POOLS similar games & best alternatives
POOLS
2024
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Quick resume
Walking simulator. Explore, admire and listen. Uncanny. Relaxing. Unnerving. Eerie. Immersive. No monsters chasing you or jumping towards at your screen, but can feel oppressive at times by invoking fears of getting lost, the dark, tight spaces and liminal space architecture. Inspired by backrooms.
Global score
95/100
Genres
Adventure
Similar games
Pros
- Exceptional atmosphere and sound design
- Unique liminal space exploration
- No jump scares or monsters
- Immersive and creative level design
- Good optimization and graphics
Cons
- Short game length
- Limited gameplay mechanics
- Some repetitive areas
- Minor bugs and technical issues
- Lack of multiplayer or social features
Motivations
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Autonomy
Game with the same Autonomy vibe
3"Players freely navigate mazes at their own pace without timers or penalties, allowing personal control over play style."
RetroMaze
"Players freely explore the maze-like liminal spaces at their own pace with no forced linearity or scripted events."
-
Competence
Game with the same Competence vibe
-2"Gameplay involves simple exploration and basic tasks with minimal skill challenge or technical difficulty."
Summerland
"Gameplay mainly involves exploration and navigation without skill-based challenges or complex mechanics."
-
Competition
Game with the same Competition vibe
-5"No multiplayer or competitive elements; focus is on solo experience."
Oakwood
"No competitive elements, multiplayer, or leaderboards; focus is on solo experience."
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Continuation
Game with the same Continuation vibe
2"Players express desire to replay to discover new areas and experience atmosphere again, though game is short."
The Complex: Found Footage
"Players express desire to replay for atmosphere and exploration, though game length is short."
-
Cooperation
Game with the same Cooperation vibe
-5"Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative gameplay."
Sifu
"Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative gameplay."
-
Creativity
Game with the same Creativity vibe
4"Highly creative level design with surreal, shifting environments and unique narrative presentation."
El Paso, Elsewhere
"Creative level design with surreal, non-Euclidean architecture and atmospheric storytelling."
-
Domination
Game with the same Domination vibe
-5"No elements of exerting control over others; experience is personal and introspective."
Labyrinthine Dreams
"No elements of exerting control over others; experience is personal and introspective."
-
Escapism
Game with the same Escapism vibe
5"Strong immersion in a bleak, surreal world offers escape from reality through atmosphere and narrative."
Pathologic Classic HD
"Strongly focused on immersion in a surreal, unsettling environment to escape reality."
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Expectation
Game with the same Expectation vibe
-4"Players engage voluntarily out of interest in liminal spaces and exploration, not obligation."
Anemoiapolis: Chapter 1
"Players engage voluntarily out of interest in liminal spaces and atmosphere, not obligation."
-
Experimenting
Game with the same Experimenting vibe
3"Encourages exploration of the environment, discovery of secrets, and interaction with unusual elements."
The Norwood Suite
"Exploration of unusual environments and discovery of hidden areas encourages experimentation."
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Exploration
Game with the same Exploration vibe
5"Core gameplay involves discovering new areas, backtracking, and finding secrets in a maze-like interconnected world."
Pseudoregalia
"Core gameplay is about discovering new areas, secrets, and navigating maze-like spaces."
-
Expression
Game with the same Expression vibe
2"Some cosmetic customization options allow personal expression within the game's style."
Handy Harry's Haunted House Services
"Some customization options for graphics and gameplay settings allow personal expression."
-
Fantasy
Game with the same Fantasy vibe
3"Surreal, eerie environments and abstract characters create an imaginative fictional experience."
Closure
"Surreal, dreamlike, and uncanny environments create an imaginative fictional experience."
-
Fellowship
Game with the same Fellowship vibe
-5"No social or community features; experience is solitary."
Neon Beats
"No social or community features; experience is solitary."
-
Growth
Game with the same Growth vibe
-3"Limited learning or skill development; mostly familiar walking and exploration mechanics."
The Complex: Expedition
"Limited learning curve; mostly familiar exploration without skill development."
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Health
Game with the same Health vibe
-5"Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."
THE ENIGMA MACHINE
"Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."
-
Idle
Game with the same Idle vibe
-3"Requires focused attention to scan and navigate; not a background or idle game."
Scanner Sombre
"Requires focused attention to explore and navigate; not a background or idle game."
-
Intimacy
Game with the same Intimacy vibe
-5"No social interactions or relationship building; solitary experience."
Spirit of the North
"No social interactions or relationship building; solitary experience."
-
Leadership
Game with the same Leadership vibe
-5"No leadership or group management elements."
High On Life
"No leadership or group management elements."
-
Progression
Game with the same Progression vibe
1"Some progression through story and achievements, but no item collection or power accumulation."
Left on Read
"Some achievements and collectibles exist but no significant item or power accumulation."
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Relaxation
Game with the same Relaxation vibe
3"Atmosphere balances tension and calm; some players find it relaxing while others experience anxiety or frustration."
Subway Midnight
"Atmosphere balances tension and calm; some players find it relaxing despite unease."
-
Sensation
Game with the same Sensation vibe
4"Strong sensory stimulation through visuals, sound design, and physics effects; immersive emotional experience."
Paper Beast
"Strong sensory stimulation through visuals, sound design, and immersive environment."
-
Status
Game with the same Status vibe
-5"No social recognition or status systems."
Alan Wake
"No social recognition or status systems."
-
Story
Game with the same Story vibe
2"Narrative is present with characters and plot, though some players find it underdeveloped or confusing."
Advent NEON®
"Narrative is subtle and environmental, relying on player interpretation rather than explicit plot."
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Strategy
Game with the same Strategy vibe
-3"Minimal problem solving with simple puzzles; no complex planning or strategy."
Fingerbones
"Minimal problem solving; navigation through maze-like levels is the main cognitive challenge."
-
Thrill
Game with the same Thrill vibe
3"Psychological suspense and tension create thrill without jump scares or direct threats."
The Complex: Found Footage
"Psychological suspense and unease create a subtle thrill without jump scares or direct threats."
-
Value
Game with the same Value vibe
2"Players generally feel the game offers good value for its unique experience despite short length."
Manifold Garden
"Players feel the game offers good value for its unique atmosphere and experience despite short length."
-
Violence
Game with the same Violence vibe
-5"No violence or combat; focus on exploration and story."
Fayburrow
"No violence or combat; focus on exploration and atmosphere."
-
Survival
Game with the same Survival vibe
-5"No survival mechanics or threats; safe exploration environment."
The Complex: Found Footage
"No survival mechanics or threats; safe exploration environment."
Analysis
Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Strategy, Survival, Competence, Violence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Thrill, Expression.
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