Shenmue cover art

games like

Shenmue

Shenmue leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery). Below: catalogued games with the closest cheat-test profile, and exactly where each one differs.

Matched first against: Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up - then ranked by cheat-test profile.

EXECUTION3 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE2 /10OPTIMIZATION5 /10

12 games like Shenmue

A cross-genre tag below means that pick didn't share a genre - it filled a slot on cheat-test profile alone.

Grand Theft Auto III cover art
Grand Theft Auto IIIPracticed Mastery · open-world action

Both lean on reads about the same (0 vs 0). Biggest difference: execution (3 vs 4) - Driving and clunky gunplay set a modest physical bar

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South Park: The Stick of Truth cover art
South Park: The Stick of TruthPure Optimization · comedy turn-based RPG

Both lean on execution about the same (3 vs 3). Biggest difference: optimization (5 vs 6) - Build, gear and ability choices comfortably solve every fight

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Assassin's Creed Origins cover art
Assassin's Creed OriginsPracticed Mastery · action RPG

Both lean on variance about the same (2 vs 2). Biggest difference: execution (3 vs 4) - Hitbox-based combat needs timing but lenient.

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Assassin's Creed Unity cover art
Assassin's Creed UnityPracticed Mastery · stealth action-adventure

Both lean on reads about the same (0 vs 0). Biggest difference: execution (3 vs 4) - Refined parkour, still forgiving combat

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Mad Max cover art
Mad MaxPracticed Mastery · open-world action

Both lean on reads about the same (0 vs 0). Biggest difference: execution (3 vs 4) - Car combat and counter-brawling timing

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Assassin's Creed Valhalla cover art
Assassin's Creed ValhallaPracticed Mastery · action RPG

Both lean on variance about the same (2 vs 2). Biggest difference: execution (3 vs 4) - Combat timing matters but forgiving.

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Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy cover art
Marvel's Guardians of the GalaxyPracticed Mastery · narrative action adventure

Both lean on reads about the same (0 vs 0). Biggest difference: execution (3 vs 4) - third-person shooting with generous checkpoints

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LEGO Batman: The Videogame cover art
LEGO Batman: The VideogamePure Optimization · LEGO action adventure

Both lean on reads about the same (0 vs 0). Biggest difference: execution (3 vs 2) - Button-mashy combat with no real fail state

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Fable III cover art
Fable IIIPure Optimization · action RPG

Both lean on execution about the same (3 vs 3). Biggest difference: variance (2 vs 1) - Largely fixed world

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A Plague Tale: Requiem cover art
A Plague Tale: RequiemPracticed Mastery · cinematic stealth

Both lean on reads about the same (0 vs 0). Biggest difference: execution (3 vs 4) - Stealth, aim, and crafting under pressure.

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Human: Fall Flat cover art
Human: Fall FlatPracticed Mastery · physics puzzle platformer

Both lean on reads about the same (0 vs 0). Biggest difference: execution (3 vs 4) - Wrestling floppy physics limbs is the joke

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The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings - Enhanced Edition cover art

Both lean on reads about the same (0 vs 0). Biggest difference: execution (3 vs 4) - combat timing and dodges matter

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Game details

Released
1999
Developer
Sega AM2
Franchise
Shenmue
Platforms
PS4, XONE, DC
Modes
Single player
IGDB critics
90/100
IGDB users
86/100
Role-playing (RPG)SimulatorHack and slash/Beat 'em upAdventureFantasyHistoricalSandboxOpen world