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Ethel

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentHow this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

Ethel is hard to replace: few games combine horror tension, strong narrative focus and linear, story-driven structure in quite the same way. We compared Ethel against over 6,700 titles across 13 gameplay attributes and found 46 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Iron Lung, MiSide and Five Nights at Freddy's 2 lead the list, with Iron Lung reaching a 90/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Ethel special.

iRank93/ 100

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GenreHorrorSubgenrePsychological Horror
Tags
NarrativeDarkSolo
Year 2024Dev Anthony Russo
Stores

Quick answer

The closest game to Ethel is Iron Lung — scoring 90/100 on our similarity scale. MiSide and Five Nights at Freddy's 2 follow close behind.

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Top games similar to Ethel

46 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Ethel. Each one has been evaluated across 13 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.

#1Iron Lung
Iron Lung
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloNarrativeDarkHorrorExplorationFirst Person3D
Steam👍 92%· 11K
Year 2022Dev David SzymanskiOn PC · PS5 · Switch

✓ Both are psychological horror — sharing horror tension, adventure storytelling and puzzle design

≠ Stands apart with setting scifi and visual pixel, while skipping linear, story-driven structure

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression100Visuals77Setting61
MiSide
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloNarrativeDarkHorrorFirst Person3D
Steam👍 98%· 138KRAWG👍 84%· 137
Year 2024Dev AIHASTO · IndieArkPlaytime ~5hOn PC

✓ Fits the psychological horror cluster, with horror tension, adventure storytelling and deep simulation

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, cozy, relaxing feel and setting anime, while skipping linear, story-driven structure

Tips※This game contains intense scenes. It is not recommended for those with weak hearts. About the Game Every day, you will come to see me, help me with chores, cook for me, and buy me gifts.You are so nice! I love you!

Genre100Game mode100Visuals76Tone69Setting62
Five Nights at Freddy's 2
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloDarkNarrativeHorrorFirst Person
Steam👍 94%· 26KIGDB70· 1
Year 2014Dev ScottgamesOn PC

✓ Both are psychological horror — sharing horror tension, puzzle design and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with survival mechanics and punishing difficulty, while skipping linear, story-driven structure

It predates Ethel by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone76Setting74Visuals63
#4Pat & Mat
Pat & Mat
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloDarkNarrativeLinearHorrorHistoricalExploration3D
Steam👍 84%· 462
Year 2010Dev Centauri Production · Bohemia InteractivePlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Same family of psychological horror: horror tension, puzzle design and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with survival mechanics, visual novel storytelling and vibe casual, while skipping deep simulation

New adventure game with gawky handymen from the legendary series. "Pat & Mat" is puzzle adventure game for everyone. All settings are based on the popular TV stop-motion series about "Pat & Mat", two handymen.

It predates Ethel by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100World100Progression100Visuals73
Five Nights at Freddy's 3
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloDarkNarrativeHorrorFirst Person
Steam👍 90%· 11KIGDB75· 1
Year 2015Dev ScottgamesOn PC

✓ Fits the psychological horror cluster, with horror tension, deep simulation and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings survival mechanics, punishing difficulty and melee combat, while skipping linear, story-driven structure

It predates Ethel by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone77Setting74Visuals63
Five Nights at Freddy's
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloDarkNarrativeHorrorFirst Person
Steam👍 94%· 58KIGDB72· 3
Year 2014Dev ScottgamesOn PC

✓ Same family of psychological horror: horror tension, deep simulation and puzzle design

≠ Its own twist: survival mechanics, punishing difficulty and resource management, while skipping linear, story-driven structure

Where it drifts furthest from Ethel: progression.

It predates Ethel by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone80Setting74Visuals63Progression0
Pony Island
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloNarrativeDarkHorrorCozy
Steam👍 95%· 18KIGDB92· 3OC85· 17
Year 2016Dev Daniel Mullins GamesOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Same family of psychological horror: horror tension, puzzle design and deep simulation

≠ Its own twist: cozy, relaxing feel, visual 2d and visual pixel, while skipping linear, story-driven structure

Where it drifts furthest from Ethel: visuals.

