HEADLINER Thumbnail

HEADLINER similar games & best alternatives

HEADLINER

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux • 2017

Related articles

Quick resume

Short, thought-provoking adventure where you are a News Editor and decide what stories get published, set in a fictional city where most people are genetically modified. Multiple unique endings let you share your story and see what the Headliner before you did.

Global score

77/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Visual Novel

Similar games

    Pros

    • Thought-provoking narrative with meaningful choices
    • Multiple endings and replay value
    • Engaging moral and social dilemmas
    • Accessible gameplay and short sessions
    • Good price for content

    Cons

    • Very short gameplay length
    • Limited character customization and art style
    • Repetitive dialogue and scenarios
    • No multiplayer or social features
    • Somewhat simplistic mechanics

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players have freedom to choose articles, headlines, and assign writers, balancing loyalty and rebellion."

      Capsule for The Westport Independent The Westport Independent

      "Players have freedom to choose which news articles to publish, influencing multiple outcomes and story branches."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      2

      "Engages players in decision making and relationship building, but gameplay is straightforward and low challenge."

      Capsule for Making*Lovers Making*Lovers

      "Engages players in decision-making and balancing competing goals, though gameplay is simple and short."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -4

      "Focuses on single-player experience without ranked modes or social comparison."

      Capsule for Tyrion Cuthbert: Attorney of the Arcane Tyrion Cuthbert: Attorney of the Arcane

      "Single-player experience focused on personal choices without comparison or ranked modes."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      3

      "Multiple endings and replay value encourage repeated playthroughs despite short length."

      Capsule for Sword of Asumi Sword of Asumi

      "Multiple endings and replay value encourage repeated playthroughs despite short session length."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -5

      "Entirely single-player with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

      Capsule for Bright Memory: Infinite Bright Memory: Infinite

      "Entirely single-player with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      1

      "Players create narrative outcomes through choices, but within predefined storylines and structure."

      Capsule for A YEAR OF SPRINGS A YEAR OF SPRINGS

      "Players create narrative outcomes through choices but within a fixed set of storylines and articles."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No multiplayer or social dominance; interactions are with NPCs and story-driven."

      Capsule for Avernum: Escape From the Pit Avernum: Escape From the Pit

      "No social dominance or power over other players; interactions are with NPCs and story only."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      3

      "Players engage in a fictional dystopian world to explore complex social and political themes, providing an immersive escape."

      Capsule for Headliner: NoviNews Headliner: NoviNews

      "Players engage in a fictional dystopian scenario to explore social and political issues, providing mental escape."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for interest and entertainment, not obligation."

      Capsule for Kidnapped Girl Kidnapped Girl

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in media influence and moral dilemmas, not obligation."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      4

      "Encourages trying different choices and exploring alternate storylines and endings."

      Capsule for Knowledge, or know Lady Knowledge, or know Lady

      "Encourages trying different news stances and choices to explore varied outcomes and endings."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      2

      "Exploration is mostly narrative-driven with discovery of story elements and outcomes rather than physical world exploration."

      Capsule for Tech Support: Error Unknown Tech Support: Error Unknown

      "Exploration is narrative-driven, discovering consequences of choices rather than physical world exploration."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -3

      "Limited character customization; expression mainly through narrative choices."

      Capsule for Runaway: A Twist of Fate Runaway: A Twist of Fate

      "Limited character customization; expression mainly through choice of news and story direction."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      -1

      "Set in a fictional but plausible authoritarian regime; grounded in realistic political and social themes."

      Capsule for Road 96 🛣️ Road 96 🛣️

      "Set in a near-future plausible world with realistic social and political themes rather than high fantasy."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -5

      "No multiplayer or community features; experience is solitary and story-focused."

      Capsule for The Evil Within 2 The Evil Within 2

      "No multiplayer or community features; solitary experience focused on personal narrative."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      3

      "Players learn about consequences of choices, media influence, and social issues through gameplay and story."

      Capsule for Headliner: NoviNews Headliner: NoviNews

      "Players learn about media influence and ethical dilemmas through gameplay and multiple playthroughs."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

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

      Capsule for Murder House Murder House

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

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention during short sessions; not designed for background or idle play."

      Capsule for The Yawhg The Yawhg

      "Requires focused attention during decision phases; short sessions but not idle or background play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      2

      "Includes relationship building and marriage mechanics, fostering some emotional connection."

      Capsule for Farmer's Life Farmer's Life

      "Includes family interactions and emotional consequences, fostering some emotional connection."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      3

      "Players lead companies and influence political figures, guiding decisions and strategies."

      Capsule for Plutocracy Plutocracy

      "Player leads the news outlet and influences public opinion, balancing competing interests."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      2

      "Narrative progression through story chapters and emotional growth; no item or upgrade accumulation."

      Capsule for Harmonia Harmonia

      "Progression through story outcomes and career promotion, but no item or upgrade accumulation."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      1

      "Calm, thoughtful pacing with some tension from moral dilemmas but overall relaxing narrative flow."

      Capsule for Quarantine Circular Quarantine Circular

      "Moderate tension from moral dilemmas but overall calm and thoughtful pacing."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      -2

      "Minimal sensory stimulation; focus is on text and narrative rather than audiovisual excitement."

      Capsule for Actual Sunlight Actual Sunlight

      "Simple visuals and sound with limited sensory stimulation; focus is on narrative and choices."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -4

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

      Capsule for Dead Effect Dead Effect

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

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      5

      "Strong narrative focus with branching plots, character development, and player-driven story outcomes."

      Capsule for Eternal Threads Eternal Threads

      "Strong narrative focus with branching storylines and meaningful player-driven outcomes."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      3

      "Requires planning and problem solving to balance multiple goals, manage resources, and optimize outcomes."

      Capsule for Consume Me Consume Me

      "Requires planning and balancing competing goals to achieve desired outcomes."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      1

      "Some suspense from story and puzzles, but no high-risk or adrenaline-inducing gameplay."

      Capsule for BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION

      "Some suspense from consequences of choices but no high-risk or adrenaline gameplay."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      4

      "Good perceived value for price, especially given replayability and content."

      Capsule for Out There: Ω Edition Out There: Ω Edition

      "Good perceived value for price given replayability and thought-provoking content."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      1

      "Contains some graphic and unsettling imagery including deaths, but violence is not a gameplay focus."

      Capsule for Critters for Sale Critters for Sale

      "Violence is depicted as consequence of choices but not a gameplay focus or enjoyment factor."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      1

      "Players avoid death and manage resources, but no harsh penalties or survival mechanics."

      Capsule for Kitaria Fables Kitaria Fables

      "Player must avoid job loss and family harm, but no traditional survival mechanics."

    Analysis

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

    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