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SIDE EFFECTS similar games & best alternatives

SIDE EFFECTS

PC (Microsoft Windows), Web browser • 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

    • 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."

      Capsule for Neckbreak 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."

      Capsule for You Must Build A Boat 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."

      Capsule for Monster Prom 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."

      Capsule for Surgeon Simulator VR: Meet The Medic 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."

      Capsule for Unspottable 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."

      Capsule for Overland 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."

      Capsule for Gremlins, Inc. 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."

      Capsule for Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale 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."

      Capsule for BattleBlock Theater® 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."

      Capsule for MINDNIGHT 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."

      Capsule for Peace, Death! 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."

      Capsule for Backrooms: Extractions 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."

      Capsule for [Bober Bros] The Hole [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."

      Capsule for Floppy Heroes 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."

      Capsule for The Bonerooms 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."

      Capsule for Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD 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."

      Capsule for Atlantic Fleet 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."

      Capsule for LOEK 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."

      Capsule for ROCKETSROCKETSROCKETS 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."

      Capsule for Pepper Grinder 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."

      Capsule for Half Dead 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."

      Capsule for Serena 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."

      Capsule for Blood Bar Tycoon 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."

      Capsule for Clicker Heroes 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"

      Capsule for Talisman: Digital Classic Edition 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."

      Capsule for Card Survival: Fantasy Forest 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."

      Capsule for SkyDrift 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."

      Capsule for Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist 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."

      Capsule for Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon 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