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Games like Return to Dark Castle

Games like Return to Dark Castle

Games like Return to Dark Castle

Looking for games like Return to Dark Castle? Here are top platformer recommendations with a fantasy focus, selected from player-similarity data — start with Alwa's Awakening, Astalon: Tears of the Earth or Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee®.

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  1. 76%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, replayability
    78% User Score Based on 850 reviews
    Critic Score 75%Based on 12 reviews

    In Alwa's Awakening you play as Zoe, a heroine sent from another world to bring peace to the land of Alwa. Equipped only with a magic staff she awakens in a distant land and must set out to help the people. Traverse dangerous dungeons, meet interesting and fun characters and explore the world in this 8-bit adventure game. Just like the old classics you won't have a flashing arrow telling you exact… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Alwa's Awakening.

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  2. 87%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    90% User Score Based on 878 reviews
    Critic Score 84%Based on 9 reviews

    Three heroic explorers wander the post-apocalyptic desert on a mission to save their village’s resources from despair. They soon find a dark, twisted tower that has risen from the depths of the planet and seemingly holds the key to their survival. In order to ensure their victory, one of them has made a secret pact with the lord Epithemeus, allowing them to reincarnate until they have accomplished… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Astalon: Tears of the Earth.

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  3. 90%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story
    Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding
    90% User Score Based on 2,456 reviews

    Selected by the fickle finger of fate, Abe™, floor-waxer first class for RuptureFarms, was catapulted into a life of adventure when he overheard plans by his boss, Molluck the Glukkon™, to turn Abe and his fellow Mudokons into Tasty Treats as part of a last-ditch effort to rescue Molluck's failing meat-packing empire. During his escape from RuptureFarms, Abe received a v… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee®.

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  4. 92%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    89% User Score Based on 6,106 reviews
    Critic Score 95%Based on 29 reviews

    Descend into a frightful world of action-adventure in Mina the Hollower. Take control of Mina, a renowned Hollower hurtled into a desperate mission to rescue a cursed island. Burrow beneath hazards and monsters, whip foes into oblivion, and gear up with an arsenal of sidearms and trinkets. Explore a vast world filled with pixel-perfect graphics, masterful gameplay, beastly bosses, and infectious m… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Mina the Hollower.

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  5. 94%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    96% User Score Based on 19,114 reviews
    Critic Score 92%Based on 9 reviews

    Shovel Knight is a sweeping classic action adventure game with awesome gameplay, memorable characters, and an 8-bit retro aesthetic. It's a hot mashup of new and old! You play as the eponymous Shovel Knight, a small knight with a huge quest. Shovel Knight has come to this land with two goals: to defeat the evil Enchantress and quest for his lost beloved. He wields a Shovel Blade: a multipurpos… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Shovel Knight.

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  7. 94%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding
    94% User Score Based on 502 reviews

    Sphinx and The Cursed Mummy is an original 3rd person action-adventure inspired by the mythology of ancient Egypt. Travelling the world via magical portals to foil the evil plans of Set. Sphinx's Journey will require all his wits, agility, and special powers. He will also rely on his reluctant hero friend, The Mummy, to help when being inconspicuous is the only solution. By finding the stolen magi… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy.

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  8. 83%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    87% User Score Based on 372 reviews
    Critic Score 75%Based on 3 reviews

    Alwa’s Legacy is a modern retro game full of dangerous dungeons, magical items and ancient secrets. By upgrading your magic, any way forward is right in this non-linear adventure game full of exploration. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Alwa's Legacy.

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  10. 79%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding
    79% User Score Based on 1,578 reviews
    Critic Score 79%Based on 6 reviews

    Remember when games were tough? Return to the Golden Age of arcades with an all-NEW hardcore action experience that pulls no punches. Volgarr the Viking possesses all the hallmarks of the true classics - simple controls, high challenge, and meticulous design - combined with hand-made pixel If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Volgarr the Viking.

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  11. 78%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    74% User Score Based on 1,572 reviews
    Critic Score 85%Based on 5 reviews

    Castle In The Darkness is a fun and challenging shout out to the early days of video games! It's an action exploration platformer with some RPG elements, much like games from the Castlevania or Metroid series. It's super fast-paced, challenging, and full of secrets! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Castle In The Darkness.

