ARIDA: Backland's Awakening similar games & best alternatives

ARIDA: Backland's Awakening - arida-backland-s-awakening_1.avif
ARIDA: Backland's Awakening - arida-backland-s-awakening_2.avif
ARIDA: Backland's Awakening - arida-backland-s-awakening_3.avif
ARIDA: Backland's Awakening - arida-backland-s-awakening_4.avif
ARIDA: Backland's Awakening - arida-backland-s-awakening_5.avif
ARIDA: Backland's Awakening - arida-backland-s-awakening_6.avif

ARIDA: Backland's Awakening

Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch • 2019

Should you play it?

ARIDA: Backland's Awakening. A story of survival and adventure in the brazilian backlands. Face the drought to explore the more arid regions, gather resources and discover clues about the fate of the young Cícera.

What works
  • Strong cultural and historical narrative
  • Emotional and poetic storytelling
  • Authentic representation of brazilian sertão
  • Simple but effective survival and crafting mechanics
  • Affordable price and supports brazilian indie development
Things to keep in mind
  • Short game length
  • Repetitive fetch quests and backtracking
  • Some bugs and technical issues
  • Lack of voice acting beyond cutscenes
  • No map or navigation aids

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Blameless

  • Helpless

  • My Friend is a Raven

  • Fears to Fathom - Ironbark Lookout

  • Rainy Day

  • Reversion - The Escape (1st Chapter)

  • Replica

  • Neglected

  • Doorways: Old Prototype
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Helpless

  • Neglected

  • Gibbon: Beyond the Trees
If you liked…

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Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

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

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • 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 (hidden on purpose).

ARIDA: Backland's Awakening: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Status. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy, Violence, Continuation.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    3

    "Players have freedom to explore side quests and collectibles at their own pace, though the main progression is linear and scripted."

    Capsule for REPLACED REPLACED

    "Players have freedom to explore, craft, and manage survival resources, but the game is semi-linear with fetch quests guiding progression."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    2

    "The game involves survival mechanics, managing hunger, thirst, sanity, and combat with weapons, requiring skill and strategy to progress."

    Capsule for The Backrooms: Survival The Backrooms: Survival

    "The game involves managing survival mechanics like hunger, thirst, and tool maintenance, requiring some skill but overall accessible and not highly challenging."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "Single-player experience with no competitive or ranked elements."

    Capsule for Morphopolis Morphopolis

    "Single-player experience with no competitive or ranked elements."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    -3

    "Short game length (~1-2 hours) and some bugs cause frustration; players often complete quickly without habitual play."

    Capsule for Graveyard Shift Graveyard Shift

    "Short game length (~2-3 hours) and some players report frustration with repetitive tasks and bugs, limiting long-term engagement."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

    Capsule for Half-Life: Alyx Half-Life: Alyx

    "Entirely single-player with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Extensive crafting system with many recipes and item combinations; players experiment with gear and consumables."

    Capsule for Smoke and Sacrifice Smoke and Sacrifice

    "Players craft items and recipes from collected resources, but crafting system is simple and limited in scope."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No elements of dominance or power over others; interactions are friendly and cooperative with NPCs."

    Capsule for Freddi Fish 2: The Case of the Haunted Schoolhouse Freddi Fish 2: The Case of the Haunted Schoolhouse

    "No elements of dominance or power over others; cooperative and equal interactions with NPCs."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Immersive story and atmosphere provide escape from real life; praised for engaging narrative and mood."

    Capsule for Broken Sword 5 - the Serpent's Curse Broken Sword 5 - the Serpent's Curse

    "Immersive narrative and atmosphere provide escape into a culturally rich and emotionally engaging experience."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in story and culture, not obligation or pressure."

    Capsule for Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna)

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in story and culture, not due to obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    1

    "Some exploration and combat experimentation is encouraged, but much gameplay follows established routines."

    Capsule for Haven Haven

    "Some exploration and resource experimentation, but gameplay largely follows established survival routines."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Large maps and discovery of lore and secrets motivate exploration, though some find map usage limited."

