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The Way of Life Free Edition

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2016

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Quick resume

The Way of Life makes the player relive the same life's experiences from the point of view of three characters of different ages: an adult, an old man and a child.

Global score

74/100

Genres

Free To Play, Indie

Similar games

    Pros

    • Thought-provoking narrative
    • Unique artistic style
    • Free to play
    • Short and accessible
    • Emotional and philosophical themes

    Cons

    • Very short gameplay
    • Limited interactivity
    • Some bugs reported
    • Unfinished content in free edition
    • Lack of depth in mechanics

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Strategy, Survival, Competence, Violence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Survival, Intimacy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Progression.

    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 make meaningful choices affecting outcomes in each life stage, indicating personal control over decisions."

    • Competence
      -2

      "Gameplay is simple and short with limited challenges; some platforming elements exist but overall low skill demand."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive elements or player comparison; focus is on personal experience and reflection."

    • Continuation
      -3

      "Very short play sessions (5-10 minutes); players generally do not engage in long or habitual play."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players explore different perspectives and make choices, but within a fixed narrative and environment."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; experience is introspective and personal."

    • Escapism
      3

      "Players engage in an artistic, emotional experience that offers a break from reality and provokes thought."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and curiosity; no obligation or external pressure noted."

    • Experimenting
      1

      "Some exploration of different life stages and choices, but limited novelty due to short length and linear design."

    • Exploration
      1

      "Players explore three different perspectives of the same environment, but locations are limited and familiar."

    • Expression
      1

      "Minimal customization; expression mainly through choice of character perspective and decisions."

    • Fantasy
      2

      "Child perspective includes imaginative elements like dragons and lava, contrasting with realistic adult and old man views."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community features; strictly single-player experience."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players reflect on life stages and personal development through narrative and choices."

    • Health
      -5

      "No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; sedentary experience."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention during short sessions; not designed for background or idle play."

    • Intimacy
      2

      "Emotional and personal themes encourage introspection and connection with life experiences."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management; purely individual experience."

    • Progression
      -3

      "Limited progression; players complete short scenarios without item collection or upgrades."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Calm pacing, minimal stress, and soothing audio contribute to a relaxing atmosphere."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Simple but effective visual style and music create emotional and sensory engagement."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems present."

    • Story
      4

      "Strong narrative focus on life stages and philosophical themes; story drives the experience."

    • Strategy
      -3

      "Minimal strategic or problem-solving elements; gameplay is straightforward and linear."

    • Thrill
      -3

      "Low risk and tension; experience is contemplative rather than suspenseful."

    • Value
      5

      "Free to play with meaningful content; players perceive good value for short time investment."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No violence or destructive gameplay; focus on peaceful, reflective experience."

    • Survival
      1

      "Some elements of overcoming obstacles (e.g., crossing roads), but low threat level and simple mechanics."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026