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Valdis Story: Abyssal City similar games & best alternatives

Valdis Story: Abyssal City

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2013

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Quick resume

Assume the role of Wyatt in this Action/Exploration Platformer as you explore the ruins of a holy city that was lost many years ago. Battle various types of demons, angels, and a new threat known only as the “Ferals”, using swordsmanship, martial arts, and sorcery.

Global score

84/100

Genres

Action, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Platform, Strategy

Similar games

    Pros

    • Challenging and rewarding combat system
    • Multiple playable characters with unique playstyles
    • Deep customization and skill trees
    • High replayability with varied builds and difficulties
    • Beautiful hand-drawn graphics and excellent soundtrack

    Cons

    • Steep learning curve and high difficulty may frustrate some players
    • Lack of global map and some confusing navigation
    • Platforming controls can be imprecise
    • Story and lore are somewhat sparse and require exploration to understand
    • No multiplayer or cooperative features

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Relaxation, Survival, Violence, Fellowship. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Competition, Status, Expression.

    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 freedom to choose characters, playstyles, skill trees, and upgrade paths, allowing personal control over gameplay."

    • Competence
      5

      "The game is challenging with complex combat, boss fights requiring skill and pattern learning, and rewarding mastery."

    • Competition
      3

      "Includes boss ranking system and leaderboards encouraging comparison and skill improvement against others."

    • Continuation
      5

      "High replayability with multiple characters, builds, and difficulty levels leading to long playtime and habitual engagement."

    • Cooperation
      -4

      "Single-player focused with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay elements."

    • Creativity
      4

      "Players can customize characters extensively via skill trees, equipment, and magic, enabling creative builds."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is individual and respectful."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Immersive fantasy world and challenging gameplay provide strong escape from real-life stress."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, not obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Encourages trying different characters, builds, and strategies to overcome challenges and bosses."

    • Exploration
      4

      "Metroidvania style encourages discovering new areas, secrets, and backtracking with new abilities."

    • Expression
      3

      "Character customization through skill trees, equipment, and magic allows personal expression of playstyle."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Set in a fantasy world with angels, demons, magic, and mythical story elements."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community features; gameplay is solo and independent."

    • Growth
      5

      "Strong emphasis on learning combat mechanics, improving skills, and character development through leveling."

    • Health
      -4

      "Requires extended sedentary play sessions with intense focus; no physical activity elements."

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires constant attention and precision, especially in combat and platforming sections."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No evidence of forming close relationships or emotional social interactions."

    • Leadership
      Insufficient data
    • Progression
      5

      "Character leveling, skill trees, equipment upgrades, and boss ranking rewards drive progression."

    • Relaxation
      -3

      "Game is challenging and can be frustrating, requiring focus and persistence rather than relaxation."

    • Sensation
      4

      "Engaging combat, music, and visuals provide strong sensory and emotional stimulation."

    • Status
      2

      "Leaderboards and boss rankings provide some social recognition, though limited."

    • Story
      3

      "Narrative with characters, lore, and plot twists enriches player immersion beyond context-free action."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Requires planning builds, learning boss patterns, and tactical combat decisions."

    • Thrill
      4

      "Boss fights and timed platforming provide suspense, challenge, and excitement."

    • Value
      4

      "High replayability, free updates, and content depth provide good return on investment."

    • Violence
      4

      "Combat focused on defeating enemies and bosses with melee and magic attacks."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must avoid death and manage resources to progress through difficult enemies and bosses."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026