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The Upturned similar games & best alternatives

The Upturned

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2022

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Quick resume

A frantic adventure. Welcome to the Upturned Inn: a grand hotel for the dead! You just want to find your room.

Global score

99/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Indie

Similar games

    Pros

    • Excellent blend of horror and comedy
    • Engaging physics-based gameplay
    • Charming characters and story
    • Good value for price
    • Unique and creative level design

    Cons

    • Limited replayability after first playthrough
    • Some levels can be frustrating or repetitive
    • Ending is ambiguous or less climactic
    • Save system quirks and occasional bugs
    • No multiplayer or social features

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Cooperation, Leadership, Violence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Thrill. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Competition, Relaxation.

    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
      4

      "Players have control over their actions including throwing objects, solving puzzles, and choosing how to approach enemies, indicating a strong sense of personal freedom and decision-making."

    • Competence
      3

      "The game offers a moderate challenge with puzzles and platforming that require skill and timing, providing feedback through success and failure (dying 10-25 times), but is not overly difficult."

    • Competition
      -5

      "The game is single-player focused with no mention of competitive elements or leaderboards; players engage at their own pace without comparison to others."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report being emotionally invested and wanting to keep playing, though replayability is limited due to the comedic and horror elements losing impact on repeats."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "The game is a single-player experience with no cooperative multiplayer or teamwork elements."

    • Creativity
      4

      "Players can creatively use physics-based throwing mechanics and interact with many objects in unique ways, including decorating their elevator with collected items."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are primarily with game environment and NPCs, not other players."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game as a fun, chaotic, and immersive escape blending horror and comedy, providing distraction and emotional engagement."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, with no indication of obligation or external pressure to play."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "The game encourages trying new mechanics and creative problem solving with physics and puzzles, though within a structured progression."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Players explore multiple floors and environments with unique hazards and secrets, but within a defined hotel setting and level structure."

    • Expression
      3

      "Players can customize their elevator with collected items, allowing some degree of self-expression and personalization."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "The game features imaginative fiction with undead hotels, quirky characters, and surreal horror-comedy scenarios."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "The experience is solitary with minimal social interaction beyond NPC characters."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop skills in platforming, puzzle solving, and managing chaotic combat scenarios, showing learning and improvement."

    • Health
      -5

      "The game is a sedentary single-player experience with no physical activity or health-related features."

    • Idle
      -3

      "The game requires focused attention during platforming and combat, with some players noting fatigue after extended sessions."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Social connections are limited to lighthearted NPC interactions without deep emotional sharing or relationship building."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements; the player acts independently."

    • Progression
      3

      "Players collect items, unlock bonus levels, and advance through floors, showing clear progression and accumulation."

    • Relaxation
      1

      "The game balances tension and humor, providing moments of flow and catharsis but also frequent panic and stress."

    • Sensation
      3

      "The game offers sensory stimulation through chaotic physics, jump scares, humorous dialogue, and a fitting soundtrack."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."

    • Story
      3

      "The game has a narrative with characters, plot development, and emotional engagement, though some find the ending ambiguous."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Players use problem solving and planning to navigate puzzles and enemy encounters, though the gameplay is relatively straightforward."

    • Thrill
      4

      "The game delivers suspense, jump scares, and frantic chase sequences that create excitement and relief."

    • Value
      4

      "Players feel the game offers excellent value for its $10 price with quality content, humor, and gameplay."

    • Violence
      3

      "Players engage in combat by throwing objects at enemies and destroying furniture, enjoying chaotic destruction."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must avoid death by managing threats and using resources strategically, with tense survival moments."

    Last update: 29/04/2026