Aeterna Noctis similar games & best alternatives
Aeterna Noctis
2021
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Quick resume
Aeterna Noctis is a challenging metroidvania that majestically combines action, exploration and adventure. With 2 game modes and difficulty based on action or the exclusive Noctis mode where a level of difficulty is added in precision platforming never seen in the metroidvania genre.
Global score
75/100
Genres
Action, Adventure, Indie, Platform, Puzzle
Similar games
Pros
- Challenging and rewarding platforming
- Large and diverse world with secrets
- Deep character progression and customization
- Engaging boss fights
- Beautiful hand-drawn art and music
Cons
- Very high difficulty may frustrate some players
- Some visual clutter affecting visibility
- Occasional bugs and control quirks
- Tedious backtracking in some areas
- Story and npc interactions can feel generic
Motivations
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Autonomy
Game with the same Autonomy vibe
4"Players have freedom to explore a large open world with non-linear progression and self-directed exploration."
Labyronia RPG
"Players have freedom to explore a large open world with multiple paths and ability-gated progression, allowing self-directed exploration and build customization."
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Competence
Game with the same Competence vibe
5"The game is highly challenging, requiring skill, precision, and mastery to overcome difficult platforming obstacles and bosses."
Electronic Super Joy
"The game is highly challenging with precise platforming, difficult combat and bosses, requiring mastery of mechanics and rewarding skill development."
-
Competition
Game with the same Competition vibe
-3"Focus is on personal progression and overcoming game challenges rather than competing against other players."
Lost Ruins
"Focus is on personal challenge and overcoming difficult platforming and bosses rather than competing against other players."
-
Continuation
Game with the same Continuation vibe
4"Long playtime (80-150+ hours), multiple characters, and extensive quests encourage habitual and extended play sessions."
King's Bounty: Dark Side
"Long playtime (40-80+ hours), large world, many collectibles and quests encourage extended engagement and habitual play."
-
Cooperation
Game with the same Cooperation vibe
-5"Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements mentioned."
Star Birds
"Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements mentioned."
-
Creativity
Game with the same Creativity vibe
3"Players customize builds via skill trees, item combinations, and class selections, enabling creative strategies."
Our Darker Purpose
"Players can customize builds via skill trees and gems, and explore a diverse world with unique biomes and puzzles."
-
Domination
Game with the same Domination vibe
-5"No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is individual and skill-based."
Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time
"No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is individual and skill-based."
-
Escapism
Game with the same Escapism vibe
4"Players use the game as a deep, immersive escape with engaging fantasy world and strategic challenges."
Aethermancer
"Players engage deeply in a challenging fantasy world, using the game as a form of immersive escape and mental engagement."
-
Expectation
Game with the same Expectation vibe
-4"Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest and challenge; no indication of obligation or external pressure."
FEIST
"Players choose to engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest and challenge; no indication of obligation or external pressure."
-
Experimenting
Game with the same Experimenting vibe
3"Players experiment with different ability builds and platforming techniques; some exploration of mechanics encouraged."
Constance
"Players experiment with different builds, abilities, and platforming techniques to overcome challenges."
-
Exploration
Game with the same Exploration vibe
5"Large interconnected world with many secrets, hidden areas, and lore encourages discovery and curiosity."
Blasphemous
"Large interconnected world with many secrets, collectibles, and ability-gated areas encourages discovery and curiosity."
-
Expression
Game with the same Expression vibe
2"Character customization and build choices allow some self-expression, though cosmetic customization is limited."
河洛群俠傳 (Ho Tu Lo Shu ： The Books of Dragon)
"Character builds and weapon/gem customization allow some degree of self-expression, though no cosmetic customization noted."
-
Fantasy
Game with the same Fantasy vibe
5"Set in a dark fantasy world with mythical creatures, lore, and supernatural elements."
DARK SOULS™ III
"Set in a dark fantasy world with mythical themes, supernatural powers, and an imaginative narrative."
-
Fellowship
Game with the same Fellowship vibe
-5"No social or community features; experience is solitary and focused on individual achievement."
Azure Striker Gunvolt
"No social or community features; experience is solitary and focused on individual achievement."
-
Growth
Game with the same Growth vibe
5"Strong emphasis on skill improvement, learning boss patterns, and mastering mechanics."
Chippy
"Strong emphasis on skill acquisition, learning boss patterns, mastering platforming, and character progression."
-
Health
Game with the same Health vibe
-4"Requires long sedentary play sessions with high mental focus; no physical activity or health benefits noted."
Nioh: Complete Edition
"Requires long sedentary play sessions with intense mental focus; no physical activity or health benefits indicated."
-
Idle
Game with the same Idle vibe
-4"Requires continuous attention and focus; platforming and combat demand active engagement."
TRON 2.0
"Requires constant attention and precision; platforming and combat demand uninterrupted engagement."
-
Intimacy
Game with the same Intimacy vibe
-5"No evidence of forming close relationships or emotional social interactions within the game."
Thronefall
"No evidence of forming close relationships or emotional social interactions within the game."
-
Leadership
Game with the same Leadership vibe
-5"No leadership or group management roles; gameplay is individual and self-directed."
Backpack Battles
"No leadership or group management roles; gameplay is individual and self-directed."
-
Progression
Game with the same Progression vibe
5"Character levels up, gains skills, acquires equipment, and crafts items; progression is core to gameplay."
Risen
"Character progression through skill trees, gems, weapons, and collectibles is a core gameplay element."
-
Relaxation
Game with the same Relaxation vibe
-3"High difficulty and punishing mechanics create tension and challenge rather than relaxation or flow."
Vagante
"High difficulty and punishing platforming create tension and challenge rather than relaxation or flow."
-
Sensation
Game with the same Sensation vibe
3"Enjoyable visual and auditory stimuli from hand-drawn art and music."
100 hidden eternals
"Enjoyable visual and auditory design with hand-drawn art and music enhance sensory engagement."
-
Status
Game with the same Status vibe
-4"Focus is on personal achievement rather than social recognition or popularity."
Desperados III
"Focus is on personal achievement rather than social recognition or popularity."
-
Story
Game with the same Story vibe
3"Narrative is present and engaging with character interactions and world lore, though some find it generic."
Aegis Defenders
"Narrative is present and engaging with voice acting and lore, though some find it generic or less compelling."
-
Strategy
Game with the same Strategy vibe
4"Requires planning upgrade layouts, learning enemy patterns, and tactical combat decisions."
Bloody Hell
"Requires planning builds, learning enemy patterns, and devising strategies for platforming and combat."
-
Thrill
Game with the same Thrill vibe
4"High tension and suspense from difficult platforming and boss fights create thrilling experiences."
Wings of Vi
"Suspense and tension from difficult platforming and boss fights provide excitement and relief upon success."
-
Value
Game with the same Value vibe
5"Extensive content and long playtime offer excellent value for money and time invested."
X4: Foundations
"Large amount of content and long playtime provide strong perceived value for money and time invested."
-
Violence
Game with the same Violence vibe
4"Combat and boss fights involve destruction and defeating enemies."
Perennial Order
"Combat and boss fights involve destruction and defeating enemies, though not gratuitously violent."
-
Survival
Game with the same Survival vibe
4"Players must avoid death and manage health and resources to progress through threats."
JUMP KING QUEST
"Players must avoid death and manage health carefully to progress through challenging threats and platforming."
Analysis
Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Relaxation, Survival, Violence, Fellowship. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Expression, Value.
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
Last update: 30/04/2026