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Life Tastes Like Cardboard similar games & best alternatives

Life Tastes Like Cardboard

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2019

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Quick resume

A game about boredom and self-pity. It's about myself mostly. You walk around and press the 'interact' button. Sorry for making this.

Global score

95/100

Genres

Indie, Role-playing (RPG)

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    Pros

    • Deeply personal and emotional storytelling
    • Unique and creative art and sound design
    • Free to play
    • Relatable depiction of mental health struggles
    • Immersive and introspective experience

    Cons

    • Slow walking pace and some tedious navigation
    • Minimal gameplay challenge
    • Some confusing puzzles
    • Not suitable for players sensitive to heavy themes
    • Lack of replay incentives beyond exploration

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players explore freely at their own pace, choosing where to go and whom to talk to, with some simple mini-games adding variety."

      Capsule for Teacup Teacup

      "Players explore the world at their own pace, choosing where to go and what to interact with, though gameplay is simple and walking-focused."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      -2

      "Gameplay involves simple point-and-click and walking puzzles with minimal challenge or skill variation."

      Capsule for The Mirror Lied The Mirror Lied

      "Gameplay involves walking and exploration with some puzzles, but overall low technical challenge and some players found puzzles confusing or tedious."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -5

      "No evidence of competitive elements; focus is on personal experience and introspection."

      Capsule for The Horrorscope: Fatal Awakening The Horrorscope: Fatal Awakening

      "No evidence of competitive elements; focus is on personal experience and introspection."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      2

      "Players report spending 6-15 hours completing the game and some replaying for secrets, indicating moderate attachment and continued play."

      Capsule for Adventures of Pip Adventures of Pip

      "Some players spent multiple hours and returned to find secrets, indicating moderate attachment and desire to continue playing."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -5

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

      Capsule for High Hell High Hell

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

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      4

      "Highly creative with unique art style, surreal narrative, and experimental audiovisual presentation."

      Capsule for Critters for Sale Critters for Sale

      "Highly creative presentation with unique art styles, surreal imagery, and experimental sound design."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; experience is personal and empathetic."

      Capsule for A Bird Story A Bird Story

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; experience is personal and empathetic."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Strong immersion in melancholic, surreal worlds provides escape from real life through emotional and atmospheric storytelling."

      Capsule for CINERIS SOMNIA CINERIS SOMNIA

      "Strongly focused on emotional immersion and escaping into a surreal, introspective world to explore mental health themes."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and emotional connection, not obligation."

      Capsule for ATRI -My Dear Moments- ATRI -My Dear Moments-

      "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and emotional connection, not obligation."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      3

      "Players try different items and movement tricks, explore environments, and uncover secrets, encouraging experimentation."

      Capsule for An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs

      "Players explore different areas, uncover secrets, and experience varied art and sound styles, encouraging experimentation."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      4

      "Exploring varied, surreal environments and uncovering hidden meanings is a core aspect."

      Capsule for Awkward Dimensions Redux Awkward Dimensions Redux

      "Exploration of new, surreal environments and discovery of hidden content is a core part of the experience."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -3

      "No character customization or player-driven visual expression; presentation is fixed and artist-driven."

      Capsule for Papetura Papetura

      "No character customization or player-driven visual expression; presentation is fixed by the developer's artistic vision."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      3

      "Surreal, dreamlike settings and philosophical fiction create an imaginative experience."

      Capsule for This Strange Realm Of Mine This Strange Realm Of Mine

      "Surreal and dreamlike imagery combined with real-life mental health themes creates a blend of imaginative fiction and reality."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -4

      "Experience is solitary and introspective, with minimal social interaction."

      Capsule for That Dragon, Cancer That Dragon, Cancer

      "Experience is solitary and introspective with minimal social interaction."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      2

      "Players learn about mental health and reflect on personal development through narrative, though gameplay skill growth is minimal."

      Capsule for A Game About A Game About

      "Players gain insight into mental health and emotional states, though gameplay skill growth is minimal."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

      Capsule for Sticky Business Sticky Business

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention on narrative and exploration; not designed for background play."

      Capsule for The Invincible The Invincible

      "Requires focused attention to explore and engage with narrative; not designed for background play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      3

      "Emotional intimacy through story and character relationships, though no direct social interaction."

      Capsule for GOODBYE WORLD GOODBYE WORLD

      "Emotional intimacy through personal and vulnerable storytelling, though no social relationship building."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements; purely single-player narrative."

      Capsule for SCP: Secret Files SCP: Secret Files

      "No leadership or group management elements; purely single-player narrative."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      1

      "Some item collection and story progression, but no extensive upgrades or accumulation."

      Capsule for That Which Gave Chase That Which Gave Chase

      "Some collection of mementos and story progression, but no power accumulation or upgrades."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      0

      "Emotional tension is frequent; moments of calm exist but overall experience is intense and engaging."

      Capsule for The Walking Dead The Walking Dead

      "Mixed emotional tone with moments of calm and moments of tension; neither strongly relaxing nor stressful overall."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      3

      "Strong audio-visual atmosphere and emotional impact provide sensory stimulation and engagement."

      Capsule for Corpse Party (2021) Corpse Party (2021)

      "Unique and varied audio-visual presentation provides strong sensory stimulation and emotional impact."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social status or recognition mechanics; experience is private and personal."

      Capsule for Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.4 Himatsubushi Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.4 Himatsubushi

      "No social status or recognition mechanics; experience is private and personal."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      5

      "Narrative immersion is the core of the game, with strong emotional storytelling and character development."

      Capsule for Finding Paradise Finding Paradise

      "Narrative immersion and emotional storytelling are central to the game experience."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      -3

      "Minimal strategic or problem-solving demands; mostly straightforward exploration and simple puzzles."

      Capsule for Summer of '58 Summer of '58

      "Minimal strategic or problem-solving demands; some puzzle elements but mostly straightforward exploration."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      1

      "Some emotional tension and suspense in story moments, but overall controlled and contemplative tone."

      Capsule for Aliya: Timelink Aliya: Timelink

      "Some suspenseful and unsettling moments, but overall emotional tone is contemplative rather than thrilling."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      5

      "Highly praised for emotional and artistic value, especially given that it is free to play."

      Capsule for Something for Someone Else Something for Someone Else

      "Highly praised for emotional and artistic value, especially given that it is free to play."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      -3

      "Some disturbing imagery and mild horror elements, but no emphasis on combat or destruction."

      Capsule for The Testing Chamber The Testing Chamber

      "No combat; some disturbing imagery but no enjoyment of violence or destruction."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      -5

      "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable, low-risk environment."

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      "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable, low-risk environment."

    Analysis

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

    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.

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 30/04/2026