MOLE similar games & best alternatives

MOLE

Web browser • 2026

Should you play it?

Pilot the MOLE, a monstrous post-war drilling machine built to descend deep below the Slavic soil. Fix failing systems, follow voices of the dead, and pray you can survive whatever is sharing your coffin. Will the vessel or your mind break first?

What works
  • Immersive psychological horror atmosphere
  • Engaging tactile mechanical puzzles
  • Strong narrative and emotional depth
  • Distinctive retro-futuristic art style
  • Excellent sound design
Things to keep in mind
  • Short overall length
  • Some confusing puzzle clarity
  • Minor bugs reported
  • Chase sequences can be frustrating
  • Limited replay value

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Who's at the door?

  • Idols of Ash

  • Teslagrad

  • The Solus Project

  • Knock-knock

  • The Mortuary Assistant

  • I Am Fish

  • Platform 8

  • Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Schein

  • Ukrainian ball in search of gas

  • Deep Sleep Trilogy

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Story

    Infliction

  • Autonomy

    Half-Life

  • Escapism

    THRESHOLD

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).

MOLE: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Competition, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Survival, Thrill. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation.

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 have significant control over their actions and decisions, exploring complex environments and solving puzzles without heavy handholding."

    Capsule for Half-Life Half-Life

    "Players have significant control over operating the drilling machine and solving puzzles with minimal handholding, fostering a sense of personal agency."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Gameplay involves skillful puzzle solving, action sequences, and coordination, providing meaningful challenges and feedback."

    Capsule for Split Fiction Split Fiction

    "Gameplay involves mastering tactile mechanical tasks and puzzles that require skill and attention, providing satisfying feedback and challenge."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "The game is a single-player narrative experience with no competitive elements or comparison to others."

    Capsule for tomorrow won't come for those without ██████ tomorrow won't come for those without ██████

    "The game is a single-player narrative experience with no competitive elements or comparison to others."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players tend to play in one sitting and become immersed, but the game is short (~2 hours) and not designed for habitual long-term play."

    Capsule for despelote despelote

    "Players are engaged to complete the game in one or few sittings due to immersive story and atmosphere, though the game is relatively short."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player experience focused on individual tasks and personal story."

    Capsule for Life Eater Life Eater

    "Entirely a solo experience focused on individual tasks and personal story."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players engage creatively with puzzles and exploration, but within a fixed narrative and predefined environments."

    Capsule for Still Life Still Life

    "Players engage with unique mechanical puzzles and interact with the environment in novel ways, though within a structured narrative."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; cooperative or competitive dominance absent."

    Capsule for The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2

    "No elements of exerting power or superiority over others; cooperative or competitive social dynamics are absent."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "The game offers a surreal, psychological horror experience that immerses players in a dystopian world, providing escape from reality."

    Capsule for THRESHOLD THRESHOLD

    "The game offers a deep psychological horror experience that immerses players in a surreal, unsettling world, providing escape from reality."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest in story, atmosphere, and horror experience."

    Capsule for Still Wakes the Deep Still Wakes the Deep

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by intrinsic interest in horror, story, and atmosphere rather than obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players explore unique mechanics and puzzle solutions, encouraging experimentation within the game."

    Capsule for Sonder Sonder

    "Players explore and learn new mechanics and puzzles progressively, encouraging experimentation with game systems."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    2

    "Some exploration of environments and discovery of lore and secrets, though mostly within confined, narrative-driven spaces."

    Capsule for The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes

    "Some environmental exploration and discovery of story elements occur, though within mostly linear and confined spaces."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -3

    "Limited customization or self-expression; players interact with preset characters and environments without personalization."

    Capsule for Faefever Faefever

    "Limited customization or self-expression; players interact with preset environments and characters without personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Strong elements of surrealism, psychological horror, and supernatural themes create an imaginative fictional experience."

    Capsule for Pathologic 3: Quarantine Pathologic 3: Quarantine

    "Strong psychological and cosmic horror themes with surreal and supernatural elements create an imaginative fictional experience."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for RiME RiME

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

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop understanding of complex story mechanics and improve decision-making skills to progress."

    Capsule for 428: Shibuya Scramble 428: Shibuya Scramble

    "Players develop understanding of complex mechanics and story, improving skills and knowledge as they progress."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Source of Madness Source of Madness

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement due to tense chase and puzzle solving."

    Capsule for ESCAPE FROM BOYKISSER ESCAPE FROM BOYKISSER

    "Requires continuous attention and engagement due to tense atmosphere and puzzle solving."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No close social relationships or emotional sharing with other players; single-player narrative focus."

    Capsule for Wolfenstein: The New Order Wolfenstein: The New Order

    "No close social relationships or emotional sharing with other players; focus is on personal narrative."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Inscryption Inscryption

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

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    2

    "Players progress through story, unlock endings and achievements, but no extensive item collection or upgrades."

    Capsule for Yuki「清醒梦」 Yuki「清醒梦」

    "Players progress through story and unlock new mechanics and areas, though no extensive item collection or upgrades."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -2

    "Atmosphere is tense and suspenseful, with moments of dread and fear, not focused on relaxation."

    Capsule for Apsulov: End of Gods Apsulov: End of Gods

    "Atmosphere is tense and suspenseful with moments of dread rather than purely relaxing or flow states."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Engaging visuals, music, and sound design provide strong sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Perennial Order Perennial Order

    "Strong sensory stimulation through sound design, visuals, and emotional tension create an engaging experience."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems; focus is on individual experience."

    Capsule for System Shock System Shock

    "No social recognition or status systems; focus is on individual experience."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Narrative-driven game with strong psychological horror story and emotional themes."

    Capsule for Infliction Infliction

    "Narrative-driven game with deep psychological, emotional, and cosmic horror themes central to player immersion."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    2

    "Requires planning and problem solving for puzzles and cooperative tactics, though not highly complex."

    Capsule for Storebound Storebound

    "Requires problem solving and planning to operate machinery and solve puzzles, though not highly complex strategy."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    4

    "Creates suspense and tension through atmosphere and psychological horror elements."

    Capsule for Left Alone Left Alone

    "Builds suspense and tension effectively through atmosphere, chase sequences, and psychological horror elements."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players perceive good value for price given the quality, atmosphere, and story despite short length."

    Capsule for Last Report Last Report

    "Players perceive strong value for price due to quality story, atmosphere, and gameplay within a short experience."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -3

    "Minimal violence; focus is on psychological horror and narrative rather than combat or destruction."

    Capsule for Amelie Amelie

    "Violence is minimal and not the focus; emphasis is on psychological horror and mechanical interaction."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players must manage resources, avoid threats, and repair gear to survive."

    Capsule for Cubic Odyssey Cubic Odyssey

    "Players must maintain and repair the drilling machine to survive, managing resources and avoiding threats."

Last update: 28/06/2026