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The Ascent similar games & best alternatives

The Ascent

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 • 2021

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Quick resume

The Ascent is a solo and co-op Action-shooter RPG set in a cyberpunk world. The mega corporation that owns you and everyone, The Ascent Group, has just collapsed. Can you survive without it?

Global score

74/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Shooter

Similar games

    Pros

    • Stunning cyberpunk atmosphere and visuals
    • Satisfying and tactical combat
    • Cooperative multiplayer enhances experience
    • Rich worldbuilding and lore
    • Good value for price

    Cons

    • Repetitive missions and backtracking
    • Bugs and occasional crashes
    • Limited weapon upgrade variety
    • Confusing map and navigation
    • Story and characters somewhat basic

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players can choose characters, weapons, and upgrade stats freely, but gameplay follows a linear mission structure."

      Capsule for Alien Shooter 2: Reloaded Alien Shooter 2: Reloaded

      "Players can choose character builds, weapons, and augmentations freely, but missions and progression are mostly linear with some backtracking."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      3

      "Combat is skill-based with challenging bosses and progression; some difficulty spikes noted but overall rewarding."

      Capsule for ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist

      "Combat is skill-based with tactical elements like cover and abilities; difficulty spikes require player adaptation and build optimization."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -3

      "Focus is on solo or cooperative play with friends; no mention of ranked modes or leaderboards."

      Capsule for Dying Light: The Beast Dying Light: The Beast

      "Focus is on solo or cooperative play with friends; no ranked modes or leaderboards mentioned."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      2

      "Players report engaging story and atmosphere encouraging extended play, though some find repetitive gameplay limiting long-term attachment."

      Capsule for Mafia: Definitive Edition Mafia: Definitive Edition

      "Many players report engaging gameplay and atmosphere encouraging extended play, though some mention repetitive missions and lack of content updates."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      4

      "Strong emphasis on local and online co-op play; multiplayer is a highlight and recommended for best experience."

      Capsule for Pang Adventures Pang Adventures

      "Online and local co-op available and recommended; co-op enhances gameplay experience and is a major feature."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      3

      "Character builds and weapon customization allow creative playstyles and experimentation."

      Capsule for DARK SOULS™ II DARK SOULS™ II

      "Customization of characters, weapons, and augmentations allows creative playstyles; however, weapon upgrades are limited and some systems are shallow."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -4

      "Interactions emphasize shared play and cooperation rather than dominance or power over others."

      Capsule for LEGO® Marvel™ Super Heroes LEGO® Marvel™ Super Heroes

      "Interactions emphasize cooperative play and shared progression rather than dominance or power over others."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "The immersive cyberpunk world, pixel art, and synthwave soundtrack provide strong escapism from real life."

      Capsule for VirtuaVerse VirtuaVerse

      "Highly immersive cyberpunk world with detailed environments and atmospheric audio provides strong escapism."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and exploration; no pressure or obligation noted."

      Capsule for Sunkenland Sunkenland

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun, exploration, and combat; no indications of obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      3

      "Players experiment with different combat styles, weapons, and skill builds to find effective strategies."

      Capsule for Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

      "Players experiment with different weapons, augmentations, and builds to find effective combat strategies."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      2

      "Small but detailed world with secrets and events to discover; exploration is limited but meaningful."

      Capsule for Way of the Samurai 3 Way of the Samurai 3

      "World is large and detailed with some exploration, but mission design and backtracking limit novelty."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      3

      "Character customization and modding options allow self-expression through appearance."

      Capsule for Fury Unleashed Fury Unleashed

      "Character customization and transmog options allow self-expression, though limited by fixed aesthetics."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      3

      "Set in a futuristic cyberpunk world with fictional narrative elements and imaginative technology."

      Capsule for Song of Farca Song of Farca

      "Set in a dystopian cyberpunk sci-fi world with futuristic technology and fictional factions."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      3

      "Community aspects through co-op play and shared experiences, though some players play solo."

      Capsule for Dead Rising® 2 Dead Rising® 2

      "Strong community aspect through co-op play and shared experiences, though some players focus on solo play."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      3

      "Players develop skills, upgrade weapons, and learn tactical strategies throughout the game."

      Capsule for Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden

      "Players develop skills, upgrade weapons, and learn combat tactics throughout the game."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Standard sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related mechanics."

      Capsule for Control Ultimate Edition Control Ultimate Edition

      "Standard sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related mechanics."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention and active puzzle solving; backtracking can be tedious but not idle or background play."

      Capsule for Sense - 不祥的预感: A Cyberpunk Ghost Story Sense - 不祥的预感: A Cyberpunk Ghost Story

      "Requires active attention and continuous engagement; some backtracking can feel tedious but not idle play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -3

      "Social interactions are minimal and mostly surface-level in co-op; no evidence of close relationship formation."

      Capsule for Sairento VR Sairento VR

      "Social interactions are mostly surface-level within co-op; no deep relationship mechanics."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -3

      "Co-op play is collaborative without emphasis on leadership or authority roles."

      Capsule for Atlas Fallen: Reign Of Sand Atlas Fallen: Reign Of Sand

      "Co-op play is collaborative without explicit leadership or management roles."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      3

      "Players accumulate weapons, upgrades, and resources to enhance abilities."

      Capsule for Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered

      "Players accumulate weapons, upgrades, and abilities to improve combat effectiveness."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      1

      "Gameplay balances challenge and fun, but some players report frustration with grind and difficulty spikes."

      Capsule for Viking Squad Viking Squad

      "Gameplay balances challenge and flow, but difficulty spikes and backtracking can cause frustration."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      4

      "Strong sensory stimulation from vibrant visuals, electronic music, and sound effects."

      Capsule for Electronic Super Joy: Groove City Electronic Super Joy: Groove City

      "Strong sensory stimulation through detailed visuals, lighting, sound effects, and music."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -3

      "No emphasis on social recognition or leaderboards; focus is on personal and cooperative achievement."

      Capsule for Hammerwatch Hammerwatch

      "No emphasis on social recognition or leaderboards; focus is on personal and cooperative achievement."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      1

      "Story is present but minimal and cryptic; lore is scattered and not a major focus compared to gameplay."

      Capsule for Remnant: From the Ashes Remnant: From the Ashes

      "Story is present and moderately engaging but considered basic and sometimes confusing; lore is rich but mostly in codex."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      3

      "Combat and boss fights require planning, use of combos, and tactical use of abilities."

      Capsule for BloodRayne 2 (Legacy) BloodRayne 2 (Legacy)

      "Combat requires tactical use of cover, abilities, and weapon selection; some planning needed for boss fights."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      2

      "Combat and boss fights provide moments of tension and excitement."

      Capsule for Monument Monument

      "Combat provides moments of tension and excitement, especially during difficult encounters and boss fights."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      3

      "Generally considered a good value for price with many hours of gameplay and updates."

      Capsule for Stellar Initiative Stellar Initiative

      "Generally considered good value for price with 15-25 hours of gameplay; some bugs and lack of updates noted."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      4

      "Gameplay centers on combat, destruction, and gore with visceral enemy designs and explosions."

      Capsule for Iron Meat Iron Meat

      "Gameplay centers on combat, shooting, and destruction with graphic effects and enemy gore."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      2

      "Players manage health and resources to survive combat encounters."

      Capsule for RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business

      "Players must manage health and resources to survive challenging combat encounters."

    Analysis

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

    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