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GAMES LIKE

What makes Portal distinctive?

Start with its Game DNA: Discovery-led / Experimental experience; Thoughtful / Mysterious mood; Puzzle / Exploration gameplay; Puzzle genre; Linear structure. These recorded characteristics shape the comparisons below.

Its experience centers on progressing through curiosity and finding new knowledge or spaces; engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation. Mood describes the atmosphere; Experience describes how you engage with the game.

LESS COMMON DNA IN OUR LIBRARY

Portal — GAME DNA

View complete Game DNA
experience
Discovery-led · Experimental
mood
Thoughtful · Mysterious
genre
Puzzle
gameplay
Puzzle · Exploration
structure
Linear
pacing
Balanced
perspective
First-person
difficulty
Medium
era
2000s

BEST MATCH

The highest semantic similarity in the current library. Ratings do not influence this choice.

GAMEBOX algorithmic assessments of editorial Game DNA. Confidence describes overlap strength, not a probability of enjoyment.

2011

Portal 2

77% SIMILAR

STRONG MATCH

Mysterious · Thoughtful · Puzzle · Discovery-led

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Mysterious / Thoughtful mood; Puzzle genre; Discovery-led experiences (progressing through curiosity and finding new knowledge or spaces).

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Discovery-led34% distinctive overlap · 24.8 / 73.8 points
  • mood: Mysterious · Thoughtful100% distinctive overlap · 52.4 / 52.4 points
  • genre: Puzzle100% distinctive overlap · 40.1 / 40.1 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle100% distinctive overlap · 19.8 / 19.8 points
  • structure: Linear100% distinctive overlap · 20.3 / 20.3 points
  • pacing: Balanced100% distinctive overlap · 12.0 / 12.0 points
  • perspective: First-person100% distinctive overlap · 8.0 / 8.0 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.2 points

HIDDEN GEM

A shared-DNA alternative highlighted by a provisional GAMEBOX Hidden Gem rating of 85/100.

GAMEBOX algorithmic assessments of editorial Game DNA. Confidence describes overlap strength, not a probability of enjoyment.

2018

Return of the Obra Dinn

72% SIMILAR

STRONG MATCH

Experimental · Discovery-led · Mysterious · Thoughtful · Puzzle

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Experimental experiences (engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation) and Discovery-led experiences (progressing through curiosity and finding new knowledge or spaces); Mysterious / Thoughtful mood; Puzzle genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Discovery-led · Experimental64% distinctive overlap · 54.5 / 85.6 points
  • mood: Mysterious · Thoughtful100% distinctive overlap · 52.4 / 52.4 points
  • genre: Puzzle100% distinctive overlap · 40.1 / 40.1 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle100% distinctive overlap · 19.8 / 19.8 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 23.0 points
  • pacing: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 11.1 points
  • perspective: First-person100% distinctive overlap · 8.0 / 8.0 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.2 points

SURPRISE ME

No relevant surprise clears the shared distinctive DNA requirement yet.

MORE GAMES WITH THIS DNA

Continue exploring shared identity, interaction and context. Similarity describes recorded DNA overlap, not a probability that you will enjoy a game.

GAMEBOX algorithmic assessments of editorial Game DNA. Confidence describes overlap strength, not a probability of enjoyment.

2019

Outer Wilds

37% SIMILAR

PARTIAL MATCH

Experimental · Discovery-led · Mysterious

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Experimental experiences (engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation) and Discovery-led experiences (progressing through curiosity and finding new knowledge or spaces); Mysterious mood.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Discovery-led · Experimental63% distinctive overlap · 54.0 / 86.4 points
  • mood: Mysterious30% distinctive overlap · 19.2 / 62.9 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 38.0 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle53% distinctive overlap · 11.8 / 22.3 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 23.0 points
  • pacing: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 11.1 points
  • perspective: First-person100% distinctive overlap · 8.0 / 8.0 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.2 points

1994

EarthBound

34% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Experimental · Thoughtful

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Experimental experiences (engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation); Thoughtful mood.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Experimental33% distinctive overlap · 25.2 / 76.7 points
  • mood: Thoughtful30% distinctive overlap · 14.9 / 49.8 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 29.8 points
  • gameplay: Exploration15% distinctive overlap · 3.0 / 20.7 points
  • structure: Linear100% distinctive overlap · 20.3 / 20.3 points
  • pacing: Balanced100% distinctive overlap · 12.0 / 12.0 points
  • perspective: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 11.1 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.0 points

2000

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

34% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Experimental · Discovery-led

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Experimental experiences (engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation) and Discovery-led experiences (progressing through curiosity and finding new knowledge or spaces).

