TurnOn similar games & best alternatives

TurnOn

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One • 2016

Should you play it?

"TurnOn" tells the spellbinding tale of a brave alien creature and its striking journey through blackout world, in an incredibly colorful and detailed platformer without platforms.

What works
  • Relaxing and charming atmosphere
  • Unique and colorful art style
  • Excellent and varied music
  • Simple and accessible gameplay
  • Visual storytelling through comics
Things to keep in mind
  • Short game length
  • Frustrating runner levels for some players
  • Minor bugs and control issues
  • Some perspective and camera quirks
  • Price considered high by some

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Omno

  • GNOG

  • Lowglow

  • Mushroom Cats 2

  • Haven Moon

  • Dreaming Sarah

  • Scrap Garden

  • Alice's Patchwork

  • Jusant
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • GNOG

  • Lowglow

  • Mushroom Cats 2
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Escapism

    Yoku's Island Express
  • Exploration

    Zompiercer
  • Relaxation

    Pixel Puzzles: Japan

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).

TurnOn: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Competition, Thrill. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Expression, Fellowship.

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 can choose their own paths and routes through levels, experimenting with movement and puzzle solving."

    Capsule for Vectromirror 0™ Vectromirror 0™

    "Players control the electric spark freely moving along power lines and choosing paths to restore electricity, with some puzzle solving and exploration."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    2

    "Gameplay involves light platforming and puzzles that require some skill but are generally accessible and not highly challenging."

    Capsule for Postmouse Postmouse

    "Gameplay is mostly casual platforming with some light puzzles and exploration; some runner levels add moderate challenge but overall accessible."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal progress and exploration without competitive elements or player comparison."

    Capsule for Hero of the Kingdom II Hero of the Kingdom II

    "Focus is on personal progress and exploration without competitive elements or player comparison."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    1

    "Players enjoy the atmosphere and story but game length is short and some find pacing slow, limiting long habitual play."

    Capsule for Truberbrook / Trüberbrook Truberbrook / Trüberbrook

    "Players enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and story, but the game is short (~4-5 hours) and some find runner levels frustrating, limiting long habitual play."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for CARIMARA: Beneath the forlorn limbs CARIMARA: Beneath the forlorn limbs

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

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players engage in exploration and puzzle solving with some freedom to discover secrets and interact with the environment creatively."

    Capsule for NAIAD NAIAD

    "Players explore and solve puzzles in a unique setting with some freedom to find secrets and light up the city, though gameplay is structured."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; cooperative and friendly tone."

    Capsule for Calico Calico

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; cooperative and friendly tone."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Relaxing, charming world and music provide a pleasant escape from real life stress."

    Capsule for Yoku's Island Express Yoku's Island Express

    "Relaxing, charming atmosphere and music provide a pleasant escape from real life stress."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and relaxation without obligation or pressure."

    Capsule for Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles

    "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and relaxation without obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    2

    "Exploration and puzzle solving encourage some experimentation, though gameplay is straightforward."

    Capsule for Farewell North Farewell North

    "Exploration and puzzle solving encourage some experimentation with paths and mechanics, though gameplay is fairly guided."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Game encourages discovering new towns, secret locations, and hidden loot."

    Capsule for Zompiercer Zompiercer

    "Game encourages discovering secrets, hidden paths, and lighting up various parts of the city."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -3

    "Limited character customization; focus is on gameplay and story rather than avatar personalization."

    Capsule for Ori and the Blind Forest Ori and the Blind Forest

    "Limited character customization; focus is on gameplay and story rather than avatar personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Engages players in a sci-fi fictional universe with imaginative alien races, technology, and story."

    Capsule for Starcom: Nexus Starcom: Nexus

    "Players control an alien electric spark in a fictional city with imaginative scenarios and visual storytelling."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "Single-player game with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    Capsule for NieR:Automata™ NieR:Automata™

    "Single-player game with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    2

    "Players learn puzzles and improve platforming/combat skills, though difficulty is mild."

    Capsule for Neversong Neversong

    "Players learn level layouts, puzzle solutions, and improve platforming skills, though difficulty is generally low."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related mechanics."

    Capsule for Detroit: Become Human Detroit: Become Human

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related mechanics."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention on puzzles and platforming; not designed for background or idle play."

    Capsule for LostWinds LostWinds

    "Requires focused attention to platforming and puzzles; not designed for background or idle play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No close social relationships or emotional sharing; solitary gameplay experience."

    Capsule for The Evil Within The Evil Within

    "No close social relationships or emotional sharing; solitary gameplay experience."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or management roles; player acts independently."

    Capsule for Dinocop Dinocop

    "No leadership or management roles; player acts independently."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Players collect items and unlock new areas, advancing through puzzles and achievements."

    Capsule for Slice of Sea Slice of Sea

    "Players collect lightning bolts and unlock new areas, with achievements rewarding thorough exploration."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    4

    "Game is praised for its relaxing atmosphere, music, and calming gameplay."

    Capsule for Pixel Puzzles: Japan Pixel Puzzles: Japan

    "Game is praised for its calming music, gentle gameplay, and relaxing atmosphere."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Beautiful visuals and music provide sensory enjoyment, though gameplay is not highly stimulating or intense."

    Capsule for Song of the Deep Song of the Deep

    "Colorful visuals and pleasant music provide sensory enjoyment, though gameplay is not intense."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status elements; focus is on individual experience."

    Capsule for Singularity™ Singularity™

    "No social recognition or status elements; focus is on individual experience."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Narrative and comic-style cutscenes provide engaging story immersion."

    Capsule for Unboxing the Cryptic Killer Unboxing the Cryptic Killer

    "Visual storytelling through comic-style cutscenes and in-game events creates narrative immersion."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    1

    "Light puzzle solving and some planning involved, but overall gameplay is simple and straightforward."

    Capsule for A Bewitching Revolution A Bewitching Revolution

    "Some light puzzle solving and planning required, but overall gameplay is straightforward."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    -2

    "Game is mostly calm and methodical; some mild tension from time limits and penalties but no strong thrill elements."

    Capsule for Deconstruction Simulator: Prologue Deconstruction Simulator: Prologue

    "Mostly controlled and calm gameplay; occasional runner levels add some tension but not sustained thrill."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    1

    "Generally considered good value especially on sale; some feel full price is high for game length."

    Capsule for Cubetractor Cubetractor

    "Generally considered good value especially on sale, though some feel the price is high for game length."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -5

    "No combat or destruction; gameplay focuses on constructive activities."

    Capsule for ASTRONEER ASTRONEER

    "No combat or destruction; gameplay focuses on constructive actions like restoring power."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -3

    "Low-risk environment with forgiving mechanics; no harsh survival elements."

    Capsule for Snacko Snacko

    "Some challenge in avoiding hazards, but overall low risk and forgiving mechanics."

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Last update: 01/06/2026