Aeterna Noctis similar games & best alternatives

Aeterna Noctis - Trailer
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Aeterna Noctis - aeterna-noctis_2.avif
Aeterna Noctis - aeterna-noctis_3.avif
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Aeterna Noctis

Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch • 2021

Should you play it?

Aeterna Noctis is a challenging metroidvania that majestically combines action, exploration and adventure. With 2 game modes and difficulty based on action or the exclusive Noctis mode where a level of difficulty is added in precision platforming never seen in the metroidvania genre.

What works

  • Challenging and rewarding platforming
  • Large and diverse world with secrets
  • Deep character progression and customization
  • Engaging boss fights
  • Beautiful hand-drawn art and music

Things to keep in mind

  • Very high difficulty may frustrate some players
  • Some visual clutter affecting visibility
  • Occasional bugs and control quirks
  • Tedious backtracking in some areas
  • Story and npc interactions can feel generic

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • Hollow Knight: Silksong

  • GRIME

  • There Is No Light: Enhanced Edition

  • GRIME II

  • Solateria

  • Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus

More relaxing

Games that feels like Aeterna Noctis but with a more relaxing feel

  • Death's Gambit: Afterlife

  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps

  • Afterimage

  • The Rogue Prince of Persia

  • The Last Case of Benedict Fox Definitive Edition

  • BioGun

Less exploratory

Games that feels like Aeterna Noctis but with less exploration of areas and secrets

  • Elypse

  • Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU

  • Have a Nice Death

  • Dark Light

  • Deepening Fire

  • Valfaris

Less violent

Games that feels like Aeterna Noctis but with less combat and destruction

  • Unbound: Worlds Apart

  • Teslagrad Remastered

  • Ori and the Blind Forest

  • Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition

  • Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom

  • Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams

Choose your own criteria ->

Similarity map

How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • 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 to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

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

Last update: 04/08/2026