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  12. 90%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    93% User Score Based on 6,120 reviews
    Critic Score 80%Based on 2 reviews

    "Captures everything that's fun about old-school RPGs." 4.5/5 – GameSpy "The balance between exciting combat, thought-provoking puzzle work, and open-ended exploration is stellar." 8.5/10 – IGN "I lost count as to how many times I threw my fist in the air and shouted, "YES!" after successfully completing a puzzle." 9.5/10 – Destructoid "Undoubtedly the best Indie Game I have played so far and at a… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Legend of Grimrock.

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  13. 83%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    87% User Score Based on 764 reviews
    Critic Score 68%Based on 2 reviews

    Odallus is a NES inspired exploration game with lots of action. It brings elements of classics such as Ghosts’n Goblins, Demon’s Crest and Castlevania while subverting some modern twists. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Odallus: The Dark Call.

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  15. 92%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding
    92% User Score Based on 3,558 reviews

    You Have to Win the Game is an free exploration platformer with a retro 1980s PC aesthetic. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to You Have to Win the Game.

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  16. 80%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, replayability
    86% User Score Based on 222 reviews
    Critic Score 62%Based on 2 reviews

    Inhabit Krog, a mysterious blue creature in a red loincloth, as he traverses a labyrinth of ladders, levers, traps, and monsters. Explore the nooks and crannies of a bizarre and evocative world as you hack and slash your way to victory, leaving a graveyard of grotesque bosses in your wake. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Primal Light.

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    89%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, replayability
    91% User Score Based on 230 reviews
    Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

    Fallen Leaf is a retro side-scrolling adventure focused on tight, action-packed level design set in a whimsical world where almost anything goes! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Fallen Leaf.

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  18. 85%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding
    85% User Score Based on 1,094 reviews

    Thousands of years ago a meteor crashed into Antarctica and the shockwaves of its impact are being felt in the modern age. Lara Croft will follow clues leading to a deadly secret, boldly leaping chasms and blasting monsters that no one has leaped or blasted before. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tomb Raider III.

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  19. 82%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, stability
    95% User Score Based on 3,970 reviews
    Critic Score 69%Based on 35 reviews

    N++ is a fast-paced, action-packed puzzle platformer set in the distant future. You play as a ninja -- darting through obstacles, narrowly evading a slew of inadvertently homicidal enemy robots, and collecting gold in a minimalist, sci-fi world. You know, traditional ninja stuff. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to N.

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  20. 91%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding
    96% User Score Based on 4,778 reviews
    Critic Score 77%Based on 3 reviews

    Freedom Planet is a combat-based platform adventure that pits a spunky dragon girl and her friends against an alien attack force. There's trouble around every turn, from insects to giant robots to sheer explosive destruction, but you'll have a variety of special fighting abilities to blast your way through each stage. As Lilac, you can use Dragon powers to whip enemies with your hair, spin like a… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Freedom Planet.

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  21. 82%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding
    87% User Score Based on 183 reviews
    Critic Score 77%Based on 14 reviews

    Take on the role of Demi, a young soldier who wakes up in the empty shell of a ruined building, in the center of a strange new world, disconnected from her old life and physical body. With each new challenge she overcomes Demi slowly pieces together the future now laid out before her. This remastered edition stays true to the original concept with an emphasis on player skill and creativity, but w… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Super Cloudbuilt.

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  22. 81%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization
    84% User Score Based on 443 reviews
    Critic Score 65%Based on 1 reviews

    The Eternal Castle: Remastered is a remake of the original "Eternal Castle" from 1987, with additional game mechanics, sophisticated sound design, polished 2-bit CGA animated graphics, and modernized game design. Numerous outlets have questioned the title's "lost game" backstory as almost no corroborating accounts have been found to verify the title's development backstory. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Eternal Castle: Remastered.

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  23. 89%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    89% User Score Based on 754 reviews

    Throw on your nostalgia goggles and travel back in time with Super Win the Game, a retro-core explosion of exploration and platforming action!! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Super Win the Game.

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  24. 93%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, optimization
    98% User Score Based on 1,209 reviews
    Critic Score 89%Based on 12 reviews

    Explore a vast urban landscape in this narrative-driven, 2D top-down platforming adventure!In Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo, you're a budding yoyo master facing off against enemies using the weapon you know best: your prized yoyo! As Pippit, you'll be quite literally thrown into the shocking story of your auntie's business empire, a soul-stealing mega-laser, and four dastardly crime bosses!Each … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo.

