The Old City: Leviathan similar games & best alternatives

The Old City: Leviathan

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2014

Should you play it?

The Old City: Leviathan is an experiment in first person exploration that focuses entirely on story. All that exists is you and the world. Set in a decaying city from a civilization long past, The Old City: Leviathan puts the player in the shoes of a sewer dwelling isolationist.

What works
  • Beautiful and immersive environments
  • Deep philosophical and existential narrative
  • Excellent voice acting and soundtrack
  • Non-linear exploration with multiple paths
  • Thought-provoking and unique experience
Things to keep in mind
  • Minimal gameplay mechanics beyond walking
  • Heavy reading requirement with dense text
  • Slow movement speed and some tedious backtracking
  • Short overall length
  • Story can be confusing or obscure for some players

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • The Moon Sliver

  • Title_Pending

  • The Invincible

  • Paratopic

  • The Mirror Lied

  • Anemoiapolis: Chapter 1

  • The Stanley Parable

  • Dear Esther: Landmark Edition

  • KARMA: The Dark World
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Title_Pending

  • Chasing Static

  • Sagebrush
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Exploration

    Haydee 2
  • Story

    Momotype
  • Autonomy

    Hyper Light Drifter

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 Old City: Leviathan: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Competition, Thrill. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Strategy, Competence, Expression.

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 explore a non-linear world with minimal guidance and choose their own path and playstyle."

    Capsule for Hyper Light Drifter Hyper Light Drifter

    "Players freely explore a non-linear environment with choice of paths and discovery order, no forced gameplay mechanics"

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    -3

    "Gameplay is simple walking and exploration with minimal challenge or skill required."

    Capsule for Deer Man Deer Man

    "Gameplay is limited to walking and exploration with no puzzles or combat, minimal skill challenge"

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for How To Cope With Boredom and Loneliness How To Cope With Boredom and Loneliness

    "No competitive elements or comparison to others, focus is on personal exploration and interpretation"

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players report immersive experience encouraging longer play sessions, though some find pacing slow and may disengage."

    Capsule for Under The Waves Under The Waves

    "Some players report immersive experience leading to extended play sessions, others note short length and possible frustration"

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Single player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements"

    Capsule for Joe Dever's Lone Wolf HD Remastered Joe Dever's Lone Wolf HD Remastered

    "Single player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements"

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players engage in exploration and piecing together clues creatively, though no direct building or customization."

    Capsule for Heaven Does Not Respond Heaven Does Not Respond

    "Players engage in exploration and piecing together story from environmental clues, but no creation or modification"

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No social dominance or power dynamics; solitary experience."

    Capsule for Kona Kona

    "No social dominance or power dynamics, solitary experience"

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Strong immersion in a surreal, oppressive world offers escape from reality through intense narrative and atmosphere."

    Capsule for Pathologic 2 Pathologic 2

    "Strong immersion in a surreal, post-apocalyptic world offering mental escape and philosophical reflection"

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by curiosity and intrinsic interest in story and atmosphere."

    Capsule for The Music Machine The Music Machine

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by curiosity and interest in story and atmosphere"

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    2

    "Some exploration and discovery of hidden details and alternate outcomes encourage experimentation."

    Capsule for Fears to Fathom - Home Alone Fears to Fathom - Home Alone

    "Exploration of multiple paths and discovery of hidden notes encourages some experimentation"

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Core gameplay revolves around discovering new areas, secrets, and piecing together story through environmental clues."

    Capsule for Haydee 2 Haydee 2

    "Core gameplay is about discovering new areas, secrets, and piecing together story from environment"

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -4

    "No character customization or player expression; fixed visuals and story"

    Capsule for Shan Gui (山桂) Shan Gui (山桂)

    "No character customization or player expression, fixed narrative and environment"

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Game blends sci-fi elements like time travel and supernatural phenomena with realistic post-apocalyptic setting."

    Capsule for Chernobylite Complete Edition Chernobylite Complete Edition

    "Game blends post-apocalyptic realism with surreal, mythological and dreamlike elements"

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "Solo experience with minimal social interaction or community feeling."

    Capsule for CASE: Animatronics CASE: Animatronics

    "Solo experience with minimal social interaction or community feeling"

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop understanding of complex story and characters, requiring learning and interpretation."

    Capsule for The 25th Ward: The Silver Case The 25th Ward: The Silver Case

    "Players develop understanding of complex philosophical narrative and world through exploration and reading"

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity"

    Capsule for Master Reboot Master Reboot

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity"

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention to explore and read; not designed for background or casual play."

    Capsule for The Music Machine The Music Machine

    "Requires focused attention to read and explore, not suitable for casual or background play"

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional relationships formed; solitary experience."

    Capsule for Darkness Within 1: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder Darkness Within 1: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder

    "No social or emotional relationships formed, solitary mental experience"

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements"

    Capsule for ISLANDERS ISLANDERS

    "No leadership or group management elements"

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    2

    "Progression through levels and discovery of notes, but no item collection or upgrades."

    Capsule for Doorways: Old Prototype Doorways: Old Prototype

    "Progression through story and discovery of notes, but no item or skill accumulation"

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Atmospheric and immersive experience provides relaxation despite some frustrating puzzles."

    Capsule for Cradle Cradle

    "Atmospheric and immersive experience provides contemplative relaxation despite some unsettling themes"

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Visuals, sound design, and music create a rich sensory experience with emotional impact."

    Capsule for Ghost Song Ghost Song

    "Visuals, sound design and music create strong sensory and emotional impact"

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems"

    Capsule for fault - milestone one fault - milestone one

    "No social recognition or status systems"

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Strong narrative focus with multiple endings and deep existential themes."

    Capsule for Momotype Momotype

    "Strong narrative focus with philosophical, mythological and existential themes deeply embedded"

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    -4

    "No strategic or problem-solving gameplay; focus is on exploration and observation."

    Capsule for Proteus Proteus

    "No strategic or problem-solving gameplay, focus on exploration and interpretation"

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    1

    "Some tension from unsettling atmosphere and narrative ambiguity, but no high suspense or risk."

    Capsule for How Fish Is Made How Fish Is Made

    "Some moments of tension and unease from atmosphere and narrative, but no traditional thrills or scares"

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Generally considered good value for price given short length and atmospheric experience."

    Capsule for [Chilla's Art] Inunaki Tunnel | 犬鳴トンネル [Chilla's Art] Inunaki Tunnel | 犬鳴トンネル

    "Good value for price given unique experience and immersive atmosphere, though short length noted"

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for Draugen Draugen

    "No combat or destruction, focus on exploration and narrative"

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -5

    "No survival mechanics or threats; stable environment."

    Capsule for Greetings Greetings

    "No survival mechanics or threats, stable environment"

Come talk about it on Discord!

Last update: 01/06/2026