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They Always Run similar games & best alternatives

They Always Run

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 • 2021

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Quick resume

Become Aiden, a three-armed mutant who hunts the most dangerous bounties in the galaxy. Catch, slice, dice and destroy enemies in this exciting 2D platformer with a space-western setting.

Global score

80/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Platform, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Arcade, Indie, Fighting

Similar games

    Pros

    • Beautiful art style and animation
    • Engaging combat system
    • Compelling story with plot twists
    • Satisfying soundtrack
    • Linear progression with upgrades

    Cons

    • Clunky and sometimes unresponsive controls
    • Janky platforming and collision detection
    • Repetitive enemy types and combat
    • Abrupt cliffhanger ending
    • Some bugs and glitches reported

    Analysis

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

    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 have control over combat style, upgrades, and bounty choices, but the game is linear with fixed progression."

    • Competence
      4

      "Combat and platforming provide skill challenges and require mastery, though some controls are clunky."

    • Competition
      -4

      "Focus is on single-player experience without competitive or leaderboard elements."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report being engaged and wanting to continue playing despite some frustrations."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Entirely single-player with no cooperative gameplay."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players can customize upgrades and combat approach, but level design and story are linear."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; single-player focus."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game to immerse in a sci-fi bounty hunter world, escaping real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, not obligation."

    • Experimenting
      2

      "Some experimentation with combat combos and upgrades, but overall linear gameplay."

    • Exploration
      -3

      "Game is mostly linear with limited exploration and no metroidvania style backtracking."

    • Expression
      1

      "Limited character customization, mostly fixed presentation with some upgrade choices."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Strong sci-fi fantasy setting with bounty hunter narrative and imaginative world."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No multiplayer or social community features; solo play only."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop skill in combat and platforming and unlock upgrades."

    • Health
      -5

      "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires focused attention due to challenging combat and platforming."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No social or emotional relationship building features."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements."

    • Progression
      4

      "Players accumulate upgrades, weapons, and abilities as they progress."

    • Relaxation
      -2

      "Gameplay can be tense and challenging, with some frustration reported."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Visuals, animations, and soundtrack provide strong sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems."

    • Story
      4

      "Engaging narrative with character interactions and plot twists, though linear."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Combat and upgrade choices require some planning, but overall straightforward."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Combat and platforming provide moments of tension and excitement."

    • Value
      3

      "Players feel the game offers good value for time and money, especially on sale."

    • Violence
      4

      "Combat involves defeating enemies with weapons and melee attacks."

    • Survival
      2

      "Players must manage health and avoid death in challenging combat and platforming."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026