Games like Definitive Guide to Video Game Reward Design

Games Are for Players, not Stock Holders The Urgent Case for Co-operative, Player-Governed Live Service Games "The system is working exactly as intended and must be dismantled." Live service games promise us ever-evolving worlds and vibrant communities. Yet, too often, this potential is tarnished by player frustration, developer burnout, and the creeping sens… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Games Are for Players, not Stock Holders.

61%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:monetization, stability

61% User Score Based on 237 reviews

Chrono CCG is an indie card battler where rival syndicates clash across unraveling timelines, fighting to rewrite history. Construct your deck around powerful Divers, watch your agents ascend to their Immortalized forms mid-match, and Shift time itself on the battlefield to tip the scales in your favor. Built by community leaders of the digital CCG genre rallying together, taking the lessons of t… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Chrono CCG.

Unlock the Secrets of Player Behavior: A Guide to Process Mining for Game Development Have you ever wondered... Why do most players gather all the components for a powerful item, but only a fraction ever craft it? What are the hidden paths that lead players to success in a complex puzzle, and which ones lead to failure? Players report a feature feels "slow,"… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Games User Research: Process Mining.

96%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, music

96% User Score Based on 859 reviews

It takes a while to go back to sleep, but inevitably, you return. To dream of the Fallstruktur. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to FALLSTRUKTUR.

100%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, replayability

100% User Score Based on 481 reviews

Master time in this story-rich time-bending puzzle game. You travel back in time to be in two places at once, to solve puzzles impossible to complete alone. Your success hinges on your ability to collaborate with yourself. Can you learn to manipulate time to save humanity? If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Chronigma.

81%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:replayability, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, graphics

85% User Score Based on 46 reviews

Puzzle Strike is an online deckbuilding puzzle game from David Sirlin, lead designer of Puzzle Fighter HD Remix and creator of the Fantasy Strike universe. Improve your deck (of chips!) as the game unfolds and crush your opponents under a mountain of gems! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Puzzle Strike.

Master Personal Finance with StockMotion Empower yourself with the financial knowledge you need to succeed with StockMotion, the premier educational app for personal finance. Whether you're just starting to explore financial concepts or you're looking to deepen your understanding, StockMotion offers an engaging and interactive learning experience that will set you on the path to financial confide… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to StockMotion.

97%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, character development

97% User Score Based on 960 reviews

PremiseThe Message from Deep Space is an odyssey of puzzles. Take the role of the mission's Translator, working alongside a scrappy band of scientists, and venture headfirst into the world of deciphering an alien language --- completely from the ground up.  ScenarioSet in 1973, Earth is the recipient of a meteorite that broadcasts radio waves. In the role of the mission's Translator, the player i… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Message from Deep Space.

Your family has been poor for generations, and now you have grown into manhood with one goal: free them from poverty and struggle. Take control of Jack as you begin a journey with one goal...and it becomes something very different that shakes your family to its foundations. Features: An exploration RPG with over 150 items to use and equip, random loot and over 25 monsters to fight. Each game is… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sea Of Secrets.

97%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

97% User Score Based on 118 reviews

The Art of Reflection is a first-person puzzle game that explores mirrors as if you could pass right through them. What happens when you cross through a mirror and walk around in mirror-land? What if objects, or even gravity aren't the same on the other side? Unfold complex reflected paths as you learn to navigate this world with mastery. Your primary tool is a snap zoom that lets you pass thr… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Art of Reflection.

83%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:atmosphere, replayability

83% User Score Based on 163 reviews

Gather weapons and warriors from the community's imagination in the first strategy card game designed by its players. Create any card you can imagine, and The Collective decides what will show up on the battlefield. Test your skills (not your wallet) in the game that is never beaten, never solved. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Collective Card Game.

76%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:music, monetization

76% User Score Based on 122 reviews

Yomi is a fighting game in card form. Learn your character, practice combos, and read the opponent's tendencies. 10 characters to choose from, plus 10 more expansion characters available for purchase inside the app. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Yomi.

82%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, grinding

82% User Score Based on 406 reviews

Engineered for failure or victory, your customization and piloting skills are the keys to your success in Vector 36. Race across the terraformed surface of Mars in a completely customizable skimmer built to suit your piloting preference. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Vector 36.

