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Vector 36 similar games & best alternatives

Vector 36

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux • 2017

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Quick resume

Race across the terraformed surface of Mars in your Skimmer, a completely customizable hover racing vehicle. Piloting skill and engineering make the difference between winning and losing in Vector 36, a Physics-Based Racer. Available with and without VR or HOTAS.

Global score

82/100

Genres

Action, Indie, Racing, Simulator

Similar games

    Pros

    • Deep and rewarding physics-based racing
    • Extensive skimmer customization and tuning
    • Immersive vr cockpit experience
    • Active developer support and updates
    • Challenging gameplay with skill progression

    Cons

    • Steep learning curve may deter casual players
    • Limited multiplayer and social features
    • Garage ui and customization interface can be clunky
    • Some performance issues and bugs reported
    • Monotonous mars environment and track variety

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players have extensive freedom to customize ships, weapons, and loadouts, experimenting with different configurations to suit their playstyle."

      Capsule for Jets'n'Guns Gold Jets'n'Guns Gold

      "Players have extensive freedom to customize and tune their skimmers, adjusting parts, thrust vectors, and balance to suit their playstyle."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      5

      "High skill ceiling with complex physics and a steep learning curve requiring mastery of detailed controls."

      Capsule for Toribash Toribash

      "High skill ceiling with steep learning curve; mastering controls and physics is challenging and rewarding."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      3

      "Focus on racing against AI and time trials; leaderboards and online multiplayer are not yet implemented but desired by players."

      Capsule for Aero GPX Aero GPX

      "Racing against AI and ghost replays with leaderboards; multiplayer planned but not fully implemented yet."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      4

      "Players report habitual play, repeated runs, and long play sessions driven by progression and mastery."

      Capsule for One Step From Eden One Step From Eden

      "Players report long play sessions, habitual tinkering and racing, and strong attachment to progression and mastery."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -4

      "Gameplay is primarily single-player; multiplayer is limited to racing and lacks true cooperative business features."

      Capsule for Car For Sale Simulator 2023 Car For Sale Simulator 2023

      "Gameplay is primarily solo racing; multiplayer is limited or absent, with no strong cooperative elements."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      5

      "Extensive tank customization with many parts and combinations allows players to create unique vehicles and experiment with builds."

      Capsule for Gear Up Gear Up

      "Deep customization and building of skimmers with many adjustable parameters; players experiment extensively."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -3

      "Interactions are mostly competitive but respectful; no evidence of trash talk or dominance."

      Capsule for Street Racing Syndicate Street Racing Syndicate

      "Interactions are competitive but respectful; no reports of trash talk or dominance behavior."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Highly immersive experience with VR support and realistic racing providing escape from real life."

      Capsule for Assetto Corsa Competizione Assetto Corsa Competizione

      "Immersive VR experience and intense racing provide strong escape from real life."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment; no indication of obligation or pressure."

      Capsule for Death's Gambit: Afterlife Death's Gambit: Afterlife

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment; no indication of obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      5

      "Players frequently experiment with base designs, automation setups, and strategies to optimize performance."

      Capsule for FortressCraft Evolved! FortressCraft Evolved!

      "Players frequently experiment with tuning, part placement, and flight techniques to optimize performance."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      -2

      "Tracks are mostly linear point-to-point races with limited open world or discovery elements."

      Capsule for Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit Remastered Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit Remastered

      "Racing tracks are limited and on Mars surface; some exploration in tuning but limited new area discovery."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      4

      "Customization of shop appearance and decorations allows personal expression."

      Capsule for Tiny Bookshop Tiny Bookshop

      "Customization of skimmers allows personal expression through design and handling style."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      3

      "Fictional sci-fi setting on Mars with exaggerated physics and guerrilla warfare fantasy."

      Capsule for Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered

      "Science fiction setting with futuristic skimmers on Mars; realistic physics grounded in plausible tech."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -3

      "Mostly solo play with minimal social interaction; multiplayer planned but limited currently."

      Capsule for Sapiens Sapiens

      "Mostly solo play with limited social interaction; multiplayer not fully realized."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      5

      "Strong emphasis on skill acquisition, learning controls, and improving flying ability."

      Capsule for RealFlight Trainer Edition RealFlight Trainer Edition

      "Strong learning and skill development emphasized; players improve flying and tuning skills over time."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -4

      "Sedentary VR gameplay with no physical activity emphasis; some players report motion sickness potential."

      Capsule for Superfly Superfly

      "Sedentary VR play; some players report motion sickness but no physical activity involved."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -4

      "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement; not a casual or background game."

      Capsule for A Plague Tale: Innocence A Plague Tale: Innocence

      "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement; not a casual or background game."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -4

      "Minimal social or emotional connection; interactions are mostly competitive or individual."

      Capsule for Cossacks: European Wars Cossacks: European Wars

      "Minimal social or emotional connection; interactions are competitive and individual."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -4

      "No leadership or management roles; gameplay is individual racing without guiding others."

      Capsule for nail'd nail'd

      "No leadership or group management roles; gameplay is individual racing."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      4

      "Players accumulate money, unlock perks, modules, cosmetics, and complete operations for advancement."

      Capsule for Midnight Heist Midnight Heist

      "Players accumulate money, parts, and new skimmers; career mode with upgrades and unlocks."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      2

      "Some players find flow and satisfaction in mastering levels, though game can be tense and challenging."

      Capsule for Shadow Blade: Reload Shadow Blade: Reload

      "Some players find flow and satisfaction in mastering controls; others find it tense and challenging."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      4

      "Strong sensory stimulation through VR immersion, sound design, and interactive cockpit controls."

      Capsule for VTOL VR VTOL VR

      "Strong sensory stimulation in VR with speed, sound, and immersive cockpit experience."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      2

      "Online leaderboards and ghost racing provide recognition; no strong emphasis on social status."

      Capsule for Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania

      "Leaderboards and ghost racing provide some recognition; no strong social status focus."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      -3

      "No narrative or lore; gameplay is context-free racing events."

      Capsule for Ultimate Racing 2D Ultimate Racing 2D

      "No narrative or plot; racing and tuning are context-free activities."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      4

      "Requires planning and problem solving in car building, tuning, and race preparation."

      Capsule for Revhead Revhead

      "Requires planning and problem solving in tuning skimmers and managing thrust and bias during races."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      4

      "High-speed racing with risk of crashing, overheating, and intense obstacles creates suspense and thrill."

      Capsule for Distance Distance

      "High speed racing with risk of crashing and overheating creates suspense and excitement."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      4

      "Players feel the game offers excellent value for price with unique and polished VR experience."

      Capsule for Eye of the Temple Eye of the Temple

      "Players feel the game offers good value for price with deep gameplay and VR support."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      -4

      "No combat or destruction gameplay; focus is on racing and constructive track creation."

      Capsule for TrackMania² Canyon TrackMania² Canyon

      "No combat or destruction focus; gameplay centers on racing and constructive tuning."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      3

      "Players must avoid crashing and manage race conditions to survive and succeed in races."

      Capsule for MotoGP™15 MotoGP™15

      "Players must avoid crashing and manage heat and damage to survive races."

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Status, Story, Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Violence, Fellowship.

    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.

    Last update: 30/04/2026