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ADVENTUREPUZZLE

Ico

2001 · Sony Computer Entertainment Japan

A minimalist adventure game praised for its atmosphere, environmental design, puzzle mechanics and emotional presentation.

PLATFORMS

PS2PS3

GAMEBOX SCORE

95

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

/ 100

Retro Score99
Hidden Gem91
Revival Potential92

GAME DNA

experience
Companion journey · Contemplative
genre
Adventure · Puzzle
mood
Quiet · Melancholic · Dreamlike
gameplay
Exploration · Puzzle · Platforming · Companion
difficulty
Medium
era
2000s
pacing
Slow
perspective
Third-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.

QuietMelancholicDreamlikeExplorationPuzzlePlatformingCompanion

ABOUT THE GAME

A minimalist adventure game praised for its atmosphere, environmental design, puzzle mechanics and emotional presentation.

Play it for its elegant environmental design, minimalist storytelling, puzzles and unique emotional atmosphere.

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

Ico became a landmark example of atmospheric game design and helped establish Team Ico as one of the most influential artistic teams in the medium.

ORIGINAL RELEASE
2001
Developer
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment

DISCOVER MORE

SIMILAR GAMES

Explore what makes games feel like Ico

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

2012

Journey

52% SIMILAR

GOOD MATCH

Contemplative · Companion journey · Quiet · Adventure

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Contemplative experiences (taking time for observation, reflection and interpretation) and Companion journey experiences (building an experience around relationships with companions); Quiet mood; Adventure genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Companion journey · Contemplative100% distinctive overlap · 91.2 / 91.2 points
  • mood: Quiet26% distinctive overlap · 21.8 / 82.4 points
  • genre: Adventure24% distinctive overlap · 8.3 / 34.7 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle23% distinctive overlap · 6.8 / 29.9 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 23.0 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: Third-person100% distinctive overlap · 6.6 / 6.6 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.2 points

2005

Shadow of the Colossus

40% SIMILAR

PARTIAL MATCH

Contemplative · Companion journey · Melancholic · Adventure

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Contemplative experiences (taking time for observation, reflection and interpretation) and Companion journey experiences (building an experience around relationships with companions); Melancholic mood; Adventure genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Companion journey · Contemplative68% distinctive overlap · 61.5 / 90.3 points
  • mood: Melancholic20% distinctive overlap · 15.6 / 76.6 points
  • genre: Adventure26% distinctive overlap · 8.4 / 31.9 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle15% distinctive overlap · 5.7 / 37.2 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 25.7 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: Third-person100% distinctive overlap · 6.6 / 6.6 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: 2000s100% distinctive overlap · 3.6 / 3.6 points

2001

Silent Hill 2

30% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Contemplative

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Contemplative experiences (taking time for observation, reflection and interpretation).

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Contemplative33% distinctive overlap · 27.1 / 83.1 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 81.0 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 30.5 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle23% distinctive overlap · 6.8 / 29.7 points
  • structure: Interconnected100% distinctive overlap · 25.7 / 25.7 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: Third-person100% distinctive overlap · 6.6 / 6.6 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: 2000s100% distinctive overlap · 3.6 / 3.6 points

2019

Outer Wilds

26% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Contemplative · Quiet · Adventure

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Contemplative experiences (taking time for observation, reflection and interpretation); Quiet mood; Adventure genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Contemplative29% distinctive overlap · 25.8 / 90.2 points
  • mood: Quiet26% distinctive overlap · 21.8 / 82.4 points
  • genre: Adventure24% distinctive overlap · 8.3 / 34.7 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle23% distinctive overlap · 6.8 / 29.9 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 25.7 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 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 / 4.2 points

1999

Shenmue

26% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Contemplative · Melancholic · Adventure

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Contemplative experiences (taking time for observation, reflection and interpretation); Melancholic mood; Adventure genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Contemplative34% distinctive overlap · 27.4 / 81.7 points
  • mood: Melancholic18% distinctive overlap · 15.2 / 86.7 points
  • genre: Adventure30% distinctive overlap · 8.7 / 29.0 points
  • gameplay: Exploration5% distinctive overlap · 1.8 / 35.8 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 25.7 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: Third-person100% distinctive overlap · 6.6 / 6.6 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.0 points

2018

Return of the Obra Dinn

25% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Puzzle · Interconnected · Slow

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Puzzle genre; Interconnected structure; Slow pacing.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 89.4 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 71.9 points
  • genre: Puzzle60% distinctive overlap · 22.0 / 36.7 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle28% distinctive overlap · 7.7 / 27.3 points
  • structure: Interconnected100% distinctive overlap · 25.7 / 25.7 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 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 / 4.2 points