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The Complex: Expedition similar games & best alternatives

The Complex: Expedition

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2025

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Quick resume

When a routine expedition into The Complex goes horribly wrong, you're left alone and lost, wandering the seemingly infinite maze of hallways, otherwise known as the Backrooms. Might there be something following you?

Global score

89/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Simulator

Similar games

    Pros

    • Exceptional atmosphere and sound design
    • Faithful representation of backrooms liminal spaces
    • Immersive vhs visual effects
    • Nonlinear exploration with multiple paths
    • Psychological horror without cheap jump scares

    Cons

    • Short gameplay length
    • Limited interaction and progression
    • Lack of accessibility options
    • Some performance and control issues
    • Minimal narrative depth

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players navigate maze-like environments with some freedom to explore and make decisions, though objectives and progression are somewhat directed."

      Capsule for HBDIE: 2 HBDIE: 2

      "Players can explore multiple routes and choose their own pace in a nonlinear maze-like environment, though the game is a walking simulator with limited interaction."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      -2

      "Gameplay is simple and mostly walking, light puzzles, and exploration with minimal challenge."

      Capsule for 11-11 Memories Retold 11-11 Memories Retold

      "Gameplay is mostly walking and exploration with minimal challenge or skill tests; some navigation and puzzle-like elements but overall low difficulty."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -5

      "No competitive elements or player versus player interaction; focus is on personal exploration and progression."

      Capsule for Fe Fe

      "No competitive elements, leaderboards, or player versus player interactions; focus is on solitary exploration."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      2

      "Players report enjoying multiple playthroughs and exploring collectibles, indicating some habitual engagement despite the game's short length."

      Capsule for The Multi-Medium The Multi-Medium

      "Players report multiple playthroughs to explore alternate paths and discover secrets, indicating some habitual engagement despite short playtime."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -5

      "Single-player experience with no cooperative gameplay or social collaboration."

      Capsule for MADiSON MADiSON

      "Single-player experience with no cooperative gameplay or social collaboration."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      2

      "Players explore levels with hidden passages and secrets, but no mention of building or customization; moderate creativity in exploration."

      Capsule for Outlaws + A Handful of Missions (Classic, 1997) Outlaws + A Handful of Missions (Classic, 1997)

      "Players can explore different paths and discover hidden areas, but no creation or modification mechanics; some appreciation for unique level design."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No social dominance or power dynamics; experience is solitary and introspective."

      Capsule for Layers of Fear (2016) Layers of Fear (2016)

      "No social dominance or power dynamics; experience is solitary and atmospheric."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      5

      "Strong immersion in a surreal, dark, and eerie world; players use the game as a form of escape from reality."

      Capsule for Happy's Humble Burger Farm Happy's Humble Burger Farm

      "Strong emphasis on immersion in a surreal, liminal space to escape reality; players use the game for psychological horror and atmospheric exploration."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

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

      Capsule for CUCKOLD SIMULATOR: Life as a Beta Male Cuck CUCKOLD SIMULATOR: Life as a Beta Male Cuck

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

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      1

      "Some exploration and puzzle-solving encourage trying new paths, but overall gameplay is straightforward and linear."

      Capsule for Dread Flats Dread Flats

      "Some exploration of multiple routes and secrets encourages trying new paths, but overall gameplay is consistent and routine."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      5

      "Core gameplay involves discovering new areas, backtracking, and finding secrets in a maze-like interconnected world."

      Capsule for Pseudoregalia Pseudoregalia

      "Core gameplay revolves around discovering new areas, secrets, and environmental storytelling in a maze-like setting."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -5

      "No character customization or self-expression features; presentation is fixed and standardized."

      Capsule for At Dead Of Night At Dead Of Night

      "No character customization or self-expression features; presentation is fixed and standardized."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      3

      "Game features surreal horror elements and imaginative settings inspired by liminal spaces and SCP themes."

      Capsule for Storebound Storebound

      "Game presents an imaginative, surreal liminal space with psychological horror elements, though grounded in a found footage aesthetic."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -5

      "No social or community features; solitary experience."

      Capsule for Dagon: by H. P. Lovecraft Dagon: by H. P. Lovecraft

      "No community or social features; solitary experience."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      -3

      "Minimal learning or skill development; mostly familiar walking and observation."

      Capsule for Liminalcore Liminalcore

      "Limited learning or skill development; mostly familiar walking and exploration mechanics."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

      Capsule for THE ENIGMA MACHINE THE ENIGMA MACHINE

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      3

      "Game supports casual, relaxed play sessions; some players use it as a background or chill-out activity."

      Capsule for Sparkle 2 Evo Sparkle 2 Evo

      "Players can engage in relaxed, low-intensity exploration sessions; some use as background or chill experience."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -5

      "No social or emotional connections formed; isolated single-player gameplay."

      Capsule for Giant Machines 2017 Giant Machines 2017

      "No social or emotional connections formed; isolated gameplay."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

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

      Capsule for Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach

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

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      -3

      "Minimal progression mechanics; focus is on exploration rather than item collection or upgrades."

      Capsule for The Complex: Found Footage The Complex: Found Footage

      "Minimal progression mechanics; no item collection or upgrades, mostly static exploration."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      3

      "Atmospheric and immersive experience provides contemplative relaxation despite some unsettling themes"

      Capsule for The Old City: Leviathan The Old City: Leviathan

      "Atmosphere induces tension and unease but also moments of calm and contemplation; balance between horror and relaxation."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      4

      "Immersive audio and visual effects create strong sensory stimulation and emotional impact."

      Capsule for Folklore Hunter Folklore Hunter

      "Strong sensory stimulation through immersive sound design, visuals, and VHS effects creating emotional impact."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems."

      Capsule for Alan Wake Alan Wake

      "No social recognition or status systems."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      2

      "Some lore and narrative elements present but minimal; focus is on atmosphere and exploration rather than plot."

      Capsule for The Complex: Found Footage The Complex: Found Footage

      "Some narrative elements and lore present but minimal and subtle; story is secondary to atmosphere and exploration."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      -3

      "Minimal strategic or problem-solving elements; navigation is straightforward."

      Capsule for Google Earth VR Google Earth VR

      "Limited strategic or problem-solving elements; mostly straightforward navigation and exploration."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      3

      "Atmospheric tension and suspense create moments of psychological thrill rather than jump scares."

      Capsule for Post Trauma Post Trauma

      "Psychological tension and suspense through atmosphere and uncertainty rather than jump scares or action."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      1

      "Mixed opinions on value; some find the experience worth the price, others feel content is limited for cost."

      Capsule for ASYLUM ASYLUM

      "Mixed opinions on value; some find price fair for experience and quality, others note short length and limited content."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on exploration and atmosphere."

      Capsule for Summer of '58 Summer of '58

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on exploration and atmosphere."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      -4

      "No survival or resource management elements; low risk and threat environment."

      Capsule for The Plucky Squire The Plucky Squire

      "No survival mechanics or threats requiring resource management; low-risk environment."

    Analysis

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

    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