SIDE EFFECTS similar games & best alternatives
SIDE EFFECTS
2025
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Quick resume
A twisted trial of pill roulette for up to 4 players (solo or online). Pick your poison. Use experimental items to shift the odds. And remember: only one of you can survive.
Global score
85/100
Genres
Indie, Strategy, Puzzle
Similar games
Pros
- Unique and tense multiplayer gameplay
- Engaging social bluffing and strategy
- Affordable price
- Distinctive creepy art style
- Fun with friends
Cons
- Buggy multiplayer and crashes
- Limited singleplayer content
- Lack of progression and customization
- Players quitting mid-game
- No chat or communication features
Motivations
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Autonomy
Game with the same Autonomy vibe
3"Players have freedom to choose different pills, weapons, and approaches to combat, but some level design and mechanics force trial-and-error and restrict movement options."
Neckbreak
"Players choose pills and items strategically each turn, allowing control over actions despite randomness."
-
Competence
Game with the same Competence vibe
2"Game involves skillful matching and timing but also relies significantly on luck, especially in later stages."
You Must Build A Boat
"Requires strategic thinking and item use to outsmart opponents, though luck plays a strong role."
-
Competition
Game with the same Competition vibe
4"Multiplayer mode encourages competing with friends to win dates and sabotage others, fostering social competition."
Monster Prom
"Multiplayer is focused on outlasting and bluffing opponents, with direct competition and sabotage."
-
Continuation
Game with the same Continuation vibe
-2"The game is very short and many players note limited replay value, leading to brief play sessions and quick disengagement."
Surgeon Simulator VR: Meet The Medic
"Some players find replay value limited; singleplayer is short and multiplayer can be frustrating due to bugs and quitting."
-
Cooperation
Game with the same Cooperation vibe
-3"Primarily a competitive game with minimal cooperation; players work against each other."
Unspottable
"Primarily a competitive game; cooperation is minimal and players often work against each other."
-
Creativity
Game with the same Creativity vibe
2"Players experiment with different tactics and item uses, though within predefined mechanics and limited customization."
Overland
"Players experiment with item combinations and strategies; some desire for more customization noted."
-
Domination
Game with the same Domination vibe
3"Players often sabotage and control others, exerting dominance through gameplay mechanics."
Gremlins, Inc.
"Players can force-feed pills and sabotage others, exerting control and psychological pressure."
-
Escapism
Game with the same Escapism vibe
3"Fantasy setting and lighthearted tone provide escapism from real life stresses."
Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale
"The dark, absurd theme and social bluffing provide a form of escapism and stress relief."
-
Expectation
Game with the same Expectation vibe
-4"Players engage voluntarily for fun and social interaction, not out of obligation."
BattleBlock Theater®
"Players engage voluntarily for fun and social interaction, not out of obligation."
-
Experimenting
Game with the same Experimenting vibe
3"Players try different strategies, bluffing styles, and social tactics to succeed; game encourages exploration of social mechanics."
MINDNIGHT
"Players try different items and tactics to influence outcomes and bluff opponents."
-
Exploration
Game with the same Exploration vibe
-3"Gameplay occurs in a fixed setting with limited discovery; focus is on mastering known mechanics."
Peace, Death!
"Gameplay occurs in a fixed environment with limited discovery; focus is on social dynamics."
-
Expression
Game with the same Expression vibe
-2"Limited character customization; some desire for cosmetic options but mostly standardized presentation."
Backrooms: Extractions
"Limited customization; some desire for more character or cosmetic personalization."
-
Fantasy
Game with the same Fantasy vibe
2"Surreal and psychological horror elements create an imaginative, metaphorical experience rather than realistic simulation."
[Bober Bros] The Hole
"Stylized, surreal medical experiment setting with exaggerated body horror effects."
-
Fellowship
Game with the same Fellowship vibe
3"Strong social component through local multiplayer and party modes fostering group play and shared experiences."
Floppy Heroes
"Strong social component in multiplayer; players enjoy shared experiences and interactions."
-
Growth
Game with the same Growth vibe
1"Some learning curve in item use and strategies, but overall gameplay is simple with limited progression."
The Bonerooms
"Some learning curve in strategy and item use, but limited long-term progression."
-
Health
Game with the same Health vibe
-5"Game involves sedentary play with no physical activity."
Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD
"Game involves sedentary play with no physical activity."
-
Idle
Game with the same Idle vibe
-3"Requires focused attention during turns; not designed for passive or background play."
Atlantic Fleet
"Requires focused attention during turns; not suitable for passive or background play."
-
Intimacy
Game with the same Intimacy vibe
-4"Social interactions are limited and surface-level; no deep relationship building."
LOEK
"Social interactions are competitive and surface-level; no deep relationship building."
-
Leadership
Game with the same Leadership vibe
-2"No explicit leadership roles; players act individually or cooperatively without formal authority."
ROCKETSROCKETSROCKETS
"No formal leadership roles; players act individually or in opposition."
-
Progression
Game with the same Progression vibe
2"Collectibles and unlockables provide some sense of progression, though limited and mostly cosmetic."
Pepper Grinder
"Unlocking items and modifiers provides some sense of progression, though limited."
-
Relaxation
Game with the same Relaxation vibe
-2"Gameplay is tense and suspenseful, with moments of stress and urgency rather than relaxation."
Half Dead
"Gameplay is tense and suspenseful, with emotional swings and stress."
-
Sensation
Game with the same Sensation vibe
2"Visuals and sound design create an eerie and emotional sensory experience."
Serena
"Visual and auditory design create a creepy, unsettling atmosphere with emotional impact."
-
Status
Game with the same Status vibe
-3"No social status or recognition systems; focus is on individual gameplay."
Blood Bar Tycoon
"No visible social status or ranking systems; focus is on immediate gameplay."
-
Story
Game with the same Story vibe
-4"Minimal narrative or lore; gameplay is context-free and focused on mechanics."
Clicker Heroes
"Minimal narrative or lore; gameplay is context-free and focused on mechanics."
-
Strategy
Game with the same Strategy vibe
3"Strategic decision-making important despite randomness"
Talisman: Digital Classic Edition
"Strategic use of items and bluffing is key to success despite randomness."
-
Thrill
Game with the same Thrill vibe
4"High tension and suspense from survival challenges and risk of death."
Card Survival: Fantasy Forest
"High suspense and tension from risk of instant death and uncertain outcomes."
-
Value
Game with the same Value vibe
3"Affordable price and fun gameplay provide good value, though limited content and dead multiplayer reduce replay value."
SkyDrift
"Affordable price and fun multiplayer experience seen as good value by many players."
-
Violence
Game with the same Violence vibe
3"Game involves combat, takedowns, and lethal/non-lethal elimination of enemies."
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist
"Game involves inflicting harm and death on opponents through pills and sabotage."
-
Survival
Game with the same Survival vibe
4"Core gameplay revolves around managing health, avoiding death, and surviving increasingly difficult levels."
Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon
"Core gameplay revolves around managing health and resistance to avoid death."
Analysis
Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Creativity, Exploration, Expression, Story. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Domination, Fellowship, Competition.
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