THE NORMAL THING similar games & best alternatives

THE NORMAL THING - the-normal-thing_1.avif
THE NORMAL THING - the-normal-thing_2.avif
THE NORMAL THING - the-normal-thing_3.avif
THE NORMAL THING - the-normal-thing_4.avif
THE NORMAL THING - the-normal-thing_5.avif
THE NORMAL THING - the-normal-thing_6.avif

THE NORMAL THING

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2020

Should you play it?

THE NORMAL THING is a story about a dog who lost his memory. Sunless forests, strange gardens, weird inhabitants... Start a little journey to retrieve your memory.

What works
  • Emotional and touching story
  • Unique artistic style
  • Accessible puzzle difficulty
  • Free to play with good quality
  • Short and engaging playtime
Things to keep in mind
  • Some puzzles are obscure or frustrating
  • Minor bugs affecting progression
  • Limited player freedom and linear gameplay
  • Chase sequences can be annoying
  • Incomplete or rough english translation

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Anna's Quest

  • The Dark Eye: Memoria

  • Lamplight City

  • PROXIMATE

  • American Arcadia

  • Kathy Rain

  • Amnesia: Rebirth

  • Moebius: Empire Rising

  • The Excavation of Hob's Barrow
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • PROXIMATE

  • Moebius: Empire Rising

  • Fear the Spotlight
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Story

    Changed
  • Value

    Grimm's Hollow
  • Escapism

    Kemono Teatime

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 NORMAL THING: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Status. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Value. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence.

Why this game works

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

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    3

    "Players follow a mostly linear story with some minor choices that do not affect the outcome, but can explore and solve puzzles with some freedom."

    Capsule for Creepy Tale: Some Other Place Creepy Tale: Some Other Place

    "Players have some freedom to explore and solve puzzles but must follow a linear story path with fixed puzzle solutions."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    2

    "Puzzles provide moderate challenge and require problem solving, though some are considered difficult or obscure."

    Capsule for All Dream Long A Flower Storm All Dream Long A Flower Storm

    "Puzzles provide moderate challenge with some requiring insight, though some are considered too simple or frustratingly obscure."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "No competitive elements; focus is on personal experience and story."

    Capsule for Firewatch Firewatch

    "No competitive elements; focus is on personal experience and story."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    1

    "Short playtime (~1.5-3 hours), some players replay for achievements and endings but overall limited long-term engagement."

    Capsule for Banebush Banebush

    "Short playtime (~1-2 hours) with some players replaying for achievements or alternate endings."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Single-player experience with no cooperative gameplay."

    Capsule for Layers of Fear Layers of Fear

    "Single-player experience with no cooperative gameplay."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Unique art style and narrative approach show creative expression, though gameplay follows established point-and-click conventions."

    Capsule for The Cat Lady The Cat Lady

    "Unique artistic style and some creative puzzle design, though gameplay follows established point-and-click adventure conventions."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No elements of dominance or control over others; experience is personal and narrative-driven."

    Capsule for The Gallery - Episode 1: Call of the Starseed The Gallery - Episode 1: Call of the Starseed

    "No elements of dominance or control over others; experience is personal and narrative-driven."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game to emotionally process grief and loss, escaping into a bittersweet fictional world with heavy themes."

    Capsule for Kemono Teatime Kemono Teatime

    "Players use the game to emotionally process grief and loss, escaping into a touching narrative and atmospheric world."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and emotional connection rather than obligation."

    Capsule for INMOST INMOST

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and emotional connection rather than obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    1

    "Some puzzle-solving and interaction with mechanics encourage experimentation, but overall gameplay is straightforward and linear."

    Capsule for Echoed World Echoed World

    "Some puzzle experimentation encouraged, but overall gameplay is linear and puzzle solutions are fixed."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    2

    "Exploration of a small house environment with some discovery of clues and secrets, but limited in scope."

    Capsule for Supernormal Supernormal

    "Exploration of a small, atmospheric forest environment with some hidden items and secrets."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -3

    "Limited customization; players experience a fixed protagonist and predefined environments."

    Capsule for New York Mysteries: Secrets of the Mafia Collector's Edition New York Mysteries: Secrets of the Mafia Collector's Edition

    "Limited customization; players experience a fixed protagonist and environment."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Story involves amnesia, mystery, and psychological elements with some surreal atmosphere."

    Capsule for Endless Jade Sea -Midori no Umi- Endless Jade Sea -Midori no Umi-

    "Surreal and symbolic setting with a narrative involving memory loss and afterlife themes."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "Solo play with minimal social interaction."

    Capsule for Emily Wants To Play Emily Wants To Play

    "Solo play with minimal social interaction."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    2

    "Players develop puzzle-solving skills and emotional understanding through gameplay."

    Capsule for Pretentious Game Pretentious Game

    "Players develop puzzle-solving skills and emotional insight through gameplay."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity."

    Capsule for What Remains of Edith Finch What Remains of Edith Finch

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention to solve puzzles and progress; not suitable for passive play."

    Capsule for Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet

    "Requires focused attention to solve puzzles and progress; not suited for passive play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    3

    "Emotional connection to story and characters, especially the dog-owner bond, but limited social interaction."

    Capsule for Don't Disturb Don't Disturb

    "Emotional connection to story and characters, especially for players with experience of pet loss."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements."

    Capsule for High On Life High On Life

    "No leadership or group management elements."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    2

    "Progression through story and puzzle completion with some collectible achievements."

    Capsule for Papo & Yo Papo & Yo

    "Progression through story and puzzle completion with some collectible achievements."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    1

    "Generally calm but with moments of tension during chase sequences and timed puzzles."

    Capsule for Monochroma Monochroma

    "Generally calm but with moments of tension due to chase sequences and puzzle difficulty."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Enjoyable visual style and atmospheric sound design provide sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Unexplored Unexplored

    "Enjoyable artistic visuals and atmospheric sound design provide sensory engagement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social status or recognition mechanics."

    Capsule for Starlight Vega Starlight Vega

    "No social status or recognition mechanics."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Strong narrative focus with emotional storytelling and multiple endings."

    Capsule for Changed Changed

    "Strong narrative focus with emotional storytelling and impactful endings."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    1

    "Simple puzzle-solving requires some reasoning but overall straightforward gameplay."

    Capsule for [Chilla's Art] Stigmatized Property | 事故物件 [Chilla's Art] Stigmatized Property | 事故物件

    "Puzzle-solving requires some reasoning but overall straightforward gameplay."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    2

    "Some suspenseful moments and tension in chase sequences; mostly controlled and atmospheric experience."

    Capsule for Creepy Tale 2 Creepy Tale 2

    "Mild suspense from occasional chase sequences and atmospheric tension."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    5

    "Highly praised free game with strong emotional impact and quality content."

    Capsule for Grimm's Hollow Grimm's Hollow

    "Highly praised for quality and emotional impact despite being a free game."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -5

    "No violent gameplay; focus on puzzle solving and narrative."

    Capsule for Broken Age Broken Age

    "No violent gameplay; focus on puzzle solving and narrative."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    1

    "Some stealth and chase sequences require avoidance of threats, but overall low risk gameplay."

    Capsule for The Medium The Medium

    "Some threat avoidance elements during chase sequences but generally low-risk gameplay."

Last update: 10/07/2026