Best Of
5 Best Games Like Alisa
There is something about games from the 90s that makes them unique and causes sweet nostalgia. Notably, many new games released recently have been trying to replicate the classic gameplay, look, and feel, although very few hack it. Alisa stands out as one of the few games that successfully replicate the classic design.
Alisa is a horror-themed action-adventure game based on a dollhouse with creepy, scary humanoid-like creatures. Notable classical features include 90s-style pixel graphics, pre-rendered backgrounds, quirky designs, and fixed camera angles. Moreover, the story is interesting and engaging. Understandably, one can’t help but long for more by the time they are done playing this game. Here is an overview of the five best games like Alisa to keep the fun going.
5. Evil Tonight
Evil Tonight shares many aspects and features with Alisa. Notably, it is based on the horror, adventure, and action niches. Moreover, it features 90s-style pixel art graphics.
However, the graphics in this game are slightly sharper and lusher than in Alisa. Notably, the pixel art features hand-made lighting effects, custom color palettes, and a filter that adds a soft blur to the edges. It is also worth noting that the game lacks a map, and the camera angles are not fixed, unlike in Alisa. Nevertheless, the game is easy to master even without a map, and it properly captures and delivers the classic look and feel for which Alisa is popular.
This game’s story and overall gameplay also have a lot in common with Alisa. Like the latter, Evil Tonight is based on a female character called Silvia. She is a modern exorcist trapped in an abandoned and haunted performing arts school. Like Alisa, she must explore the scary building while collecting crucial items, solving puzzles, and fighting scary demons to escape. Notably, the enemies in both games are supernatural and quite formidable.
4. Coffin Mall
Coffin Mall shares certain similarities with Alisa. The most notable similarities include 90s-style pixel art graphics. However, the graphics are sharp, and you can see stores, posters, and other items in the mall. Moreover, both games share the. However, Alisa features more action and horror than Coffin Mall. In contrast, the latter mostly focuses on intense suspense, giving it a unique take on the horror theme.
Coffin Mall’s story is bizarre, like Alisa’s; perhaps even more bizarre. It is based on a mall cop trying to escape a seemingly haunted, homicidal hearse chasing him through the mall. While it is not as creepy or horrific as Alisa’s doll-like monsters and humanoids, it is still perplexing and unique.
Overall, most of the gameplay involves running through the mall and crawling through the vents as you try to escape. It also involves one straightforward puzzle. Finally, you can enjoy some road rage action towards the end. Overall, Coffin Mall is like a light-hearted take on Alisa.
3. Apsulov: End of Gods
Apsulov: End of Gods breaks from the 90s-style old-school design but still shares a few notable similarities with Alisa. Most notably, the games share the same genres, blending adventure, action, and horror. Moreover, this game also has a unique and bizarre story, albeit based on an entirely different concept.
This game is based on Norse mythology. It features a group of humans that dig to the deepest parts of the earth in their search for mercy from the gods. Instead of mercy, the humans find ancient artifacts and other items associated with gods and demons. They foolishly decided to bring the hidden artifacts to the surface. However, the artifacts exploit human technology, causing misery and decay by unleashing demonic monsters and bizarrely scary horrors.
Most of the gameplay involves exploring different facilities and worlds, which differs from the fixed location setting in Alisa. However, gameplay similarities between the two games include collecting valuable items, solving puzzles, and repelling monsters/demons.
2. Mr. Hopp’s Playhouse 2
Mr. Hopp’s Playhouse 2 is an interesting and fun adventure horror game. Like Alisa, it fits the horror, survival, and adventure genres, albeit it lacks most of the action. Moreover, the graphics are based on a 2-D, old-school scroller pixel art design. Interestingly, the monsters in both games are also based on dolls, although the gameplays are quite different.
This game story follows an orphan, Esther, whose friends in the orphanage disappear when they receive cursed toys. The toys seem to transform when left alone, and Esther must solve the mystery to find her friends. To this end, the gameplay involves exploring your surroundings, collecting items such as keys to unlock doors, and figuring out solutions to puzzling problems.
1. Gloomwood
Gloomwood is the ultimate game to upgrade and extend the experience of playing Alisa. While technical similarities between the two games are subtle, they are based on a similar concept. Notably, Gloomwood blends mystery, suspense, fear, and puzzles into every aspect of its gameplay.
Like Alisa, Gloomwood is also about exploring your surroundings, scavenging for items that you can use, and surviving attacks from monsters and fierce denizens. Additionally, while the graphics aren’t 90s-style pixel art, they still look and feel old-school.
This game is based on a doctor, simply referred to as “the outsider,” locked away in a disgusting pit in a Victorian-era city. Fortunately, a shadowy figure lets you out, but you must sneak your way through the city without getting caught. Unfortunately, sneaking your way to safety is easier said than done, as the monsters in the game have acute senses. To this end, you must be very stealthy. For example, you should know when to crouch, stand still, walk, or run.
Notably, the game is very detailed concerning stealth – for example, walking on dirt generates more noise than walking on wood or concrete. Besides sneaking around, you can also fight your way to freedom by killing the monsters hunting you down. Fortunately, you have a vast arsenal of swords, guns, harpoons, and other weapons.
So, what’s your take on our picks for the five best games like Alisa? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.