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Handshakes similar games & best alternatives

Handshakes

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, Web browser, Linux • 2023

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Quick resume

Take your brain for a walk in Handshakes, a simple yet tricksy sokoban puzzle game. Guide two hands through puzzles designed to stump, not frustate, so that they may achieve their dream of a warm, firm handshake.

Global score

99/100

Genres

Casual, Free To Play, Indie, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Free to play
    • Unique and clever puzzle mechanics
    • Supports local co-op
    • Charming pixel art and music
    • Well-paced difficulty curve

    Cons

    • Short length (only 30 levels)
    • Some players find speedrun achievements frustrating
    • Minimal narrative and customization
    • Limited exploration and replay content
    • Controls can be unintuitive for speedrunning

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players control individual fingers and hand movements with high freedom, requiring personal skill and decision-making."

      Capsule for Surgeon Simulator Surgeon Simulator

      "Players control two hands independently with separate inputs, allowing free decision-making and problem solving."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      3

      "Puzzles require skillful thinking and understanding of unique mechanics, providing satisfying challenges without excessive difficulty."

      Capsule for Four Sided Fantasy Four Sided Fantasy

      "Puzzles require skillful thinking and coordination, with increasing difficulty and speedrun challenges."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      2

      "Includes leaderboards and speedrun challenges, encouraging comparison with others, but many play casually or solo."

      Capsule for SUPERHOT VR SUPERHOT VR

      "Includes speedrun leaderboards and achievements encouraging competition, but can be played casually."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      3

      "Players report replaying multiple times and enjoying long sessions, though some find the game short and finish quickly."

      Capsule for Dungeons of Dreadrock Dungeons of Dreadrock

      "Players report enjoying multiple sessions, replaying for achievements and speedruns."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      4

      "Supports local and Remote Play Together co-op for two players, encouraging teamwork and shared goals."

      Capsule for Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance

      "Supports local co-op play with two players controlling separate hands, fostering teamwork."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      3

      "Players experiment with drawing lines and manipulating puzzles in novel ways, discovering new mechanics and solutions."

      Capsule for Linelith Linelith

      "Players experiment with mechanics like cutting off hands and pushing characters to solve puzzles."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -3

      "Interactions are balanced and cooperative; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

      Capsule for Good Company Good Company

      "Interactions are cooperative and balanced; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      3

      "Players use the game as a relaxing, casual distraction with charming visuals and music."

      Capsule for Mind Over Magnet Mind Over Magnet

      "Players use the game as a relaxing and enjoyable distraction with charming aesthetics and music."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Engagement is voluntary and driven by intrinsic interest and enjoyment."

      Capsule for Game Dev Tycoon Game Dev Tycoon

      "Engagement is voluntary and motivated by intrinsic interest and enjoyment."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      4

      "Game encourages trying new puzzle mechanics and experimenting with solutions."

      Capsule for Dungeons of Dreadrock Dungeons of Dreadrock

      "Game encourages trying new solutions and mechanics, including unconventional puzzle approaches."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      -2

      "Puzzle levels are fixed and known; limited discovery beyond learning new mechanics."

      Capsule for Divide By Sheep Divide By Sheep

      "Puzzle levels are fixed and known; limited discovery but some novelty in mechanics."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -3

      "Minimal customization or personalization; players use predefined characters and environments."

      Capsule for DYO DYO

      "Minimal customization; players use predefined characters and environments."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      -3

      "Realistic puzzle setting with abstract ball and platforms, no strong fantasy elements."

      Capsule for Puzzle Dimension Puzzle Dimension

      "Realistic puzzle scenario with simple pixel art; no strong fantasy elements."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      3

      "Community engagement through co-op play and shared achievements; some social connection."

      Capsule for Unsung Warriors - Prologue Unsung Warriors - Prologue

      "Community engagement through co-op play and shared achievements."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      3

      "Players develop mastery of complex movement mechanics and improve speedrun skills."

      Capsule for Orbo's Odyssey Orbo's Odyssey

      "Players develop problem-solving skills and improve speedrunning ability."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Sedentary puzzle game with no physical activity component."

      Capsule for Clones Clones

      "Sedentary puzzle game with no physical activity component."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention to solve puzzles; not suitable for idle or background play."

      Capsule for Suicide Guy Suicide Guy

      "Requires focused attention to solve puzzles; not suitable for idle play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      2

      "Some social bonding and close relationships formed through cooperative play and shared experiences."

      Capsule for Slapshot: Rebound Slapshot: Rebound

      "Cooperative play and shared experiences foster social connection."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -3

      "No leadership roles; players collaborate or support each other equally."

      Capsule for Escape Memoirs: Mansion Heist Escape Memoirs: Mansion Heist

      "No leadership roles; cooperation is equal and collaborative."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      3

      "Players progress by unlocking levels, achievements, and improving scores."

      Capsule for Frederic: Evil Strikes Back Frederic: Evil Strikes Back

      "Players progress through levels and unlock achievements, including speedrun goals."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      3

      "Described as a chill, cozy, and pleasant experience with relaxing music and story."

      Capsule for Kaizen: A Factory Story Kaizen: A Factory Story

      "Described as charming and chill; music and aesthetics promote relaxation."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      2

      "Enjoyable pixel art and music provide moderate sensory stimulation."

      Capsule for Junk Jack Junk Jack

      "Enjoyable pixel art and music provide moderate sensory stimulation."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      1

      "Some recognition through leaderboards and achievements, but limited social status focus."

      Capsule for Shovel Knight Dig Shovel Knight Dig

      "Some recognition through achievements and leaderboards, but limited social status focus."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      1

      "Minimal narrative; some thematic elements but mostly context-free puzzle gameplay."

      Capsule for Lab Rags Lab Rags

      "Minimal narrative; some thematic elements about connection but mainly puzzle-focused."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      3

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

      Capsule for The House of Da Vinci 3 The House of Da Vinci 3

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

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      1

      "Some tension from challenging puzzles but overall controlled and predictable environment."

      Capsule for Hexcells Plus Hexcells Plus

      "Some tension from challenging puzzles and speedrun pressure, but overall controlled."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      5

      "Free game with high replayability and quality, providing excellent value for time invested."

      Capsule for Lazerbait Lazerbait

      "Free game with high enjoyment and replay value; excellent return on time investment."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      1

      "Some combat-like elements with monsters and deaths, but no graphic violence; more focused on puzzle interaction."

      Capsule for Goosebumps: The Game Goosebumps: The Game

      "Includes cartoonish severing of hands as puzzle mechanic, but no graphic violence."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      -5

      "No survival elements; stable, low-risk puzzle environment."

      Capsule for Opus Magnum Opus Magnum

      "No survival or risk elements; stable puzzle environment."

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Status, Story, Expression. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Cooperation, Intimacy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Survival.

    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