Gateways similar games & best alternatives

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Gateways

Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox 360 • 2012

Should you play it?

From the creative mind behind The Adventures of Shuggy comes an exciting new retro-styled 2D platformer, a winner of Dream Build Play 2012 and a top 50 game of 2012 according to Game Informer. Grab the gateway guns and explore a huge lab filled with mysterious puzzles in this classic platforming adventure.

What works
  • Innovative and challenging puzzle mechanics
  • Metroidvania style exploration
  • Helpful in-game hint system
  • Good value for price
  • Workshop support and level editor
Things to keep in mind
  • Steep difficulty curve, especially late game
  • Minimal story and character development
  • Simple pixel art graphics
  • Some frustrating controls and platforming
  • Sparse save points and backtracking

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Recursed

  • Snakebird

  • The Floor is Jelly

  • Antichamber

  • 1000 Amps

  • Frame of Mind

  • Cosmic Express

  • Supraland Six Inches Under

  • Tetrobot and Co.
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Recursed

  • The Floor is Jelly

  • 1000 Amps
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Autonomy

    Guns of Fury
  • Competence

    Gravity Field
  • Creativity

    Splitgate

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).

Gateways: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Thrill, Competition. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation, Story, Expression.

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

    "Players have freedom to explore the map non-linearly, choose weapons and abilities, and direct their own progression."

    Capsule for Guns of Fury Guns of Fury

    "Players have freedom to choose how and when to use different gateway guns and explore the map non-linearly."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "The game offers challenging puzzles requiring spatial reasoning, logic, and mastery of unique gravity and time reversal mechanics."

    Capsule for Gravity Field Gravity Field

    "The game offers challenging puzzles that require skill and understanding of complex mechanics, especially time travel and gravity rotation."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on individual puzzle solving and personal progress without competitive elements or leaderboards."

    Capsule for The Talos Principle The Talos Principle

    "Focus is on individual puzzle solving and personal progress without competitive elements or leaderboards."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players report habitual play and long sessions due to engaging puzzles and desire to improve scores."

    Capsule for Puzzle Dimension Puzzle Dimension

    "Players report long sessions and habitual play to solve puzzles and explore the metroidvania map."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative gameplay elements."

    Capsule for POSTAL: Brain Damaged POSTAL: Brain Damaged

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative gameplay elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Portal mechanics enable creative movement and tactical options, allowing players to experiment with new strategies."

    Capsule for Splitgate Splitgate

    "Players creatively combine multiple portal types and mechanics to solve puzzles and explore."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is solitary and puzzle-focused."

    Capsule for DUSK '82: ULTIMATE EDITION DUSK '82: ULTIMATE EDITION

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is solitary and puzzle-focused."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "Players use the game as a mentally absorbing escape with immersive story elements and engaging puzzles."

    Capsule for Infinifactory Infinifactory

    "Players use the game as a challenging mental escape with immersive puzzle solving and exploration."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in puzzles and exploration, not obligation."

    Capsule for Q.U.B.E. 2 Q.U.B.E. 2

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in puzzles and metroidvania gameplay, not out of obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Players experiment with different portal types and mechanics to solve puzzles and progress."

    Capsule for Unbound: Worlds Apart Unbound: Worlds Apart

    "Game encourages experimentation with portal types and puzzle solutions, especially with complex mechanics like time loops."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Metroidvania style map with secrets and new areas unlocked by monster abilities encourages discovery."

    Capsule for Monster Sanctuary Monster Sanctuary

    "Metroidvania style map encourages discovering new areas and secrets using acquired abilities."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -4

    "Minimal character or environment customization; focus is on puzzle mechanics rather than self-expression."

    Capsule for Q.U.B.E: Director's Cut Q.U.B.E: Director's Cut

    "Minimal character customization or self-expression; focus is on puzzle mechanics and exploration."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Fictional sci-fi setting with imaginative technology and narrative elements inspired by Portal universe."

    Capsule for Lightmatter Lightmatter

    "Fictional sci-fi setting with imaginative portal guns and time travel mechanics."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; strictly single-player experience."

    Capsule for Surviving Mars Surviving Mars

    "No social or community features; strictly single-player experience."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop problem-solving skills and learn complex puzzle mechanics."

    Capsule for The Eyes of Ara The Eyes of Ara

    "Players develop skills in complex puzzle solving and learn to master multiple mechanics progressively."

  • 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

    -4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement to solve puzzles and progress."

    Capsule for Day of the Tentacle Remastered Day of the Tentacle Remastered

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement to solve puzzles and progress."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for The Last Spell The Last Spell

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

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements present."

    Capsule for FORM FORM

    "No leadership or group management elements present."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Players collect upgrades, weapons, and abilities to advance and unlock new areas."

    Capsule for Blaster Master Zero 2 Blaster Master Zero 2

    "Players collect upgrades and new gateway guns that unlock new areas and puzzle solutions."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -2

    "The game can be mentally taxing and frustrating at times, with some tension from challenging puzzles."

    Capsule for Automachef Automachef

    "Some players find the puzzles challenging and occasionally frustrating, especially late-game."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Pixel art and sound design provide enjoyable sensory stimulation, though some find visuals small and cluttered."

    Capsule for Tomb Rumble Tomb Rumble

    "Visual and auditory design is simple but effective; some enjoy the pixel art and music, others find it lacking."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems; achievements exist but are personal."

    Capsule for She Remembered Caterpillars She Remembered Caterpillars

    "No social recognition or status systems; achievements exist but are personal."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    -3

    "Minimal narrative; gameplay focuses on puzzles rather than story immersion."

    Capsule for Clones Clones

    "Minimal and generic story; gameplay focuses on puzzles rather than narrative immersion."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Puzzles require logical thinking, planning, and problem solving."

    Capsule for I hate this game I hate this game

    "Puzzles require logical thinking, planning, and problem solving with multiple mechanics."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    -3

    "Low risk and suspense; challenge comes from logic rather than emotional thrill or tension."

    Capsule for 14 Minesweeper Variants 14 Minesweeper Variants

    "Low suspense or risk; challenge comes from mental effort rather than emotional thrill."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players perceive good value for time and money due to quality puzzles, atmosphere, and reasonable price."

    Capsule for The Room Two The Room Two

    "Players feel they get good value for time and money given the quality and depth of puzzles."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -4

    "Minimal combat; some enemies present but focus is on puzzle solving and exploration rather than destruction."

    Capsule for Youropa Youropa

    "Minimal combat, mostly jumping on enemies; focus is on puzzle solving and exploration."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -4

    "No survival mechanics or threats; stable environment focused on puzzles."

    Capsule for The 7th Guest VR The 7th Guest VR

    "No survival mechanics or threats; stable environment focused on puzzles."

Last update: 09/07/2026