KOBOLD: Chapter I similar games & best alternatives

KOBOLD: Chapter I - kobold-chapter-i_1.avif
KOBOLD: Chapter I - kobold-chapter-i_2.avif
KOBOLD: Chapter I - kobold-chapter-i_3.avif
KOBOLD: Chapter I - kobold-chapter-i_4.avif
KOBOLD: Chapter I - kobold-chapter-i_5.avif
KOBOLD: Chapter I - kobold-chapter-i_6.avif

KOBOLD: Chapter I

Oculus VR, SteamVR • 2018

Should you play it?

KOBOLD is a new kind of horror experience that blurs the line between cinema and VR gaming. Step into the shoes of an urban explorer investigating the mysterious case of a missing boy. Pick up your flashlight and discover the secrets of an abandoned villa in the middle of a dark forest in Germany.

What works
  • Highly immersive atmosphere
  • Photorealistic graphics and sound design
  • Engaging narrative and mystery
  • Effective horror and suspense
  • Accessible vr locomotion and interaction
Things to keep in mind
  • Very short gameplay duration
  • Performance issues on some systems
  • Limited gameplay depth and puzzles
  • Lack of save system
  • No multiplayer or social features

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened (2008)

  • Indiana Jones® and the Last Crusade™

  • Dark Pals: The 1st Floor

  • A.I.L.A

  • Dead Secret

  • ANONYMOUS;CODE

  • You Deserve

  • Spirit Hunter: Death Mark

  • The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight® Mystery
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • A.I.L.A

  • ANONYMOUS;CODE

  • Spirit Hunter: Death Mark
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Exploration

    Atomfall
  • Story

    CARIMARA: Beneath the forlorn limbs
  • Escapism

    KinitoPET

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).

KOBOLD: Chapter I: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Creativity, Strategy.

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

    3

    "Players have freedom to explore, choose how to interact with environment and solve puzzles, though some guidance is provided."

    Capsule for Octarina Octarina

    "Players freely explore the environment and make some decisions about paths and puzzle solving, indicating moderate autonomy."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    1

    "Gameplay is straightforward and easy with mild puzzles and fetch quests, offering some skill engagement but overall low challenge."

    Capsule for Frog Detective 3: Corruption at Cowboy County Frog Detective 3: Corruption at Cowboy County

    "Gameplay is light with minimal puzzles and mostly exploration, offering some feeling of effectiveness but low technical challenge."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "No competitive elements or comparison to others; focus is on personal exploration and experience."

    Capsule for Everything Everything

    "No competitive elements or comparison to others; focus is on personal exploration and experience."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    1

    "Players express desire to continue with future chapters and replay, though current chapter is short and some find it easy to disengage."

    Capsule for The August Before: Chapter One The August Before: Chapter One

    "Players express desire to continue with future chapters and replay to discover more, but the current chapter is short and some disengage quickly."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

    Capsule for Cookie Clicker Cookie Clicker

    "Single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    -2

    "Players interact with predefined objects and story; no creation or modification mechanics."

    Capsule for The Unluckiest Man The Unluckiest Man

    "Limited creativity; players interact with predefined objects and story but no creation or modification."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No domination or power over others; purely personal experience."

    Capsule for DARQ: Complete Edition DARQ: Complete Edition

    "No domination or power over others; purely individual experience."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Strong escapism through immersive horror experience and detachment from reality."

    Capsule for KinitoPET KinitoPET

    "Strong escapism through immersive horror atmosphere and dissociation from reality."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and intrinsic motivation; no obligation or pressure noted."

    Capsule for Among Ashes Among Ashes

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and intrinsic motivation; no obligation or pressure noted."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    2

    "Exploration of multiple endings and narrative paths encourages some experimentation, though gameplay is limited."

    Capsule for Bucket Detective Bucket Detective

    "Some exploration and discovery of story elements and different endings encourage experimentation."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Core motivation is discovering new areas, piecing together clues, and uncovering secrets in a richly detailed world."

    Capsule for Atomfall Atomfall

    "Core motivation is exploring a detailed, photorealistic environment and uncovering story clues."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -5

    "No character customization or self-expression; fixed presentation."

    Capsule for Observation Observation

    "No character customization or self-expression; fixed presentation."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Horror fiction setting with supernatural elements and imaginative environments."

    Capsule for Shattered Lights Shattered Lights

    "Engages with supernatural and mythical horror elements, blending realistic setting with fantasy horror."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; solo experience."

    Capsule for Rot Gut Rot Gut

    "No social or community features; solo experience."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    1

    "Some learning through story comprehension and puzzle solving, but limited skill development."

    Capsule for Belladonna Belladonna

    "Some learning through story comprehension and puzzle solving, but limited skill development."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary VR experience with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for Ayahuasca Ayahuasca

    "Sedentary VR experience with no physical activity or health focus."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and immersion; not a casual or background game."

    Capsule for SOMA SOMA

    "Requires focused attention and immersion; not a casual or background activity."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No close social interactions or relationships formed within the game."

    Capsule for Whisker Squadron: Survivor Whisker Squadron: Survivor

    "No close social interactions or relationships formed within the game."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles."

    Capsule for Supermarket Chaos Supermarket Chaos

    "No leadership or group management roles."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    2

    "Progression through collecting clues and unlocking story elements, but no item upgrades or power accumulation."

    Capsule for Supernormal Supernormal

    "Some progression through story and discovery of clues, but no item or power accumulation."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -2

    "Tense and suspenseful atmosphere with moments of stress rather than relaxation."

    Capsule for The Survey The Survey

    "Tense and suspenseful atmosphere with moments of dread; limited relaxation."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    4

    "Strong sensory stimulation through immersive visuals, sound design, and horror atmosphere."

    Capsule for Propagation VR Propagation VR

    "Strong sensory stimulation through immersive visuals, sound design, and horror tension."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems."

    Capsule for Fairy Tale Mysteries 2: The Beanstalk Fairy Tale Mysteries 2: The Beanstalk

    "No social recognition or status systems."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Strong narrative immersion with mystery, character interaction, and unfolding plot."

    Capsule for CARIMARA: Beneath the forlorn limbs CARIMARA: Beneath the forlorn limbs

    "Narrative-driven experience with strong emphasis on story immersion and unfolding mystery."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    -1

    "Minimal strategic or problem-solving elements; mostly straightforward exploration and interaction."

    Capsule for DOGWALK DOGWALK

    "Minimal strategic or problem-solving elements; mostly straightforward exploration."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    4

    "Psychological horror and suspense create tension and thrill throughout the experience."

    Capsule for Who's Lila? Who's Lila?

    "Horror and suspense create strong thrill and tension throughout the experience."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    1

    "Generally perceived as good value especially on sale, though some consider price high."

    Capsule for RollerCoaster Tycoon® Classic RollerCoaster Tycoon® Classic

    "Generally perceived as good value especially on sale, though some consider it short for full price."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    1

    "Some horror violence implied but no active combat or destruction gameplay."

    Capsule for Haunted Investigation Haunted Investigation

    "Some horror violence implied but no active combat or destruction by player."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    1

    "Some elements of avoiding threats and tension, but no complex survival mechanics or resource management."

    Capsule for [Chilla's Art] Jisatsu | 自撮 [Chilla's Art] Jisatsu | 自撮

    "Some threat and tension but no explicit survival mechanics or resource management."

Last update: 11/07/2026