    Capsule for Xuan-Yuan Sword 2 Xuan-Yuan Sword 2

    "Encourages discovery of small map areas, collectibles, and cultural lore, though map is small and semi-linear."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -2

    "Limited character customization; expression mainly through narrative choices rather than avatar personalization."

    Capsule for Detroit: Become Human Detroit: Become Human

    "Limited character customization; expression mainly through narrative and cultural elements rather than avatar personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    -4

    "Strongly grounded in realistic historical events and social issues rather than imaginative fiction."

    Capsule for Mayjasmine Episode01 - What is God? Mayjasmine Episode01 - What is God?

    "Strongly grounded in realistic historical setting and cultural representation rather than fantasy or fiction."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; strictly single-player experience."

    Capsule for Surviving Mars Surviving Mars

    "No social or community features; strictly single-player experience."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    2

    "Players learn survival mechanics, resource management, and base building; some skill development over time."

    Capsule for Arctico Arctico

    "Players learn survival skills and progress through crafting and resource management, though mechanics are simple."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Going Under Going Under

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires active attention to exploration, minigames, and resource management; not designed for background or idle play."

    Capsule for MareQuest MareQuest

    "Requires player attention to resource management and exploration; not designed for idle or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "Limited emotional connection mainly through narrative; no social or close relationship building."

    Capsule for Perils of Man Perils of Man

    "Limited emotional connection mainly through narrative; no social or close relationship building."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements; player acts independently."

    Capsule for Putt-Putt® Goes to the Moon Putt-Putt® Goes to the Moon

    "No leadership or group management elements; player acts independently."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    2

    "Basic progression through crafting and upgrades, but mostly linear story advancement."

    Capsule for Under The Waves Under The Waves

    "Progression through collecting resources, crafting recipes, and completing quests, but overall simple and linear."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Generally calm and atmospheric gameplay with some tension from puzzles and hazards but not highly stressful."

    Capsule for Abyss School Abyss School

    "Calm, contemplative gameplay with some tension from survival mechanics but generally relaxing pace."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Simple but pleasant audiovisuals and music provide enjoyable sensory experience."

    Capsule for Rogue Tower Rogue Tower

    "Pleasant audiovisual style and music create enjoyable sensory experience, though not intense or highly stimulating."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems; achievements exist but are single-player focused."

    Capsule for Darksiders™ Darksiders™

    "No social status or recognition systems; achievements exist but are single-player focused."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Strong narrative immersion with emotional storytelling, character development, and historical context."

    Capsule for Valiant Hearts: The Great War™ / Soldats Inconnus : Mémoires de la Grande Guerre™ Valiant Hearts: The Great War™ / Soldats Inconnus : Mémoires de la Grande Guerre™

    "Strong narrative focus with cultural and historical immersion, poetic storytelling, and emotional engagement."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    1

    "Basic planning and resource management involved, but overall straightforward gameplay."

    Capsule for No Place Like Home No Place Like Home

    "Basic resource management and survival planning required, but overall straightforward and simple gameplay."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    1

    "Some tension and challenge in gameplay, but not high-risk or suspenseful."

    Capsule for Press Any Button Press Any Button

    "Some tension from survival elements but no high-risk or suspenseful gameplay moments."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Good value for price with extensive content, though incomplete story and small player base limit long-term value."

    Capsule for Them's Fightin' Herds Them's Fightin' Herds

    "Good value for price given cultural content and narrative, though short length noted by players."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -5

    "No violence or combat; gameplay centers on constructive crafting and exploration."

    Capsule for The Herbalist The Herbalist

    "No violence or combat; gameplay centers on survival and crafting."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Core gameplay revolves around managing hunger, thirst, and avoiding threats to stay alive."

    Capsule for The Eternal Cylinder The Eternal Cylinder

    "Core gameplay revolves around managing hunger, thirst, and tool durability to avoid failure."

Last update: 10/07/2026