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The Forgotten City similar games & best alternatives

The Forgotten City

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

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Quick resume

The Forgotten City is a narrative-driven time loop adventure in ancient Rome. Discover the ruins of an ancient underground city, travel 2000 years into the past, and unravel the mystery of who destroyed it by cleverly exploiting the power to wind back time. The fate of the city is in your hands.

Global score

96/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Role-playing (RPG)

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    Pros

    • Engaging and original story
    • Well-developed characters
    • Thought-provoking philosophical themes
    • Immersive historical setting
    • Multiple endings and replay value

    Cons

    • Short game length
    • Some clunky animations and minor bugs
    • Minimal and unpolished combat
    • Linear exploration with limited player customization
    • Some pacing issues in dialogue

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

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      "Players have freedom to explore, investigate, and solve puzzles with logical deduction and multiple dialogue options."

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    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      2

      "The game involves simple puzzles and interactions that require some problem solving but are not highly challenging."

      Capsule for Accounting (Legacy) Accounting (Legacy)

      "Game involves puzzle solving, investigation, and dialogue choices requiring thought, though combat and action elements are minimal and not challenging."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

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      "No evidence of competitive elements; focus is on personal experience and story exploration without player comparison."

      Capsule for Bloodwash Bloodwash

      "No evidence of competitive elements; focus is on personal discovery and story progression without player comparison."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      3

      "Players report engaging story and characters that encourage long play sessions and replay for different endings."

      Capsule for Long Gone Days Long Gone Days

      "Players report being drawn into the story, playing multiple loops and endings, with some replay value and engagement over several hours."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

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      "Single-player experience focused on individual investigation and interaction with NPCs, no multiplayer or teamwork."

      Capsule for The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog

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    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      3

      "Players engage in combining clues, experimenting with dialogue, and solving puzzles creatively within a structured narrative."

      Capsule for Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer

      "Players creatively solve puzzles and explore different dialogue paths and endings; however, gameplay is structured around a set narrative."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No indications of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are narrative-driven and balanced."

      Capsule for The Inn-Sanity The Inn-Sanity

      "No indications of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are narrative-driven and balanced."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

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      "Players use the game to immerse themselves in a fictional adventure, escaping real life through story and exploration."

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      "Players use the game to immerse themselves in a rich historical and philosophical narrative, escaping real life through story and exploration."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

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      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and passion for puzzles, mystery, and story, not obligation."

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    • Experimenting

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      "The game encourages trying different dialogue options and puzzle solutions, exploring alternative routes and endings."

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    • Exploration

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      "Players explore a detailed village and surrounding areas, uncovering secrets and story elements."

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      "Players explore a detailed Roman city environment, uncover secrets, and learn about characters and lore."

    • Expression

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      "Limited player customization; focus is on narrative and interaction rather than avatar or environment personalization."

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    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      3

      "Includes mythological creatures and gods, blending historical Roman setting with fantasy elements."

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      "Game features time loops, supernatural elements, and mythological themes set in an imaginative Roman city."

    • Fellowship

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      -5

      "Single-player game with minimal social or community interaction."

      Capsule for IXION IXION

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    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      3

      "Players develop understanding of complex story and solve puzzles, gaining insight and skills during play."

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      "Players develop understanding of story, characters, and puzzles, gaining knowledge and insight through loops."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; typical sedentary gaming experience."

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      "No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; typical sedentary gaming experience."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention on dialogue, puzzles, and exploration without background or casual play."

      Capsule for The Council The Council

      "Requires focused attention on dialogue, exploration, and puzzle solving; not designed for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      2

      "Players develop emotional connections with characters through story and dialogue."

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      "Players form emotional connections with well-developed characters through dialogue and story."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

      "No leadership or group management mechanics; player follows narrative alone."

      Capsule for Lake of Voices Lake of Voices

      "No leadership or group management mechanics; player acts individually within narrative."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      2

      "Progression is narrative-based with unlocking new dialogue and endings rather than item or power accumulation."

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      "Progression is narrative-based through unlocking dialogue options and story outcomes rather than item or power accumulation."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      3

      "Game provides a relaxing experience with balanced pacing and immersive storytelling."

      Capsule for Dreamland Dreamland

      "Game offers a balanced, immersive experience with thoughtful pacing and minimal stress or tension."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      2

      "Visuals and sound are praised for immersion and atmosphere, providing sensory enjoyment."

      Capsule for Pirates Pirates

      "Visuals and sound design are praised for atmosphere and immersion, though not focused on intense sensory stimulation."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social status or recognition systems; focus is on personal story experience."

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      "No social status or recognition systems; focus is on personal story experience."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      5

      "Highly praised narrative immersion with complex characters, multiple endings, and deep themes."

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      "Highly praised narrative immersion with complex characters, philosophical themes, and multiple endings."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      3

      "Players engage in logical puzzle solving and planning to progress, requiring mental challenge."

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      "Players engage in mental challenge through puzzle solving, planning dialogue approaches, and managing time loops."

    • Thrill

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      1

      "Some suspense and mystery elements exist, but overall the experience is more contemplative than thrilling."

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      "Some suspense and mystery elements present, but overall experience is more contemplative than thrilling."

    • Value

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      3

      "Players generally feel the game offers good value for its price, especially on sale, given its quality and content."

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      "Players generally feel the game offers good value for its price, especially on sale, due to story quality and replayability."

    • Violence

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      "Minimal violence; gameplay focuses on puzzle solving and story rather than combat or destruction."

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    • Survival

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      1

      "Some elements of avoiding failure within time loops, but low risk and no traditional survival mechanics."

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    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Expression. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Survival, Story.

    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

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    Last update: 30/04/2026