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South Scrimshaw, Part One similar games & best alternatives

South Scrimshaw, Part One

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2023

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Quick resume

South Scrimshaw is the story of a newborn whale in a vast alien ocean. It is a richly illustrated experimental visual novel, written in the style of a nature documentary.

Global score

99/100

Genres

Casual, Indie

Similar games

    Pros

    • Beautiful and unique art style
    • Deep and imaginative speculative biology worldbuilding
    • Emotional and immersive storytelling
    • High production value for a free game
    • Calming and relaxing atmosphere

    Cons

    • Limited interactivity and gameplay
    • Short length with long wait for continuation
    • Some players find ai narration less immersive
    • Lack of customization or player expression
    • No multiplayer or social features

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players make meaningful choices affecting story outcomes, but within a structured visual novel format with limited exploration."

      Capsule for Nameless ~The one thing you must recall~ Nameless ~The one thing you must recall~

      "Players can control the pace of the visual novel and explore optional footnotes, giving some freedom within a mostly linear narrative."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      -2

      "The experience is mostly observational and exploratory with minimal skill or challenge; no gameplay mechanics or tests of skill."

      Capsule for Britannic: Patroness of the Mediterranean Britannic: Patroness of the Mediterranean

      "The experience is mostly passive with minimal skill or challenge; interaction is limited to advancing text and exploring tangents."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -5

      "No competitive elements or comparison to others; focus is on personal narrative experience."

      Capsule for Impostor Factory Impostor Factory

      "No competitive elements or comparison to others; focus is on personal narrative experience."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      4

      "Players express strong attachment and eagerness for subsequent episodes, indicating habitual and sustained engagement."

      Capsule for of the Devil of the Devil

      "Many players express strong attachment and eagerness for future parts, indicating desire for continued engagement."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -5

      "Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative features."

      Capsule for High Hell High Hell

      "Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative features."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      5

      "Highly creative art style, surreal environments, unique visual effects, and innovative storytelling praised by many."

      Capsule for Eclipsium Eclipsium

      "Highly creative speculative biology worldbuilding, unique art style, and imaginative storytelling praised extensively."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; experience is individual and empathetic."

      Capsule for Before Your Eyes Before Your Eyes

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; experience is contemplative and empathetic."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      5

      "Strong emotional story and immersive narrative provide escape from real-life through fictional drama and romance."

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

      "Strongly serves as an escape from reality through immersive fictional world and emotional storytelling."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -5

      "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and intrinsic motivation; no obligation or pressure noted."

      Capsule for Paradise Marsh Paradise Marsh

      "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and intrinsic motivation; no obligation or pressure noted."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      2

      "The narrative structure encourages exploring different perspectives and piecing together mysteries, promoting experimentation with story interpretation."

      Capsule for Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.5 Meakashi Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.5 Meakashi

      "Some exploration of optional tangents and lore, encouraging curiosity and discovery within a structured narrative."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      3

      "Encourages exploration of detailed environments and discovery of lore notes."

      Capsule for INDUSTRIA INDUSTRIA

      "Players explore lore and world details through footnotes and branching information, enhancing discovery."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -3

      "Limited character customization or avatar personalization; mostly fixed presentation."

      Capsule for NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD: Typing of The Net NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD: Typing of The Net

      "Limited customization or personalization; presentation is fixed with no avatar or environment modification."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      5

      "Set in a surreal alien world with imaginative creatures and a science-fiction narrative."

      Capsule for The Eternal Cylinder The Eternal Cylinder

      "Set in a fictional alien world with speculative biology, imaginative creatures, and narrative framed as a documentary."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -4

      "Experience is solitary with minimal social interaction or community engagement within the game."

      Capsule for Psycholonials Psycholonials

      "Experience is solitary with minimal social interaction or community features within the game."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      3

      "Players learn about characters, story, and world; develop understanding through choices and exploration."

      Capsule for Rosewater Rosewater

      "Players learn about the fictional biology and lore, gaining knowledge and insight through detailed worldbuilding."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Sedentary visual novel experience with no physical activity or health-related gameplay."

      Capsule for We Know the Devil We Know the Devil

      "Sedentary visual novel experience with no physical activity or health-related gameplay."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -4

      "Requires focused attention to read and follow story; not suitable for passive or background play."

      Capsule for fault - milestone two side:above fault - milestone two side:above

      "Requires focused attention to follow story and narration; not designed for passive or background play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -3

      "Limited social interaction; emotional connection mostly through story rather than relationships."

      Capsule for Say No! More Say No! More

      "Limited social connection; emotional attachment is to characters and story rather than interpersonal relationships."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

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

      Capsule for Fran Bow Fran Bow

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

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      2

      "Progression through story chapters and unlocking new narrative content, but no item or upgrade accumulation."

      Capsule for Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.4 Himatsubushi Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.4 Himatsubushi

      "Narrative progression through story chapters and unlocking lore, but no item or upgrade accumulation."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      4

      "Widely described as relaxing and calming with soothing music and gentle gameplay."

      Capsule for Cat Goes Fishing Cat Goes Fishing

      "Calming, immersive atmosphere with soothing narration and music; players describe it as relaxing and emotionally moving."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      4

      "Vibrant visuals, hand-drawn art, and dynamic music provide strong sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

      Capsule for Maiden and Spell Maiden and Spell

      "Beautiful hand-drawn art, sound design, and music provide rich sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social status or recognition systems; experience is personal and outside social evaluation."

      Capsule for The Midnight Walk The Midnight Walk

      "No social status or recognition systems; experience is personal and outside social evaluation."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      5

      "Strong narrative focus with rich lore, character development, and emotional story arcs praised by players."

      Capsule for HorrorVale HorrorVale

      "Strong narrative focus with emotional storytelling, worldbuilding, and character development praised by players."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      -5

      "No strategic or problem-solving gameplay; linear story."

      Capsule for NEKOPARA Vol. 1 NEKOPARA Vol. 1

      "No strategic or problem-solving gameplay; linear visual novel format."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      1

      "Some emotional suspense and tension, but overall controlled and reflective experience."

      Capsule for LoveChoice LoveChoice

      "Some emotional tension and dramatic moments, but overall controlled and contemplative experience."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      5

      "Players praise the game's content, price, and developer support as excellent value for money."

      Capsule for SpellForce 3 Soul Harvest SpellForce 3 Soul Harvest

      "Players overwhelmingly praise the game as high value, especially given it is free; many wish to support the creator financially."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      -4

      "Minimal focus on violence; story driven by emotional and scientific themes rather than combat."

      Capsule for STEINS;GATE ELITE STEINS;GATE ELITE

      "Focus on biology and nature; while natural life cycle events occur, the experience is not centered on violence or combat."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      2

      "Narrative includes elements of threat and danger, though no active survival mechanics."

      Capsule for Tiny Bunny: Prologue Tiny Bunny: Prologue

      "Narrative includes survival themes and challenges faced by the whale, but gameplay does not involve active survival mechanics."

    Analysis

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

    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

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 30/04/2026