永冻之壳 The Shell of Permafrost Thumbnail

永冻之壳 The Shell of Permafrost similar games & best alternatives

永冻之壳 The Shell of Permafrost

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2018

Related articles

Quick resume

A girl, draped in mystery and chased by an evil fate, escapes from a frozen land. Now, a year later, with her memory gradually returning, she is forced to make an important decision.

Global score

98/100

Genres

Casual, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Free To Play

Similar games

    Pros

    • Beautiful pixel art and character portraits
    • Engaging and emotional story with multiple endings
    • Unique clue combination mechanic
    • Pleasant music and atmosphere
    • Free to play

    Cons

    • Very short gameplay length
    • Some confusing or rushed story elements
    • Qtes can be frustrating or too fast for some
    • Minor translation and grammar issues
    • Limited exploration and gameplay variety

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Expression. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Value, Story.

    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

      "Players explore environments, combine clues, and make decisions leading to multiple endings, indicating a degree of control over actions and story progression."

    • Competence
      2

      "Gameplay involves clue finding, combining, and QTEs which provide some skill challenge but are generally described as easy or simple."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No evidence of competitive elements; focus is on personal story experience and exploration without comparison to others."

    • Continuation
      1

      "Some players expressed desire for more content and replayed to get all endings, but overall the game is short and easily completed."

    • Cooperation
      -5

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

    • Creativity
      3

      "Players combine clues and experiment with QTEs and magic, showing creative problem solving within the game systems."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control over others; interactions are narrative and personal."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game as a short emotional and narrative escape, engaging with a bittersweet story and atmosphere."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      2

      "Combining clues and exploring story branches encourages some experimentation, though within a limited scope."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Exploration is limited to a house and surroundings but involves discovering clues and secrets to advance the story."

    • Expression
      -3

      "No customization or personalization reported; players experience a fixed narrative and character presentation."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "The game features magic, witches, and a fictional narrative with imaginative elements."

    • Fellowship
      -5

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

    • Growth
      2

      "Players learn story details and puzzle mechanics; some personal development through narrative understanding."

    • Health
      -5

      "No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements."

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires focused attention to solve puzzles and complete QTEs; not a background or idle experience."

    • Intimacy
      1

      "Emotional connection to characters and story is reported, but no social relationship building."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements present."

    • Progression
      3

      "Progression through story, unlocking clues, and achieving multiple endings provides a sense of advancement."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "The game’s music and atmosphere provide a calming, melancholic experience despite some tension in QTEs."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Visuals and music are praised for their charm and emotional impact, providing sensory enjoyment."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems; achievements are personal."

    • Story
      5

      "Strong narrative focus with multiple endings, emotional depth, and lore exploration."

    • Strategy
      1

      "Some puzzle solving and clue combination require light strategic thinking but overall gameplay is simple."

    • Thrill
      1

      "QTEs add mild tension and challenge, but overall the game is calm and contemplative."

    • Value
      5

      "Free game with high praise for story and art; players feel good value for time invested."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No violent or destructive gameplay; focus is on story and puzzle solving."

    • Survival
      -5

      "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable and safe game environment."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026