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City of Chains similar games & best alternatives

City of Chains

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2015

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Quick resume

City of Chains is a dark sci-fi RPG set in a dystopian city. Take control of a small group of escaped fugitives and lead them to their freedom. Decide whether to fight head on or to avoid combat, to help others or to go your own way, to show mercy or to kill. Your actions could affect the fate of the city.

Global score

72/100

Genres

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

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    Pros

    • Meaningful player choices affecting story and gameplay
    • Unique skill point system rewarding tasks over grinding
    • Multiple endings and replayability
    • Tactical turn-based combat with resource management
    • Immersive dystopian sci-fi atmosphere and soundtrack

    Cons

    • Outdated graphics typical of rpg maker
    • Limited character development and emotional depth
    • No multiplayer or social features
    • Some ui and control clunkiness reported
    • Short game length for some players

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

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      4

      "Players make meaningful choices affecting story and combat approach, with character build influencing options"

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    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      3

      "Combat system rewards skillful timing and strategy; leveling system encourages mastery of weapons and magic."

      Capsule for GRANDIA HD Remaster GRANDIA HD Remaster

      "Skill point system rewards completing tasks rather than grinding; combat requires tactical planning and resource management."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -4

      "Focus is on personal progression and story; no evidence of competitive modes or leaderboards."

      Capsule for Ys X: Nordics Ys X: Nordics

      "Focus is on personal progression and story; no evidence of competitive modes or leaderboards."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      3

      "Players report long play sessions and desire to replay for multiple endings and achievements, indicating sustained engagement."

      Capsule for Tormented Souls Tormented Souls

      "Multiple endings and replayability encourage continued engagement; some players report long sessions."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -3

      "Gameplay centers on controlling a small party of characters but no multiplayer or cooperative play."

      Capsule for Costume Quest 2 Costume Quest 2

      "Gameplay centers on controlling a party of characters but no multiplayer or cooperative play."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      3

      "Players can craft items, customize equipment, and choose different skill builds and approaches."

      Capsule for Styx: Shards of Darkness Styx: Shards of Darkness

      "Players customize skill builds and choose different approaches to obstacles, including crafting and stealth."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control over others; interactions are narrative and choice-based without dominance."

      Capsule for Static Dread: The Lighthouse Static Dread: The Lighthouse

      "Interactions emphasize choices and consequences without exerting control over others; no evidence of domination."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "The retro sci-fi setting and immersive story provide a strong escape from reality and stress relief."

      Capsule for I am not a Monster: First Contact I am not a Monster: First Contact

      "Dystopian sci-fi setting and immersive story provide escape from reality and stress relief."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and exploration, not out of obligation or pressure."

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      "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and exploration, not out of obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      4

      "Exploration of multiple paths, character abilities, and combat strategies encourages experimentation."

      Capsule for Freedom Planet Freedom Planet

      "Multiple paths, skill builds, and combat approaches encourage experimentation."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      3

      "Semi-open world with multiple locations and side quests encourages discovery, though some areas feel empty or locked."

      Capsule for DreadOut 2 DreadOut 2

      "Non-linear and semi-linear locations with side quests and alternate routes encourage discovery."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      2

      "Character customization through equipment and skill choices allows some self-expression."

      Capsule for Ys SEVEN Ys SEVEN

      "Character skill customization and equipment choices allow some self-expression, though limited by RPG Maker style."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      3

      "Fictional dystopian world with sci-fi elements and imaginative devices."

      Capsule for Mind Scanners Mind Scanners

      "Fictional dystopian sci-fi world with imaginative technology and narrative elements."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -4

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

      Capsule for Last Train Home Last Train Home

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

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      4

      "Skill point system and combat mastery offer learning and personal development opportunities."

      Capsule for Dark Messiah of Might & Magic Dark Messiah of Might & Magic

      "Skill point system and tactical combat promote learning and personal development."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -4

      "Sedentary gameplay typical of RPGs; no physical activity or health-related features."

      Capsule for LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII

      "Sedentary gameplay typical of RPGs; no physical activity or health-related features."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention during combat and decision making; not designed for idle play."

      Capsule for Hand of Fate Hand of Fate

      "Requires focused attention during combat and decision making; not designed for idle play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -4

      "Limited character interaction and no evidence of forming close relationships or emotional sharing."

      Capsule for Zoria: Age of Shattering Zoria: Age of Shattering

      "Limited character relationships; no evidence of forming close social bonds or emotional sharing."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      3

      "Player leads and manages a party of characters, making strategic decisions and directing actions."

      Capsule for Dawnsbury Days Dawnsbury Days

      "Player leads a party of characters, making strategic decisions and directing actions."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      4

      "Item upgrades, skill leveling, and story advancement provide clear progression"

      Capsule for Joe Dever's Lone Wolf HD Remastered Joe Dever's Lone Wolf HD Remastered

      "Skill points, equipment upgrades, and story advancement provide clear progression."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      2

      "Some players find the game relaxing and immersive, though difficulty spikes cause tension."

      Capsule for ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist

      "Some players find the game immersive and relaxing; others note difficulty spikes causing tension."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      2

      "Atmospheric visuals and music provide sensory engagement, though graphics are dated."

      Capsule for Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of The Baskervilles Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of The Baskervilles

      "Atmospheric music and visuals provide sensory engagement, though graphics are retro and simple."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -4

      "No social recognition or ranking systems; focus is on individual experience."

      Capsule for Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition

      "No social recognition or ranking systems; focus is on individual experience."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      4

      "Strong narrative immersion with branching storylines, character development, and multiple endings."

      Capsule for 60 Parsecs! 60 Parsecs!

      "Narrative immersion with branching storylines, moral choices, and multiple endings."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      4

      "Turn-based combat and skill selection require planning and tactical thinking."

      Capsule for Escape Dungeon 2 Escape Dungeon 2

      "Turn-based combat and skill management require tactical thinking and planning."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      2

      "Some suspense and tension in combat and story choices, but generally controlled and predictable gameplay."

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      "Some suspense from combat difficulty and story consequences, but generally controlled gameplay."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      4

      "Good value for price with engaging gameplay and replayability."

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      "Good value noted by players for price, replayability, and unique gameplay features."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      3

      "Combat involves fighting and killing enemies; violence is integral to gameplay and story."

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      "Combat involves firearms and grenades with tactical violence; killing or sparing enemies affects story."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      3

      "Resource management and avoiding failure in combat are important gameplay elements."

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      "Resource management and avoiding defeat in combat are important gameplay elements."

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Leadership, Survival, Violence, Strategy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Domination, Competition.

    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.

    Last update: 30/04/2026