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THE LONGING similar games & best alternatives

THE LONGING

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2020

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Quick resume

An unusual mix of adventure and idle game. In utter loneliness deep below the surface, it's your task to wait for the awakening of your king... for 400 days.

Global score

92/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Role-playing (RPG)

Similar games

    Pros

    • Unique slow-paced experience
    • Emotional and meditative gameplay
    • Beautiful hand-drawn art and music
    • Deep narrative and multiple endings
    • Encourages patience and self-reflection

    Cons

    • Very slow and repetitive gameplay
    • Long waiting times may frustrate some
    • Limited active gameplay mechanics
    • Not replayable without save manipulation
    • Some players find content sparse

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Idle, Thrill, Violence, Survival. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Story. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Competence.

    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

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players have freedom to explore caves, choose how to spend time, and decide endings; no forced routines."

    • Competence
      -2

      "Gameplay involves slow, repetitive walking and waiting with minimal skill challenges."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive elements or comparison to others; focus is on personal experience."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players often engage over long periods, returning repeatedly to check on the Shade and progress."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer features."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Players can decorate the Shade's home and create drawings, expressing personal style."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control over others; interactions are solitary and respectful."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Many players use the game as a meditative escape and stress relief from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily and from intrinsic interest; no obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players explore caves, try different actions, and discover secrets at their own pace."

    • Exploration
      4

      "Exploration of vast cave systems and discovery of hidden items and areas is a core feature."

    • Expression
      3

      "Customization of the Shade's home and personal drawings allow self-expression."

    • Fantasy
      2

      "Game features a fictional shadow character and surreal underground world, but grounded in melancholy realism."

    • Fellowship
      -4

      "Experience is solitary with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players learn patience, self-reflection, and gain emotional growth through gameplay."

    • Health
      -4

      "Sedentary gameplay with long waiting periods; no physical activity involved."

    • Idle
      5

      "Designed as an idle experience with real-time progression even when game is closed."

    • Intimacy
      3

      "Players form emotional attachment to the Shade and experience close connection."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management roles; purely individual experience."

    • Progression
      3

      "Players collect items, decorate home, and unlock multiple endings over time."

    • Relaxation
      5

      "Game is praised for its calming, meditative atmosphere and stress-relieving qualities."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Enjoyable art style and ambient music provide sensory pleasure but in a subdued manner."

    • Status
      -5

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

    • Story
      4

      "Narrative immersion through Shade's thoughts, multiple endings, and existential themes."

    • Strategy
      1

      "Some puzzle elements and planning required, but overall low mental challenge."

    • Thrill
      -4

      "Game is slow and predictable with minimal suspense or risk."

    • Value
      4

      "Players report high emotional and experiential value for time and money invested."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on peaceful exploration and care."

    • Survival
      -5

      "No survival mechanics or threats; stable, low-risk environment."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026