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Scars Above similar games & best alternatives

Scars Above

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 • 2023

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Quick resume

Scars Above is a challenging sci-fi third-person action adventure shooter combining the rewarding feel of overcoming difficulty with a compelling and intricate story, set in a mysterious alien world to explore.

Global score

77/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Shooter

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging sci-fi story
    • Interesting elemental combat mechanics
    • Atmospheric and varied environments
    • Responsive controls and smooth gameplay
    • Good voice acting and soundtrack

    Cons

    • Linear level design with limited exploration
    • Short game length with limited replay value
    • Clunky character animations and lip sync
    • Punishing save system causing repetition
    • Some bugs and technical rough edges

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players can choose weapons, abilities, and approach combat with some freedom, but the game is fairly linear in progression and quest structure."

      Capsule for The Baconing The Baconing

      "Players have freedom to choose weapons, gadgets, and combat strategies, but the game is largely linear with fixed progression paths."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      3

      "Combat requires timing, strategy, and skillful use of abilities and resources, providing a satisfying challenge especially on higher difficulties."

      Capsule for Child of Light Child of Light

      "Combat requires skillful timing, aiming at weak points, and strategic use of elemental weapons and gadgets, providing a moderate challenge."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -4

      "Game is single-player focused with no PvP or leaderboards; emphasis on personal story and exploration."

      Capsule for Venetica - Gold Edition Venetica - Gold Edition

      "The game is single-player focused with no PvP or leaderboards; players focus on personal progression and story experience."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      -2

      "Game is relatively short with limited replayability; some players find it frustrating or tedious, leading to less habitual play."

      Capsule for STAR WARS™ Dark Forces (Classic, 1995) STAR WARS™ Dark Forces (Classic, 1995)

      "Game is relatively short and linear; some players report frustration with repetition and save system, limiting long habitual play."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -5

      "Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

      Capsule for MiSide MiSide

      "Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      2

      "Players can experiment with different weapons, elemental powers, and combat styles, though within a linear structure."

      Capsule for Song of Iron Song of Iron

      "Players can combine elemental weapons and gadgets creatively in combat, but level design and story progression are fixed and linear."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No social or multiplayer dominance elements; interactions are individual and narrative-driven."

      Capsule for The Evil Within 2 The Evil Within 2

      "No social or multiplayer dominance elements; interactions are individual and narrative-driven."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Immersive sci-fi story and atmosphere provide strong escape from real life."

      Capsule for The Dig® The Dig®

      "Immersive sci-fi story and atmospheric environments provide a strong escape from real life."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest and enjoyment; no evidence of obligation or pressure to play."

      Capsule for Salt Salt

      "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and interest; no evidence of obligation or external pressure to play."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      3

      "Players experiment with different weapons, strategies, and exploration paths."

      Capsule for System Shock: Enhanced Edition System Shock: Enhanced Edition

      "Players experiment with weapon combos and tactics, though exploration is limited by linear level design."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      1

      "Game is mostly linear with some secret areas and puzzles; exploration is limited but present."

      Capsule for 嗜血印 Bloody Spell 嗜血印 Bloody Spell

      "Some exploration of environments and hidden paths exists, but overall the game is linear with limited open areas."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -3

      "Minimal character customization or self-expression; mostly fixed character and presentation."

      Capsule for Indiana Jones® and the Infernal Machine™ Indiana Jones® and the Infernal Machine™

      "Minimal character customization or self-expression; mostly standardized character and environment presentation."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      4

      "Strong sci-fi fantasy setting with imaginative space environments, alien enemies, and futuristic technology."

      Capsule for Eventide Matter Eventide Matter

      "Strong sci-fi fantasy setting with alien worlds, creatures, and speculative technology."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -5

      "No social or community features; entirely solo experience."

      Capsule for Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

      "No social or community features; entirely solo experience."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      3

      "Players develop skills and knowledge through challenging combat, weapon builds, and strategic play."

      Capsule for Banzai Escape 2: Subterranean Banzai Escape 2: Subterranean

      "Players develop skills and abilities through knowledge acquisition and combat progression."

    • 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 and engagement; not designed for background or idle play."

      Capsule for Metaphor: ReFantazio Metaphor: ReFantazio

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

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -5

      "No social or emotional relationship building; interactions are limited to solo play."

      Capsule for Please, Don’t Touch Anything Please, Don’t Touch Anything

      "No social or emotional relationship building; interactions are limited to narrative and solo play."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

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

      Capsule for Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach

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

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      4

      "Players accumulate weapons, upgrades, and story progression through gameplay."

      Capsule for Half-Life 2: Episode Two Half-Life 2: Episode Two

      "Players accumulate weapons, gadgets, and skill upgrades as they advance through the story."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      1

      "Some players find the game relaxing and immersive, though others note frustration with difficulty spikes."

      Capsule for Egypt: Old Kingdom Egypt: Old Kingdom

      "Some players find the game relaxing and immersive, but others report frustration with repetition and difficulty spikes."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      3

      "Enjoyable audiovisual experience with atmospheric music and detailed environments."

      Capsule for Myst III: Exile Myst III: Exile

      "Enjoyable audiovisual experience with atmospheric sound design and detailed environments."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems present."

      Capsule for Crying Suns Crying Suns

      "No social recognition or status systems present."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      4

      "Engaging sci-fi narrative with character-driven plot and atmospheric storytelling."

      Capsule for Halfway Halfway

      "Engaging sci-fi narrative with character-driven plot and mystery elements."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      3

      "Combat requires tactical thinking, use of abilities, and planning to overcome challenging enemies."

      Capsule for Trepang2 Trepang2

      "Combat and gadget use require tactical thinking and planning to exploit enemy weaknesses."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      2

      "Some suspense and tension from horror elements and enemy encounters, but not highly intense."

      Capsule for Storebound Storebound

      "Some suspense and tension from challenging combat and horror elements, but not extreme."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      0

      "Mixed opinions on price; some recommend buying on sale due to short length and limited replay value."

      Capsule for LOST EMBER LOST EMBER

      "Mixed player opinions on value; some recommend buying on sale due to short length and limited replayability."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      3

      "Combat involves shooting, disabling, and destroying alien enemies with various weapons."

      Capsule for Phoenix Point Phoenix Point

      "Combat involves shooting and defeating alien creatures with weapons and gadgets."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      2

      "Players manage health and resources to survive hostile environments and enemies."

      Capsule for Rogue Trooper Rogue Trooper

      "Players manage resources and environmental hazards to survive hostile alien world."

    Analysis

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

    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