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Ampersat similar games & best alternatives

Ampersat

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Linux • 2022

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Quick resume

A shooty, slashy, RPG-y game mixing retro and modern sensibilities. A blend of influences from Gauntlet & Smash TV to Zelda & Angband, Ampersat is a handcrafted adventure but with appeal to Roguelite fans. Battle ASCII creatures in colorful areas & free letters to return language to the village!

Global score

84/100

Genres

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

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging and well-paced difficulty curve
    • Unique ascii art style with nostalgic appeal
    • Satisfying progression and build customization
    • Varied handcrafted dungeons and puzzles
    • Good value especially when free or discounted

    Cons

    • Ui and interface can be cluttered and confusing
    • Some repetitive gameplay and grind in later stages
    • Limited control customization and accessibility options
    • Combat can feel frustrating due to status effects
    • Visual effects sometimes obscure enemies

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players can customize characters, choose party members, and decide on skill combos and equipment, but follow a mostly linear story and dungeon progression."

      Capsule for Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1

      "Players can choose builds, upgrade skills and gear, and decide dungeon order, allowing meaningful control over playstyle and progression."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      4

      "The game offers challenging combat requiring skill, timing, and mastery of mechanics, with boss fights demanding strategy and precision."

      Capsule for ZONE OF THE ENDERS THE 2nd RUNNER : M∀RS / アヌビス ゾーン・オブ・エンダーズ : マーズ ZONE OF THE ENDERS THE 2nd RUNNER : M∀RS / アヌビス ゾーン・オブ・エンダーズ : マーズ

      "The game features a well-paced difficulty curve with challenging combat and boss fights that reward skill and strategy."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -4

      "No evidence of player-vs-player or leaderboard competition; focus is on personal progression and completion."

      Capsule for Nodebuster Nodebuster

      "No evidence of player-vs-player or leaderboard competition; focus is on personal progression and achievement completion."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      3

      "Players report addictive gameplay with replayability through looping and achievement hunting, encouraging repeated sessions."

      Capsule for Super Raft Boat Classic Super Raft Boat Classic

      "Players report addictive 'one more level' gameplay loop and replayability with New Game+ and achievement hunting."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -3

      "The game is primarily a single-player experience with no current multiplayer or cooperative gameplay, though players express desire for co-op."

      Capsule for Contraband Police Contraband Police

      "Primarily a single-player experience; some mention of potential co-op but no strong cooperative gameplay focus."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      2

      "Character customization and build variety allow some creative expression within predefined game systems."

      Capsule for Swords and Sandals Classic Collection Swords and Sandals Classic Collection

      "Players customize builds and gear; unique ASCII art style and thematic design encourage creative engagement."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No indications of dominance or power over other players; interactions are individual and non-competitive."

      Capsule for Grim Clicker Grim Clicker

      "No indication of dominance or power over other players; interactions are individual and non-competitive."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Players use the game as a nostalgic and immersive escape into retro-style worlds and varied gameplay experiences."

      Capsule for UFO 50 UFO 50

      "Players use the game as a relaxing, nostalgic escape with immersive retro aesthetics and engaging gameplay."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and nostalgia, not out of obligation or external pressure."

      Capsule for Zuma's Revenge! Zuma's Revenge!

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and nostalgia, not out of obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      3

      "Exploration of dungeon layouts and party combinations encourages some experimentation."

      Capsule for Sakura Dungeon Sakura Dungeon

      "Varied dungeon themes, multiple builds, and weapon/spell combinations encourage experimentation."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      3

      "Players explore user-created dungeons with multiple floors and secrets, fostering discovery."

      Capsule for Quest Master Quest Master

      "Players explore diverse handcrafted dungeons and towers with puzzles and secrets to discover."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      1

      "Some character customization through builds and gear, but limited cosmetic or avatar personalization."

      Capsule for Dwarven Realms Dwarven Realms

      "Some customization of character builds and gear, but limited cosmetic personalization."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      2

      "Set in a cyberpunk-noir fictional universe with some stylized comic book elements, blending realistic and imaginative fiction."

      Capsule for Transience Transience

      "Fantasy elements blended with abstract ASCII and cyberpunk themes create an imaginative fictional world."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -4

      "Mostly solo play with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

      Capsule for Forager Forager

      "Mostly solo play with minimal social interaction or community involvement described."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      4

      "Character leveling, skill upgrades, and item acquisition provide clear growth and progression."

      Capsule for Knights of Pen and Paper +1 Edition Knights of Pen and Paper +1 Edition

      "Clear player progression through leveling, skill upgrades, and gear improvements fosters growth."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; typical sedentary gaming experience."

      Capsule for Bad North: Jotunn Edition Bad North: Jotunn Edition

      "No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; typical sedentary gaming experience."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      2

      "Can be played casually with some multitasking; not requiring constant intense focus."

      Capsule for Zup! 8 Zup! 8

      "Some players describe it as suitable for casual play with ability to multitask, but requires attention during combat."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -5

      "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing within the game experience."

      Capsule for Pharaoh™: A New Era Pharaoh™: A New Era

      "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing within the game experience."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

      "No leadership or group management roles present; gameplay is individual-focused."

      Capsule for Snood Snood

      "No leadership or group management roles present; gameplay is individual-focused."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      5

      "Strong emphasis on accumulating items, upgrades, and unlocking new content."

      Capsule for C.A.S.T. (CHERNOZEM ANOMALY STRIKE TEAM) C.A.S.T. (CHERNOZEM ANOMALY STRIKE TEAM)

      "Strong emphasis on accumulating experience, items, upgrades, and unlocking new content."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      3

      "Many players find the game relaxing and enjoyable, with a good balance of challenge and flow."

      Capsule for Ascension: Deckbuilding Game Ascension: Deckbuilding Game

      "Players find the game relaxing and enjoyable, with a good balance of challenge and flow."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      2

      "Visual and auditory retro aesthetics provide enjoyable sensory stimulation, though not intense or modern sensory effects."

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

      "Visual and auditory retro style provides sensory enjoyment, though some find effects cluttered."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -4

      "No social status or recognition systems; achievements are personal milestones."

      Capsule for Deponia: The Complete Journey Deponia: The Complete Journey

      "No social status or recognition systems; achievements are personal milestones."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      3

      "Narrative unfolds through letters and environmental restoration, adding depth to gameplay."

      Capsule for Bugaboo Pocket Bugaboo Pocket

      "Narrative about restoring language and rescuing letters provides engaging lore and thematic depth."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      3

      "Combat and build choices require tactical thinking; coordination in dungeons demands planning."

      Capsule for Dreadmyst Dreadmyst

      "Combat and build choices require tactical thinking and adapting to enemy types and dungeon mechanics."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      2

      "Combat provides moments of tension and excitement, especially on higher difficulties."

      Capsule for Dark Envoy Dark Envoy

      "Combat offers moments of tension and excitement, though some find difficulty spikes frustrating."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      4

      "Players report good value for time spent, especially on sale."

      Capsule for Iratus: Lord of the Dead Iratus: Lord of the Dead

      "Players report good value for time spent, especially when acquired free or on discount."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      3

      "Combat involves fighting enemies with various abilities, including violent actions."

      Capsule for Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Marvel's Spider-Man 2

      "Combat involves defeating enemies through melee and ranged attacks, with some violent action elements."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      2

      "Players manage health, potions, and resources to survive challenging enemies and hazards."

      Capsule for Infernax Infernax

      "Players manage health and resources to survive challenging dungeons and enemy attacks."

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Cooperation, Leadership, Violence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Idle, 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.

    Last update: 30/04/2026