The one who pulls out the sword will be crowned king similar games & best alternatives

The one who pulls out the sword will be crowned king

PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac • 2022

Should you play it?

Are you The Rightful King™ or just a filthy peasant? The sword is waiting for you to lift it, but it gets longer and heavier each time some else succeeds...

What works
  • Unique and challenging gameplay
  • Engaging competitive online mode
  • Humorous and dark narrative
  • Free to play
  • Dynamic music enhancing experience
Things to keep in mind
  • Physically demanding causing hand and arm pain
  • High frustration and rage potential
  • Short king reigns due to quick dethroning
  • No cooperative or creative elements
  • Some players suspect crypto mining (debunked)

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • BEAR, VODKA, STALINGRAD!🐻

  • Hellbound: Survival Mode

  • Skyworld

  • BEARS, VODKA, BALALAIKA! 🐻

  • Interloper

  • Long Live Santa!

  • Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China

  • PIXELMAN

  • Evil Bank Manager

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Skyworld

  • PIXELMAN

  • Road Scars: Origins

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

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 one who pulls out the sword will be crowned king: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Fellowship, Status, Cooperation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Expression, Cooperation, Creativity.

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 have control over timing and button presses to move limbs, requiring personal skill and decision-making."

    Capsule for Ragdoll Runners Ragdoll Runners

    "Players have full control over mouse movements and timing to pull the sword, requiring personal skill and decision making."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    5

    "The game requires mastering difficult and precise mouse control, with a high skill ceiling and constant feedback on performance."

    Capsule for Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy

    "The game is a demanding test of skill and endurance, requiring precise and sustained mouse control with increasing difficulty."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    5

    "Strong competitive element with players trying to outscore and outsmart each other in multiplayer matches."

    Capsule for Ultimate Chicken Horse Ultimate Chicken Horse

    "Strong competitive element with online mode where players race to pull the sword first and dethrone others."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Players often engage in long sessions and repeated retries to progress, showing strong attachment and habitual play despite frustration."

    Capsule for Volgarr the Viking Volgarr the Viking

    "Players engage in long sessions with repeated attempts and persistence to become king despite frustration."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Gameplay is entirely individual with no cooperative or team-based elements."

    Capsule for Egg Squeeze Egg Squeeze

    "Gameplay is entirely individual with no cooperative or team-based elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    -4

    "Gameplay follows a fixed mechanic and level design; no user creation or modification features present."

    Capsule for oO oO

    "Gameplay follows a fixed mechanic of pulling the sword; no creation or customization involved."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    4

    "Players exert control over others through raiding, killing, and territorial dominance."

    Capsule for Strayed Strayed

    "Players exert dominance by dethroning others and taking control as king, though interactions are limited."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "Players use the game as a challenging distraction and stress relief, escaping real-life through focused gameplay."

    Capsule for Egging On Egging On

    "Players use the game as a challenging distraction and stress relief, escaping real life through focused effort."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of curiosity and personal interest, not obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for how do you Do It? how do you Do It?

    "Players engage voluntarily out of curiosity and personal desire, not obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "The unique mouse gesture combat system encourages players to experiment with different attack directions and combos."

    Capsule for Silver Silver

    "Players try different mouse sensitivities and strategies to optimize pulling the sword."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    -3

    "The game is set in a single room with fixed locations; exploration is limited and not a primary focus."

    Capsule for Five Nights at Freddy's 4 Five Nights at Freddy's 4

    "The game environment is static with no exploration; focus is on a single task."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -5

    "No character or environment customization; presentation is standardized."

    Capsule for Swarmlake Swarmlake

    "No character or environment customization; presentation is standardized."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Game features a fictional medieval world with imaginative story elements and romantic fantasy."

    Capsule for A Gay Love Story About Gay Love A Gay Love Story About Gay Love

    "The game features a fictional medieval fantasy theme with kings, swords, and ceremonies."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -4

    "Minimal social interaction; players mostly engage individually without community integration."

    Capsule for Logic Town Logic Town

    "Minimal social interaction; players mostly compete individually without forming communities."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop skills and tactics over time to improve performance and survive longer."

    Capsule for Furious Angels Furious Angels

    "Players develop skill and endurance over time to improve performance."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Reports of physical strain (e.g. carpal tunnel, hand pain) from extended play sessions."

    Capsule for One Finger Death Punch 2 One Finger Death Punch 2

    "Extended play causes physical strain and discomfort, with reports of hand cramps and pain."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires sustained attention and focus; not suitable for casual or background play."

    Capsule for Children of a Dead Earth Children of a Dead Earth

    "Requires constant focused attention and sustained effort; not suitable for casual or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No close relationships or emotional social interactions described."

    Capsule for Kill It With Fire Kill It With Fire

    "No close relationships or emotional social interactions described."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    3

    "Players lead agents and influence kingdoms strategically."

    Capsule for Shadows of Forbidden Gods Shadows of Forbidden Gods

    "Players temporarily lead as king, symbolically commanding the kingdom before being dethroned."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Strong progression via unlocking commanders, gear, relics, and increasing difficulty tiers."

    Capsule for There Are No Orcs There Are No Orcs

    "Progression is marked by pulling the sword further and achieving king status; difficulty increases with more players."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -3

    "Gameplay is tense and frustrating at times, inducing stress rather than relaxation."

    Capsule for Paddle Paddle Paddle Paddle Paddle Paddle

    "Gameplay is tense and frustrating, causing stress rather than relaxation."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Enjoyment comes from fast-paced gameplay and satisfying mechanics rather than intense sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for DDNet DDNet

    "Enjoyment comes from the tension and emotional rollercoaster rather than sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    5

    "Leaderboards and ranks provide social recognition and status."

    Capsule for Minion Masters Minion Masters

    "High value placed on social recognition as king and leaderboard positions."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Game includes a humorous and ongoing narrative with lore and character interactions."

    Capsule for NGU IDLE NGU IDLE

    "The game includes a humorous and dark narrative with cutscenes and lore elements."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    2

    "Requires some tactical thinking and planning in combat and movement, but mostly fast reflexes and skill."

    Capsule for Banana Shooter Banana Shooter

    "Some strategic choices in mouse sensitivity and grip technique, but mostly a test of endurance."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    4

    "High suspense and tension from risk of being caught, lynched, or failing; satisfying relief on success."

    Capsule for Slaughter Horse 2 Slaughter Horse 2

    "Strong thrill from suspense, risk of failure, and relief upon success."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    5

    "Free to play with high perceived value due to unique concept and intellectual challenge."

    Capsule for Graphwar Graphwar

    "Free to play with high perceived value from unique experience and social status."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Includes assassination and killing choices, with some violent themes in story."

    Capsule for Sword of Asumi Sword of Asumi

    "Includes thematic violence such as executions and beheadings as part of the story."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players must avoid failure by not touching obstacles and managing momentum."

    Capsule for Verlet Swing Verlet Swing

    "Players must avoid failure by maintaining grip and control to survive the challenge."

Last update: 01/06/2026