The Howler similar games & best alternatives

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The Howler

Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac • 2014

Should you play it?

Use gravity, tension, and wind currents to get your hot air balloon to its destination, dropping off cargo on your way, in this ultra-challenging physics-based game. All art used in the Howler was meticulously created by classically-trained experienced painters.

What works

  • Unique voice control mechanic
  • Beautiful hand-drawn steampunk art style
  • Simple and accessible gameplay
  • Low price with trading cards
  • Relaxing atmosphere

Things to keep in mind

  • Very short game length
  • Lack of achievements
  • Limited replay value
  • No fullscreen or resolution options
  • Some frustration with controls and balloon physics

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • Drop Alive

  • Nihilumbra

  • Typoman

  • Wenjia

  • Tiny and Big: Grandpa's Leftovers

  • Mushroom 11

Less survival-focused

Games that feels like The Howler but with less survival pressure

  • GRIS

  • Slice of Sea

  • Omno

  • Gorogoa

  • Batography

  • Hidden Cats in Paris

Less expressive

Games that feels like The Howler but with less self-expression and customization

  • Golf Club Nostalgia

  • Tales of the Orient: The Rising Sun

  • Mars Power Industries Deluxe

  • DERE EVIL EXE

  • Plazma Being

  • NightSky

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).

The Howler: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Violence, Fantasy, Story, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Survival, Story. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Continuation.

Last update: 03/08/2026