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Blacksad: Under the Skin similar games & best alternatives

Blacksad: Under the Skin

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 • 2019

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Quick resume

BLACKSAD: Under the Skin - A dark corruption scandal in the heart of the New York City's underworld for charismatic detective John Blacksad!

Global score

83/100

Genres

Adventure, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging noir story with multiple endings
    • Immersive jazz soundtrack and atmosphere
    • Meaningful player choices shaping character
    • Interesting anthropomorphic characters
    • Deduction mechanics add depth

    Cons

    • Clunky and slow controls
    • Technical issues and bugs
    • Unskippable cutscenes hinder replay
    • Limited exploration and linear progression
    • Some qtes frustrating and poorly balanced

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players make choices affecting dialogue and character personality, though story progression is mostly linear."

      Capsule for Jenny LeClue - Detectivu Jenny LeClue - Detectivu

      "Players can explore small areas freely, make dialogue choices affecting character traits and story outcomes, but overall story progression is mostly linear."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      2

      "Gameplay involves clue finding, combining, and QTEs which provide some skill challenge but are generally described as easy or simple."

      Capsule for 永冻之壳 The Shell of Permafrost 永冻之壳 The Shell of Permafrost

      "Game involves deduction mechanics and clue gathering requiring some skill, but gameplay is generally easy with some frustrating QTEs."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -5

      "No competitive elements or player comparison; focus is on individual story experience."

      Capsule for Marco & The Galaxy Dragon Marco & The Galaxy Dragon

      "No competitive elements or player comparison; focus is on individual story experience."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      2

      "Players report engaging story and gameplay encouraging completion, but limited replay value and short length reduce habitual play."

      Capsule for Rise of the Argonauts Rise of the Argonauts

      "Players report being engaged through the story and wanting to finish it, but clunky controls and unskippable cutscenes reduce replay motivation."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -5

      "Single player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

      Capsule for The Flame in the Flood The Flame in the Flood

      "Single player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      1

      "Players can shape character personality and story outcomes through choices but within a predefined narrative structure."

      Capsule for Road to Empress I Road to Empress I

      "Players can shape their character's personality through choices, but no building or customization beyond narrative decisions."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are balanced and narrative-driven."

      Capsule for Leisure Suit Larry - Wet Dreams Don't Dry Leisure Suit Larry - Wet Dreams Don't Dry

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are balanced and narrative-driven."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Dark noir story and immersive atmosphere provide strong escape from reality."

      Capsule for Max Payne Max Payne

      "Strong noir atmosphere and immersive story provide escape from real life, despite some technical issues."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in story and genre, with no indication of obligation or external pressure."

      Capsule for Omen Exitio: Plague Omen Exitio: Plague

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in story and genre; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      2

      "Some exploration of dialogue options and investigation mechanics, but mostly following a set narrative."

      Capsule for Chicken Police - Paint it RED! Chicken Police - Paint it RED!

      "Some exploration of dialogue options and deduction combinations, but largely follows established narrative paths."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      2

      "Players explore small, detailed rooms and interact with objects, though environments are limited and familiar after first play."

      Capsule for The Price of Freedom The Price of Freedom

      "Players explore small, detailed environments to find clues, though areas are limited and mostly familiar after first play."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      2

      "Some character customization through choices, but no avatar personalization or cosmetic modifications."

      Capsule for Chasing Tails ~A Promise in the Snow~ Chasing Tails ~A Promise in the Snow~

      "Character personality shaped by player choices; no avatar customization or cosmetic modifications."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      3

      "Anthropomorphic animal characters and dystopian noir setting create an imaginative fictional world."

      Capsule for Tails Noir: Prologue Tails Noir: Prologue

      "Anthropomorphic animal characters and noir setting create an imaginative fictional world distinct from reality."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -5

      "No social or community features; purely single player experience."

      Capsule for 12 Labours of Hercules 12 Labours of Hercules

      "No social or community features; purely single player experience."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      2

      "Players develop detective skills through clue gathering and deduction, but gameplay complexity is limited."

      Capsule for Murdered: Soul Suspect Murdered: Soul Suspect

      "Players develop detective skills through deduction and story understanding, though gameplay is not highly challenging."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

      Capsule for THE ENIGMA MACHINE THE ENIGMA MACHINE

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention on story and dialogue; not suitable for casual or background play."

      Capsule for Until Then Until Then

      "Requires focused attention on story, dialogue, and timed events; not suitable for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      1

      "Some emotional engagement with characters, but limited to narrative interactions."

      Capsule for Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York

      "Some emotional engagement with characters and relationships, but limited to narrative interactions."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

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

      Capsule for Dead Space (2008) Dead Space (2008)

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

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      3

      "Players accumulate clues, items, and unlock story chapters, showing clear progression."

      Capsule for Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murders Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murders

      "Players collect clues and cards, and character traits evolve based on choices, showing clear progression."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      1

      "Balanced pacing with some tension and emotional moments; not overly stressful."

      Capsule for The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Miniseries The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Miniseries

      "Story-driven pacing with some tension from timed events and QTEs; overall moderate relaxation."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      2

      "Enjoyable visual style and jazzy soundtrack provide pleasant sensory stimulation."

      Capsule for Greed Corp Greed Corp

      "Enjoyable jazz soundtrack and atmospheric visuals provide sensory stimulation, though graphics are sometimes clunky."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social recognition or leaderboard features; achievements are personal."

      Capsule for Cyber Crush 2069 Cyber Crush 2069

      "No social recognition or leaderboard features; achievements are personal."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      5

      "Strong narrative focus with multiple endings, character development, and immersive noir storytelling."

      Capsule for 1954 Alcatraz 1954 Alcatraz

      "Highly praised narrative with multiple endings, character development, and immersive noir storytelling."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      2

      "Some logical deduction and puzzle solving; overall straightforward gameplay."

      Capsule for Jenny LeClue - Detectivu Jenny LeClue - Detectivu

      "Deduction mechanics and dialogue choices require some reasoning, but overall gameplay is straightforward."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      2

      "Some suspense and plot twists create moments of tension and relief, but overall controlled experience."

      Capsule for Technobabylon Technobabylon

      "Some suspenseful moments and plot twists create tension, balanced by slow pacing and exploration."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      1

      "Generally considered good value especially on sale; some players feel full price is steep."

      Capsule for Feudal Alloy Feudal Alloy

      "Generally considered worth the price on sale; full price seen as high by some players."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      1

      "Contains some combat and stealth takedowns, but not focused on violence or destruction."

      Capsule for Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and The Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and The Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist

      "Contains some combat via QTEs and investigation of violent crime, but no gratuitous violence or destruction."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      -3

      "Low-risk environment focused on investigation rather than survival mechanics."

      Capsule for The Crimson Diamond The Crimson Diamond

      "No survival mechanics; low risk environment focused on investigation."

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Survival.

    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