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The Monster Inside

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux • 2017

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Quick resume

A film noir style audio-visual novella. A mysterious woman... a string of murders... and a man with a hidden past.

Global score

88/100

Genres

Free To Play, Indie, Music

Similar games

    Pros

    • Free to play
    • Engaging noir atmosphere
    • Well-written story with plot twist
    • Easy and quick achievements
    • Fitting music and visuals

    Cons

    • Very short gameplay
    • Minimal interactivity
    • Linear narrative with trivial choices
    • Lack of depth and worldbuilding
    • No multiplayer or social features

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Autonomy, Strategy, Experimenting, Competence. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Continuation, Growth, Intimacy.

    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
      -3

      "The game is a kinetic visual novel with minimal player choices that do not affect the outcome, indicating limited player control and following a preset narrative."

    • Competence
      -4

      "Gameplay is mostly reading and simple clicking with no skill challenges or variation, making it a predictable and straightforward experience."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive elements or comparison to others; the experience is solitary and story-driven."

    • Continuation
      -4

      "The game is very short (10-20 minutes) and players generally complete it quickly with little indication of habitual or long sessions."

    • Cooperation
      -5

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

    • Creativity
      1

      "Some light interactivity in investigating scenes and dialogue choices, but mostly following a linear story with limited modification."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; purely narrative and personal experience."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Strong noir atmosphere, immersive story, and music provide a means to escape real life and engage in a fictional detective mystery."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest in noir stories and narrative rather than obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      -3

      "Limited experimentation due to linear narrative and trivial choices; no exploration of mechanics or alternative strategies."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Some investigation of crime scenes and clue finding offers light exploration within the story context."

    • Expression
      -4

      "No character customization or personalization; presentation is fixed and standardized."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Includes supernatural and fantasy elements within a noir detective setting, blending imaginative fiction with mystery."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community features; entirely single-player and individual experience."

    • Growth
      -4

      "Minimal learning or skill development; the game is short and straightforward with no complex mechanics."

    • Health
      -5

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

    • Idle
      3

      "Short sessions and simple interaction allow for casual play and filling small time gaps."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No social or emotional relationship building; interactions are limited to scripted narrative."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements present."

    • Progression
      2

      "Progression is narrative-based through chapters and unlocking achievements, but no item or upgrade accumulation."

    • Relaxation
      4

      "The game provides a relaxing, atmospheric experience suitable for casual enjoyment and flow."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Enjoyable audiovisual elements including noir-style visuals and fitting music provide sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      -4

      "No social recognition or status mechanics; achievements are personal and easy to obtain."

    • Story
      5

      "Strong narrative focus with an engaging noir story and a plot twist; story is the main driver of player engagement."

    • Strategy
      -4

      "No strategic or problem-solving gameplay; interactions are simple and linear."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Some suspense and mystery elements create mild tension and intrigue, but overall low risk and controlled experience."

    • Value
      5

      "Free to play with easy achievements and a complete experience in a short time, providing excellent value for time invested."

    • Violence
      -3

      "The game involves investigating murders but no direct violent gameplay; focus is on narrative rather than combat."

    • Survival
      -5

      "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable narrative environment."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026