The Night Fisherman similar games & best alternatives

The Night Fisherman - the-night-fisherman_1.avif
The Night Fisherman - the-night-fisherman_2.avif
The Night Fisherman - the-night-fisherman_3.avif
The Night Fisherman - the-night-fisherman_4.avif
The Night Fisherman - the-night-fisherman_5.avif
The Night Fisherman - the-night-fisherman_6.avif

The Night Fisherman

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2020

Should you play it?

A short, twisted tale about a smuggler and a late night encounter in the English Channel. Control the camera and make tough choices, will you escape with your life?

What works
  • Striking visual art style and atmospheric soundtrack
  • Strong, thought-provoking narrative with social commentary
  • Short and accessible experience
  • Innovative camera angle control
  • Free to play
Things to keep in mind
  • Minimal gameplay and interaction
  • Choices have little impact on story outcome
  • Very short duration limits engagement
  • Narrative closely mirrors a famous film scene, limiting originality
  • No language localization beyond english

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Burning Daylight

  • my eyes deceive

  • Adventure in My Head

  • 1943 Berlin Blitz

  • lure

  • Homeless

  • Wardwell House

  • Terroro

  • The Plan
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • my eyes deceive

  • Homeless

  • GLAD VALAKAS SIMULATOR
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Story

    Room of Depression
  • Idle

    100 Waiting Cats
  • Value

    Vampire: The Masquerade - Heartless Lullaby

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • 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 (hidden on purpose).

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

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

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    "Players can choose dialogue options and camera angles, but choices have minimal impact on the story outcome, indicating some control but limited freedom."

  • Competence

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    "Gameplay is minimal and predictable, mainly involving reading and selecting dialogue options with limited challenge."

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  • Competition

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  • Continuation

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  • Cooperation

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

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  • Creativity

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    "Some creative expression through poster design and scene selection, but limited control over actual film content and storytelling."

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    "Some creativity in camera angle control and narrative presentation, but story closely follows a known film scene limiting originality."

  • Domination

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    "No elements of exerting control over others; interactions are conversational and equal."

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  • Escapism

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    "Players engage with a dark, emotional story that provides psychological immersion and distraction from real life."

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    "Players engage with a tense, immersive narrative that offers emotional reflection and distraction from real life."

  • Expectation

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    "Players engage voluntarily for personal interest; no obligation or external pressure noted."

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    "Players engage voluntarily for personal interest; no obligation or external pressure to play."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

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    "Limited experimentation possible; mostly following a fixed story with minor dialogue variations."

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    "Limited experimentation possible with camera angles and dialogue, but story outcomes are mostly fixed."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

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    "Set in a single environment with no exploration; focus on decision-making within fixed context."

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    "Set in a single scene with fixed environment; no exploration of new areas or secrets."

  • Expression

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    "Limited character or environment customization; mostly predefined assets and fixed camera spots."

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  • Fantasy

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    "Strongly grounded in realistic, harsh social issues and plausible scenarios rather than imaginative fiction."

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  • Fellowship

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    "Experience is solitary with no social or community features."

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  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

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    "Limited learning or skill development; some personal reflection encouraged."

    Capsule for The Flood The Flood

    "Limited learning or development; narrative may provoke reflection but no skill or knowledge acquisition."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

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

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  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

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    "Designed for short sessions and casual play, suitable for filling small time gaps."

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    "Short, light experience suitable for filling small time gaps or casual play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

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    "No social interaction or relationship building; purely individual experience."

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  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

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    "No leadership or group management elements present."

    Capsule for FORM FORM

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  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

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    "No accumulation of items, upgrades, or progression systems."

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    "No accumulation of items, upgrades, or progression systems."

  • Relaxation

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    "Atmosphere is immersive and sometimes tense, but overall balanced to maintain engagement without excessive stress."

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  • Sensation

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    "Visual and auditory design is praised for atmosphere and detail, though sensory stimulation is moderate and functional."

    Capsule for First Class Escape 2: Head in the Clouds First Class Escape 2: Head in the Clouds

    "Visual and auditory design is striking and atmospheric, providing sensory engagement."

  • Status

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    "No social recognition or status systems."

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  • Story

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    "Strong narrative focus with immersive storytelling and emotional depth."

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    "Strong narrative focus with immersive storytelling and emotional impact."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

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    "No strategic or problem-solving gameplay; choices are simple and have limited impact."

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    "No strategic or problem-solving gameplay; choices have limited effect."

  • Thrill

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    "Some suspense and mystery elements create moments of tension."

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    "Tension builds through narrative and atmosphere, creating moments of suspense."

  • Value

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    "Free game with impactful narrative; good value for short time investment."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

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    "Narrative includes mature themes of violence and crime integral to story, though gameplay is non-violent."

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    "Narrative includes violent themes and events, though gameplay is non-violent."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

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    "Themes of overcoming threats and danger present in story, though no gameplay survival mechanics."

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    "Story involves threat and survival tension, though no gameplay mechanics for survival."

Last update: 10/07/2026