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198X similar games & best alternatives

198X

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 • 2019

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Quick resume

Part 1 of arcade epic 198X. A coming-of-age story told through multiple games and genres. Experience the thrill of shooting, driving, jumping, fighting and role-playing in 5 full-blown arcade stages – combined with cinematic pixel-art storytelling.

Global score

76/100

Genres

Indie, Adventure, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Arcade, Racing

Similar games

    Pros

    • Beautiful pixel art and animation
    • Excellent synthwave soundtrack
    • Nostalgic and emotional narrative
    • Varied and well-crafted arcade mini-games
    • Strong voice acting and storytelling

    Cons

    • Very short gameplay duration
    • Limited replay value
    • Lack of controller support and settings
    • No multiplayer or social features
    • Some gameplay sections can be frustrating or too easy

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players have freedom to explore, interact with various characters, and engage in diverse minigames with some choice in combat approach, though the story is linear."

      Capsule for Catgirl Catgirl

      "Players choose to engage with multiple arcade-style mini-games and explore the narrative at their own pace, though the story progression is linear."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      2

      "Mini-games provide some skill challenges, but many are simple and can be turned easier; overall gameplay is not highly demanding."

      Capsule for Fall of Porcupine Fall of Porcupine

      "Mini-games offer skill-based challenges reminiscent of classic arcade games, with some difficulty spikes, but overall accessible with checkpoints."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -3

      "Focus is on personal experience and story rather than competing against others; no mention of leaderboards or ranked modes."

      Capsule for Fishy Fishy

      "Focus is on personal experience and narrative rather than competing with others; no leaderboards or ranked modes mentioned."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      -2

      "Short game length (~3-6 hours) with no replay value; players generally complete it in one or two sittings."

      Capsule for Titan Station Titan Station

      "Short game length (~1-2 hours) and limited replay value; players complete it in one or two sittings without habitual long sessions."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -5

      "Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

      Capsule for MiSide MiSide

      "Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      3

      "Unique art style, environmental storytelling, and quirky narrative demonstrate creative design despite linear gameplay."

      Capsule for Gravity Bone Gravity Bone

      "Creative reinterpretation of multiple arcade genres within a narrative framework; artistic pixel art and soundtrack enhance uniqueness."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; experience is personal and introspective."

      Capsule for Celeste Celeste

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; experience is personal and introspective."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      5

      "Strong escapism theme with players describing the game as life-changing, immersive, and a way to forget real-life problems."

      Capsule for SKIBIDI GYATROOMS SKIBIDI GYATROOMS

      "Strong theme of escapism through arcade games and narrative about coping with life struggles and growing up."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and nostalgia; no indication of obligation or external pressure to play."

      Capsule for Element TD 2 - Tower Defense Element TD 2 - Tower Defense

      "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and nostalgia; no obligation or external pressure to play."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      2

      "Players try different mini-games and character moves, exploring various gameplay elements beyond routine fighting."

      Capsule for Bud Spencer & Terence Hill - Slaps And Beans Bud Spencer & Terence Hill - Slaps And Beans

      "Players experience different game genres and styles within the mini-games, though gameplay is mostly structured and familiar."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      -3

      "Linear narrative with fixed environments; limited discovery or open-world exploration."

      Capsule for GOODBYE WORLD GOODBYE WORLD

      "Linear narrative with fixed arcade games; limited discovery or open-ended exploration."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -4

      "No customization or avatar personalization; presentation is fixed and standardized."

      Capsule for FORM FORM

      "No customization or avatar personalization; presentation is fixed and standardized."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      -2

      "Game presents a simple, arcade-style experience without deep narrative or imaginative fiction elements."

      Capsule for Roll'd Roll'd

      "Grounded in realistic coming-of-age story and nostalgic recreation of real-world arcade culture, though with some stylized elements."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -5

      "No social or community features; solitary experience."

      Capsule for Pony Island Pony Island

      "No social or community features; solitary experience."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      3

      "Players learn story mechanics, platforming skills, and explore narrative consequences; some challenge and skill development present."

      Capsule for PEPPERED: an existential platformer PEPPERED: an existential platformer

      "Narrative focuses on personal development and maturation; gameplay requires learning and skill improvement."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Traditional sedentary video game play with no physical activity component."

      Capsule for The Disney Afternoon Collection The Disney Afternoon Collection

      "Traditional sedentary video game experience with no physical activity elements."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention during minigames and story progression, not suited for passive or background play."

      Capsule for The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog

      "Requires focused attention during mini-games and narrative; not designed for passive or background play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -4

      "Emotional connection is with the story and characters rather than social or interpersonal relationships."

      Capsule for Machinarium Machinarium

      "Emotional connection is with the narrative and protagonist rather than social or interpersonal relationships."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

      "No leadership or group management roles; single-player experience."

      Capsule for Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach

      "No leadership or group management roles; single-player experience."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      2

      "Progression through narrative and completing mini-games; no item or power accumulation."

      Capsule for Leaving Lyndow Leaving Lyndow

      "Progression through narrative and completion of mini-games; no extensive item collection or upgrades."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      3

      "Atmospheric and immersive gameplay balances tension with soothing narrative flow."

      Capsule for Cabernet Cabernet

      "Atmospheric and moody experience with a balance of challenge and narrative reflection; some tension in gameplay."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      3

      "Enjoyable pixel art visuals and synthwave soundtrack provide sensory pleasure."

      Capsule for VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action

      "Enjoyable pixel art visuals and synthwave soundtrack provide sensory stimulation and nostalgic pleasure."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social recognition or status features; individual experience."

      Capsule for Into The Gloom Into The Gloom

      "No social recognition or visibility features; personal and private experience."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      5

      "Strong narrative focus with emotional storytelling integrated into gameplay."

      Capsule for Pretentious Game Pretentious Game

      "Strong narrative focus with voice acting and emotional storytelling integrated with gameplay."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      1

      "Mini-games require some planning and timing, but overall simple and straightforward gameplay."

      Capsule for Rayman Raving Rabbids™ Rayman Raving Rabbids™

      "Mini-games require some planning and skill, but mostly straightforward arcade-style gameplay."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      2

      "Some tension from combat and risk of failure, but overall controlled and predictable gameplay."

      Capsule for Escape Dungeon 2 Escape Dungeon 2

      "Some challenge and tension in gameplay, especially in later mini-games, but overall balanced and forgiving."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      0

      "Mixed opinions on value due to short length; some find it worth the price for the experience, others recommend buying on sale."

      Capsule for Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery

      "Mixed opinions on value due to short length; some find it worth the price for the experience, others recommend waiting for a sale."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      2

      "Includes combat and action games with fighting and destruction typical of arcade classics."

      Capsule for SEGA Mega Drive and Genesis Classics SEGA Mega Drive and Genesis Classics

      "Includes beat-em-up and shoot-em-up gameplay with combat and destruction elements typical of arcade games."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      1

      "Some resource management and avoidance of damage, but generally not high-risk survival gameplay."

      Capsule for Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered

      "Gameplay involves avoiding failure and managing limited lives/checkpoints, but not high-risk survival mechanics."

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Competition. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy, Exploration, Continuation.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 30/04/2026