mind
  • Simplistic or uneven gameplay quality
  • Some pacing issues and slow sections
  • Lack of controller support
  • Art style considered unattractive by some
  • Difficulty spikes and obscure achievements

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Air Marty

  • q.u.q.

  • Confidential Killings - A Detective Game

  • Lost Wiki: Kozlovka

  • Dead Take

  • The Procession to Calvary

  • Black Mirror I

  • Metaphobia

  • Luto
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Air Marty

  • Confidential Killings - A Detective Game

  • Lost Wiki: Kozlovka
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Creativity

    Split Fiction
  • Experimenting

    UFO 50
  • Story

    Potato Thriller

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 Hex: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Survival, Expression, Leadership.

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 control two main characters with distinct abilities and make choices affecting story outcomes, indicating high player agency."

    Capsule for The Dark Eye: Memoria The Dark Eye: Memoria

    "Players control multiple characters with distinct gameplay styles and make decisions to explore story and secrets, indicating high player agency."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    2

    "Gameplay involves simple tasks with some challenge and occasional frustration, but overall easy and accessible with minor skill requirements."

    Capsule for The Call of Karen The Call of Karen

    "Gameplay varies across genres with some skill-based challenges, but many sections are described as easy or simple, balancing skill and accessibility."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on individual puzzle solving and narrative experience without competitive elements or leaderboards."

    Capsule for There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension

    "Focus is on personal narrative experience and puzzle solving rather than competing against others or leaderboards."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players are motivated to keep playing to explore all story branches and endings, with some replay value encouraged."

    Capsule for Beacon Pines Beacon Pines

    "Players are motivated to keep playing due to intriguing story, mysteries, and secrets, with some replay value and achievement hunting."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "The game is a single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

    Capsule for SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE

    "The game is a single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    5

    "Highly praised for innovative mechanics, diverse gameplay styles, and creative level and story design."

    Capsule for Split Fiction Split Fiction

    "Highly creative with genre-mashing gameplay, meta-narrative, and unique storytelling mechanics praised by players."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; experience is individual and narrative-driven."

    Capsule for Hollowbody Hollowbody

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; experience is individual and narrative-driven."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game to immerse in an imaginative world and escape reality, enjoying story and characters."

    Capsule for HIVESWAP: ACT 2 HIVESWAP: ACT 2

    "Players use the game to immerse in a unique, mind-bending story and escape reality through meta and genre-bending gameplay."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -5

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and curiosity; no obligation or external pressure noted."

    Capsule for Karma. Incarnation 1 Karma. Incarnation 1

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and curiosity, with no indication of obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    5

    "Encourages trying many different games, exploring mechanics, and uncovering secrets across a wide variety of genres."

    Capsule for UFO 50 UFO 50

    "Game encourages trying new mechanics and exploring different genres, with many surprises and meta elements."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Game rewards curiosity with hidden areas, lore, and secrets; players enjoy discovering new content."

    Capsule for Obenseuer Obenseuer

    "Players discover secrets, hidden achievements, and layered story elements that reward curiosity and replay."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -3

    "Limited customization or self-expression; focus is on gameplay and story rather than avatar personalization."

    Capsule for Gunbrella Gunbrella

    "Limited customization or self-expression; focus is on narrative and gameplay rather than avatar personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Engages players in a surreal, meta-fictional narrative with absurd and imaginative elements."

    Capsule for The Stanley Parable The Stanley Parable

    "Engages players in imaginative fiction with meta storytelling, surreal elements, and genre parody."

  • 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."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop problem-solving skills and uncover story complexity, promoting learning and personal development."

    Capsule for Primordia Primordia

    "Players learn new mechanics across genres and uncover story complexity, contributing to personal development."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Adventure Time: Finn and Jake's Epic Quest Adventure Time: Finn and Jake's Epic Quest

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention on puzzles and story; not a casual or background game."

    Capsule for Fausts Alptraum Fausts Alptraum

    "Requires focused attention and engagement due to story and puzzle elements; not a casual or background game."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "Limited to narrative interactions; no evidence of forming close social relationships."

    Capsule for Heading Out Heading Out

    "Limited social or emotional connection beyond narrative; no evidence of forming close relationships."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for The Coffin of Andy and Leyley The Coffin of Andy and Leyley

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

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Players progress through story chapters, unlock achievements, and collect cards, showing accumulation and advancement."

    Capsule for Dreamland Dreamland

    "Players progress through story, unlock achievements, and discover secrets, showing accumulation and advancement."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Game balances tension and humor, providing moments of flow and catharsis but also suspense and emotional strain."

    Capsule for BUSTAFELLOWS BUSTAFELLOWS

    "Some moments of flow and enjoyment, but also tension and suspense in story and gameplay."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Visuals and audio provide enjoyable sensory stimulation, though graphics are simple and stylized."

    Capsule for Catlateral Damage Catlateral Damage

    "Varied audio and visual styles provide sensory stimulation, though graphics are simple and retro-inspired."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "No social recognition or status systems; focus is on personal experience."

    Capsule for Artis Impact Artis Impact

    "No social recognition or status systems; focus is on personal experience and discovery."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Strong narrative focus with deep, emotional, and complex storytelling praised by many."

    Capsule for Potato Thriller Potato Thriller

    "Strong narrative focus with complex, meta, and layered storytelling praised by many reviewers."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Puzzle solving and some combat require planning and problem solving, though not highly complex."

    Capsule for Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy

    "Some puzzle and tactical elements require problem solving and planning, though not highly complex."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Mystery and suspense elements create tension and emotional engagement during the story."

    Capsule for The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight® Mystery The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight® Mystery

    "Suspense and mystery elements create tension and excitement throughout the story."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players perceive high value for time and money due to unique gameplay and replayability."

    Capsule for Papers, Please Papers, Please

    "Players perceive high value for time and money due to unique experience, story, and replayability."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    1

    "Includes some combat elements and enemy encounters but not focused on violence or destruction."

    Capsule for BirdGut BirdGut

    "Contains some combat and fighting game segments but not focused on violence or destruction."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -3

    "Some survival elements mentioned but minimal threat or failure conditions; mostly stable gameplay."

    Capsule for House Builder House Builder

    "Some survival-like gameplay elements in sections, but overall low risk and stable conditions."

Come talk about it on Discord!

Last update: 01/06/2026