It predates Ethel by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone90Setting74Visuals0
Indika
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloNarrativeDarkLinearHorrorExplorationFirst Person
Steam👍 90%· 8.0KIGDB85· 4OC79· 90
Year 2024Dev Odd Meter · 11 bit studiosOn Xbox · PC · PS5

✓ Same family of psychological horror: horror tension, puzzle design and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with visual third person, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Ethel: visuals.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Progression100Setting73
The Silent Age
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloNarrativeDarkLinearHorrorHistoricalExploration
Steam👍 93%· 7.2KIGDB70· 1
Year 2013Dev House on FireOn Android · PC · iOS

✓ Fits the psychological horror cluster, with horror tension, puzzle design and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, vibe casual and setting scifi, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Ethel: visuals.

It predates Ethel by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Tone74Setting57
#10Smile For Me
Smile For Me
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloNarrativeDarkLinearHorrorFirst Person3D
Steam👍 96%· 3.0KRAWG👍 80%· 25IGDB80· 1OC73· 8
Year 2019Dev Gabe Lane · LimboLanePlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Both are psychological horror — sharing horror tension, puzzle design and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: deep RPG systems, cozy, relaxing feel and vibe casual, while skipping deep simulation

Smile For Me is an unconventional Point-and-Click Adventure Game that puts you at the center of an abstract world! Nod and shake your head to chat with new friends, and solve their mysteries to cheer them up. The People are bizarre, the Puzzles are Wack, and the World hides a sinister secret...

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals83Setting74Tone55
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloDarkNarrativeHorrorExplorationFirst Person
Steam👍 95%· 35KRAWG👍 70%· 1.2KMC85IGDB89· 2
Year 2010Dev Frictional GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of psychological horror: horror tension, adventure storytelling and puzzle design

≠ Stands apart with survival mechanics, melee combat and stealth mechanics, while skipping deep simulation

Carefully constructed horror game relies on positioning, camera work, and shocking content. But Amnesia: The Dark Descent adds psychological elements to it. Players control the young man named Daniel, who wakes up in a seemingly empty castle, alone and with a massive memory loss.

It predates Ethel by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression100Setting74Visuals63
Layers of Fear
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloNarrativeDarkHorrorExplorationFirst Person
Steam👍 88%· 27KIGDB76· 17OC75· 80
Year 2016Dev Bloober TeamOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Nearly identical: horror tension, adventure storytelling and puzzle design.

≠ Missing: deep simulation.

It predates Ethel by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression100Setting74Visuals61
Rusty Lake Hotel
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloNarrativeDarkHorrorFirst Person
Steam👍 96%· 10K
Year 2015Dev Rusty LakeOn Android · PC · iOS

✓ Same family of psychological horror: horror tension, puzzle design and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with vibe casual and visual 2d, while skipping deep simulation

It predates Ethel by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone92Setting71Visuals55
The Cat Lady
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloNarrativeDarkHorrorExploration
Steam👍 94%· 6.1K
Year 2012Dev Harvester Games · Screen 7On Linux · PC

✓ Both are psychological horror — sharing horror tension, adventure storytelling and puzzle design

≠ Its own twist: visual 2d, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Ethel: visuals.

It predates Ethel by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression100Setting74Visuals0
Mad Father
HorrorPsychological Horror
SoloNarrativeDarkHorrorExploration
Steam👍 97%· 6.5K
Year 2012Dev Sen · PLAYISMOn PC · Mac · Switch

✓ Fits the psychological horror cluster, with horror tension, adventure storytelling and puzzle design

≠ Its own twist: survival mechanics, vibe casual and setting anime, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Ethel: visuals.

It predates Ethel by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Tone90Setting53Visuals0

Complete list of Ethel alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Ethel, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Ethel?
The closest game to Ethel is Iron Lung, scoring 90/100 on our similarity scale. They share 11 gameplay attributes, including horror tension, adventure storytelling and puzzle design. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Ethel?
The three closest games to Ethel are: 1. Iron Lung (90/100, 11 shared attributes) 2. MiSide (85/100, 10 shared attributes) 3. Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (82/100, 9 shared attributes). All share Ethel's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 46 candidates across 13 dimensions.
Is MiSide similar to Ethel?
Yes, very much so — MiSide scores 85/100 similarity to Ethel. They share 10 attributes, including horror tension and adventure storytelling. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Horror games are similar to Ethel?
The best Horror games similar to Ethel are Iron Lung, MiSide, Five Nights at Freddy's 2 and Pat & Mat. All share the Horror genre alongside other key Ethel attributes like horror tension, adventure storytelling and puzzle design.
How is similarity to Ethel calculated?
We compare Ethel against every game in our catalog using 13 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Ethel experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.