GAMEBOX.WIKI
← BACK TO GAME DATABASE
ACTION ADVENTUREADVENTURE

Shadow of the Colossus

2005 · Sony Computer Entertainment Japan

A landmark adventure game centered around gigantic creatures, environmental scale, exploration and minimalist storytelling.

PLATFORMS

PS2

GAMEBOX SCORE

98

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

/ 100

Retro Score99
Hidden Gem80
Revival Potential91

GAME DNA

experience
Contemplative · Mastery challenge · Companion journey
genre
Action Adventure · Adventure
mood
Melancholic · Epic · Mysterious
gameplay
Exploration · Puzzle · Boss Battles · Climbing
difficulty
Medium
era
2000s
pacing
Slow
perspective
Third-person
structure
Open world

DISCOVER BY GAME DNA

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

MelancholicEpicMysteriousExplorationPuzzleBoss BattlesClimbing

ABOUT THE GAME

A landmark adventure game centered around gigantic creatures, environmental scale, exploration and minimalist storytelling.

Play it for its breathtaking scale, memorable boss encounters, minimalist storytelling and extraordinary sense of 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

Shadow of the Colossus became one of the defining artistic achievements of the PlayStation 2 era and remains highly influential in game design.

ORIGINAL RELEASE
2005
Developer
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment

DISCOVER MORE

SIMILAR GAMES

Explore what makes games feel like Shadow of the Colossus

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

2012

Journey

41% SIMILAR

PARTIAL MATCH

Contemplative · Companion journey · Mysterious · 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); Mysterious mood; Adventure genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Companion journey · Contemplative68% distinctive overlap · 61.5 / 90.3 points
  • mood: Mysterious21% distinctive overlap · 14.5 / 67.6 points
  • genre: Adventure25% distinctive overlap · 8.4 / 33.2 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle21% distinctive overlap · 6.6 / 32.1 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

2001

Ico

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

2002

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

37% SIMILAR

PARTIAL MATCH

Action Adventure · Adventure · Companion journey

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Action Adventure / Adventure genre; Companion journey experiences (building an experience around relationships with companions).

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Companion journey24% distinctive overlap · 20.1 / 83.8 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 61.8 points
  • genre: Action Adventure · Adventure100% distinctive overlap · 30.4 / 30.4 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle22% distinctive overlap · 6.6 / 30.4 points
  • structure: Open world100% distinctive overlap · 25.7 / 25.7 points
  • pacing: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 11.1 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

1999

Shenmue

35% SIMILAR

PARTIAL MATCH

Contemplative · Melancholic · Adventure

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

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

A close match offering a different series or DNA profile.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Contemplative26% distinctive overlap · 21.0 / 80.7 points
  • mood: Melancholic22% distinctive overlap · 15.8 / 71.9 points
  • genre: Adventure32% distinctive overlap · 8.8 / 27.5 points
  • gameplay: Exploration5% distinctive overlap · 1.7 / 38.0 points
  • structure: Open world100% 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: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.0 points

2000

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

37% SIMILAR

PARTIAL MATCH

Action Adventure · Adventure · Contemplative

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

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

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Contemplative23% distinctive overlap · 20.5 / 89.2 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 61.8 points
  • genre: Action Adventure · Adventure100% distinctive overlap · 30.4 / 30.4 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle22% distinctive overlap · 6.6 / 30.4 points
  • structure: Open world100% distinctive overlap · 25.7 / 25.7 points
  • pacing: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 11.1 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

33% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Contemplative · Mysterious · Adventure

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

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

A close match offering a different series or DNA profile.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Contemplative23% distinctive overlap · 20.5 / 89.2 points
  • mood: Mysterious21% distinctive overlap · 14.5 / 67.6 points
  • genre: Adventure25% distinctive overlap · 8.4 / 33.2 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle21% distinctive overlap · 6.6 / 32.1 points
  • structure: Open world100% 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