Best Sword of the Sea Alternatives: Exploration Games
If you loved Sword of the Sea and are craving more journey-like exploration games, your top pick is Journey itself—it’s the original that defined the genre, with the same wordless storytelling, breathtaking desert vistas, and emotional multiplayer moments. No other game matches its perfect blend of minimalist design and profound discovery, making it the essential next step for any fan.
What to Look For
When choosing a game similar to Sword of the Sea, focus on these core elements that made it special:
- Exploration over combat: The best alternatives prioritize discovery and movement, not fighting. Look for games where traversal itself is the reward.
- Atmospheric storytelling: You want a game that tells its story through environment, music, and visual cues rather than lengthy dialogue or text.
- Sense of scale and wonder: Giant ruins, vast landscapes, and mysterious structures that make you feel small but curious.
- Minimal UI and hand-holding: The game should trust you to find your way, with no quest markers or objective arrows.
- Emotional resonance: A journey that lingers after you finish, often with a bittersweet or awe-inspiring ending.
- Short to medium length: Most of these games are 2-6 hours, perfect for a weekend playthrough.
Journey
Strengths: The gold standard. You play as a robed figure crossing a vast desert toward a distant mountain. The game features seamless online co-op where you can meet another player without voice chat, communicating only through musical chimes. The art direction and orchestral score are masterpieces.
Trade-offs: It’s short (about 2 hours) and has no combat or puzzles—pure exploration and emotional pacing. Some players find the lack of challenge limiting.
Best for: Anyone who wants the purest, most polished version of this genre. If you only play one game from this list, make it this one.
Abzû
Strengths: From the art director of Journey, this is an underwater exploration game with the same visual philosophy. You dive through beautiful ocean environments, interact with marine life, and uncover an ancient civilization’s ruins. The swimming mechanics are fluid and relaxing, and the game’s use of color and light is stunning.
Trade-offs: The story is more abstract and less emotionally impactful than Journey. It’s also quite short (around 2-3 hours) and can feel repetitive if you’re not into ocean themes.
Best for: Fans of Sword of the Sea who want a similar visual and emotional experience but with an aquatic twist.
The Pathless
Strengths: This game combines exploration with a unique movement system—you shoot targets to build up speed and glide across a vast open world. You play as an archer who must cleanse cursed lands, with light puzzle-solving and boss encounters that are more about timing than combat. The world is huge and rewards curiosity with secrets and lore.
Trade-offs: The movement takes practice to master, and the boss fights can be frustrating if you don’t like timing-based challenges. The story is more present than Journey, but still told through environmental clues.
Best for: Players who want a bit more gameplay depth and a larger world to explore, while still keeping the focus on traversal and discovery.
Rime
Strengths: A puzzle-adventure game set on a mysterious island with a towering citadel. You play as a boy who must solve environmental puzzles to progress, with a story that unfolds through visual metaphors. The art style is beautiful, and the game gradually reveals a heartbreaking narrative about loss and acceptance.
Trade-offs: The puzzles can be obtuse, and the game is slower-paced than Sword of the Sea. Some players find the ending divisive.
Best for: Those who enjoy puzzle-solving within an atmospheric world and want a story that hits hard emotionally.
Sky: Children of the Light
Strengths: From the same developer as Journey, this is a free-to-play multiplayer exploration game. You fly through magical realms, collect spirits, and help other players. The sense of community is strong, and the game is constantly updated with new seasons and areas. It’s available on mobile and PC, making it accessible.
Trade-offs: It’s a live-service game with in-app purchases (for cosmetics) and requires an internet connection. The progression can be grindy if you want to unlock everything.
Best for: Players who want a longer, social experience and don’t mind the free-to-play model.
Gris
Strengths: A platformer that is more about atmosphere than challenge. You guide a girl through a world that gains color as she recovers her voice. The game is a visual and auditory masterpiece, with each level themed around an emotion. The controls are simple, and the game is entirely non-violent.
Trade-offs: It’s a 2D side-scroller, not 3D, so it lacks the free-roaming feel of Sword of the Sea. The gameplay is light—mostly running and jumping—and the story is open to interpretation.
Best for: Players who appreciate art and emotional storytelling over mechanical depth, and who enjoy 2D platforming.
How to Choose
Start by considering your budget. Sky: Children of the Light is free, while Journey and Abzû are often on sale for under $10. If you want a longer experience, The Pathless or Sky offer more hours. If you prefer a tight, memorable experience, stick with Journey or Abzû.
Think about the gameplay you enjoyed most in Sword of the Sea. Was it the fluid movement? Then The Pathless or Abzû will satisfy. Was it the emotional story? Then Journey or Rime are better. Do you want to play with others? Journey and Sky offer multiplayer, but Abzû and Gris are solo only.
A common trade-off is between visual spectacle and gameplay depth. Gris and Journey are more about the experience, while The Pathless and Rime add more puzzles and mechanics. If you want a game that’s easy to pick up and play in one sitting, choose the shorter titles. If you want to sink in for a weekend, go with the longer ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these games all available on PC?
Yes, all of these games are available on PC (Steam or Epic). Sky: Children of the Light is also on mobile and Nintendo Switch.
Do any of these games have combat?
Only The Pathless has boss fights, but they are more about timing and dodging than traditional combat. The others have no combat at all.
Which game is the longest?
Sky: Children of the Light is the longest, with ongoing content updates. The Pathless is about 6-8 hours, while Journey, Abzû, Rime, and Gris are all under 6 hours.
Can I play these with a friend?
Journey and Sky have online co-op (though Journey matches you with strangers). The others are single-player only.
Which game has the best story?
That’s subjective, but Rime and Journey are often praised for their emotional narratives. Gris is also very moving.
Are these games suitable for kids?
Yes, all of them are family-friendly with no violence or scary content. Gris deals with grief but is appropriate for older children.
Bottom Line
If you want the closest experience to Sword of the Sea that is also a masterpiece in its own right, play Journey first. It’s the definitive game of this genre, and you’ll see the direct influence on Sword of the Sea. After that, choose based on your preferred setting: Abzû for underwater, The Pathless for more gameplay, or Gris for a 2D artistic take. Any of these will give you that same sense of wonder and discovery you loved.
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