82%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:atmosphere, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, gameplay

92% User Score Based on 40 reviews

Buying also grants you a free steam key! A fast, casual haunted 4X game with asymmetric factions and roguelike elements. Enjoy brief, 30 minute skirmishes in a unique setting filled with strategic choices, or delve into a story-rich campaign with 5 different endings, all without the slow and tedious 'long wars' typical of the genre. Whether you're a Kingdom, Bandits, a Rat King, or a Dark Lord… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to DR4X.

Car game simulation awaits you in a big city with E30 drift. Car games are still as trendy as they used to be. Because these games are always exciting, players are satisfied with car games. You can get great pleasure from this game, which you will play especially with the e30 car. You can collect points by drifting e30 in the game. As a result of these points, you can get a more customized e30 car… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to E30 Drift Car Simulator.

77%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, gameplay

77% User Score Based on 118 reviews

RPG Maker VX is a tool for Windows which allows you to design and play your own RPG. It requires no programming knowledge and allows the designer to create their own tilesets, character sprites, and scripts. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to RPG Maker VX.

53%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned negative aspects:music

90% User Score Based on 10 reviews

Kinacoustic is a music composition game and a new musical experience. You can control the elements of music by bouncing melodic Drops onto colored Note Lines that you place. In doing this, you can create basic or complex songs - your own composition or a cover. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Kinacoustic.

Stop Guessing What Your Players Want. Start Knowing. In the competitive world of game development, understanding your players is the key to creating successful, engaging, and beloved games. But how do you move beyond assumptions and gather actionable insights into the player experience? Games User Research Methods is your comprehensive and practical guide to the world of games user research. Thi… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Games User Research Methods.

90%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story

90% User Score Based on 67 reviews

This game is apart of the GMTK Game Jam with the theme being "Roles Reversed" How To Play Download, unzip, and run EpicQuest.exe The game uses WASD controls, and key binds are listed inside the main level as well as instructions. Game Info It is time to switch roles and play as the quest giving NPC instead of the adventurer for once. Inspired by a "Viva La Dirt League" skit you will use tools to h… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Epic Quests.

84%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:monetization, music

84% User Score Based on 144 reviews

Check out the main game: About the GameCAR MANUFACTURE - PROLOGUECar Manufacture: Prologue is a shortened version of a game about building and managing a car factory. This version of the game is limited to a tutorial, where you will produce your first car and learn the basic mechanics of production and sales. Additionally, there is one challenge mission, where you will need to use your wits to f… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Car Manufacture: Prologue.

96%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, story

96% User Score Based on 2,695 reviews

Experience the ultimate blend of strategy and intrigue as you navigate the treacherous landscapes of Arrakis in the award-winning board game Dune: Imperium! Battle online, locally with AI, or against the formidable House Hagal. Earn Achievements that showcase your prowess as a leader. Embark on more than a dozen Challenges that will test your wit and cunning. Compete for badges in the rotating Ski… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dune: Imperium.

86%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:character development, stability

86% User Score Based on 230 reviews

A mystery thriller visual novel featuring line search and jump functions. During a gem exhibition in the rural town of Yushibana, smoke floods the building, activating emergency shutters that trap eight people inside. With no way out, they must find the truth behind their imprisonment and grapple with an increasingly complex series of unnatural events. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Sekimeiya: Spun Glass.

70%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, replayability

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, graphics

70% User Score Based on 472 reviews

Academagia, the greatest of the ancient schools for wizards. Build the legend of your mage with thousands of options, emergent storytelling and endless replayability. The definitive version of the magical life simulator is at last on Steam! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Academagia: The Making of Mages.

71%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:monetization

83% User Score Based on 36 reviews

The game Astral Masters combines the best features of the computer game called Astral Tournament and collection card games. Two players compete in this turn-based game. Each of them fights against the opponent casting various spells and summoning fantastic creatures to his side. You can play either against the computer (both in single games and in tournaments) or against other people. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Astral Masters.

87%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, optimization

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, story

87% User Score Based on 1,311 reviews

“Screeps” is a wordplay for “scripts” and “creeps.” It is an MMO RTS game for programmers in an open persistent shared world. Each player uses JavaScript (or compilers of other languages into JavaScript) to write AI of his or her colony of units (“creeps”) which live and operate in real time even while the player is offline. The game world is generated procedurally and consists of rooms. Players c… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Screeps: World.

