The Legend of Tianding similar games & best alternatives

The Legend of Tianding

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, iOS • 2021

Should you play it?

The Legend of Tianding is a sidescrolling action game about Liao Tianding, the legendary Taiwanese Folk Hero. Explore the dazzling streets of Colonial Japanese Taiwan in the early 20th century.

What works
  • Beautiful comic book art style
  • Fluid and satisfying combat system
  • Engaging boss fights
  • Unique taiwanese historical setting
  • Immersive storytelling and cultural collectibles
Things to keep in mind
  • Relatively short game length
  • Some side quests are repetitive fetch quests
  • Minor translation and localization issues
  • Limited enemy variety
  • Occasional difficulty spikes in boss fights

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Apotheon

  • Record of Lodoss War-Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth-

  • Blasphemous 2

  • Anomaly Agent

  • Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight

  • Afterimage

  • The Messenger

  • The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED]

  • Karate Survivor
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED]

  • Berserk Boy

  • Katanaut
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Competence

    Lost Castle 2
  • Escapism

    Expeditions: Conquistador
  • Progression

    Songs for a Hero - Definitive Edition

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 Legend of Tianding: 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 Violence. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Leadership, Fantasy.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

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    "Players can choose different game modes, customize skills, and select weapons with level restrictions, allowing personal control over playstyle."

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    "Players can choose difficulty, explore levels, and customize combat style with weapon stealing and skill upgrades, allowing some control over playstyle."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "Combat is skill-based with varied weapon mechanics and boss fights requiring strategy; players report satisfying mastery and challenge."

    Capsule for Lost Castle 2 Lost Castle 2

    "Combat is skill-based with combos, dodging, and boss fights requiring pattern learning and timing; players report challenge especially on harder difficulties."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on single-player experience with no mention of multiplayer or leaderboards; players engage at their own pace without social comparison."

    Capsule for GUN™ GUN™

    "Focus is on single-player experience with no mention of multiplayer or leaderboards; play is at personal pace without social comparison."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players enjoy replaying for collectibles and achievements, though game length is short and some find it frustrating."

    Capsule for Darwin's Paradox! Darwin's Paradox!

    "Players enjoy replaying for collectibles and achievements; some grind involved but overall engagement is positive though game is relatively short."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player game with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

    Capsule for LOLLIPOP CHAINSAW RePOP LOLLIPOP CHAINSAW RePOP

    "Entirely single-player game with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

  • Creativity

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    "Players customize characters with skills and equipment; combat combos allow creative playstyles."

    Capsule for Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition

    "Players can combine moves, steal and use various enemy weapons, and customize character with amulets, adding creative combat variety."

  • Domination

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    "No evidence of dominating others; interactions are solo and respectful."

    Capsule for Kādomon: Hyper Auto Battlers Prologue Kādomon: Hyper Auto Battlers Prologue

    "No evidence of dominating others; interactions are single-player and respectful."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Immersive historical setting and story provide escape from real life; players enjoy deep roleplaying and exploration."

    Capsule for Expeditions: Conquistador Expeditions: Conquistador

    "Players enjoy immersive historical setting and engaging combat as a form of escape and entertainment."

  • Expectation

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    -4

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

    Capsule for Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

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

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players try different classes, skill trees, and strategies; exploration of lore and side quests encourages experimentation"

    Capsule for Legends of Eisenwald Legends of Eisenwald

    "Players experiment with combos, weapon stealing, and traversal abilities; some side quests encourage exploration of mechanics."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

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    "Includes some metroidvania elements and hidden secrets, though mostly linear progression."

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    "Game includes some light Metroidvania elements and collectibles encouraging exploration, though mostly linear progression."

  • Expression

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    "Customization through beads and weapon upgrades allows some player expression, though no avatar personalization noted."

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    "Customization through amulets and skill upgrades allows some player expression, but no avatar personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

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    "While grounded in modern and historical settings, the game includes some fantasy elements and imaginative fiction."

    Capsule for Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit

    "Game is based on a folk hero with some fictionalized elements and stylized storytelling, blending history and fantasy."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; strictly single-player experience."

    Capsule for Prototype 2 Prototype 2

    "No social or community features; strictly single-player experience."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players learn enemy patterns, improve combat skills, and develop character builds."

    Capsule for Moonscars Moonscars

    "Players develop combat skills, learn boss patterns, and improve character stats through collectibles and upgrades."

  • Health

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    "Typical sedentary video game play with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for Sonic Generations Collection Sonic Generations Collection

    "Typical sedentary video game play with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

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    "Requires focused attention due to challenging combat and platforming; not suited for casual or background play."

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    "Requires focused attention during combat and platforming; not suited for casual or background play."

  • Intimacy

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    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing; single-player narrative focus."

    Capsule for FINAL FANTASY II FINAL FANTASY II

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing; single-player narrative focus."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

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    "No leadership or group management elements; player controls only their own character."

    Capsule for The Marvellous Miss Take The Marvellous Miss Take

    "No leadership or group management elements; player controls only their own character."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

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    "Players collect items, upgrades, and unlock new abilities, showing clear progression."

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    "Players collect items, amulets, and upgrades that enhance combat and traversal abilities, showing clear progression."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

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    "Generally enjoyable and smooth gameplay with some tension during boss fights and challenging sections."

    Capsule for DRAINUS DRAINUS

    "Generally enjoyable and smooth gameplay with some tension in boss fights; overall balanced challenge and flow."

  • Sensation

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    "Vibrant art style, music, and combat animations provide sensory stimulation and excitement."

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    "Vibrant comic art style, dynamic combat animations, and energetic soundtrack provide sensory stimulation and excitement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

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

    Capsule for LOST EMBER LOST EMBER

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

  • Story

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    "Strong narrative immersion with comic book style storytelling, character backstories, and cutscenes."

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    "Strong narrative immersion with comic book style storytelling, character development, and cultural/historical context."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

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    "Combat and boss fights require pattern recognition, timing, and tactical use of abilities."

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    "Boss fights and combat require pattern recognition, timing, and tactical use of skills and weapons."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

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    "Combat and boss fights provide suspense and challenge, creating moments of tension and relief."

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    "Boss fights and combat provide suspense and challenge, creating moments of tension and relief."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

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    "Players generally find good value in the game's quality, story, and experience despite its short length."

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    "Players find good value in gameplay, story, and cultural content despite the game's relatively short length."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

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    "Combat centers on martial arts beatdowns and melee violence against enemies."

    Capsule for Clash: Artifacts of Chaos Clash: Artifacts of Chaos

    "Combat centers on martial arts fighting, weapon use, and defeating enemies, emphasizing action and destruction."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

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    "Players must avoid damage and defeat enemies to progress; boss fights require careful survival tactics."

    Capsule for ZONE OF THE ENDERS THE 2nd RUNNER : M∀RS / アヌビス ゾーン・オブ・エンダーズ : マーズ ZONE OF THE ENDERS THE 2nd RUNNER : M∀RS / アヌビス ゾーン・オブ・エンダーズ : マーズ

    "Players must avoid damage and defeat enemies to progress; boss fights especially require survival skills."

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Last update: 01/06/2026