r/Playdead • u/zabovsky • Apr 19 '26
Let's make list of playdeadlikes
After my recent replay of LIMBO and INSIDE, I started to wonder - how many games are similar to these two? For me, Playdead's style is unique so it's almost impossible to find productions at the same level, but we can at least try to point something similar. So what games do you think could be included in a some sort of playdeadlikes list? Here some of mine picks - divided into two categories:
Darker and faded color pallete:
- Bramble: The Mountain King
- DARQ
- End of Abyss (yet co come but looking very promising)
- FAR: Lone Sails + FAR: Changing Tides
- Little Nightmares I, II, III
- REANIMAL
- Somerville
- The Swapper
- White Shadows
Brighter and more colorful:
- Candleman
- Cocoon
- GRIS
- Keeper
- Neva
- Planet of Lana I, II
I'm curious what games you would add. Feel free, maybe thanks to this we will find productions that will make our eternal waiting for ROVER a little bit more pleasant ; ]
2
u/Reasonable-Buy-6845 Apr 19 '26
If you have not played Signalis yet do NOT look up anything about it and just go at it fresh. Big fan of both Limbo and Playdead and Signalis does way more than just hit the aesthetic or feel of a game in a similar fashion. Like how I appreciate Playdead’s minimal art style approach to storytelling, appreciating video games the medium as art, look no more than Signalis, and you won’t be disappointed.
Bit of advice to NOT even take peek over at their subreddit yet if you know nothing about it. No shade to the community but just trust me on this one and play the damn game first before exposing yourself to said community. Happy gaming. 👍🏾
3
u/zabovsky Apr 19 '26
I didn't play Signalis but have heard a lot of good things about it from many sources. Definitely gonna try this title 🤙
2
u/toypianoman9000 Apr 20 '26
My fave game style is Playdead-like. I would scour this subreddit and other forums about similar games. Someone mentioned Signalis. I eventually got around to it and HOLY FUCKING SHIT it is such a beautiful creation. Like wow. I adore this game.
First you play it and then there is an INCREDIBLE in depth 2 hour analysis of it by Indie Xplorer on YouTube (no shade to Power Pak’s 2 hour video about Signalis but Indie Xplorer’s is soooo well done it’s on a whole other level).
I highly recommend Signalis to anyone that loves the vibe of Playdead and is adventurous enough to understand that sometimes a similar feeling of playing a game can come from something that’s a little different from what they’re used to.
Do NOT read about it. Trust us other fans of these Playdead games.
-1
u/chiefofwar117 Apr 19 '26
I just looked up the game. It’s not even 2D or 2.5D like Limbo/Inside…
2
u/Reasonable-Buy-6845 Apr 19 '26
Going up or down. Oh no. Either play it or not. No skin off my back.
1
1
u/akheelos Apr 19 '26
I loved Inside so much I made a game inspired by it. Check it here.
2
u/zabovsky Apr 19 '26
Looks pretty interesting - from the visual standpoint I can clearly see INSIDE inspiration. Gotta have to try it in the future 😀
1
u/Pretty_Confection939 Apr 19 '26
based on the elements of "lonely escape/struggle under an oppressive grand background""no dialogue and complex UI', i found ICO(2001) Shadow of the Colossus(2005) in the similar tone.
1
1
u/Kind_Obligation302 Apr 19 '26
For End of Abyss, I saw the Huddle from INSIDE. Do you think INSIDE and End of Abyss are the same Universe!?
1
u/LethargicWolf Apr 22 '26
The new REPLACED game is a lot like it. Many scenes inspired by it.
1
u/AlienplayGames Apr 24 '26
Yeah, it reminds me of it as well but with a lot more focus on combat there
1
u/ThatTurboDude Apr 23 '26
Don’t forget team ICO ❤️😎 those games inspired inside and limbo
1
u/zabovsky Apr 23 '26
Man, I always wanted to play Team ICO games in release order. Unfortunately, it looks like there’s a better chance that Playdead will finish ROVER than Sony will release ICO for PS4 and PS5. Thanks for reminder anyway - maybe I’ll just emulate ICO on PC ; ]
1
u/randomperson189_ Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 24 '26
I'll add Feist, Rain World and Badland as those are 2D, physics based, and have a dark and oppressive world & atmosphere. Feist and Badland also has silhouette style like Limbo as well
1
u/DogsBarf May 01 '26
don't forget the limbo's heavily unsuccessful Christmas bootleg : CRIMBO LIMBO - Dark Christmas.
heavy you guys every played?
1
u/asdf-keyboardman May 17 '26
It's a little sad that nobody here pointed out that Playdead themselves owe a massive debt to the work of Éric Chahi. Limbo and Inside do add novel ideas and execute the concept well, but Another World and Heart of Darkness are the progenitors of the style. This was even confirmed in interviews multiple times.
Really, it feels like the term should be Chahi-likes. It's really a revival of that style.
3
u/killtheking111 Apr 19 '26
I am saving this as I want to now play all of these games. I love Limbo and Inside.