82%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, monetization

84% User Score Based on 922 reviews

Critic Score 79%Based on 5 reviews

Mind Scanners is a retro-futuristic management game in which you diagnose the citizens of a dystopian metropolis. Locate a host of other-worldly characters and use arcade-style treatment devices to help them. Manage your time and resources to keep The Structure in balance. Remember, you take full responsibility for your patients. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Mind Scanners.

80%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

80% User Score Based on 342 reviews

Ichi is an easy to play but challenging one button puzzle game. Don't be deceived by the game simplistic look, it’s a braintwister for sure! Collect golden rings by rotating objects, using teleporters, breaking blocks and more. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Ichi.

75%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, story

75% User Score Based on 160 reviews

A first-person city-building game with powerful tools that allow you to build faster and bigger. Design your own construction blocks and furniture in factories, terraform the open world, build roads and use vehicles to travel to different cities that you or your friends create in solo or coop mode. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Technicity.

44%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:emotional, humor

Most mentioned negative aspects:music, graphics

44% User Score Based on 262 reviews

Escape This is a casual puzzle game. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Escape This.

68%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, humor

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, story

68% User Score Based on 224 reviews

Uncrewed is a real-time strategy game for the PC with the ability to design units from scratch. Unlike in more traditional RTS, units obey the laws of physics, making design choices especially important. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Uncrewed.

About This Game Get ready to leap, explore, and find your way out! Locks n Leaps is an engaging platforming adventure where your quick thinking and precise jumps are the only tools that can guarantee your freedom. Trapped in an enigmatic archipelago made up of several challenging islands, your objective is simple, but the execution will require skill: find the hidden keys, unlock the doors block… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Locks 'n' Leaps.

It's Not an Accident. It's an Architecture. Ever felt a beloved hobby slowly transform into a system of obligation and financial pressure? You're not alone. The frustration you feel in a game isn't a flaw; it's often a meticulously engineered feature. This book is a codex of forbidden knowledge, a guide to the hidden architecture of digital manipulation designed not as an attack on games, but as … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dark Patterns in Game Design.

The award winning RPG of monster hunting has been updated! Get ready for Slayers 1.5. The City sits at the nexus of the world. Once you're inside it, it is the world. Something drives the borders of The City ever-onward, crawling towards the horizon. Urban sprawl made real. Neighborhoods appear and disappear overnight, The City is filled to brim with no shortage of interesting characters, culture… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Slayers.

80%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:replayability, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, graphics

80% User Score Based on 139 reviews

Experience the complexities and challenges of modern American leadership in this faithful digital adaptation of GMT Games’ acclaimed board game Mr. President: The American Presidency 2000-2020. Step into the Oval Office during two decades that transformed America and the world. Select your Cabinet and guide your administration through pivotal moments in recent history - as well as those that didn… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Mr. President.

92%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:humor, replayability

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, graphics

92% User Score Based on 113 reviews

This game's mission is to make quantum literacy as common as computer literacyUnderstanding the fundamental logic that governs our Universe and learning how to harness it with quantum computers is one of the most powerful skills of the 21st century. It shouldn't belong to a select few. Crave deep games that scratch the optimization itch?This non-linear, story-driven open-ended puzzle universe ru… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Quantum Odyssey.

96%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:atmosphere, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding

96% User Score Based on 104 reviews

3D physics-platformer where you are an egg! Roll, hop and slide your way back home. Features Simple controls: just roll and jump! Explore co-op with your friends online! Snazzy LEVEL EDITOR with Steam Workshop support! (needs keyboard+mouse) Calm, rainy atmosphere: No enemies, no timers; you can take your time and soak up the atmosphere. A medium-sized adventure: 4-10 hours playtime for a new play… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Oeuf.

95%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, grinding

95% User Score Based on 202 reviews

The heavens call. Will you answer? Ascend from Nine Mountains is an RPG inspired by Chinese mythology and cultivation stories. In its world you will craft legendary treasures, engage in deep tactical combat, and journey through an intricate web of characters and stories as you ascend to immortality. Begin as a mortal. Ascend through nine realms, each with their own unique mechanics and s… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Ascend From Nine Mountains.

93%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:monetization, graphics

93% User Score Based on 1,497 reviews

More than 1200 exercises quickly help beginners to form basic tactical vision If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Chess Tactics for Beginners.