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  25. 94%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, stability
    94% User Score Based on 297 reviews

    Your hometown has grown quieter over the years. It's time to leave, and the only way out is up! But can you even make it to the end? A bat and your wits are all you need to surpass any obstacle! Climb to the heavens, and discover the secrets across the valley in this challenging puzzle - execution - momentum game! features Yes. There are checkpoints. That way I can make it harder! ( and … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Bat to the Heavens.

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  26. 96%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, story
    Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability
    96% User Score Based on 265 reviews

    The original design of the never-before seen point and click adventure is being brought to life after 30+ years in the vault - Beyond Shadowgate! This new massive PC game is being created by the designers of the original 8-bit hit Shadowgate and a leading 8-bit adventure studio! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Beyond Shadowgate.

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  27. 90%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, atmosphere
    Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability
    94% User Score Based on 8,232 reviews
    Critic Score 81%Based on 3 reviews

    You killed the Demons once, they were all dead. Or so you thought... A single Demon Entity escaped detection. Systematically it altered decaying, dead carnage back into grotesque living tissue. The Demons have returned - stronger and more vicious than ever before. You mission is clear, there are no options: kill or be killed! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Doom 64.

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  28. 90%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    93% User Score Based on 838 reviews
    Critic Score 88%Based on 14 reviews

    Shovel Knight is a sweeping classic action adventure game with awesome gameplay, memorable characters, and an 8-bit retro aesthetic. It's a hot mashup of new and old! You play as the eponymous Shovel Knight, a small knight with a huge quest. Shovel Knight has come to this land with two goals: to defeat the evil Enchantress and quest for his lost beloved. He wields a Shovel Blade: a multipurpose we… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Shovel Knight.

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  29. 79%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:replayability, optimization
    78% User Score Based on 309 reviews
    Critic Score 81%Based on 2 reviews

    Cursed is an action platformer with a compendium of myths from medieval Spain and the spirit of a mid-to-late '80s arcade game. Run, jump and throw your weapons as you move through decadent medieval landscapes full of dangers and monsters. Learn about each situation and enemy pattern in order to progress. Open chests and hit hidden spots for bonuses, weapons and equippable objects. Find the five … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Cursed Castilla.

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  30. 74%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, story
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    75% User Score Based on 351 reviews
    Critic Score 70%Based on 4 reviews

    AGGELOS is a mesmerizing new action-RPG inspired by the likes of Wonder Boy that looks like it was plucked straight out of the 16-bit era... but plays like a modern-day marvel! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Aggelos.

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  32. 71%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    75% User Score Based on 476 reviews
    Critic Score 50%Based on 1 reviews

    Inspired by the demanding gameplay of 8-bit action/platformers, Oniken pits your agility and swordplay against a gauntlet of enemies, traps, and challenging bosses. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Oniken.

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  34. 86%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    92% User Score Based on 3,614 reviews
    Critic Score 79%Based on 11 reviews

    Battle with swords and whips in this retro-style action game brought to you by game creator Koji Igarashi and Inti Creates! Play as Zangetsu, a demon slayer bearing a deep grudge, who must travel through perilous lands to defeat a powerful demon lurking in a dark castle. Zangetsu will meet fellow travelers along the way, who can join your journey as playable characters. Switching to these charac… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon.

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  35. 88%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding
    87% User Score Based on 814 reviews
    Critic Score 90%Based on 2 reviews

    In La-Mulana 2, you will take on the role of Lumisa Kosugi on a mission to find the entrance to the ruins of Eg-Lana, which is rumored to be the source of recent monster appearances. The ruins themselves are compromised of a variety of areas as well as huge boss creatures known as Guardians. Who knows what lies in wait at the end of Eg-Lana? If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to La-Mulana 2.

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  36. 88%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, story
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    88% User Score Based on 3,136 reviews

    Ys I & II Chronicles+ is the most modernized and up-to-date remake of Falcom’s classic franchise-spawning action RPGs from 1987 and 1988. Come see how the story began, and witness the birth of a legend! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Ys I & II Chronicles+.

