What Lies in the Multiverse similar games & best alternatives

What Lies in the Multiverse

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One • 2022

Should you play it?

A bombastic puzzle platformer about worlds turned inside out. Shift dimensions at the push of a button, solve brain-twisting logistical riddles, and race through the wilds of the multiverse in a bleakly hilarious (and hilariously bleak) story where everything you know can turn on a dime.

What works
  • Engaging and emotional story
  • Unique universe-switching puzzle mechanics
  • Beautiful pixel art and music
  • Well-written characters and humor
  • Accessible puzzle difficulty
Things to keep in mind
  • Some bugs and softlocks reported
  • Lack of dialogue skipping reduces replayability
  • Slow character movement can feel tedious
  • Story pacing and ending criticized by some
  • Backtracking for collectibles can be annoying

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Papo & Yo

  • Jenny LeClue - Detectivu

  • Backfirewall_

  • Bucket Detective

  • Call of the Sea

  • Braid

  • Pinstripe

  • The Crown of Leaves

  • RUBATO
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Backfirewall_

  • Bucket Detective

  • RUBATO
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Story

    WITCH ON THE HOLY NIGHT
  • Autonomy

    STASIS: BONE TOTEM
  • Creativity

    FORM

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).

What Lies in the Multiverse: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Competition, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Expression, Strategy.

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 control three distinct characters with unique abilities and freely switch between them to solve puzzles and explore, showing high player agency."

    Capsule for STASIS: BONE TOTEM STASIS: BONE TOTEM

    "Players have control over switching between universes and solving puzzles with different mechanics, indicating high player agency."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Puzzles vary in difficulty, some are straightforward while others require careful observation and problem solving, providing a moderate skill challenge."

    Capsule for Stories Untold Stories Untold

    "Puzzles are generally light to moderate difficulty, providing a sense of skillful problem solving without excessive frustration."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal puzzle solving and story progression without competitive or ranked elements."

    Capsule for Wanderer Wanderer

    "Focus is on personal puzzle solving and story progression without competitive or ranked elements."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players report engaging story and characters that encourage long sessions and replaying for achievements."

    Capsule for The Dark Eye: Memoria The Dark Eye: Memoria

    "Many players report engaging story and gameplay that encourage long sessions and replay for achievements."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

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

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Unique puzzle designs and surreal environments encourage creative problem solving and exploration."

    Capsule for FORM FORM

    "Unique mechanics involving universe switching and puzzle design encourage creative problem solving."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

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

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game to immerse themselves in an alternate fictional universe, escaping real-life through emotional and psychological storytelling."

    Capsule for STEINS;GATE: Linear Bounded Phenogram STEINS;GATE: Linear Bounded Phenogram

    "Players use the game to immerse in a fictional multiverse with emotional and narrative depth, providing escape from reality."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest in story and puzzles, not out of obligation."

    Capsule for Yesterday Yesterday

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest in story and puzzles, not out of obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "The game encourages trying new mechanics and experimenting with different puzzle solutions throughout."

    Capsule for Adventures of Shuggy Adventures of Shuggy

    "Game encourages trying new puzzle mechanics and exploring different universes with varying rules."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Players discover hidden collectibles, secret characters, and bonus levels."

    Capsule for Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe

    "Players discover secrets, alternate universe details, and hidden collectibles throughout levels."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Customization options like costumes and character animations allow some personal expression."

    Capsule for The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles

    "Some character animations and minor details allow for subtle expression, though customization is limited."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "The game features imaginative, cartoonish worlds, characters, and storylines with time travel and multiverse elements."

    Capsule for Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time

    "The game features imaginative multiverse travel, fictional characters, and narrative fiction elements."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -4

    "Experience is primarily solo with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    Capsule for Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters

    "Experience is primarily solo with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop puzzle-solving skills and understanding of game mechanics over time."

    Capsule for Vessel Vessel

    "Players develop puzzle-solving skills and understanding of game mechanics over time."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay typical of puzzle platformers with no physical activity elements."

    Capsule for Shady Part of Me Shady Part of Me

    "Sedentary gameplay typical of puzzle platformers with no physical activity elements."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

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

    Capsule for Call of the Sea Call of the Sea

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

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    1

    "Emotional connections with characters develop but limited to narrative context."

    Capsule for The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles

    "Narrative fosters emotional connection to characters but limited to single-player experience."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; purely individual gameplay."

    Capsule for Slay the Spire Slay the Spire

    "No leadership or group management roles; purely individual gameplay."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Players progress through chapters and unlock secrets and achievements, showing incremental advancement."

    Capsule for Milo and the Magpies Milo and the Magpies

    "Players progress through chapters, unlock achievements, and collect secrets, showing advancement."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Puzzle solving provides a relaxing flow state for many players, though some puzzles are challenging."

    Capsule for Logiart Grimoire Logiart Grimoire

    "Generally light puzzles and engaging story create a relaxing flow state for many players."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable pixel art, music, and sound design provide pleasant sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for FixFox FixFox

    "Enjoyable pixel art, music, and sound design provide pleasant sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "No social status or recognition systems; focus is on personal experience."

    Capsule for ASTRONEER ASTRONEER

    "No social status or recognition systems; focus is on personal experience."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Strong narrative immersion with well-developed characters and emotional storytelling."

    Capsule for WITCH ON THE HOLY NIGHT WITCH ON THE HOLY NIGHT

    "Strong narrative immersion with memorable characters and emotional storytelling."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Puzzles require logical thinking and planning, though not overly complex."

    Capsule for I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar

    "Puzzles require logical thinking and planning, though not highly complex."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    1

    "Some suspense in story and outcomes, but overall controlled and predictable gameplay."

    Capsule for Blood Code Blood Code

    "Some suspense from story twists but gameplay is mostly controlled and predictable."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players report good value for time and money with engaging gameplay and story."

    Capsule for We. The Revolution We. The Revolution

    "Players report good value for time and money with engaging story and gameplay."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -3

    "Minimal violence; some dark themes but mostly constructive puzzle and exploration gameplay."

    Capsule for Poco Poco

    "Minimal violence; some dark themes but gameplay focuses on puzzle solving and exploration."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -4

    "No survival mechanics; stable puzzle platforming environment without resource threats."

    Capsule for BOKURA BOKURA

    "No survival mechanics or threat avoidance; stable puzzle platforming environment."

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Last update: 01/06/2026