Year Walk Thumbnail

Year Walk similar games & best alternatives

Year Walk

PC (Microsoft Windows), Wii U • 2014

Related articles

Quick resume

In the old days man tried to catch a glimpse of the future in the strangest of ways.Experience the ancient Swedish phenomena of year walking through a different kind of first person adventure that blurs the line between two and three dimensions, as well as reality and the supernatural.

Global score

90/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie

Similar games

    Pros

    • Unique and haunting atmosphere
    • Beautiful art style and music
    • Engaging folklore-based story
    • Clever and varied puzzles
    • Immersive and memorable experience

    Cons

    • Short game length
    • Limited replay value
    • Some puzzles can be confusing
    • Controls adapted from mobile can feel awkward
    • Few jump scares may not appeal to all

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Relaxation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, 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
      3

      "Players explore the forest and solve puzzles at their own pace with some freedom in movement and puzzle approach."

    • Competence
      2

      "Puzzles are moderately challenging, requiring observation, note-taking, and some logical thinking, but not overly difficult."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive elements; focus is on individual experience and personal puzzle solving."

    • Continuation
      2

      "Players often replay the game to uncover secrets and true endings, though the game is short and has limited replay value."

    • Cooperation
      -5

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

    • Creativity
      1

      "Players create notes and piece together clues themselves, but gameplay follows predefined puzzles and story."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; purely individual experience."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Strong immersion in a surreal, folklore-based world provides escape from reality and a haunting experience."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in story, atmosphere, and puzzles without external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      2

      "Encourages exploration and trying to solve puzzles in different ways, though within a structured narrative."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Players explore a mysterious forest environment, uncovering secrets and folklore elements."

    • Expression
      -5

      "No character customization or self-expression features; presentation is fixed."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Strongly based on Scandinavian folklore and supernatural elements, creating an imaginative fictional experience."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "Solo play with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    • Growth
      2

      "Players learn about folklore and develop puzzle-solving skills through gameplay and reading in-game encyclopedia."

    • Health
      -5

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

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention to solve puzzles and progress; not suited for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

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

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements; single player."

    • Progression
      2

      "Progression through puzzle completion and unlocking story elements and journal entries."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Atmosphere and music create a haunting but calm experience, balancing tension and immersion."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Visual and auditory design provide eerie and immersive sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      -5

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

    • Story
      5

      "Strong narrative focus with folklore-based story, journal entries, and multiple endings."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Requires logical thinking and puzzle solving, but no complex strategic planning."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Some suspense and jump scares create moments of tension and relief."

    • Value
      3

      "Highly praised for its artistic and narrative value despite short length; considered worth the price."

    • Violence
      -3

      "Minimal violence; focus is on exploration and puzzle solving rather than combat or destruction."

    • Survival
      1

      "Some elements of avoiding supernatural threats and overcoming challenges, but no resource management."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026