The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker similar games & best alternatives

The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker

Mac, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Linux, Xbox One • 2017

Should you play it?

YOU are a psychiatrist, trying to solve a murder whilst treating the unusual patients of the recently deceased Doctor Dekker. Type a question - patients reply in full screen video and have questions for you too but be careful what you say. Your words determine their eventual fates, and your own!

What works
  • Engaging story and characters
  • High replayability with randomized killer
  • Immersive fmv acting
  • Unique text input questioning mechanic
  • Good value for price and content length
Things to keep in mind
  • Text parser can be frustrating and unintuitive
  • Some questions require exact phrasing
  • Limited gameplay variety beyond questioning
  • Some players find pacing slow or repetitive
  • Lack of closure or ambiguous endings for some

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Amnesia: Rebirth

  • Song of Farca

  • Seduce Me 2: The Demon War

  • Static Dread: The Lighthouse

  • BAD END THEATER

  • Still There

  • American Arcadia

  • Dreams in the Witch House

  • The Medium

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Seduce Me 2: The Demon War

  • Dreams in the Witch House

  • Quarantine Circular

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Story

    SILENT HILL 2

  • Autonomy

    Don't Make Love

  • Escapism

    IMSCARED

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 Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Status. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Story. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence.

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 freely type their own responses and direct the conversation, allowing personal control over dialogue and decisions."

    Capsule for Don't Make Love Don't Make Love

    "Players type their own questions freely to interact with patients, allowing personal freedom in directing conversations."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Requires observation, deduction, and puzzle solving skills with feedback on success or failure."

    Capsule for The Red Stare The Red Stare

    "Requires skill in formulating correct keywords and questions to progress, with a learning curve and feedback via hints."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal investigation and story progression without player versus player or leaderboard elements."

    Capsule for Why Am I Dead At Sea Why Am I Dead At Sea

    "Focuses on individual investigation and story progression without player-vs-player or leaderboard elements."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players report long play sessions, speedrunning, and replayability due to randomized elements and multiple endings."

    Capsule for Granny Granny

    "Players report long play sessions and multiple playthroughs due to randomized killer and multiple endings."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -3

    "Primarily a solo experience; some players mention playing with friends for fun but no cooperative gameplay mechanics."

    Capsule for The Confession The Confession

    "Gameplay centers on solo interaction with patients; some players mention playing with friends but no direct cooperation mechanics."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players create their own deductions and choose dialogue paths, though within a structured narrative and predefined puzzles."

    Capsule for Between Horizons – A Sci-Fi Detective Adventure Between Horizons – A Sci-Fi Detective Adventure

    "Players create their own questions and dialogue paths, though within the constraints of keyword recognition."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -4

    "Interactions are balanced and respectful; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

    Capsule for L.A. Noire L.A. Noire

    "Interactions are balanced and respectful; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game as a psychological horror experience to escape reality and immerse in fear and mystery."

    Capsule for IMSCARED IMSCARED

    "Players use the game as immersive psychological horror and mystery experience, escaping real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and intrinsic motivation to solve mysteries and experience the story."

    Capsule for Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and intrinsic motivation to solve the mystery and explore story."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players experiment with different characters and dialogue options to uncover clues and progress the story."

    Capsule for Why Am I Dead At Sea Why Am I Dead At Sea

    "Players experiment with different questions and dialogue approaches to unlock new story content."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Encourages discovering different story branches, secrets, and endings."

    Capsule for Pizza Game Pizza Game

    "Encourages discovery of new dialogue, story branches, and multiple endings through exploration of conversation."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -2

    "Limited player customization beyond question category frequency; no avatar or environment personalization."

    Capsule for Majotori Majotori

    "Limited customization; players express themselves through typed questions but no avatar or environment personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Strong supernatural and Lovecraftian themes create an imaginative fictional experience."

    Capsule for Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare

    "Strong Lovecraftian and supernatural themes create an imaginative, unsettling fictional experience."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -3

    "Primarily a solitary experience with minimal social or community interaction."

    Capsule for Love Is All Around Love Is All Around

    "Primarily a solitary experience with minimal social or community interaction."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop understanding of story and characters; some skill in deduction and puzzle solving."

    Capsule for Urban Myth Dissolution Center Urban Myth Dissolution Center

    "Players develop skills in questioning and deduction, learning how to navigate the text parser and story."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    Capsule for Mortal Kombat 11 Mortal Kombat 11

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention to follow story and make choices; not suited for background or idle play."

    Capsule for Purrfect Apawcalypse: Purrgatory Furever Purrfect Apawcalypse: Purrgatory Furever

    "Requires focused attention to type questions and follow story; not suited for background or idle play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    2

    "Players form emotional connections with characters through dialogue and story."

    Capsule for HIVESWAP: ACT 2 HIVESWAP: ACT 2

    "Players form emotional connections with characters through deep conversations and story engagement."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -4

    "No leadership or group management roles; player acts independently."

    Capsule for Papers, Please Papers, Please

    "No leadership or group management roles; player acts independently."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Players progress through story, unlock endings, and complete tasks, showing accumulation of achievements."

    Capsule for The Bathhouse | 地獄銭湯 Restored Edition The Bathhouse | 地獄銭湯 Restored Edition

    "Players progress through story, unlock new dialogue, and achieve multiple endings; some achievements present."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    1

    "Atmospheric and immersive but often emotionally intense and unsettling rather than purely relaxing."

    Capsule for We Know the Devil We Know the Devil

    "Atmospheric and immersive but also psychologically tense and unsettling; mixed relaxation and tension."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Simple auditory and visual feedback provides sensory stimulation, appreciated by players."

    Capsule for THE BUTTON by Elendow THE BUTTON by Elendow

    "Engages players with emotional and psychological stimulation rather than intense sensory effects."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for Dōkyūsei: Bangin' Summer Dōkyūsei: Bangin' Summer

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

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Deep narrative immersion with complex characters, multiple endings, and rich lore."

    Capsule for SILENT HILL 2 SILENT HILL 2

    "Strong narrative immersion with complex characters, multiple endings, and rich lore."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Requires logical reasoning, planning deductions, and piecing together clues to solve mysteries."

    Capsule for Sherlock Holmes Chapter One Sherlock Holmes Chapter One

    "Requires reasoning and planning in questioning and deduction to solve the murder mystery."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Psychological horror and mystery elements create suspense and emotional tension."

    Capsule for Heart Fragment Heart Fragment

    "Psychological horror elements and mystery create suspense and tension."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players report good value for money with many hours of content and replayability."

    Capsule for Artisan TD Artisan TD

    "Players report good value for money with many hours of content and replayability."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -3

    "No combat or destruction; focus on narrative and dialogue."

    Capsule for An alt girl for skoof An alt girl for skoof

    "No emphasis on combat or destruction; focus on dialogue and investigation."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    2

    "Some thematic elements of survival and mental endurance, but no active survival gameplay."

    Capsule for Verde Station Verde Station

    "Psychological survival and maintaining sanity are thematic elements, though no traditional survival mechanics."

Last update: 01/06/2026