89%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, atmosphere

89% User Score Based on 269 reviews

Are wants and desires worth it in a dying world? In Wantless, you play as Eiris, one of the last remaining Transposers - doctors who can delve into their patients' tortured minds to alleviate their torments, erase memories, or even more...Confront horrors made manifest, woes and sinister thoughts in this fast-paced and challenging Tactical RPG. Forge your skills, shape your build and engage in rut… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Wantless : Solace at World’s End.

96%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:monetization, stability

96% User Score Based on 102 reviews

Mix Universe is a musical sandbox game where you play as a Mixonaut adding beautiful vibes to the universe. Everything you hear and see is 100% real-time and editable in-game. It is designed with beginners in mind with tutorials and automatic vibe nodes to help make it so you don't need to know anything about music to have fun. For those who want to push it a bit further, you can edit each note, … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Mix Universe.

76%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, optimization

87% User Score Based on 524 reviews

Critic Score 52%Based on 4 reviews

Fract Osc is a musical exploration game. You arrive in a forgotten place and explore the vast and unfamiliar landscape to discover the secrets of a world built on sound. You rebuild its machinery by solving puzzles and bring the world back to life by shaping sound and creating music in the game. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to FRACT OSC.

84%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

84% User Score Based on 323 reviews

Based on Lights Out gameplay, WayOut goes beyond that and brings great variety of level shapes and mechanics into it. Each level has the same goal - switch off all tiles using the least amount of moves. Test limits of your brain by perfecting each puzzle. Let your mind be your guide in meditative and relaxing, yet challenging, journey. According to Zen philosophy, game has minimalistic UI - no ti… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to WayOut.

85%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay

91% User Score Based on 44 reviews

Apollyon is a dark fantasy narrative RPG focused on choices, where you summon demons and spiritual entities, deal with them for power, and delve deeper into an occult universe! It is a multiplayer choose-your-own adventure RPG mixed with a roguelike strategy board game and hidden deckbuilder elements. In this 40+ hour game, you will: Use obsidian tokens upon the Apollyic table to control the… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Apollyon: River of Life.

In Flipped On your main objective is to complete each stage without destroying your vehicle. Your vehicle takes damage every time you crash into world objects.Each level is a new and exciting challenge starting from easy and getting harder as you go on. Jump over gaps in the road with ramps. Crash into roadblocks to move them out of the way. Get flipped over by crazy hydraulic bollards and loads m… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Flipped On.

83%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:monetization, grinding

83% User Score Based on 636 reviews

Prismata is a turn-based strategy game made by Lunarch Studios. It borrows familiar elements from RTS games, CCGs, tabletop strategy games, and combines them in a simple but innovative way. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Prismata.

Kombucha Craft is a sandbox management game where you control every step of kombucha production. From choosing the tea to fermentation and flavor additions, every decision impacts taste, acidity, and overall quality. Experiment freely, take risks, discover unique recipes, and learn to master a demanding production process where mistakes are part of the journey. It’s up to you to find the perfect … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Kombucha Craft.

Suzunaan on Fire is the first Touhou doujin game produced by Creator Team from Crestruction. Players will roleplay Kosuzu Motoori and figure out the way to escape from fire. If you like puzzle games and also like Touhou, welcome to play our first game. As everyone knows, Suzunaan is a bookshop. As everyone knows, not only human beings usually visit this bookshop. As everyone knows, also, fire usu… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Suzunaan on Fire.

It's Not a Bug. It's a Blueprint. Ever felt a game was designed to be intentionally frustrating? That its economy was engineered to create problems only a cash shop could solve? You were probably right. Those aren't accidents; they are the result of a coherent, data-driven, and often deeply cynical design philosophy. Manipulative Game Design is a codex of forbidden knowledge, a hands-on guide th… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Manipulative Game Design.

Turn Player Feedback Into Your Most Powerful Design Tool Your players are talking. In forum posts, in survey comments, in playtest sessions. They're leaving a trail of data that holds the secret to making your game more intuitive, engaging, and successful. But how do you make sense of it all without a dedicated data science team or expensive software? Games User Research: Data Anal… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Games User Research: Data Analysis and Visualization.

Thanks for visiting my page – this is my entry for the Physics Game Jam 2023! In this puzzle game the objects are simple, knock down all 10 pins, its as simple as that... ruthlessly hunt down all pins and knock them down... its easy :), no matter where they go, or who stands in your way... knock the pins down, it couldn't be more fun I'm using this space as a sort of blog to document my journey … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Strike!.