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Chicory: A Colorful Tale similar games & best alternatives

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 • 2021

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Quick resume

A top-down adventure game in a coloring book world full of vibrant characters. Use painting powers to explore, solve puzzles, make friends, and draw on anything! From creators on Wandersong + Celeste.

Global score

98/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Deep and meaningful story
    • Innovative and creative painting mechanics
    • Emotional and therapeutic experience
    • Beautiful art style and soundtrack
    • Accessible puzzles and exploration

    Cons

    • Some clunky controls especially with controller
    • Boss fights can be repetitive or less engaging
    • Painting precision can be frustrating at times
    • Limited challenge for players seeking difficulty
    • Minor bugs reported on some platforms

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players have full control over their painting actions, brush handling, color mixing, and environment setup, enabling personal freedom and creative expression."

      Capsule for Vermillion - VR Painting Vermillion - VR Painting

      "Players have significant freedom to choose how and where to paint, customize brushes, and explore the world at their own pace."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      3

      "The game offers a variety of puzzles and platforming challenges that require skill and problem solving, though some puzzles are easy or repetitive."

      Capsule for Climb The Backrooms Climb The Backrooms

      "The game offers puzzles and platforming challenges that require skill and problem solving, though generally accessible and forgiving."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -4

      "Focus is on personal creative expression and progression without competitive elements or player comparison."

      Capsule for Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist

      "Focus is on personal creative expression and exploration without competitive elements or player comparison."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      4

      "Many players report long playtimes, repeated playthroughs, and strong attachment to the game world."

      Capsule for Subnautica Subnautica

      "Many players report long playtimes, multiple playthroughs, and attachment to the world and characters."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      1

      "Supports local co-op mode, but primarily a single-player experience focused on individual performance."

      Capsule for Cook, Serve, Delicious! Cook, Serve, Delicious!

      "Includes local co-op and remote play options, but primarily designed for solo play and personal experience."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      5

      "Core gameplay revolves around drawing and customizing characters, tools, and enemies, encouraging creative expression."

      Capsule for Draw a Stickman: EPIC 2 Draw a Stickman: EPIC 2

      "Core gameplay revolves around painting and customizing the world, characters, and brushes, encouraging creative expression."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "Interactions emphasize mutual respect and emotional connection rather than control or superiority."

      Capsule for Date Everything! Date Everything!

      "Interactions emphasize mutual respect and emotional connection rather than control or superiority."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      5

      "Strong emotional story and immersive world provide players with a meaningful escape from real life."

      Capsule for FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster

      "Strong emotional narrative and immersive world provide players with meaningful escape and therapeutic experience."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -5

      "Players engage voluntarily driven by intrinsic interest and emotional connection."

      Capsule for Journey Journey

      "Players engage voluntarily driven by personal interest, creativity, and emotional resonance."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      4

      "Players try different painting techniques and model variations, exploring creative possibilities."

      Capsule for Model Builder: Complete Edition Model Builder: Complete Edition

      "Players experiment with colors, brush styles, and painting techniques to create unique art and solve puzzles."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      4

      "Game encourages discovering secrets, collectibles, and new areas in a large, varied map."

      Capsule for Webbed Webbed

      "The game encourages discovering new areas, secrets, and collectibles across a varied map."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      5

      "Strong emphasis on self-expression through painting, brush customization, and environment selection."

      Capsule for Vermillion - VR Painting Vermillion - VR Painting

      "Extensive character customization, brush creation, and world painting enable strong self-expression."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      3

      "Features a whimsical, fictional world with a cute anthropomorphic character and imaginative settings."

      Capsule for Leo’s Fortune - HD Edition Leo’s Fortune - HD Edition

      "The world is anthropomorphic and whimsical with fantasy elements, though grounded in emotional realism."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      2

      "Players form connections with a diverse cast of characters and experience a sense of community through story."

      Capsule for The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood

      "Players connect with a cast of characters and community through story and optional co-op play."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      4

      "Players develop puzzle-solving skills and gain insight into complex emotional and social issues."

      Capsule for The MISSING: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories The MISSING: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories

      "Players develop skills in puzzle solving, platforming, and artistic expression, alongside emotional growth."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or rehab elements."

      Capsule for Lightyear Frontier Lightyear Frontier

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or rehab elements."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention to solve puzzles; slow pacing but not background or idle play."

      Capsule for LUNA The Shadow Dust LUNA The Shadow Dust

      "Requires focused attention for puzzles and painting, though pacing is relaxed and player-controlled."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      3

      "Emotional connections formed through story and character interactions, fostering empathy."

      Capsule for Assemble with Care Assemble with Care

      "Emotional story and character interactions foster meaningful connections and empathy."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

      "No leadership or authoritative roles; gameplay is individual and cooperative without hierarchy."

      Capsule for Disney Dreamlight Valley Disney Dreamlight Valley

      "No leadership or authoritative roles; gameplay centers on individual journey and collaboration without hierarchy."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      3

      "Players collect paints, wheels, and unlock characters; story progression and minigames add to advancement."

      Capsule for Disney•Pixar Cars Mater-National Championship Disney•Pixar Cars Mater-National Championship

      "Players unlock new painting abilities, collect cosmetics and items, and progress through story and puzzles."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      4

      "Provides a relaxing, immersive experience balancing exploration with light puzzle challenges."

      Capsule for ENA: Dream BBQ ENA: Dream BBQ

      "Painting and exploration provide a calming, cathartic experience balanced with light challenge."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      4

      "Vibrant visuals, unique art style, and a strong soundtrack provide rich sensory stimulation."

      Capsule for Sorry We're Closed Sorry We're Closed

      "Vibrant visuals, varied color palettes, and a memorable soundtrack provide rich sensory stimulation."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -4

      "Focus is on personal achievement and exploration rather than social recognition or popularity."

      Capsule for Primal Planet Primal Planet

      "Focus is on personal fulfillment and creativity rather than social recognition or ranking."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      5

      "Strong narrative focus with emotional and psychological depth."

      Capsule for Pleh! Pleh!

      "Deep, emotionally resonant narrative addressing mental health, creativity, and personal growth."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      2

      "Puzzles and combat require some planning and problem solving, though not highly complex."

      Capsule for Moss Moss

      "Puzzles and ability use require some planning and problem solving, though not highly complex."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      -3

      "Gameplay is calm and controlled with minimal risk or suspense; no combat or high tension elements."

      Capsule for Critter Cove Critter Cove

      "Gameplay is low risk and relaxing, with occasional tension during boss fights but generally controlled."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      4

      "Players report high satisfaction and emotional payoff for time and money invested."

      Capsule for Heart of the Woods Heart of the Woods

      "Players report high satisfaction and emotional return for the time and money invested."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      -5

      "No combat or destruction; gameplay focuses on building and restoration."

      Capsule for Gnomes Garden Gnomes Garden

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus is on creation and restoration."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      -5

      "Stable, low-risk environment with no threats or failure states related to survival."

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      "Stable, low-risk environment with no threat or failure states impacting survival."

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Intimacy, Survival, Violence, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Cooperation, Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Thrill.

    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