Heave Ho Thumbnail

Heave Ho similar games & best alternatives

Heave Ho

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Mac • 2019

Related articles

Quick resume

Heave Ho is a riotous multiplayer party game for up to four players in couch co-op and versus play, or online with Steam Remote Play. Reach out, get a grip, and swing to victory — or meet your messy end!

Global score

91/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Platform, Strategy, Arcade

Similar games

    Pros

    • Highly fun and hilarious multiplayer experience
    • Easy to learn controls with challenging cooperative gameplay
    • Great for parties and social gatherings
    • Good value for price
    • Accessible to non-gamers and all ages

    Cons

    • No built-in online multiplayer, relies on remote play or parsec
    • Short game length and limited content
    • Controls can be awkward and cause hand cramps
    • Lack of level editor or additional game modes
    • Some technical issues with remote play and input devices

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players have freedom to choose different playstyles, approaches, and equipment loadouts, allowing personal control over actions and decisions."

      Capsule for Mark of the Ninja: Remastered Mark of the Ninja: Remastered

      "Players have freedom to control their character's arms independently and decide how to swing and cooperate."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      3

      "Game offers multiple difficulty levels requiring timing and coordination, with a skill curve from casual to challenging."

      Capsule for Melody's Escape Melody's Escape

      "Game offers a moderate challenge with skillful coordination and timing, especially in multiplayer."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      2

      "Multiplayer modes exist with some competitive elements, but much of the gameplay focuses on cooperative survival rather than direct competition."

      Capsule for Half Dead Half Dead

      "Some competitive elements exist in mini-games and player vs player modes, but focus is more on cooperative fun."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      3

      "Players report habitual play, long sessions with friends, and repeated enjoyment despite some repetitive elements."

      Capsule for Dark Hours Dark Hours

      "Players report long sessions and repeated play due to fun and social nature."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      5

      "Core gameplay revolves around working together to solve puzzles and complete levels."

      Capsule for PICO PARK:Classic Edition PICO PARK:Classic Edition

      "Core gameplay revolves around working together to progress through levels and solve challenges."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      2

      "Customization of character appearance and level editor for user-created content encourage creative expression."

      Capsule for Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones

      "Customization of characters and humorous costumes add creative expression; no level editor yet."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -3

      "Interactions are playful and cooperative; no evidence of dominance or power over others."

      Capsule for Ostrich Island Ostrich Island

      "Interactions are playful and balanced; no evidence of dominating or controlling others aggressively."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Players use the game as a fun, goofy distraction and stress relief with friends and family."

      Capsule for Fling to the Finish Fling to the Finish

      "Players use the game as a fun distraction and stress relief with friends and family."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and social enjoyment, not out of obligation."

      Capsule for Boomerang Fu Boomerang Fu

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and social enjoyment, not out of obligation."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      3

      "Players explore different mechanics and puzzle solutions, experimenting with physics and abilities to progress."

      Capsule for NightSky NightSky

      "Players explore physics and mechanics creatively to solve puzzles and interact with others."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      1

      "Some variety in maps and levels, but mostly known obstacle courses with limited discovery."

      Capsule for Bro Falls Bro Falls

      "Some discovery in levels and hidden coins, but mostly fixed obstacle courses."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      3

      "Customization through skins and character personalization allows self-expression."

      Capsule for Get Stuffed! Get Stuffed!

      "Character customization and funny skins provide self-expression opportunities."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      1

      "The game features cartoonish, whimsical elements (stuffed animals, exaggerated physics) but no deep fantasy or roleplay."

      Capsule for Snuggle Truck Snuggle Truck

      "Cartoonish and silly, but grounded in simple physics rather than deep fantasy."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      5

      "Strong sense of community and shared experience playing locally with friends, family, or partners."

      Capsule for Overcooked Overcooked

      "Strong sense of community and shared experience playing with friends and family."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      2

      "Players develop coordination, puzzle-solving skills, and teamwork over time."

      Capsule for Shift Happens Shift Happens

      "Players develop coordination and teamwork skills over time."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -4

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; some reports of hand cramps from intense play."

      Capsule for Clustertruck Clustertruck

      "Primarily sedentary play with some reports of hand cramps from controller use."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires active attention and coordination; not a background or idle game."

      Capsule for RV There Yet? RV There Yet?

      "Requires active attention and coordination; not a background or idle game."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      3

      "Encourages social bonding and laughter among friends and family, fostering closer connections."

      Capsule for Drawful 2 Drawful 2

      "Encourages social bonding and laughter among close friends and family."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -2

      "Gameplay emphasizes equal participation and mutual support rather than leadership roles."

      Capsule for Biped Biped

      "Gameplay emphasizes equal participation and cooperation rather than leadership roles."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      2

      "Collecting coins and panties to unlock costumes and achievements provides a sense of progression."

      Capsule for Montaro Montaro

      "Unlocking costumes and collecting coins provide light progression incentives."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      3

      "Game balances challenge and humor to create an enjoyable, engaging experience without excessive tension."

      Capsule for Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands

      "Game balances challenge with humor and fun, creating a relaxed yet engaging experience."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      3

      "Enjoyable visuals, voice acting, and sound design provide pleasant sensory stimulation."

      Capsule for CraftCraft: Fantasy Merchant Simulator CraftCraft: Fantasy Merchant Simulator

      "Visuals, sound effects, and silly character voices provide enjoyable sensory stimulation."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -3

      "Little focus on social recognition or leaderboards; emphasis on shared fun over status."

      Capsule for Zort Zort

      "No emphasis on social status or leaderboards; focus is on shared fun."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      -5

      "No narrative or story elements; gameplay is context-free and focused on mechanics."

      Capsule for Spin Rhythm XD Spin Rhythm XD

      "No narrative or story elements; gameplay is context-free and focused on mechanics."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      2

      "Requires planning and problem solving to navigate levels and collect items efficiently."

      Capsule for Caveman World: Mountains of Unga Boonga Caveman World: Mountains of Unga Boonga

      "Requires some planning and coordination to navigate levels and cooperate effectively."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      2

      "Some tension and excitement from precise timing and risk of falling; not high suspense but engaging."

      Capsule for EDGE EDGE

      "Some suspense and tension in timing swings and avoiding falls, but overall lighthearted."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      4

      "Players feel the game offers excellent value for price with high replayability and fun."

      Capsule for Bopl Battle Bopl Battle

      "Players feel the game offers good value for price due to fun and replayability."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      -4

      "Non-violent gameplay focused on platforming and cooperative challenges rather than combat or destruction."

      Capsule for Sackboy™: A Big Adventure Sackboy™: A Big Adventure

      "Gameplay is non-violent and focused on cooperative physics-based challenges."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      1

      "Some risk of failure and falling, but no traditional survival mechanics."

      Capsule for Baby Steps Baby Steps

      "Some elements of avoiding falling or failure, but low risk and forgiving mechanics."

    Analysis

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

    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