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Proteus

49 Games like Proteus that you should try

Games like Proteus · Find similar →

Proteus is hard to replace: few games combine adventure storytelling, a casual, approachable feel and open world exploration in quite the same way. The NextGameLike team compared Proteus against over 6,700 titles across 11 gameplay attributes and found 49 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. A Short Hike, Abzu and Pilgrims lead the list, with A Short Hike reaching a 81/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Proteus special.

NextGameLike65/ 100

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GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure
Tags
CasualNarrativeSolo
Year 2013Dev Curve Digital

Quick answer

The closest game to Proteus is A Short Hike — scoring 81/100 on our similarity scale. Abzu and Pilgrims follow close behind.

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Top games similar to Proteus

49 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Proteus. Each one has been evaluated across 11 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

1

A Short Hike

81
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A Short Hike
Closest overall match
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloRelaxingCasualNarrativeOpen WorldFantasyExplorationPixel Art
Year 2019Dev adamgryuPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

Same family as Proteus: a relaxing pace, open world exploration and fantasy world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and world: this one brings an isometric view.

Released 6 years after Proteus.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Tone82Progression78World60
2

Abzu

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NGL87
Abzu
Closest on tone
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloRelaxingNarrativeCasualOpen WorldFantasyExploration
Year 2016Dev Giant Squid · 505 GamesOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

What brings it close to Proteus is a relaxing pace, open world exploration and fantasy world, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and tone. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and world — its own ground is a third-person camera.

Released 3 years after Proteus.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Setting100Progression100World49
3

Pilgrims

76
NGL96
Pilgrims
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloRelaxingCasualNarrativeOpen WorldFantasyExploration
Year 2019Dev Amanita DesignOn Linux · Android · PC

Genre puts it alongside Proteus, and so does a relaxing pace, open world exploration and fantasy world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings a cartoon aesthetic and 2D presentation.

Released 6 years after Proteus.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Tone89World61Setting38
4

Refunct

78
NGL84
Refunct
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloRelaxingCasualNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person
Year 2015Dev Dominique GrieshoferPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

What brings it close to Proteus is a relaxing pace, open world exploration and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and progression. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. They part company on world: this one brings puzzle design and cozy, relaxing feel.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Tone95Visuals73World59
5

The First Tree

79
NGL77
The First Tree
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloNarrativeRelaxingCasualOpen WorldFantasyExploration
Year 2017Dev David WehleOn PS4 · Linux · Android

If Proteus worked for you because of strong narrative focus, open world exploration and fantasy world, the same is here. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and world: this one brings a third-person camera.

Released 4 years after Proteus.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Setting100Progression100World57
6

Dear Esther: Landmark Edition

80
NGL70
Dear Esther: Landmark Edition
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloNarrativeCasualRelaxingOpen WorldFantasyExplorationFirst Person
Year 2016Dev Rob Briscoe · Curve DigitalOn PS4 · PC · iOS

If Proteus worked for you because of strong narrative focus, open world exploration and fantasy world, the same is here. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. They part company on world and setting: this one brings linear, story-driven structure and horror setting.

Released 3 years after Proteus.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression100Visuals73Setting57
7

AER: Memories of Old

78
NGL77
AER: Memories of Old
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloRelaxingNarrativeCasualOpen WorldFantasyExploration
Year 2017Dev Forgotten Key · Daedalic EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

It shares the essentials of what Proteus does: a relaxing pace, open world exploration and fantasy world. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and world — its own ground is post-apocalyptic world and a third-person camera.

Released 4 years after Proteus.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression100Setting63World61
8

Cosmic Osmo and the Worlds Beyond the Mackerel

76
NGL79
Cosmic Osmo and the Worlds Beyond the Mackerel
Closest on world
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloCasualNarrativeOpen WorldProceduralExplorationPixel ArtFirst Person
Dev Cyan WorldsPlaytime ~1hOn PC

What brings it close to Proteus is a casual, approachable feel, open world exploration and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and pixel art. They part company on setting and tone: this one brings cozy, relaxing feel and a sci-fi setting.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals88Tone62
9

The Last Clockwinder

73
NGL89
The Last Clockwinder
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloNarrativeRelaxingOpen WorldFantasyExplorationFirst Person
Year 2022Dev pontoco · Cyan VenturesPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS

Same family as Proteus: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and fantasy world. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is progression and setting: cozy, relaxing feel and a sci-fi setting.

Released 9 years after Proteus.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals72Tone68World59Setting58
10

The Witness

73
NGL84
The Witness
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloNarrativeRelaxingOpen WorldProceduralExplorationFirst Person
Year 2016Dev NVIDIA Lightspeed Studios · TheklaPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

What brings it close to Proteus is strong narrative focus, open world exploration and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and world. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting and tone: punishing difficulty and a sci-fi setting.

Released 3 years after Proteus.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals73Tone67
11

RiME

73
NGL83
RiME
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloNarrativeRelaxingOpen WorldFantasyExploration
Year 2017Dev Tequila Works · Six FootOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

It shares the essentials of what Proteus does: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and fantasy world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and world: this one brings a third-person camera.

Released 4 years after Proteus.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Progression100Tone77World60
12

Blue Prince

70
NGL89
Blue Prince
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloNarrativeProceduralOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person
Year 2025Dev Dogubomb · Raw FuryOn Xbox · Switch · PC

It comes from the same genre as Proteus and shares strong narrative focus, procedural generation and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. They part company on tone and visuals: this one brings 3D presentation.

Released 12 years after Proteus.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression75Visuals55Tone38
13

Road 96

71
NGL86
Road 96
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloNarrativeProceduralOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person
Year 2021Dev DigixArt · RavenscourtOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

It shares the essentials of what Proteus does: strong narrative focus, procedural generation and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. They part company on tone: this one brings puzzle design and melee combat.

Released 8 years after Proteus.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals75Tone38
14

Obduction

73
NGL75
Obduction
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloNarrativeCasualOpen WorldFantasyExplorationFirst Person
Year 2016Dev Cyan WorldsOn PC · PS4 · iOS

On paper it is what Proteus is — strong narrative focus, open world exploration and fantasy world — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The common ground extends to a first-person view and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is world and setting: a sci-fi setting.

Released 3 years after Proteus.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals73Tone66Setting64
15

Grow Home

69
NGL85
Grow Home
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloCasualRelaxingNarrativeOpen WorldExploration
Year 2015Dev Ubisoft Reflections · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

Genre puts it alongside Proteus, and so does a casual, approachable feel, open world exploration and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is a sandbox world and a sci-fi setting.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Tone86World55Setting0

More similar-games lists to keep going

Found one on the list you already love? Open its own list: the games that play most like it, ranked, with the reason for each.

Explore games similar to Proteus by category

If Proteus left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the casual or the narrative that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, PlayStation, Xbox and Mobile, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a Proteus look-alike but simply the best Open-World Adventure Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Adventure Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.