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Arx Fatalis

2002 · Arkane Studios

Explore an underground world with rune-casting magic, practical experimentation and interconnected spaces.

PLATFORMS

GAMEBOX SCORE

93

Provisional GAMEBOX editorial ratings. These are not verified facts or aggregate review scores.

/ 100

Retro Score91
Hidden Gem91
Revival Potential82

GAME DNA

experience
Immersive simulation · Discovery-led · Role immersion · Player agency
genre
Immersive Sim · RPG
mood
Atmospheric · Mysterious
gameplay
Exploration · Choices · Combat
difficulty
Medium
era
2000s
pacing
Slow
perspective
First-person
structure
Interconnected

DISCOVER BY GAME DNA

Game DNA is GAMEBOX editorial classification; era comes from the sourced release year. Ratings are separate editorial judgements.

ABOUT THE GAME

Explore an underground world with rune-casting magic, practical experimentation and interconnected spaces.

Explore an underground world with rune-casting magic, practical experimentation and interconnected spaces.

WHERE CAN I PLAY IT?

Availability information will be added to the GAMEBOX database.

We only list legal and officially available platforms and services.

RETRO HISTORY

First listed release: 2002. Explore the cited source for the game's release and development history.

ORIGINAL RELEASE
2002
Developer
Arkane Studios
Publisher
JoWooD Productions · Arkane Studios · DreamCatcher Interactive · Mindscape

DISCOVER MORE

SIMILAR GAMES

Explore what makes games feel like Arx Fatalis

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

2007

BioShock

60% SIMILAR

GOOD MATCH

Atmospheric · Mysterious · Immersive Sim · RPG · Player agency

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Atmospheric / Mysterious mood; Immersive Sim / RPG genre; Player agency experiences (shaping outcomes through consequential choices or approaches).

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Player agency16% distinctive overlap · 11.8 / 71.7 points
  • mood: Atmospheric · Mysterious100% distinctive overlap · 59.3 / 59.3 points
  • genre: Immersive Sim · RPG100% distinctive overlap · 27.4 / 27.4 points
  • gameplay: Choices · Combat · Exploration100% distinctive overlap · 26.8 / 26.8 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: 2000s100% distinctive overlap · 3.6 / 3.6 points

2017

Prey

54% SIMILAR

GOOD MATCH

Immersive simulation · Player agency · Mysterious · Immersive Sim

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Immersive simulation experiences (learning and exploiting interacting world systems) and Player agency experiences (shaping outcomes through consequential choices or approaches); Mysterious mood; Immersive Sim genre.

A close match offering a different series or DNA profile.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Immersive simulation · Player agency · Role immersion62% distinctive overlap · 48.1 / 77.5 points
  • mood: Mysterious22% distinctive overlap · 14.1 / 64.4 points
  • genre: Immersive Sim28% distinctive overlap · 8.8 / 31.6 points
  • gameplay: Choices · Combat · Exploration68% distinctive overlap · 19.1 / 28.3 points
  • structure: Interconnected100% distinctive overlap · 25.7 / 25.7 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 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

2010

BioShock 2

58% SIMILAR

GOOD MATCH

Atmospheric · Mysterious · Immersive Sim · RPG · Player agency

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Atmospheric / Mysterious mood; Immersive Sim / RPG genre; Player agency experiences (shaping outcomes through consequential choices or approaches).

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Player agency16% distinctive overlap · 11.8 / 71.7 points
  • mood: Atmospheric · Mysterious100% distinctive overlap · 59.3 / 59.3 points
  • genre: Immersive Sim · RPG100% distinctive overlap · 27.4 / 27.4 points
  • gameplay: Choices · Combat · Exploration100% distinctive overlap · 26.8 / 26.8 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

2000

Deus Ex

45% SIMILAR

PARTIAL MATCH

Immersive simulation · Player agency · Immersive Sim · RPG

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Immersive simulation experiences (learning and exploiting interacting world systems) and Player agency experiences (shaping outcomes through consequential choices or approaches); Immersive Sim / RPG genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Immersive simulation · Player agency · Role immersion76% distinctive overlap · 59.8 / 78.5 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 64.5 points
  • genre: Immersive Sim · RPG71% distinctive overlap · 18.9 / 26.6 points
  • gameplay: Choices · Exploration38% distinctive overlap · 10.9 / 28.5 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 29.4 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 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

1999

System Shock 2

42% SIMILAR

PARTIAL MATCH

Immersive simulation · Role immersion · Immersive Sim · RPG · Mysterious

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Immersive simulation experiences (learning and exploiting interacting world systems) and Role immersion experiences (inhabiting and developing a character within a world); Immersive Sim / RPG genre; Mysterious mood.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Immersive simulation · Role immersion35% distinctive overlap · 27.8 / 80.4 points
  • mood: Mysterious18% distinctive overlap · 13.4 / 73.0 points
  • genre: Immersive Sim · RPG67% distinctive overlap · 18.4 / 27.3 points
  • gameplay: Combat · Exploration25% distinctive overlap · 6.8 / 27.3 points
  • structure: Interconnected100% distinctive overlap · 25.7 / 25.7 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: First-person100% distinctive overlap · 8.0 / 8.0 points
  • difficulty: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 3.6 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.0 points

2000

Thief II: The Metal Age

37% SIMILAR

PARTIAL MATCH

Immersive simulation · Player agency · Atmospheric · Immersive Sim

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Immersive simulation experiences (learning and exploiting interacting world systems) and Player agency experiences (shaping outcomes through consequential choices or approaches); Atmospheric mood; Immersive Sim genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Immersive simulation · Player agency56% distinctive overlap · 46.4 / 82.7 points
  • mood: Atmospheric23% distinctive overlap · 14.6 / 63.4 points
  • genre: Immersive Sim40% distinctive overlap · 12.3 / 31.1 points
  • gameplay: Exploration6% distinctive overlap · 2.0 / 31.2 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 29.4 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: First-person100% distinctive overlap · 8.0 / 8.0 points
  • difficulty: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 3.6 points
  • era: 2000s100% distinctive overlap · 3.6 / 3.6 points