Detention similar games & best alternatives

Detention

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2017

Should you play it?

Detention is an atmospheric horror game set in 1960s Taiwan under martial law. Incorporated religious elements based in Taiwanese/Chinese culture and mythology, the game provided players with unique graphics and gaming experience.

What works

  • Deep and meaningful story
  • Unique art style and atmosphere
  • Engaging puzzles
  • Historical and cultural education
  • Strong emotional impact

Things to keep in mind

  • Short gameplay length
  • Limited replay value
  • Some puzzles can be obtuse
  • Lack of multiplayer or social features
  • Minimal character customization

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • Lucid Dream

  • The Last NightMary - A Lenda do Cabeça de Cuia

  • Gemini Rue

  • The Drifter

  • Fran Bow

  • CINERIS SOMNIA

Less survival-focused

Games that feels like Detention but with less survival pressure

  • Lunar Mirror:The Pavilion of Desire

  • Children of Silentown

  • Goetia

  • Kathy Rain: Director's Cut

  • The Samaritan Paradox

  • Kathy Rain

More intimate

Games that feels like Detention but with more focus on close relationships

  • Downfall

  • Lorelai

  • The Cat Lady

  • Paper Bride 5 Two Lifetimes

  • Mandemon

  • Suicide Countdown: 7 Days

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).

Detention: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story, Value. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Expression.

Last update: 03/08/2026