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Discovery-led · Experimental63% distinctive overlap · 54.0 / 86.4 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 57.2 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 35.2 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle62% distinctive overlap · 12.7 / 20.6 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 23.0 points
  • pacing: Balanced100% distinctive overlap · 12.0 / 12.0 points
  • perspective: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 7.3 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: 2000s100% distinctive overlap · 3.6 / 3.6 points

2015

Undertale

34% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Experimental · Thoughtful

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Experimental experiences (engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation); Thoughtful mood.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Experimental32% distinctive overlap · 24.9 / 78.3 points
  • mood: Thoughtful30% distinctive overlap · 14.9 / 49.8 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 29.8 points
  • gameplay: Exploration15% distinctive overlap · 3.0 / 20.7 points
  • structure: Linear100% distinctive overlap · 20.3 / 20.3 points
  • pacing: Balanced100% distinctive overlap · 12.0 / 12.0 points
  • perspective: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 11.1 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.2 points

2005

Psychonauts

30% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Experimental · Discovery-led

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Experimental experiences (engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation) and Discovery-led experiences (progressing through curiosity and finding new knowledge or spaces).

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Discovery-led · Experimental76% distinctive overlap · 59.5 / 78.7 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 62.3 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 34.8 points
  • gameplay: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 28.9 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 25.0 points
  • pacing: Balanced100% distinctive overlap · 12.0 / 12.0 points
  • perspective: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 7.3 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: 2000s100% distinctive overlap · 3.6 / 3.6 points

1998

Xenogears

30% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Experimental · Thoughtful

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Experimental experiences (engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation); Thoughtful mood.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Experimental33% distinctive overlap · 25.2 / 76.7 points
  • mood: Thoughtful30% distinctive overlap · 14.9 / 49.8 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 29.8 points
  • gameplay: Exploration15% distinctive overlap · 3.0 / 20.7 points
  • structure: Linear100% distinctive overlap · 20.3 / 20.3 points
  • pacing: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 11.1 points
  • perspective: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 7.3 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.0 points

2007

BioShock

30% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Mysterious

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Mysterious mood.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 74.6 points
  • mood: Mysterious36% distinctive overlap · 19.9 / 55.9 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 33.7 points
  • gameplay: Exploration13% distinctive overlap · 2.9 / 23.3 points
  • structure: Linear100% distinctive overlap · 20.3 / 20.3 points
  • pacing: Balanced100% distinctive overlap · 12.0 / 12.0 points
  • perspective: First-person100% distinctive overlap · 8.0 / 8.0 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: 2000s100% distinctive overlap · 3.6 / 3.6 points

2010

BioShock 2

28% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Mysterious

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Mysterious mood.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 74.6 points
  • mood: Mysterious36% distinctive overlap · 19.9 / 55.9 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 33.7 points
  • gameplay: Exploration13% distinctive overlap · 2.9 / 23.3 points
  • structure: Linear100% distinctive overlap · 20.3 / 20.3 points
  • pacing: Balanced100% distinctive overlap · 12.0 / 12.0 points
  • perspective: First-person100% distinctive overlap · 8.0 / 8.0 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.2 points

2006

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

26% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Discovery-led · Thoughtful

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Discovery-led experiences (progressing through curiosity and finding new knowledge or spaces); Thoughtful mood.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Discovery-led25% distinctive overlap · 18.8 / 76.6 points
  • mood: Thoughtful30% distinctive overlap · 14.9 / 49.8 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 29.8 points
  • gameplay: Exploration15% distinctive overlap · 3.0 / 20.7 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 23.0 points
  • pacing: Balanced100% distinctive overlap · 12.0 / 12.0 points
  • perspective: First-person55% distinctive overlap · 4.2 / 7.7 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: 2000s100% distinctive overlap · 3.6 / 3.6 points