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No one lives under the lighthouse Director's cut similar games & best alternatives

No one lives under the lighthouse Director's cut

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux • 2020

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Quick resume

A slow burn retro horror game, in which you arrive at the old lighthouse on a small island near the coast of the United States. After the previous keeper has gone missing, you need to take over his duties and watch after the light.

Global score

87/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Excellent atmospheric horror
    • Unique retro ps1 style graphics
    • Engaging cryptic story with multiple endings
    • Immersive sound design
    • Good replay value for price

    Cons

    • Some confusing or tedious gameplay sections
    • Maze navigation can be frustrating
    • Limited player customization
    • Chase sequences have clunky controls
    • Short overall playtime

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players explore a small island and lighthouse freely, with some puzzles and multiple endings, allowing personal choice in progression."

      Capsule for The Lightkeeper The Lightkeeper

      "Players perform lighthouse keeper duties with freedom to explore and discover multiple endings, but within a structured routine of tasks."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      2

      "Gameplay involves simple puzzles and some chase sequences that require basic skill, but mostly focuses on story and exploration."

      Capsule for Tales of the Black Forest Tales of the Black Forest

      "Gameplay involves simple puzzles and routine maintenance tasks with some challenge in navigation and chase sequences."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -5

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

      Capsule for ROUTINE ROUTINE

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

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      3

      "Multiple endings, secrets, and replayability encourage habitual play and extended engagement."

      Capsule for Amanda the Adventurer Amanda the Adventurer

      "Multiple endings and secrets encourage replayability and habitual engagement despite short playtime."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -5

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

      Capsule for SIGNALIS SIGNALIS

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

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      3

      "Players explore, solve puzzles, and uncover story elements with some freedom; game features multiple endings and branching paths."

      Capsule for Pocket Mirror ~ GoldenerTraum Pocket Mirror ~ GoldenerTraum

      "Players explore and uncover story through interaction and discovery; some freedom in approach to tasks and endings."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No social dominance or power over others; solitary survival experience."

      Capsule for Miasmata Miasmata

      "No social dominance or power over others; solitary experience focused on personal survival."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Strong immersion in atmospheric horror setting provides escape from real life."

      Capsule for Alone in the Dark Prologue Alone in the Dark Prologue

      "Strong immersion in atmospheric horror provides escape from real life through tension and dread."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -3

      "Players express intrinsic interest and personal desire to continue the story and explore the mystery voluntarily."

      Capsule for True Fear: Forsaken Souls Part 2 True Fear: Forsaken Souls Part 2

      "Players engage voluntarily driven by curiosity and intrinsic interest in horror and mystery."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      3

      "Multiple endings and secret discoveries encourage trying new approaches and exploration."

      Capsule for My Big Sister My Big Sister

      "Exploration of multiple endings and secrets encourages trying new approaches and discovery."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      4

      "Players explore a variety of island locations and uncover secrets and story elements."

      Capsule for Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair

      "Players explore a small island environment, uncovering secrets and alternative story paths."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -4

      "Minimal customization or personalization; players experience a fixed protagonist and story presentation."

      Capsule for Rising Angels: Reborn Rising Angels: Reborn

      "Limited customization; players experience a fixed protagonist and environment with minimal personalization."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      4

      "Strong Lovecraftian horror and sci-fi themes create an imaginative fictional experience."

      Capsule for Magrunner: Dark Pulse Magrunner: Dark Pulse

      "Lovecraftian horror and surreal elements create an imaginative, fictional experience."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -5

      "No social or community features; solitary gameplay."

      Capsule for Alan Wake Alan Wake

      "No social or community features; solitary gameplay."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      2

      "Players learn puzzles, story details, and game mechanics through play."

      Capsule for Mad Father Mad Father

      "Players learn game mechanics and story through repeated playthroughs and puzzle solving."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

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

      Capsule for THE ENIGMA MACHINE THE ENIGMA MACHINE

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

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention during play; not designed for background or casual intermittent play."

      Capsule for Copycat Copycat

      "Requires focused attention during play; not designed for background or casual intermittent play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -5

      "No social interaction or relationship building; isolated experience."

      Capsule for Missing Hiker Missing Hiker

      "No social interaction or relationship building; isolated experience."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

      "No leadership or group management roles; single player narrative."

      Capsule for The Ditzy Demons Are in Love With Me The Ditzy Demons Are in Love With Me

      "No leadership or group management roles; single player narrative."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      3

      "Progression through story and unlocking multiple endings and achievements."

      Capsule for BAD END BAD END

      "Progression through story, unlocking multiple endings and achievements."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      -2

      "Atmosphere induces tension and unease rather than relaxation or flow."

      Capsule for CONCLUSE CONCLUSE

      "Atmosphere induces tension and dread rather than relaxation or flow."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      3

      "Strong atmospheric audio and visual design create emotional and sensory engagement."

      Capsule for They Breathe They Breathe

      "Strong sensory atmosphere through audio and visual design creates emotional engagement."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems."

      Capsule for Alan Wake Alan Wake

      "No social recognition or status systems."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      4

      "Narrative immersion with cryptic lore, character interactions, and multiple endings."

      Capsule for Blasphemous 2 Blasphemous 2

      "Narrative immersion through cryptic storytelling, multiple endings, and atmospheric plot development."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      1

      "Some puzzle elements and route planning, but overall straightforward gameplay."

      Capsule for BOOMEROAD BOOMEROAD

      "Some puzzle solving and navigation challenges requiring planning, but overall straightforward gameplay."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      3

      "Chase sequences and suspenseful moments provide thrills and tension."

      Capsule for The Coma: Recut The Coma: Recut

      "Build-up of suspense and occasional chase sequences provide moments of thrill and tension."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      4

      "Players perceive good value for price due to engaging story, atmosphere, and replayability."

      Capsule for The Inn-Sanity The Inn-Sanity

      "Players perceive good value for price due to quality atmosphere, story, and replayability."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      1

      "Contains some horror elements involving threats and chase sequences but minimal explicit violence or combat."

      Capsule for [Chilla's Art] The Ghost Train | 幽霊列車 [Chilla's Art] The Ghost Train | 幽霊列車

      "Some chase and survival elements but limited explicit violence or combat."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      3

      "Avoiding death and managing resources under threat is a key gameplay driver."

      Capsule for Gatekeeper Gatekeeper

      "Avoiding threats and managing tasks to stay alive and sane is a core gameplay element."

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Value. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation.

    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

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    Last update: 30/04/2026