Vellum similar games & best alternatives
Vellum
2025
Related articles
Quick resume
Write on! Defend the books in Vellum, a co-op, literary roguelike! Harness class-defining colors, master an inspired spellbook, and influence the growth of your enemy! As a group or solo, you'll craft plot-twisting builds to rewrite the rules in Ink!
Global score
90/100
Genres
Action, Adventure, Indie, Role-playing (RPG)
Similar games
Pros
- Engaging and fluid combat with diverse builds
- Strong co-op and community features
- Unique literary and ink-based fantasy theme
- Short, replayable runs with meta progression
- Frequent developer updates and responsiveness
Cons
- Some balance issues with certain builds or inks
- Visual clarity can be lacking in chaotic combat
- Limited map variety and exploration
- Performance drops in long endless runs
- Content can feel limited after extensive play
Analysis
A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Competition, Status. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Leadership.
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
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Autonomy4
"Players can freely choose their loadouts, spells, signature inks, and modifiers, allowing significant control over playstyle and run customization."
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Competence3
"The game offers skill-based combat with meaningful upgrades and challenges, though some players find certain builds or meta choices more effective."
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Competition2
"Includes leaderboards and daily runs with shared loadouts, encouraging comparison, but also supports casual and solo play without pressure."
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Continuation3
"Players report habitual play, long sessions, and engagement with meta progression and endless modes, though some note content can feel limited after extensive play."
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Cooperation4
"Strong emphasis on co-op play with shared buffs, team-wide upgrades, and synergy between players, though solo play is also supported."
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Creativity4
"High creativity in build customization, mixing spells, inks, and upgrades; players experiment with many combinations and strategies."
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Domination-3
"Interactions emphasize cooperation and shared decision-making; no strong evidence of dominance or power imposition over others."
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Escapism4
"Players use the game as a fun, immersive escape with engaging fantasy themes and satisfying gameplay loops."
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Expectation-4
"Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment; no indication of obligation or external pressure to play."
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Experimenting4
"Players frequently try new builds, spells, and modifiers; the game encourages exploration of mechanics and creative experimentation."
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Exploration2
"Some exploration of unique levels and secrets in the hub, though maps are often arena-style and repeated; discovery is present but limited."
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Expression3
"Customization options for characters and cosmetics exist, allowing personal expression, though some cosmetics are reskins."
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Fantasy5
"Strong fantasy theme centered on ink, writing, and magical tomes; imaginative fiction is core to the experience."
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Fellowship4
"Community and social play are important; players enjoy shared experiences and collaborative achievements."
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Growth3
"Players develop skills, learn mechanics, and improve builds over time; meta progression supports personal development."
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Health-5
"Game is sedentary with no physical activity elements."
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Idle-3
"Requires focused attention during runs; not suitable for background or idle play."
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Intimacy2
"Some social interaction and community connection, but limited evidence of close emotional relationships."
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Leadership-2
"Players mostly participate collaboratively without strong leadership or authoritative roles."
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Progression4
"Strong meta progression with unlockable upgrades, cosmetics, and abilities; players accumulate power and items over time."
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Relaxation2
"Gameplay balances challenge and flow, but some tension and difficulty spikes exist; overall moderately relaxing."
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Sensation3
"Enjoyable visual style and satisfying combat effects provide sensory stimulation and emotional fun."
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Status1
"Some social recognition through leaderboards and achievements, but not a dominant focus."
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Story2
"Contains lore and narrative elements integrated into the world and abilities, though story is not the main focus."
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Strategy3
"Players engage in strategic choices about builds, enemy buffs, and run modifiers; planning and problem solving are rewarded."
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Thrill3
"Players enjoy suspense and challenge from escalating difficulty and boss encounters."
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Value4
"Players perceive good value for money with frequent updates, content, and replayability."
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Violence4
"Combat and destruction of enemies are central gameplay elements."
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Survival3
"Players must avoid death and manage resources to progress through increasingly difficult runs."
Last update: 29/04/2026