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TheDawn similar games & best alternatives

TheDawn

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2020

Related articles

Quick resume

TheDawn is a third-person shooting game about the journey of Maya, the superpowers who can manipulate time, and Max, the hacker who helps her. Will they be able to save mankind and face a new dawn?

Global score

93/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Free To Play, Indie, Shooter

Similar games

    Pros

    • Free to play
    • Fast-paced and responsive combat
    • Unique time manipulation mechanics
    • Challenging and satisfying boss fight
    • Well polished for a student project

    Cons

    • Very short gameplay length
    • Limited enemy variety
    • Lack of graphics settings and optimization
    • Some bugs and glitches especially in boss fight
    • No multiplayer or social features

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Value. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Continuation, Exploration.

    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 movement, aiming, and use of unique time manipulation abilities, allowing personal decision-making in combat."

    • Competence
      4

      "The game rewards skillful aiming, dodging, and ability usage with challenging boss fights and responsive controls."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on individual playthrough and personal challenge rather than competing against others or leaderboards."

    • Continuation
      -4

      "Short game (~30-60 minutes) with limited content; players complete it quickly and do not engage in long habitual play."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements mentioned."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Unique time control mechanics and ability combinations encourage creative combat strategies despite limited enemy variety."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over other players; gameplay is individual and cooperative elements absent."

    • Escapism
      3

      "Players enjoy immersive, fast-paced combat and anime-style world to escape boredom or real life for a short time."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and challenge; no indication of obligation or external pressure to play."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players experiment with time manipulation abilities and combat tactics to overcome challenges and boss fights."

    • Exploration
      -3

      "Game is short and linear with limited levels; exploration is minimal and environments are mostly familiar."

    • Expression
      -3

      "No character customization or avatar personalization; fixed protagonist and limited cosmetic options."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Anime-style shooter with imaginative fiction elements like time control powers and AI apocalypse setting."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "Single-player game with no social or community features described."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop skill mastery through challenging combat and boss fights, improving timing and tactics."

    • Health
      -5

      "No physical activity or health-related features; typical sedentary gameplay."

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement due to fast-paced combat and challenging boss fights."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No social interactions or relationship-building features; purely individual gameplay."

    • Leadership
      -5

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

    • Progression
      2

      "Some progression through ability usage and combat mastery, but no extensive item collection or upgrades."

    • Relaxation
      -2

      "Gameplay is challenging and fast-paced, creating tension rather than relaxation or flow."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Visuals, sound, and fast action provide sensory stimulation and excitement."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or ranking systems; achievements are personal and not publicly evaluated."

    • Story
      2

      "Short narrative with AI apocalypse theme and character dialogue, but story depth is limited due to game length."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Players must plan ability usage and positioning to overcome enemies and boss mechanics."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Challenging boss fights and fast combat create suspense and excitement."

    • Value
      5

      "Free game with polished mechanics and enjoyable gameplay; high perceived value for time invested."

    • Violence
      4

      "Combat involves shooting and destroying robotic enemies and a boss, emphasizing violent action."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must avoid damage and manage abilities to survive challenging encounters and boss attacks."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026