Under What? similar games & best alternatives

Under What? - under-what_1.avif
Under What? - under-what_2.avif
Under What? - under-what_3.avif
Under What? - under-what_4.avif
Under What? - under-what_5.avif
Under What? - under-what_6.avif

Under What?

2019

Should you play it?

“Under what?” is a short but very capacious story-tale about an old fisherman who suddenly faced the surface of the water. In this story there will be no dragons, the battle of good and evil, and other boring nonsense. But there will be some bad jokes and extraordinary characters.

What works
  • Beautiful and unique art style
  • Soothing and fitting music
  • Philosophical and thought-provoking narrative
  • Free to play
  • Short and accessible experience
Things to keep in mind
  • Very short gameplay duration
  • Lack of meaningful player choices
  • No multiple endings despite dialogue options
  • Minimal interactivity
  • Some players find story confusing or lacking depth

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • The Old Tree

  • Cloud Climber

  • SnowNight

  • Unroaded

  • Allumette

  • welcome to heaven

  • Dear Esther: Landmark Edition

  • The Flood

  • Aurora: A Child's Journey
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • SnowNight

  • Unroaded

  • Project Hailstorm
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Value

    Rental
  • Relaxation

    A Raven Monologue
  • Story

    The Walking Fish 2: Final Frontier

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).

Under What?: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Strategy, Experimenting, Competence, Survival. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Progression, Idle, Autonomy.

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

    "Player choices exist but are ambiguous and ultimately do not affect the story outcome, reflecting limited player control."

    Capsule for South of the Circle South of the Circle

    "Player choices exist but do not affect outcomes; gameplay is following a fixed narrative path."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    -4

    "Gameplay consists mainly of reading and clicking through dialogue with minimal skill or challenge."

    Capsule for NEKOPARA Vol. 2 NEKOPARA Vol. 2

    "Gameplay consists mainly of clicking through dialogue and comic panels with minimal skill or challenge."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "No competitive elements or comparison to others; purely a personal experience."

    Capsule for Trials on Tatooine Trials on Tatooine

    "No competitive elements or comparison to others; purely a personal experience."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    1

    "Short game but some players replay to explore different dialogue options and endings."

    Capsule for Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk

    "Some players replay to explore dialogue variations, but overall very short and limited replay value."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for DARQ: Complete Edition DARQ: Complete Edition

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

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Unique narrative and art style, creative storytelling and atmosphere"

    Capsule for Sweetest Monster Sweetest Monster

    "Unique art style and presentation as an interactive comic; some creative narrative approach."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others."

    Capsule for Senren＊Banka Senren＊Banka

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "Players use the game as a relaxing, casual distraction from daily life."

    Capsule for 100 hidden mice 100 hidden mice

    "Players use the game as a brief philosophical and relaxing distraction from daily life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily, often drawn by artistic interest and curiosity rather than obligation."

    Capsule for Scorn Scorn

    "Players engage voluntarily for curiosity or artistic interest without external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    1

    "Multiple endings and some exploration of different dialogue choices encourage some experimentation, but overall linear."

    Capsule for Usotsuki Game / 谎言游戏 Usotsuki Game / 谎言游戏

    "Some experimentation with dialogue choices, though all lead to the same ending."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    -3

    "Limited exploration of environments; mostly static backgrounds and linear progression through story scenes."

    Capsule for StopGate StopGate

    "Limited environment and narrative exploration; mostly linear progression through set scenes."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -4

    "No character customization or player expression; fixed visuals and story presentation."

    Capsule for 克莉丝的炎之信仰 Cryste: the Faith of Fire Vol.1 克莉丝的炎之信仰 Cryste: the Faith of Fire Vol.1

    "No character customization or player expression; fixed visuals and story."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Abstract, surreal world with philosophical narrative elements, creating an imaginative experience."

    Capsule for Etherborn Etherborn

    "Surreal and philosophical narrative with talking fish and abstract themes."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "Solo experience without social or community interaction."

    Capsule for Don't Be Afraid Don't Be Afraid

    "Solo experience without social or community interaction."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    -3

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

    Capsule for The Flood The Flood

    "Minimal learning or skill development; more focused on reflection than progression."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    Capsule for Car Manufacture Car Manufacture

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention during short play sessions; not designed for background play."

    Capsule for Come out, cat Come out, cat

    "Requires focused attention during short play sessions; not designed for background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "Limited emotional connection beyond narrative; no close social relationships formed through gameplay."

    Capsule for Deponia Doomsday Deponia Doomsday

    "No deep social or emotional connections formed; interaction limited to game narrative."

  • 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

    -4

    "No item collection or upgrades; static narrative experience."

    Capsule for VOCÊ É UM DEFUNTO MECÂNICO VOCÊ É UM DEFUNTO MECÂNICO

    "No item collection or upgrades; static narrative experience."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    4

    "Calming music and art create a relaxing, contemplative atmosphere."

    Capsule for A Raven Monologue A Raven Monologue

    "Calm, soothing music and art create a relaxing atmosphere."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Visual and auditory stimuli are pleasant and satisfying but not intense or highly stimulating."

    Capsule for Idle Spiral Idle Spiral

    "Pleasant visual and auditory stimuli but not intense or highly stimulating."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status elements."

    Capsule for Ayahuasca Ayahuasca

    "No social recognition or status elements."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    4

    "Strong narrative focus with emotional, philosophical, and surreal storytelling."

    Capsule for The Walking Fish 2: Final Frontier The Walking Fish 2: Final Frontier

    "Strong narrative focus with philosophical and surreal storytelling."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    -4

    "Minimal strategic or problem-solving elements; gameplay centers on dialogue choices and exploration."

    Capsule for Journal Journal

    "No strategic or problem-solving gameplay; linear dialogue choices."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    -4

    "No suspense or risk; calm and predictable experience."

    Capsule for Leaving Lyndow Leaving Lyndow

    "No suspense or risk; calm and predictable experience."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    5

    "Free game with polished art and atmosphere; high perceived value for short playtime."

    Capsule for Rental Rental

    "Free game with high artistic value and positive reception for short playtime."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -5

    "No violent or destructive gameplay elements."

    Capsule for The White Door The White Door

    "No violent or destructive gameplay elements."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -5

    "No survival mechanics or threat avoidance."

    Capsule for Thimbleweed Park™ Thimbleweed Park™

    "No survival mechanics or threat avoidance."

Last update: 10/07/2026