UNDERWARD similar games & best alternatives

UNDERWARD

Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5 • 2025

Should you play it?

UNDERWARD is a 1-4 player co-op horror exploration game. Investigators must carry «TEST-SUBJECT» monsters from a deadly underground abandoned hospital ward.

What works
  • Engaging cooperative gameplay
  • Immersive horror atmosphere
  • Dynamic enemy variety
  • Voice chat enhances teamwork
  • Good value for price
Things to keep in mind
  • Very difficult for solo players
  • Lack of checkpoints and save system
  • Low online player base
  • Optimization and technical bugs
  • Oversexualization of nurse characters

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Knights End

  • PANICORE

  • Bureau of Contacts

  • Project Unknown

  • KLETKA

  • Ghost Janitors

  • Murky Divers

  • Malum

  • Escape the Backrooms

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Knights End

  • Bureau of Contacts

  • Forsaken Frontiers

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Cooperation

    BattleBit Remastered

  • Fellowship

    Bogos Binted?

  • Thrill

    Dungeon Nightmares II : The Memory

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).

UNDERWARD: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Thrill, Fellowship. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation.

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 have freedom to explore, choose roles and strategies, but some gameplay elements are fixed and linear."

    Capsule for SCP: Containment Breach Multiplayer SCP: Containment Breach Multiplayer

    "Players have freedom to choose strategies, coordinate with teammates, and manage item usage, but gameplay is structured around fixed objectives and level progression."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "Game challenges players with difficult enemies, resource management, and requires skillful coordination and learning."

    Capsule for PIT OF GOBLIN PIT OF GOBLIN

    "Game challenges players with strategic item management, enemy behavior, and time-limited objectives requiring skill and coordination."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on cooperative play and personal/team progress rather than direct competition or leaderboards."

    Capsule for R.E.P.O. R.E.P.O.

    "Focus is on cooperative play and personal/team progress rather than direct competition or leaderboards."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Some players report replayability due to different characters and post-game content, but grind and repetition may reduce long-term engagement."

    Capsule for Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity

    "Players report replayability and desire to improve, but some frustration with difficulty and lack of checkpoints may limit long-term engagement."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on teamwork, squad roles, proximity voice chat, and coordinated objectives."

    Capsule for BattleBit Remastered BattleBit Remastered

    "Strong emphasis on teamwork, voice communication, coordinated capsule transport, and reviving teammates."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players experiment with different tactics and item uses, though within predefined mechanics and limited customization."

    Capsule for Overland Overland

    "Players can experiment with item use and team tactics, but level layouts and objectives are mostly fixed with limited customization."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -4

    "Gameplay promotes equal participation and mutual support rather than exerting control or superiority over others."

    Capsule for Frog Sqwad 🐸 Frog Sqwad 🐸

    "Gameplay encourages equal participation and mutual support rather than exerting control or superiority over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Immersive horror atmosphere and tense gameplay provide strong escape from real life stress and distraction."

    Capsule for Nuclear Nightmare Nuclear Nightmare

    "Immersive horror atmosphere and tense gameplay provide strong escape from real life stress."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and challenge, not out of obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Chained Together Chained Together

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and challenge, not out of obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players try different builds, strategies, and skill combinations to overcome challenges."

    Capsule for Warriors: Rise to Glory Warriors: Rise to Glory

    "Players try different strategies, item combinations, and team roles to overcome challenges."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    1

    "Some exploration of procedurally generated maps occurs, but environments are repetitive and limited in variety."

    Capsule for 瘟疫清零计划 Project Zero 瘟疫清零计划 Project Zero

    "Some procedural elements and level variety exist, but maps largely repeat with limited new discovery."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    1

    "Limited character customization; expression mainly through player actions and gestures."

    Capsule for Hand Simulator: Survival Hand Simulator: Survival

    "Limited character customization; some player expression through emotes and playful item use."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "The game features a fictional horror story with supernatural elements and imaginative scenarios."

    Capsule for Mr. Hopp's Playhouse Mr. Hopp's Playhouse

    "Game features imaginative horror setting with supernatural monsters and fictional scenarios."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on playing with friends and community interaction."

    Capsule for Bogos Binted? Bogos Binted?

    "Strong community and social interaction focus, especially playing with friends and voice chat."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    2

    "Players learn enemy patterns and survival strategies through gameplay."

    Capsule for They Breathe They Breathe

    "Players learn enemy behaviors, level layouts, and team coordination over time, though progression resets on death."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Capes Capes

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and coordination throughout play sessions; not suited for casual or background play."

    Capsule for Log Riders Log Riders

    "Requires continuous attention and coordination during play sessions; not suited for casual or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    2

    "Close social bonds form through cooperative play and shared tense experiences, though not deeply emotional."

    Capsule for Backroom Company Backroom Company

    "Close social bonds form through cooperative play and shared tense experiences, though not deeply emotional."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    2

    "Some players take leadership roles in coordinating teams and strategies, but generally shared."

    Capsule for Sven Co-op Sven Co-op

    "Some players take on coordinating roles, but overall leadership is shared within cooperative teams."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Players accumulate items, upgrades, and unlocks as they descend floors and complete objectives."

    Capsule for KLETKA KLETKA

    "Players accumulate items and complete objectives to advance floors, but no persistent upgrades or saves."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -4

    "Gameplay is tense and stressful with high stakes and punishing difficulty; not designed for relaxation."

    Capsule for They Are Billions They Are Billions

    "Gameplay is tense and stressful with high stakes and permadeath, not designed for relaxation."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Strong atmospheric audio-visual design and jump scares provide sensory stimulation and emotional excitement."

    Capsule for Paper Dolls: Original / 纸人 Paper Dolls: Original / 纸人

    "Atmospheric audio-visual design and jump scares provide strong sensory stimulation and emotional excitement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -3

    "No social ranking or recognition systems; focus is on personal and cooperative achievements."

    Capsule for Cave Crawlers Cave Crawlers

    "No visible social ranking or recognition systems; focus is on personal and team accomplishment."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Contains some lore and narrative elements that enhance immersion beyond pure gameplay."

    Capsule for CAPTURED CAPTURED

    "Some narrative elements and lore exist, enhancing immersion beyond pure gameplay."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Requires planning routes, resource management, and team coordination."

    Capsule for PEAK PEAK

    "Requires planning routes, managing resources, and coordinating team tactics to succeed."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    5

    "High thrill from suspense, jump scares, and fear of permadeath and unknown dangers."

    Capsule for Dungeon Nightmares II : The Memory Dungeon Nightmares II : The Memory

    "High suspense, jump scares, and risk of permadeath create intense thrill and adrenaline."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Generally seen as good value for price given gameplay hours and fun with friends."

    Capsule for Goblin Company Goblin Company

    "Generally considered good value for price and gameplay time, especially with friends."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    1

    "Combat is limited to shooting blocks and hazards; no graphic violence or destructive combat against characters."

    Capsule for Super Puzzle Platformer Deluxe Super Puzzle Platformer Deluxe

    "Combat is limited to stunning enemies with thrown objects; no graphic violence or destruction."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Strong survival elements with resource management and threat avoidance."

    Capsule for Amazing Cultivation Simulator Amazing Cultivation Simulator

    "Strong survival elements with permadeath, threat avoidance, and resource management."

Last update: 10/07/2026