Vaporum similar games & best alternatives

Vaporum

Mac, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Linux, Xbox One • 2017

Should you play it?

Vaporum is a grid-based dungeon crawler RPG in an original steampunk setting, inspired by old-school classics of the genre. Stranded in the middle of an ocean, in front of a gigantic tower, the hero has to find out what the place is, what happened there, and most importantly, who he is.

What works
  • Engaging tactical combat
  • Atmospheric steampunk setting
  • Challenging puzzles and secrets
  • Meaningful character progression
  • Good story and voice acting
Things to keep in mind
  • Some puzzles and secrets can be frustrating
  • Combat can be punishing and grindy
  • Limited enemy variety
  • Dark visuals make secrets hard to find
  • No multiplayer or social features

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • FIGHT KNIGHT

  • Sands of Aura

  • 恶魔迷宫 | Evil Maze

  • Dungeons of Aether

  • Dungeon Drafters

  • ASTLIBRA Revision

  • Hellslave

  • Arboria

  • Operencia: The Stolen Sun
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Sands of Aura

  • Operencia: The Stolen Sun

  • RAIDBORN
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Autonomy

    Gatewalkers (Alpha)
  • Competence

    The Bard's Tale IV: Director's Cut
  • Escapism

    Scanner Sombre

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).

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

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

    4

    "Players can freely choose weapons and skills tied to gear, mix and match builds, and explore different playstyles."

    Capsule for Gatewalkers (Alpha) Gatewalkers (Alpha)

    "Players can freely choose character build, weapons, gadgets, and playstyle with skill trees and equipment swaps."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "Combat is tactical and challenging, requiring strategic thinking and mastery; puzzles vary in difficulty and require problem solving."

    Capsule for The Bard's Tale IV: Director's Cut The Bard's Tale IV: Director's Cut

    "Combat is challenging and tactical with skill-based dodging and positioning; puzzles require problem solving and timing."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Single-player experience focused on personal progression without competitive or ranked modes."

    Capsule for Steelrising Steelrising

    "Single player experience focused on personal progression without ranked or multiplayer competition."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players report long play sessions, multiple playthroughs, and engagement with secrets and upgrades encouraging habitual play."

    Capsule for Primal Planet Primal Planet

    "Players report long play sessions, multiple playthroughs with different builds, and engagement with secrets and puzzles."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

    Capsule for Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

    "Entirely single player with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players can customize builds extensively, experiment with weapons and upgrades, and explore hidden secrets and puzzles."

    Capsule for Void Sols Void Sols

    "Players customize builds, choose weapons and gadgets, and solve puzzles creatively; some secret discovery."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No social or multiplayer dominance; interactions are with environment and AI enemies only."

    Capsule for FROSTBITE: Deadly Climate FROSTBITE: Deadly Climate

    "No social or multiplayer dominance; player interacts only with environment and AI enemies."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Strong atmospheric immersion and exploration provide an escape from reality."

    Capsule for Scanner Sombre Scanner Sombre

    "Strong atmospheric immersion in a steampunk tower with story and exploration providing escape from reality."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and nostalgia for classic RPGs; no obligation or external pressure noted."

    Capsule for Drova - Forsaken Kin Drova - Forsaken Kin

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and nostalgia for dungeon crawlers; no obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players try different builds, skills, and playstyles; exploration and building encourage experimentation."

    Capsule for Enshrouded Enshrouded

    "Players try different builds, weapons, gadgets, and puzzle solutions; game encourages experimentation."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Levels contain many secrets and hidden areas; exploration is a core gameplay element."

    Capsule for DOOM + DOOM II DOOM + DOOM II

    "Exploration of multiple levels, secrets, and hidden buttons is a key part of gameplay."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Character customization through equipment and skill choices allows some self-expression."

    Capsule for Ys SEVEN Ys SEVEN

    "Character customization through equipment and skill choices allows some self-expression."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Steampunk fantasy setting with imaginative characters and events beyond realistic scenarios."

    Capsule for Gremlins, Inc. Gremlins, Inc.

    "Steampunk sci-fi fantasy setting with imaginative story and supernatural elements."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; strictly solo play."

    Capsule for Outlast 2 Outlast 2

    "No social or community features; strictly solo play."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop skills, learn combat mechanics, and improve gear; leveling and skill trees support personal growth."

    Capsule for Forge Quest Forge Quest

    "Skill trees, leveling, and equipment upgrades provide meaningful player growth and development."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Requires extended sedentary play with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for Exit the Gungeon Exit the Gungeon

    "Requires sedentary play; no physical activity involved."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires continuous attention and focus due to challenging combat and puzzles; not a casual or background game."

    Capsule for Outlaws + A Handful of Missions (Classic, 1997) Outlaws + A Handful of Missions (Classic, 1997)

    "Requires constant attention and focus during combat and puzzles; not a casual or background game."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship building; solo experience."

    Capsule for Curse of the Dead Gods Curse of the Dead Gods

    "No social or emotional relationship building; solo experience."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management mechanics; single character control only."

    Capsule for Eschalon: Book I Eschalon: Book I

    "No leadership or group management; single character control only."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Clear progression through skill trees, weapon upgrades, and story advancement."

    Capsule for The Darkest Tales The Darkest Tales

    "Clear progression through levels, skill trees, equipment upgrades, and story advancement."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    1

    "Atmospheric and immersive but combat and exploration can be tense and challenging."

    Capsule for Gothic® 3 Gothic® 3

    "Atmospheric and immersive but combat and puzzles can be tense and challenging."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Strong sensory stimulation through lighting effects, sound design, and music."

    Capsule for Alan Wake Alan Wake

    "Strong sensory stimulation from detailed visuals, lighting, sound effects, and music."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social status or recognition systems; individual focus."

    Capsule for The Bloodline The Bloodline

    "No social status or recognition systems; individual focus."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Narrative is present but light, delivered through environmental storytelling and audio logs; story motivates progression."

    Capsule for Vertigo Remastered Vertigo Remastered

    "Narrative delivered through voice acting, audio logs, and text; story motivates exploration."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Combat and puzzle solving require planning and tactical thinking."

    Capsule for Labyronia RPG Labyronia RPG

    "Combat and puzzles require tactical thinking, planning, and problem solving."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Tense encounters and traps create suspense and excitement during exploration and combat."

    Capsule for Legend of Grimrock Legend of Grimrock

    "Combat encounters and traps provide suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players report good value for money with many hours of gameplay and replayability."

    Capsule for Neon Chrome Neon Chrome

    "Players report good value for money with many hours of gameplay and replayability."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Combat involves fighting and destroying enemies with various weapons and abilities."

    Capsule for StarCrawlers StarCrawlers

    "Combat involves attacking and defeating mechanical and biological enemies with weapons and gadgets."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players must avoid traps, manage health, and defeat enemies to survive and progress."

    Capsule for VR Dungeon Knight VR Dungeon Knight

    "Players must avoid damage, manage resources, and survive enemy encounters and traps."

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Last update: 01/06/2026