Chasing Light similar games & best alternatives

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Chasing Light

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch • 2020

Should you play it?

'Chasing Light' is the story of the seven days of exploring the physical properties of a game and uncovering an inner world of human beings and society. Have a weird trip!

What works
  • Unique and artistic narrative experience
  • Strong voice acting and immersive sound design
  • Deep philosophical and emotional themes
  • High production quality for an indie title
  • Resonates with creators and those facing life challenges
Things to keep in mind
  • Minimal gameplay and interactivity
  • Linear progression with no meaningful choices
  • Some bugs and technical issues reported
  • Slow pacing and occasional confusing symbolism
  • Not suitable for players seeking traditional game mechanics

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • the 9th day:第九日

  • Minute of Islands

  • Rocket of Whispers: Prologue

  • Shan Gui (山桂)

  • Sakura Spirit

  • Without Within 2

  • 恋爱关系/Romance

  • Dordogne

  • Love at First Sight
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • the 9th day:第九日

  • Minute of Islands

  • Rocket of Whispers: Prologue
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Story

    Another Adventure
  • Escapism

    Introvert: A Teenager Simulator
  • Growth

    HOPE LEFT ME

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).

Chasing Light: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Strategy, Experimenting, Competence, Survival. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story, Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Autonomy.

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

    -4

    "The game is highly linear with fixed progression and limited player choice, following a set narrative path."

    Capsule for Homeless Homeless

    "Linear narrative with no meaningful player choices or branching paths; player mostly follows preset story progression."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    -3

    "Gameplay involves simple walking and minimal interaction with no skill challenges or technical difficulty."

    Capsule for Cloud Climber Cloud Climber

    "Minimal gameplay mechanics, mostly walking and clicking; no significant skill or challenge involved."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

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    "No competitive elements or comparison with others; experience is solitary and introspective."

    Capsule for 假如我是人工智能 Big Brother Is Shaping You 假如我是人工智能 Big Brother Is Shaping You

    "No competitive elements or comparison with others; experience is solitary and introspective."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players report emotional engagement and willingness to replay or explore more"

    Capsule for Memoir Memoir

    "Players report strong emotional engagement and reflection leading to repeated playthroughs or revisits despite short playtime."

  • Cooperation

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    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer features."

    Capsule for Little Inferno Little Inferno

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer features."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    1

    "Players revisit scenes and solve puzzles with limited creative input; some choice in minigame style adds minor variation."

    Capsule for Dark Arcana: The Carnival Dark Arcana: The Carnival

    "Some limited creative input in 'directing' mini-game segments, but largely predetermined content."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No elements of dominance or control over others; experience is personal and non-confrontational."

    Capsule for LAVALAMP LAVALAMP

    "No elements of dominance or power over others; experience is personal and non-confrontational."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game to explore heavy emotional themes and personal reflection, providing a form of emotional escape."

    Capsule for Introvert: A Teenager Simulator Introvert: A Teenager Simulator

    "Strong theme of personal reflection and escape from real-life pressures; players find emotional catharsis."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and curiosity, not obligation."

    Capsule for VR Benchmark Kanojo VR Benchmark Kanojo

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and philosophical curiosity, not obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    -3

    "Gameplay is linear and guided with limited exploration or experimentation."

    Capsule for She and the Light Bearer She and the Light Bearer

    "Gameplay is mostly fixed and linear; limited experimentation possible in small directing segments."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    1

    "Some exploration of environments and imaginative spaces, but mostly linear and guided."

    Capsule for A Bird Story A Bird Story

    "Some exploration of environments and symbolic spaces, but mostly guided and limited."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -2

    "Limited customization or self-expression; players mainly experience preset characters and environments."

    Capsule for Frog Detective 1: The Haunted Island Frog Detective 1: The Haunted Island

    "Limited customization or self-expression; player mostly experiences preset narrative and visuals."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    2

    "Narrative involves psychological and symbolic elements, blending realism with surreal and liminal themes."

    Capsule for outside the door outside the door

    "Mixes realistic and surreal elements; narrative includes metaphorical and abstract sequences."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; experience is solitary and introspective."

    Capsule for RiME RiME

    "No social or community features; experience is solitary and introspective."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players reflect on heavy themes and personal emotions, gaining insight and emotional growth through narrative."

    Capsule for HOPE LEFT ME HOPE LEFT ME

    "Players report personal reflection and emotional growth inspired by the narrative and themes."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Source of Madness Source of Madness

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    3

    "Gameplay includes waiting during task completion and slow pacing."

    Capsule for Bite Night Bite Night

    "Gameplay includes slow pacing and moments of contemplation; some players note downtime and waiting."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    1

    "Emotional connection to characters through narrative, but no social or interpersonal interaction."

    Capsule for The Music Machine The Music Machine

    "Emotional connection to narrative and characters, but no interpersonal social interactions."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements; player follows a fixed narrative path."

    Capsule for Love Flute Love Flute

    "No leadership or group management elements; player follows a fixed narrative."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    1

    "Some progression through story and tasks, but no item collection or upgrades."

    Capsule for The Lancaster Leak - Crisis At Call Center The Lancaster Leak - Crisis At Call Center

    "Some progression through story and small directing tasks, but no item or upgrade accumulation."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

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    "Some players find the game relaxing and meditative, though others find it visually overwhelming or stressful."

    Capsule for Notanote Notanote

    "Some players find the experience calming and reflective, though others find it emotionally intense."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable audiovisual presentation with immersive sound design and detailed graphics."

    Capsule for HITMAN World of Assassination HITMAN World of Assassination

    "Noted for strong audiovisual presentation, unique art style, and immersive sound design."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social status or recognition systems; experience is private and personal."

    Capsule for Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

    "No social status or recognition systems; experience is private and personal."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Strong narrative focus with deep storytelling and philosophical themes driving the experience."

    Capsule for Another Adventure Another Adventure

    "Narrative-driven experience with deep philosophical themes and strong storytelling focus."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    -4

    "Minimal strategic or problem-solving gameplay; mostly linear story progression."

    Capsule for To the Moon To the Moon

    "Minimal strategic or problem-solving gameplay; mostly linear story progression."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    -3

    "Lacks suspense or risk; experience is contemplative rather than thrilling."

    Capsule for Tacoma Tacoma

    "Lacks suspense or risk; experience is contemplative rather than thrilling."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Players generally feel the game offers good emotional and artistic value for its price and length."

    Capsule for Wanderstop Wanderstop

    "Many players feel the emotional and artistic value justifies the price despite limited gameplay."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -5

    "No violence or combat; focus on emotional and narrative content."

    Capsule for CLANNAD Side Stories CLANNAD Side Stories

    "No violence or combat; focus on narrative and artistic expression."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -5

    "No survival or threat mechanics; stable and safe narrative environment."

    Capsule for A Bird Story A Bird Story

    "No survival or threat mechanics; stable and safe narrative environment."

Last update: 13/07/2026