They Always Run similar games & best alternatives

They Always Run

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

Should you play it?

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.

What works
  • Beautiful art style and animation
  • Engaging combat system
  • Compelling story with plot twists
  • Satisfying soundtrack
  • Linear progression with upgrades
Things to keep in mind
  • Clunky and sometimes unresponsive controls
  • Janky platforming and collision detection
  • Repetitive enemy types and combat
  • Abrupt cliffhanger ending
  • Some bugs and glitches reported

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED]

  • Gravity Circuit

  • Exit the Gungeon

  • Noitu Love 2: Devolution

  • DEAD OR SCHOOL

  • Chorus

  • Eastern Exorcist

  • The Legend of Tianding

  • Bleak Sword DX

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED]

  • Nitro Express

  • Corridor Z

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Fantasy

    Risk of Rain 2

  • Competence

    SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance

  • Escapism

    Parkan 2

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • 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 (hidden on purpose).

They Always Run: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Status. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression, Violence. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Exploration.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    3

    "Players have control over combat style, weapon upgrades, and exploration, but the game is largely linear with fixed level progression."

    Capsule for Alice: Madness Returns Alice: Madness Returns

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

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "Combat is skill-based with deep combos and responsive controls; platforming offers challenge but some frustration."

    Capsule for SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance

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

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for Half-Life: Alyx Half-Life: Alyx

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

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players report being engaged and wanting to continue playing despite some frustration with puzzles; some replayability noted."

    Capsule for MADiSON MADiSON

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

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player with no cooperative gameplay."

    Capsule for Outlast 2 Outlast 2

    "Entirely single-player with no cooperative gameplay."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players can customize skill builds and use various weapons and abilities, but level design and story are linear and fixed."

    Capsule for Bright Memory: Infinite Bright Memory: Infinite

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

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Half-Life: Alyx Half-Life: Alyx

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

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game to immerse in a vast sci-fi universe, escaping real life with exploration, combat, and story."

    Capsule for Parkan 2 Parkan 2

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

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for Horizon Zero Dawn™ Complete Edition Horizon Zero Dawn™ Complete Edition

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

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    2

    "Some experimentation with combat combos and weapon use, but overall gameplay is repetitive and linear."

    Capsule for BloodRayne (Legacy) BloodRayne (Legacy)

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

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    -3

    "Game is mostly linear with limited backtracking and exploration; maps reveal entire areas on entry reducing discovery."

    Capsule for Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU

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

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    1

    "Limited character customization and some cosmetic upgrades, but mostly standardized presentation."

    Capsule for Flock Around Flock Around

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

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Strong sci-fi fantasy setting with imaginative characters, enemies, and lore."

    Capsule for Risk of Rain 2 Risk of Rain 2

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

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Z Z

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

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop skills in combat and platforming; progression through upgrades and new abilities."

    Capsule for Olija Olija

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

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

    Capsule for Operation: Tango Operation: Tango

    "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires continuous attention and focus due to challenging combat and platforming."

    Capsule for Valfaris Valfaris

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

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship building features."

    Capsule for Poppy Playtime Poppy Playtime

    "No social or emotional relationship building features."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements."

    Capsule for High On Life High On Life

    "No leadership or group management elements."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Players accumulate weapons, upgrades, and abilities to progress through the game."

    Capsule for Cookie Cutter: Overkill Edition Cookie Cutter: Overkill Edition

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

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -2

    "Gameplay is often tense and challenging, with frustration reported."

    Capsule for Tomato Way Tomato Way

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

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable visual effects, animations, and soundtrack provide sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Noobs Are Coming Noobs Are Coming

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

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems."

    Capsule for Alan Wake Alan Wake

    "No social recognition or status systems."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    4

    "Narrative-driven with engaging story, character interactions, and plot twists."

    Capsule for Fears to Fathom - Carson House Fears to Fathom - Carson House

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

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    2

    "Combat and equipment upgrades require some planning and tactical thinking, though not highly complex."

    Capsule for Like a Dragon: Ishin! Like a Dragon: Ishin!

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

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

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

    Capsule for BloodRayne 2 (Legacy) BloodRayne 2 (Legacy)

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

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

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

    Capsule for Breathedge Breathedge

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

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

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

    Capsule for Devil Slayer - Raksasi Devil Slayer - Raksasi

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

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    2

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

    Capsule for Pharaoh Rebirth+ Pharaoh Rebirth+

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

Last update: 01/06/2026