Shenmue III Thumbnail

Shenmue III similar games & best alternatives

Shenmue III

PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4 • 2020

Related articles

Quick resume

Shenmue III sees the eagerly anticipated continuation of the epic story-driven saga. Take control of Ryo Hazuki, a teenage martial artist, determined to unravel the mystery behind his father's murder and to exact revenge on the killer.

Global score

73/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Role-playing (RPG), Fighting

Similar games

    Pros

    • Faithful continuation of shenmue series
    • Detailed and immersive environments
    • Long playtime with varied activities
    • Strong narrative and character interactions
    • Nostalgic appeal for fans

    Cons

    • Slow pacing and repetitive grinding
    • Awkward voice acting and dialogue
    • Combat system criticized as clunky
    • Story progression feels rushed or incomplete
    • Some character models and animations are stiff

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players have freedom to explore, solve puzzles, and interact with the environment in various ways, including optional side quests and collectibles."

      Capsule for Pikuniku Pikuniku

      "Players can explore environments freely, choose when to engage in side quests or main story, and manage their own time and activities."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      2

      "Game involves skill progression via leveling and skill trees, but combat is simple and repetitive, with limited moves and straightforward mechanics."

      Capsule for Office Battle Office Battle

      "Combat requires skill and training, but also involves repetitive grinding and predictable mini-games."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -3

      "Focus is on personal progression and story rather than competing against others; no mention of PvP or leaderboards."

      Capsule for Going Under Going Under

      "Focus is on personal progress and story rather than competing against others; no mention of PvP or leaderboards."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      4

      "Many players report long playtimes and habitual engagement with the game."

      Capsule for Creativerse Creativerse

      "Many players report long playtimes, multiple playthroughs, and habitual engagement with the game."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -4

      "Gameplay is primarily single-player and individual; limited social interaction beyond NPC requests."

      Capsule for Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Special Edition Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Special Edition

      "Gameplay is primarily single-player with limited social interaction beyond NPC dialogue."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      -2

      "Players interact with predefined puzzles and story; limited creative modification or building."

      Capsule for Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged

      "Players interact with a fixed world and story; limited customization or creative building."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -4

      "Interactions are balanced and respectful; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

      Capsule for L.A. Noire L.A. Noire

      "Interactions are balanced and respectful; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Players use the game to immerse themselves in a fictional world and escape real-life stress through story and gameplay."

      Capsule for Yakuza 3 Remastered Yakuza 3 Remastered

      "Players use the game to immerse in a detailed world and escape real-life stress through exploration and story."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -3

      "Players engage out of personal desire and nostalgia rather than obligation or external pressure."

      Capsule for Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered

      "Players engage out of personal desire and nostalgia rather than obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      1

      "Some exploration of clues and dialogue options, but mostly following established routines and story progression."

      Capsule for Blackwell Convergence Blackwell Convergence

      "Some exploration and trying new moves, but largely following established routines and story progression."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      4

      "Game encourages talking to every NPC, exploring multiple areas, and finding hidden secrets."

      Capsule for Suits: A Business RPG Suits: A Business RPG

      "Players explore detailed environments, discover secrets, and interact with many NPCs with unique routines."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -3

      "Limited character customization; mostly fixed character and preset aesthetics."

      Capsule for Lunacid - Tears of the Moon Lunacid - Tears of the Moon

      "Limited character customization; mostly fixed character appearances and preset aesthetics."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      1

      "Story blends realistic themes with some magical or surreal elements, but grounded in a realistic setting."

      Capsule for Memory Oblivion Box Memory Oblivion Box

      "Story grounded in martial arts and realistic settings, but with some mystical and narrative elements."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -4

      "Minimal social connection; mostly solitary experience with limited NPC interaction."

      Capsule for Subnautica: Below Zero Subnautica: Below Zero

      "Experience is solitary with minimal social connection beyond NPC interactions."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      3

      "Players develop skills in team building and learn story details; some personal development reported."

      Capsule for Blue Archive Blue Archive

      "Players develop skills through training and learn story details, showing personal development."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -4

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; stamina system encourages pacing but no physical exercise."

      Capsule for STORY OF SEASONS: Pioneers of Olive Town STORY OF SEASONS: Pioneers of Olive Town

      "Gameplay encourages sedentary play with no physical activity; stamina system is in-game only."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      3

      "Gameplay allows relaxed pacing with some automation; players can engage in long sessions or casual play."

      Capsule for Arctico Arctico

      "Players engage in slow-paced, relaxed gameplay with opportunities for short or long sessions."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -3

      "Interactions are mostly surface-level with NPCs; no deep emotional or social bonding."

      Capsule for Cloudpunk Cloudpunk

      "Interactions are mostly surface-level with NPCs; no evidence of forming close emotional bonds."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -4

      "No leadership roles; player follows story and makes personal decisions without managing or guiding others."

      Capsule for Raging Loop Raging Loop

      "No leadership roles; players follow story and complete tasks without managing others."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      4

      "Strong focus on leveling skills, acquiring gear, and completing quests."

      Capsule for Orake Classic Orake Classic

      "Strong focus on acquiring items, upgrading skills, and completing quests to advance."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      3

      "Game provides a chill, flow-like experience with satisfying gameplay loops and tension release."

      Capsule for Star Valor Star Valor

      "Game offers a chill, slow-paced experience with moments of flow and tension release."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      2

      "Visuals, music, and voice acting provide sensory enjoyment, though some find certain effects awkward."

      Capsule for True Love ~Confide to the Maple~ True Love ~Confide to the Maple~

      "Visuals and music provide sensory enjoyment, though some character models are awkward."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -3

      "Achievements and social recognition are minimal; focus is on individual experience."

      Capsule for Succubus Affection Succubus Affection

      "Achievements exist but social recognition is minimal; focus is on personal experience."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      4

      "Strong narrative immersion with continuing story and character interactions."

      Capsule for The House of Da Vinci 3 The House of Da Vinci 3

      "Strong narrative immersion continuing a long-running plot with character interactions."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      2

      "Requires planning in combat, faction reputation, and quest decisions, though some combat is repetitive."

      Capsule for Gothic® 3 Gothic® 3

      "Combat and quest completion require some planning and skill, though many tasks are repetitive."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      -2

      "Gameplay is low risk and steady paced rather than suspenseful or thrilling."

      Capsule for Sixty Four Sixty Four

      "Game is slow-paced with limited suspense or risk; QTEs are challenging but not thrilling."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      3

      "Players feel the game offers good nostalgic value and entertainment for the price."

      Capsule for Backyard Baseball '01 Backyard Baseball '01

      "Players feel the game offers good value through long playtime and nostalgic appeal."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      1

      "Combat involves fighting enemies but also includes non-violent activities like fishing and property management."

      Capsule for Fable Anniversary Fable Anniversary

      "Combat is present but not emphasized; game also focuses on non-violent activities like fishing."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      1

      "Some resource and stamina management to avoid run failure, but low-risk environment."

      Capsule for Blue Prince Blue Prince

      "Some resource management (stamina, money) but low risk of failure or death."

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Idle, Thrill, Violence, Survival. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Creativity, 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