Meridian 157: Chapter 1 similar games & best alternatives

Meridian 157: Chapter 1

Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac • 2020

Should you play it?

While searching for the anomaly, you find yourself trapped inside a facility on a remote sub-Arctic island. What is this place? Who built it? Why was it left abandoned? Explore the uninhabited complex you now find yourself trapped in, but be warned: you might not be as alone as you think...

What works
  • Engaging and atmospheric mystery story
  • Well-designed puzzles with balanced difficulty
  • Innovative hint system and camera tool
  • Good value for price
  • Accessible gameplay for puzzle fans
Things to keep in mind
  • Some puzzles have unclear or illogical solutions
  • Short game length
  • Technical issues and occasional crashes
  • Linear gameplay with limited exploration freedom
  • Lack of achievements and social features

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Kairo

  • Cube Escape Collection

  • Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure

  • The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

  • Chroma Zero

  • Tiny Room Stories: Town Mystery

  • Mr. Pumpkin Adventure

  • The Room Two

  • Children of Silentown

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Chroma Zero

  • Mr. Pumpkin Adventure

  • Irony Curtain: From Matryoshka with Love

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Autonomy

    Agent A: A puzzle in disguise

  • Escapism

    Broken Pieces

  • Story

    Reveal The Deep

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).

Meridian 157: Chapter 1: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Thrill, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Thrill. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Expression, Intimacy.

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

    4

    "Players freely explore rooms, solve puzzles at their own pace, and decide how to approach challenges."

    Capsule for Agent A: A puzzle in disguise Agent A: A puzzle in disguise

    "Players freely explore the environment, solve puzzles at their own pace, and decide when to use hints or skip puzzles."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Puzzles vary from easy to challenging, requiring logical thinking and problem solving, with feedback through puzzle completion."

    Capsule for LEAVES - The Journey LEAVES - The Journey

    "Puzzles range from easy to challenging, requiring observation and critical thinking, with feedback through puzzle completion."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "No multiplayer or competitive elements; focus is on solo play and personal puzzle solving."

    Capsule for Jolly Rover Jolly Rover

    "No multiplayer or competitive elements; focus is on individual puzzle solving and story exploration."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players express excitement for future chapters and continued play, indicating engagement and desire to keep playing the game."

    Capsule for SCP: Fragmented Minds SCP: Fragmented Minds

    "Players express strong engagement and anticipation for future chapters, indicating habitual and continued play."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Single-player experience with no cooperative gameplay or social collaboration."

    Capsule for MADiSON MADiSON

    "Single-player experience with no cooperative gameplay or social collaboration."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players engage in solving unique and varied puzzles, but no creation or modification of game elements."

    Capsule for Escape Memoirs: Mansion Heist Escape Memoirs: Mansion Heist

    "Players creatively solve puzzles using clues and logic, but no creation or modification of game elements."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; purely individual experience."

    Capsule for Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; purely individual experience."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Immersive atmosphere and mystery provide a strong escape from reality."

    Capsule for Broken Pieces Broken Pieces

    "Immersive atmosphere and mystery provide distraction and escape from real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and curiosity, not due to obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Nucleares Nucleares

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and curiosity, not due to obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Encourages trying different puzzle approaches and exploration of environments."

    Capsule for Myst Myst

    "Encourages trying different puzzle-solving approaches and exploration of the environment."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Players explore an abandoned house and discover notes and secrets, though environment is limited."

    Capsule for Kach Kach

    "Players explore a detailed abandoned facility, uncovering clues and secrets through environmental interaction."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -5

    "No character or environment customization; presentation is fixed and standardized."

    Capsule for The Room Two The Room Two

    "No character or environment customization; presentation is fixed and standardized."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    1

    "Story includes subtle supernatural elements (telepathy, visions) blended with realistic themes."

    Capsule for Tell Me Why Tell Me Why

    "Story involves mysterious scientific phenomena and some supernatural hints, blending realistic and imaginative elements."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No community or social features; experience is solitary."

    Capsule for Late Shift Late Shift

    "No community or social features; experience is solitary."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop problem-solving skills and learn puzzle mechanics progressively."

    Capsule for Another Perspective Another Perspective

    "Players develop problem-solving skills and learn puzzle mechanics progressively."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    Capsule for Car Manufacture Car Manufacture

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention and puzzle solving; not designed for background or idle play."

    Capsule for Dungeons of Dreadrock Dungeons of Dreadrock

    "Requires focused attention and active puzzle solving; not designed for background or idle play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship building; purely individual engagement."

    Capsule for The Children of Clay The Children of Clay

    "No social or emotional relationship building; purely individual engagement."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for DEEMO -Reborn- DEEMO -Reborn-

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

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Progression through puzzle completion and unlocking new areas, though no item collection or upgrades."

    Capsule for Myst III: Exile Myst III: Exile

    "Progression through puzzle completion and unlocking new areas; inventory items are used and removed."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Calm, atmospheric gameplay with balanced puzzle difficulty supports relaxation and flow."

    Capsule for The Rewinder The Rewinder

    "Atmospheric and chill gameplay with balanced puzzle difficulty provides a relaxing experience."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Atmospheric audio and visuals provide sensory engagement without intense stimulation."

    Capsule for Republique Republique

    "Atmospheric sound and visuals create mood and emotional engagement without intense sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or ranking systems; achievements are minimal or absent."

    Capsule for Slay the Dragon! Slay the Dragon!

    "No social recognition or ranking systems; achievements are minimal or absent."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    4

    "Narrative is revealed through discovered notes and environmental storytelling, engaging players in mystery."

    Capsule for Reveal The Deep Reveal The Deep

    "Narrative unfolds through environmental storytelling and discovery, engaging players in a mystery."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    2

    "Puzzles require logical thinking and problem solving but are generally straightforward."

    Capsule for Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride

    "Puzzles require logical thinking and problem solving, though mostly linear and straightforward."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    2

    "Mild suspense and creepy atmosphere provide some thrill without intense risk or tension."

    Capsule for 9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek 9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek

    "Mild suspense and eerie atmosphere create some tension, but no high-risk or intense thrills."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players feel the game offers good value for price with meaningful story and challenging puzzles."

    Capsule for Still There Still There

    "Players find good value for the price with engaging puzzles and story despite some technical issues."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Superliminal Superliminal

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

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -5

    "No survival mechanics or threats; stable environment focused on exploration."

    Capsule for Nancy Drew®: Treasure in the Royal Tower Nancy Drew®: Treasure in the Royal Tower

    "No survival mechanics or threats; stable environment focused on exploration and puzzles."

Last update: 09/07/2026