Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon Thumbnail

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon similar games & best alternatives

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch • 2018

Related articles

Quick resume

Battle with swords and whips in this retro-style action game brought to you by game creator Koji Igarashi and Inti Creates! Play as Zangetsu, a demon slayer bearing a deep grudge, who must travel through perilous lands to defeat a powerful demon lurking in a dark castle.

Global score

94/100

Genres

Action, Indie, Platform, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up

Similar games

    Pros

    • Faithful retro castlevania-style gameplay
    • Multiple characters and branching paths
    • Challenging but fair difficulty
    • Great music and visuals
    • High replay value with multiple endings

    Cons

    • Short main campaign
    • Some stiff controls and jump mechanics
    • Lack of modern customization options
    • No multiplayer or social features
    • Some frustrating sections and boss fights

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players have control over party composition, can swap characters freely in battle without penalty, and choose exploration paths with visible enemies to avoid or engage."

      Capsule for 8-Bit Adventures 2 8-Bit Adventures 2

      "Players can choose to recruit, ignore, or kill allies, affecting routes, playstyle, and endings; character switching on the fly allows control over actions."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      3

      "Gameplay offers moderate challenge with skill-based boss fights and platforming, but overall accessible and not overly difficult."

      Capsule for Songs for a Hero - Definitive Edition Songs for a Hero - Definitive Edition

      "Game offers a fair challenge with skill-based platforming and boss fights; multiple difficulties including casual and veteran modes."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -4

      "Focus is on personal exploration and progression without competitive or ranked multiplayer elements."

      Capsule for The Knightling The Knightling

      "Focus is on personal progression and exploration; no mention of ranked or competitive multiplayer features."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      3

      "Multiple endings and replayability encourage repeated playthroughs despite short length."

      Capsule for Family Man Family Man

      "Multiple endings, alternate modes, and replayability encourage repeated playthroughs despite short main campaign."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -3

      "Gameplay is single-player with character switching; no multiplayer or cooperative play."

      Capsule for The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 The Book of Unwritten Tales 2

      "Though multiple characters can be used, gameplay is single-player with no multiplayer or cooperative play."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      2

      "Players can fuse characters and customize teams, allowing creative combinations, though within predefined mechanics."

      Capsule for 200% Mixed Juice! 200% Mixed Juice!

      "Players can modify experience by recruiting or killing allies to unlock different abilities and paths, adding creative strategy."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is solo and balanced."

      Capsule for The Citadel The Citadel

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is solo and balanced."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Strong nostalgic and immersive experience providing escape into retro gaming eras."

      Capsule for Super Life of Pixel Super Life of Pixel

      "Strong nostalgic and immersive retro experience provides escape into classic gaming fantasy."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and nostalgia; no indication of obligation or pressure."

      Capsule for Painkiller Hell & Damnation Painkiller Hell & Damnation

      "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and nostalgia; no indication of obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      3

      "Varied game modes and route choices encourage trying different strategies and approaches."

      Capsule for Slipstream Slipstream

      "Multiple routes, character choices, and modes encourage trying new strategies and playstyles."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      3

      "Levels are well designed with multiple paths and secrets; players explore to find keycards, disguises, and alternate routes."

      Capsule for The Slater The Slater

      "Levels contain multiple paths and secrets; players encouraged to explore different routes and endings."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -3

      "Limited character customization; upgrades available but no avatar personalization or cosmetic modifications."

      Capsule for Death in the Water 2 Death in the Water 2

      "Limited customization beyond character selection and route choices; no avatar personalization or cosmetic modifications."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      4

      "Gothic horror setting with supernatural enemies and dark fantasy themes."

      Capsule for CROSSBOW: Bloodnight CROSSBOW: Bloodnight

      "Set in a demon-infested world with supernatural characters and abilities, evoking classic gothic fantasy themes."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -4

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

      Capsule for Ni no Kuni Wrath of the White Witch™ Remastered Ni no Kuni Wrath of the White Witch™ Remastered

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

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      3

      "Players develop skills through learning boss patterns and improve gameplay performance."

      Capsule for Momodora III Momodora III

      "Players learn boss patterns, level layouts, and character abilities; multiple playthroughs foster skill improvement."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

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

      Capsule for The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak

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

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -4

      "Requires focused attention and precise input; not suitable for background or casual intermittent play."

      Capsule for Mega Man 11 Mega Man 11

      "Requires focused attention and precise inputs; not designed for background or casual intermittent play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -5

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

      Capsule for Rock 'N' Roll Defense Rock 'N' Roll Defense

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

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements; player controls only their own actions."

      Capsule for Mimpi Dreams Mimpi Dreams

      "No leadership or group management elements; player controls only themselves."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      3

      "Players accumulate items, upgrades, and unlock new abilities and endings through gameplay."

      Capsule for Lakeview Valley Lakeview Valley

      "Players accumulate abilities, unlock new characters, and access alternate routes and endings."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      -2

      "Challenging gameplay with moments of tension and frustration; some players find it rewarding but not relaxing."

      Capsule for Mega Man 11 Mega Man 11

      "Game is challenging and can be frustrating; some players find it rewarding but not necessarily relaxing."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      3

      "Enjoyable retro visuals and chiptune soundtrack provide sensory stimulation and emotional fun."

      Capsule for Bit Blaster XL Bit Blaster XL

      "Retro visuals and chiptune soundtrack provide engaging sensory experience with nostalgic appeal."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social recognition or ranking systems; achievements are personal."

      Capsule for Miss Neko: Pirates Miss Neko: Pirates

      "No social recognition or ranking systems; achievements are personal."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      2

      "Simple narrative with characters and cutscenes, but story is secondary to gameplay."

      Capsule for TY the Tasmanian Tiger TY the Tasmanian Tiger

      "Simple narrative with multiple endings and character interactions; story supports gameplay but is minimal."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      3

      "Requires planning routes, character switching, and tactical combat decisions."

      Capsule for Astalon: Tears of the Earth Astalon: Tears of the Earth

      "Requires planning character use, weapon selection, and route choices to overcome challenges."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      2

      "Some suspense and challenge in boss fights and platforming sections, but not extreme tension."

      Capsule for Momodora III Momodora III

      "Some tension from challenging platforming and boss fights, but overall predictable patterns reduce suspense."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      4

      "Highly praised for price-to-content ratio, with extensive replayability and modding enhancing value."

      Capsule for Lenna's Inception Lenna's Inception

      "Highly praised for price-to-content ratio, especially given replayability and quality."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      3

      "Combat involves defeating enemies and bosses with weapons and magic, typical of action platformers."

      Capsule for Timespinner Timespinner

      "Combat involves defeating enemies and bosses with weapons and magic; typical action-platformer violence."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      2

      "Players manage health and resources to avoid death, with instant death hazards increasing survival challenge."

      Capsule for Panzer Paladin Panzer Paladin

      "Players manage health and lives to avoid death; knockback and instant death pits add survival challenge."

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Relaxation, Survival, Violence, Fellowship. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Expression, Thrill, Status.

    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