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A.W.O.L. similar games & best alternatives

A.W.O.L.

PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux • 2022

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Quick resume

A.W.O.L. is a first-person, mil-spec shooter developed using the Build engine (Duke Nukem 3D, Ion Fury).

Global score

79/100

Genres

Action, Free To Play, Indie, Shooter, Tactical

Similar games

    Pros

    • Free to play
    • Satisfying gunplay and sound design
    • Retro build engine charm
    • Tactical and action gameplay mix
    • Well-made levels and animations

    Cons

    • Poor and buggy ai
    • Confusing level design especially dubai
    • Performance issues and frame drops
    • Lack of polish and bugs
    • Story and cutscenes often unengaging

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players have freedom to choose playstyle: stealth, guns blazing, or tactical approaches with equipment abilities."

      Capsule for Rogue Trooper Rogue Trooper

      "Players have freedom to choose playstyle between tactical and action-oriented approaches, with some squad commands and stealth mechanics, though some levels are linear."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      3

      "Gameplay involves skillful gunplay, tactical positioning, and overcoming AI challenges, though AI is sometimes poor"

      Capsule for Easy Red Easy Red

      "Gameplay involves skillful shooting, tactical movement, and overcoming AI challenges, though AI is often criticized as poor and predictable."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -4

      "Single-player experience focused on personal progress without multiplayer or leaderboards."

      Capsule for Collapse Collapse

      "Single-player experience focused on personal progress without multiplayer or leaderboards."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      2

      "Players report engaging gameplay and desire to continue playing despite bugs, but some mention short playtime and occasional frustration."

      Capsule for Nanotale - Typing Chronicles Nanotale - Typing Chronicles

      "Players report engaging gameplay and fun gunplay encouraging continued play, though some frustration with confusing levels and bugs may reduce attachment."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      1

      "Some squad command and AI teamwork exists, but mostly single player with limited cooperation."

      Capsule for Vietnam War Vietnam War

      "Includes squad commands and AI teammates, but AI is often broken and unhelpful, limiting meaningful cooperation."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      2

      "Players experiment with different routes and tactics, but within predefined level designs."

      Capsule for The WereCleaner The WereCleaner

      "Level design encourages some exploration and tactical approaches; players can experiment with stealth and squad tactics."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -3

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is single-player focused with no social dominance."

      Capsule for NecroVisioN: Lost Company NecroVisioN: Lost Company

      "No evidence of exerting control over others; gameplay is single-player with no social dominance elements."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Players use the game as a fun distraction and stress relief with immersive retro atmosphere and intense gameplay."

      Capsule for Project Starship Project Starship

      "Players use the game as a fun distraction with immersive gunplay and retro atmosphere, escaping real life stress."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

      Capsule for Aven Colony Aven Colony

      "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      3

      "Players try different combat styles, stealth, and exploration paths, experimenting within game mechanics."

      Capsule for UNCHARTED™: Legacy of Thieves Collection UNCHARTED™: Legacy of Thieves Collection

      "Players try different tactics, stealth, squad commands, and explore levels with some novelty in mechanics."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      2

      "Large levels with multiple routes encourage exploration, though some maps are repetitive and linear."

      Capsule for Intravenous Intravenous

      "Some levels encourage exploration and backtracking, though certain maps (Dubai) are confusing and criticized."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -2

      "Limited customization or avatar personalization mentioned; mostly standard presentation."

      Capsule for Folklore Hunter Folklore Hunter

      "Limited customization or avatar personalization; mostly standardized presentation."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      -1

      "Game is based on realistic military shooter themes, though some exaggerated movement and over-the-top animations add a slight fantasy element."

      Capsule for Combat Master: Season 5 Combat Master: Season 5

      "Military-themed realistic shooter with some narrative elements; not strongly fantasy oriented."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -3

      "Single-player experience with minimal social interaction or community focus."

      Capsule for Shardpunk Shardpunk

      "Single-player focus with minimal social interaction or community feeling."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      2

      "Players learn tactical squad management and improve shooting skills through gameplay."

      Capsule for Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway™ Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway™

      "Players learn tactical approaches and improve shooting skills; some challenge and mastery involved."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Standard sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

      Capsule for Faeria Faeria

      "Standard sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires active attention and focus; not designed for background or idle play."

      Capsule for Music Racer Music Racer

      "Requires active attention and focus; not designed for background or idle play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -5

      "No social or emotional relationship building; purely individual experience."

      Capsule for FRACT OSC FRACT OSC

      "No social or emotional relationship building; purely individual experience."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      1

      "Players may lead squads or coordinate in multiplayer, but AI teammates and cooperative play limit strong leadership roles."

      Capsule for SCP: Nine-Tailed Fox SCP: Nine-Tailed Fox

      "Players can issue simple commands to squadmates, but AI limitations reduce meaningful leadership experience."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      2

      "Players collect weapons and items, and progress through story and levels, but no complex upgrade systems."

      Capsule for Insecticide Part 1 Insecticide Part 1

      "Players collect weapons and keycards, progress through levels, though no deep RPG or upgrade systems."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      1

      "Some players find the game fun and therapeutic, but bugs and performance issues reduce relaxation."

      Capsule for DogeFight DogeFight

      "Some players find it a good way to unwind, but frustration from bugs and confusing levels reduces relaxation."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      3

      "Enjoyable gunplay, sound effects, and visual feedback provide sensory stimulation."

      Capsule for Deadswitch 3 Deadswitch 3

      "Enjoyable gunplay with satisfying sound effects and visual feedback provides sensory stimulation."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social recognition or ranking systems present."

      Capsule for Immortals of Aveum™ Immortals of Aveum™

      "No social recognition or ranking systems present."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      1

      "Basic narrative presented via comic-style cutscenes; story is serviceable but not immersive."

      Capsule for Alien Breed: Impact Alien Breed: Impact

      "Contains a narrative with comic-style cutscenes, but story is often considered unmemorable or skippable."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      3

      "Requires planning resource management, unit composition, and tactical combat despite some AI limitations."

      Capsule for Army Men RTS Army Men RTS

      "Tactical elements and squad commands require planning and problem solving, though AI limits depth."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      2

      "Some tension and challenge in battles, but overall controlled and predictable gameplay."

      Capsule for Brigandine The Legend of Runersia Brigandine The Legend of Runersia

      "Some tension and challenge in combat, but overall controlled and predictable gameplay."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      5

      "Highly praised as a free game with substantial content and quality for the price."

      Capsule for Escape Room - Der kranke Kollege Escape Room - Der kranke Kollege

      "Highly praised for being a free, well-made game with substantial content and fun gameplay."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      4

      "High level of combat, gore, and destruction with emphasis on shooting and dismemberment."

      Capsule for F.E.A.R. 3 F.E.A.R. 3

      "Focus on combat, shooting, explosions, and destruction with satisfying gore effects."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      2

      "Players must avoid death and manage combat situations; some resource management aspects."

      Capsule for Zero Caliber VR Zero Caliber VR

      "Players must avoid death and manage resources in challenging combat scenarios."

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Leadership, Cooperation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy.

    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