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Maize similar games & best alternatives

Maize

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2016

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Quick resume

Maize is a first-person adventure game about what happens when two scientists misinterpret a memo from the U.S. Government and create sentient corn. And that last sentence is pretty much the least ridiculous thing about the game.

Global score

81/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie

Similar games

    Pros

    • Original and humorous story
    • Charming characters and voice acting
    • Engaging light puzzles
    • Pleasant art and music
    • Encourages exploration and discovery

    Cons

    • Short length with limited replay value
    • Repetitive humor and dialogue
    • Lack of subtitles and language options
    • Some performance and optimization issues
    • Limited gameplay depth and customization

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players have freedom to explore locations, solve puzzles, and choose how to use items, though progression is linear and guided."

      Capsule for Frankenstein: Master of Death Frankenstein: Master of Death

      "Players explore freely and solve puzzles with some choice in item use, though progression is linear."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      2

      "Puzzles are simple and straightforward but require some thought, providing mild skill challenges without frustration."

      Capsule for The Supper The Supper

      "Puzzles are simple and logical, providing light skill challenge without frustration."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -5

      "No competitive elements; focus is on solo exploration and story."

      Capsule for Conarium Conarium

      "No competitive elements; focus is on solo exploration and story."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      1

      "Short game with some replay value due to multiple endings, but overall limited long-term engagement."

      Capsule for Lucid Dream Lucid Dream

      "Short game with some replay interest due to humor and collectibles, but limited long-term engagement."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -5

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

      Capsule for The Mooseman The Mooseman

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

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      3

      "Unique story concept and character designs with some puzzle solving and exploration, though gameplay is mostly predefined."

      Capsule for LiEat LiEat

      "Creative story, characters, and humor; some puzzle creativity though gameplay is straightforward."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No social dominance or power dynamics; interactions are individual and narrative-driven."

      Capsule for Lucy Dreaming Lucy Dreaming

      "No social dominance or power dynamics; interactions are narrative-driven."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Players enjoy a whimsical, humorous world with absurd scenarios, providing a lighthearted escape from reality."

      Capsule for Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion

      "Provides a humorous, absurd world for players to escape into and enjoy lighthearted fun."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for entertainment and humor, not out of obligation."

      Capsule for Make America Great Again: The Trump Presidency Make America Great Again: The Trump Presidency

      "Players engage voluntarily for entertainment and humor, not out of obligation."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      2

      "Players explore environments and try different item combinations; some puzzles require novel approaches."

      Capsule for The Fall The Fall

      "Players try different item combinations and explore environments, though within a guided structure."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      3

      "Exploration of detailed environments and discovery of collectibles and story elements is encouraged."

      Capsule for Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Lost Records: Bloom & Rage

      "Encourages exploration of environments and discovery of collectibles and story elements."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -3

      "Limited customization; players use preset characters and environments with no avatar personalization."

      Capsule for Nuclear Blaze Nuclear Blaze

      "Limited customization; player character is silent and no avatar personalization."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      4

      "Imaginative setting with fictional creatures and whimsical story elements."

      Capsule for Slime Rancher Slime Rancher

      "Absurd, imaginative fiction with sentient corn and a talking teddy bear companion."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -5

      "Solo play with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

      Capsule for Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition

      "Solo play with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      1

      "Light learning through puzzle solving and story progression, but overall low complexity limits growth."

      Capsule for Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley

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

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay typical of walking simulators and adventure games."

      Capsule for [Chilla's Art] Missing Children | 行方不明 [Chilla's Art] Missing Children | 行方不明

      "Sedentary gameplay typical of adventure and walking simulator genres."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention to solve puzzles and find objects; not designed for idle or background play."

      Capsule for The Emerald Maiden: Symphony of Dreams The Emerald Maiden: Symphony of Dreams

      "Requires focused attention to find items and solve puzzles; not designed for idle play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -5

      "No close social or emotional relationships formed through gameplay."

      Capsule for Blue Prince Blue Prince

      "No close social or emotional relationships formed through gameplay."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements present."

      Capsule for Stray Stray

      "No leadership or group management elements present."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      3

      "Progression through story and puzzle completion; collecting items and unlocking new areas."

      Capsule for Ether One Ether One

      "Progression through item collection and puzzle completion unlocks new areas and story."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      3

      "Light puzzles and humor create a relaxed, casual experience without high tension."

      Capsule for Space Pilgrim Episode I: Alpha Centauri Space Pilgrim Episode I: Alpha Centauri

      "Light puzzles and humorous tone create a relaxed, enjoyable experience."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      2

      "Visuals and audio create a pleasant sensory experience, though not highly stimulating or intense."

      Capsule for Whiskerwood Whiskerwood

      "Visuals and audio contribute to a pleasant sensory experience, though not intense."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social recognition or ranking systems."

      Capsule for Trover Saves the Universe Trover Saves the Universe

      "No social recognition or ranking systems."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      4

      "Strong narrative focus with engaging, satirical plot and environmental storytelling."

      Capsule for Cybernetic Fault Cybernetic Fault

      "Strong narrative focus with humor, character dialogue, and environmental storytelling."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      1

      "Basic puzzle solving requires some reasoning but no complex strategy."

      Capsule for Amenti Amenti

      "Simple puzzle solving requires some reasoning but no complex strategy."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      -3

      "Low suspense or risk; gameplay is calm and comedic rather than thrilling."

      Capsule for Her Majesty's SPIFFING Her Majesty's SPIFFING

      "Low suspense or risk; gameplay is light and comedic rather than thrilling."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      1

      "Mixed opinions on price vs content; generally considered good value on sale but less so at full price."

      Capsule for The Textorcist: The Story of Ray Bibbia The Textorcist: The Story of Ray Bibbia

      "Mixed opinions on price vs content; generally seen as worth it on sale for humor and story."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on exploration and puzzle solving."

      Capsule for Hypnospace Outlaw Hypnospace Outlaw

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on exploration and puzzle solving."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      -5

      "No survival mechanics or threat avoidance."

      Capsule for Thimbleweed Park™ Thimbleweed Park™

      "No survival mechanics or threat avoidance."

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Thrill, Value, Growth.

    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