The ethereal puzzle gameCocoonis undeniably unique. From its mellow, muted aesthetic to its mind-bending, world-jumpinggameplay mechanics, the blend of elements come together to form a beautiful experience that’s far from most games you’ve experienced before.
With that being said, there are games that do tap into a similar sense of wonder, mystery, and awe that Cocoon so often inspires. Whether it’s by the nature of their design philosophy, the way they present their puzzles, or simply that they’re visually gorgeous, here are a few games that you should give a try if you enjoyed Cocoon.
7Limbo
Cocoon was developed by Geometric Interactive, an indie game studio founded in part by Jeppe Carlsen. There’s a chance that name may sound familiar to you if you were a fan of the classic indie puzzle platformersLimboandInside, as Carlsen served as lead gameplay designer on both of those incredible titles.
An adherence to quiet, contemplative exploration is the common thread connecting Carlsen’s previous games to Cocoon, even if the tone and mood of those earlier titles was decidedly darker. Both also involve a character wandering through a hostile land to find their way into safety, solving tricky and unique challenges along the way.
Both games are absolute masterpieces that are worth playing, but Limbo was the first of the two, so fans of Cocoon should start there to get the proper experience.
6The Witness
Another game centered around exploration, The Witness is already considered a classic among many puzzle game enthusiasts. Like Cocoon, the game places you in a gorgeous world without much in the way of explanation, tasking you with figuring out what to do as you go.
What makes The Witness so unique is the nature of its puzzles, as they all involve connecting nodes with lines on a puzzle space. While it may seem simple as you begin the game, discovering what really makes The Witness so unique will require some truly outside-the-box thinking.
5Viewfinder
It can often be difficult to market games that play like Cocoon, as their puzzle elements need a truly special amount of visual flair to make your average player interested. Thankfully,Viewfinderhas that in spades, and one look at the game is sure to draw in interested eyes.
In Viewfinder, you’ll explore a lovely and strange simulated world, equipped with a camera that instantly prints photographs of whatever you aim it at. These photos can be used to manipulate the world around you in incredible ways.
Take a photo of a battery pack that’s just out of reach and place it in the environment, and you’re able to walk into the photo and grab the battery. It’s an incredible experience that all puzzle game fans shoult try out.
4Celeste
Celesteis a puzzle platformer, with a heavy emphasison platforming. Still, the way you traverse this game’s lovely and imposing mountain is a puzzle in itself, which is very much in line with the way Cocoon treats its multidimensional world orbs.
In Celeste, you’ll play as Madeline, a young woman on a journey to climb a mountain in order to improve her sense of accomplishment and self-worth. The game tackles themes of depression and isolation through its gameplay mechanics and its villain, with the entire experience coming together into one of the most touching and enjoyable video game experiences available.
3Monument Valley
There are very few games that can capture the sense of reality-warping wonder that Cocoon’s orbs do. The puzzles you’ll encounter and the solutions you’ll come up with are truly impressive feats of perspective shifting and lateral thinking, and the Monument Valley games are in that same category of greatness.
In Monument Valley, you’ll guide a tiny princess named Ida through a host of strange, small worlds, attempting to reach her ultimate goal on each area. To do this, you’ll interact with the environment in ways that will continue to surprise you throughout your entire experience.
Playing Monument Valley (and its excellent sequel, Monument Valley 2) feel a lot like the first few hours of Cocoon, as you work out the way this beautiful new world works. The game is a must for anyone who wants a short, sweet puzzle adventure.
2Journey
There aren’t many games that hit quite likeJourney. This otherworldly game of exploration places you in the shoes of a robed nomad, challenging you to venture across a huge and mysterious desert as you head toward a glowing mountain in the distance.
Much like Cocoon, you’re not told much of what awaits you at the end of the journey, and there’s no dialogue throughout. You’ll simply continue to press on through this incredible spectacle of sand and light, even passing other players as they endure the same trek. It’s a quiet, transcendent experience that’s worth playing through for any gamer.
1Fez
When it comes to perspective-altering puzzle platformers, Fez is one of the true originators. The pixelated adventures of the tiny, adorable Gomez and his titular hat would have been a blast simply as a standard platforming experience, but it’s that tiny fez’s ability that makes this a game for any fans of Cocoon.
In Fez, you’ll travel in a 2D plane of existence, but you can shift the world around you, allowing you access to all four of its three-dimensional sides. If you’re on a large, rectangular tower, for instance, you only be able to jump up one of its flat sides at a time. But if you find yourself stuck, you can simply shift the world to the left or right, and you’ll wind up on an entirely different side of the tower.
Fez’s gameplay, like many titles on this list, is unlike anything you’ve played before. The game’s challenging puzzle platforming, litany of secrets, and beautifully realized world make it a perfect title for anyone who loves Cocoon.