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  37. 85%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, stability
    83% User Score Based on 2,140 reviews
    Critic Score 93%Based on 1 reviews

    Adventurer Lara Croft has been hired to recover the pieces of an ancient artifact known as the Scion. With her fearless acrobatic style she runs, jumps, swims and climbs her way towards the truth of its origin and powers - leaving only a trail of empty tombs and gun-cartridges in her wake. On this trail are breath-taking 3D worlds where exploration, puzzle and platform elements blend in a seamless… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tomb Raider.

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  38. 85%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding
    90% User Score Based on 9,804 reviews
    Critic Score 79%Based on 48 reviews

    Buy Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy on PS4. Play as Crash or his sister Coco and bound, spin, and even motorcycle your way through three mad-cap adventures. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.

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  39. 83%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    83% User Score Based on 1,263 reviews

    Environmental Station Alpha is an action adventure platformer with a retro aesthetic and heavy emphasis on exploration. In the game the player controls a robot sent to investigate a mysterious, abandoned space station with the mission to find out what exactly took place there. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Environmental Station Alpha.

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  41. 92%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story
    Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding
    92% User Score Based on 1,360 reviews

    Super Fancy Pants Adventure is a wild free-running adventure with buttery smooth platforming and a slick fountain pen! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Super Fancy Pants Adventure.

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  42. 91%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    94% User Score Based on 1,112 reviews
    Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

    Infernax is the adventures of a great knight who returns to his homeland only to find it plagued with unholy magic. Uncover the mysteries of the curse and face the consequences of your actions. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Infernax.

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  43. 96%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story
    Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding
    96% User Score Based on 1,608 reviews

    Abe's peaceful retirement was shattered when visited by a vision from the Mudokon Spirit Guides. Abe™ learned the Magog Cartel was mining Necrum, the sacred Mudokon city of the dead, to collect bones to make super-addictive SoulStorm Brew. After freeing the Mudokon spirits imprisoned in the Mudanchee and Mudomo Vaults, Abe gained scary powers from the Spirit Guides, includ… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus®.

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  44. 82%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, replayability
    88% User Score Based on 2,204 reviews
    Critic Score 66%Based on 3 reviews

    Behind a veil of secrecy the evil Empire is creating a doomsday army - one that, if finished, will become the final cog in the Empire's arsenal of terror and domination. Your Mission? Join the Rebel Alliance's covert operations division, infiltrate the Empire, then battle every man and machine the Imperial Forces can muster. Search a vast galaxy for clues, attack enemy bases-all in a desperate att… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Star Wars: Dark Forces.

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  46. 88%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, story
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    88% User Score Based on 857 reviews

    Few are chosen. Fewer succeed. You stumble upon a battered old book and find yourself transported to the island of Myst. As you explore the surreal landscape, you quickly learn that something has gone wrong.  Terribly wrong. An ancient betrayal must be unveiled. Secret books concealed on the island of Myst lead the way to incredible worlds born of a master storyteller’s imagination. Yet one… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Myst: Masterpiece Edition.

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  47. 85%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding
    85% User Score Based on 103 reviews
    Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

    Embark on a sparkling journey in this long-awaited sequel to SUNSOFT’s legendary 8-bit platformer Gimmick! Solve puzzles, trick enemies, and explore a physics-based playground. Yumetaro is back! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Gimmick! 2.

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  48. 92%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding
    94% User Score Based on 383 reviews
    Critic Score 85%Based on 2 reviews

    Our feather-shelled heroes were swept away by a storm, and they need your help! In this '90s-inspired platforming adventure, take on over forty handcrafted stages to discover the secrets of their world, the moon and beyond! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Windswept.

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  49. 90%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, optimization
    93% User Score Based on 8,102 reviews
    Critic Score 87%Based on 31 reviews

    As a demon army besieges his village, a young ninja ventures through a cursed world, to deliver a scroll paramount to his clan’s survival. What begins as a classic action platformer soon unravels into an expansive time-traveling adventure full of thrills, surprises, and humor If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Messenger.

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  50. 87%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    93% User Score Based on 1,823 reviews
    Critic Score 81%Based on 19 reviews

    Embark on a brand new adventure with Shantae, the hair-whipping belly dancing genie. When she loses her magic, Shantae must team up with her nemesis, the nefarious pirate Risky Boots in order to save Sequin Land from an evil curse. As a pirate, Shantae gains new weapons to advance her quest, slay monsters, battle epic bosses…and hopefully get her magic back in the bargain! But can she really trust… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Shantae and the Pirate's Curse.

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