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The Salesman similar games & best alternatives

The Salesman

PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux • 2025

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Quick resume

In the Salesman, you play as a recently laid-off employee trying to survive the grind of job applications, debt, and dwindling hope. Trade your belongings for ad-supported replacements as you slowly sell away your life in this psychological horror game

Global score

83/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Simulator

Similar games

    Pros

    • Strong narrative and thematic depth
    • Effective psychological horror and satire
    • Humor and charm balance tension
    • Good value for price
    • Unique indie experience with voice acting and sound design

    Cons

    • Very short and repetitive gameplay
    • Minimal player agency and creativity
    • Some bugs and technical issues
    • Lack of content and replayability
    • No multiplayer or social features

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Autonomy, Strategy, Experimenting, Competence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Survival. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Creativity.

    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

      "Gameplay is very linear and repetitive with limited player choices, reflecting constrained autonomy."

    • Competence
      -2

      "Tasks are simple and predictable with minimal skill challenge, though some players appreciate the narrative complexity."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No evidence of competitive elements or social comparison; focus is on personal experience."

    • Continuation
      -3

      "Short playtime (~1 hour) and repetitive gameplay lead to limited habitual engagement."

    • Cooperation
      -5

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

    • Creativity
      -4

      "Players follow a fixed routine with no meaningful creation or modification opportunities."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No social dominance or power over others; interactions are solitary and narrative-driven."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Strong psychological horror and satire provide an immersive escape from real life stresses."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and support for indie devs, not obligation."

    • Experimenting
      -3

      "Limited gameplay variation and linear progression discourage experimentation."

    • Exploration
      -2

      "Environment is static and familiar; minimal discovery or new area exploration."

    • Expression
      -5

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

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Game uses surreal and exaggerated corporate satire and horror elements, blending fiction with reality."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community features; experience is solitary."

    • Growth
      1

      "Narrative and thematic depth offer some personal reflection and insight, but gameplay learning is minimal."

    • Health
      -5

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

    • Idle
      3

      "Gameplay includes waiting periods (e.g., microwave) and slow pacing allowing for intermittent attention."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No close social interactions or relationship building."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management roles; single-player narrative."

    • Progression
      2

      "Players progress through days and unlock endings, but no item collection or upgrades."

    • Relaxation
      -1

      "Tension and unease dominate the experience, though some find humor and charm balancing it."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Effective use of sound design, voice acting, and visual atmosphere provide sensory engagement."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems present."

    • Story
      5

      "Strong narrative focus with immersive storytelling and thematic depth."

    • Strategy
      -4

      "Gameplay involves straightforward, repetitive tasks with minimal strategic decision-making."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Some effective jump scares and suspenseful moments create tension and relief."

    • Value
      4

      "Players generally feel the game offers good value for its low price despite short length."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on narrative and psychological horror."

    • Survival
      2

      "Narrative involves avoiding failure in a metaphorical sense (economic survival), but no direct survival mechanics."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026