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Shenmue

1999 · AM2 of CRI

A pioneering open-world adventure combining detailed environments, daily-life simulation, investigation and cinematic storytelling.

PLATFORMS

DreamcastPS4PCXbox One

GAMEBOX SCORE

95

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

/ 100

Retro Score99
Hidden Gem90
Revival Potential94

GAME DNA

experience
Role immersion · Narrative-driven · Contemplative
genre
Adventure · Action
mood
Nostalgic · Atmospheric · Melancholic
gameplay
Exploration · Investigation · Combat · Life Simulation
difficulty
Medium
era
1990s
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.

NostalgicAtmosphericMelancholicExplorationInvestigationCombatLife Simulation

ABOUT THE GAME

A pioneering open-world adventure combining detailed environments, daily-life simulation, investigation and cinematic storytelling.

Play it for its pioneering open-world design, detailed environments, investigation systems and immersive everyday-life simulation.

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

Shenmue was one of the most ambitious games of its era and helped establish many ideas that would later become standard in open-world games.

ORIGINAL RELEASE
1999
Developer
AM2 of CRI
Publisher
Sega

DISCOVER MORE

SIMILAR GAMES

Explore what makes games feel like Shenmue

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

2019

Disco Elysium

50% SIMILAR

GOOD MATCH

Contemplative · Role immersion · Melancholic · Adventure

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Contemplative experiences (taking time for observation, reflection and interpretation) and Role immersion experiences (inhabiting and developing a character within a world); Melancholic mood; Adventure genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Contemplative · Narrative-driven · Role immersion75% distinctive overlap · 54.1 / 72.1 points
  • mood: Melancholic27% distinctive overlap · 19.2 / 71.9 points
  • genre: Adventure39% distinctive overlap · 9.3 / 23.9 points
  • gameplay: Investigation23% distinctive overlap · 9.7 / 42.1 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 / 10.1 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.6 points

2005

Shadow of the Colossus

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.

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

33% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Contemplative · Atmospheric · Adventure

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

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

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Contemplative26% distinctive overlap · 21.1 / 80.6 points
  • mood: Atmospheric19% distinctive overlap · 13.9 / 72.0 points
  • genre: Adventure32% distinctive overlap · 8.8 / 27.5 points
  • gameplay: Combat · Exploration22% distinctive overlap · 6.4 / 29.0 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: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.0 points

2006

Ōkami

31% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Atmospheric · Narrative-driven · Adventure

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Atmospheric mood; Narrative-driven experiences (following and interpreting a story-led journey); Adventure genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Narrative-driven19% distinctive overlap · 12.6 / 68.1 points
  • mood: Atmospheric19% distinctive overlap · 13.9 / 72.0 points
  • genre: Adventure32% distinctive overlap · 8.8 / 27.5 points
  • gameplay: Combat · Exploration22% distinctive overlap · 6.4 / 29.0 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: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.0 points

1999

Planescape: Torment

30% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Contemplative · Role immersion

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Contemplative experiences (taking time for observation, reflection and interpretation) and Role immersion experiences (inhabiting and developing a character within a world).

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Contemplative · Narrative-driven · Role immersion75% distinctive overlap · 54.1 / 72.1 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 64.7 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 22.1 points
  • gameplay: Exploration7% distinctive overlap · 2.0 / 29.1 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 27.7 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 10.1 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: 1990s100% distinctive overlap · 4.4 / 4.4 points

2015

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

27% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Role immersion · Narrative-driven

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Role immersion experiences (inhabiting and developing a character within a world) and Narrative-driven experiences (following and interpreting a story-led journey).

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Narrative-driven · Role immersion40% distinctive overlap · 27.2 / 67.5 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 64.7 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 22.1 points
  • gameplay: Exploration7% distinctive overlap · 2.0 / 29.1 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: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.6 points