6 Games like Psychonauts 2 To Fill The Mental Void

Psychonauts 2 was an instant-hit with gamers and critics all over the world praising the game for its whimsical writing, brilliant visual design, and engaging story. If you thoroughly enjoyed the game then it’s worth checking out some other games like Psychonauts 2.

Here is a quick look at Games like Psychonauts 2:

Games like Psychonauts 2

Microsoft has hit a major home run with Psychonauts 2 and while all of us wait to see what sort of bizarre, entertaining world Double Fine is going to present to us next, there are many other games that capture a similar sense of wonder and charm as the Psychonauts games in their own ways. If you’ve finished it and are feeling the touch of that sweet void, consider checking out these 6 games like Psychonauts 2.

Grim Fandango

Definitely not the last Lucasarts game that you’re going to see on this list. Grim Fandango is an old adventure game from 1998. This was back when Double Fine was still merged with Lucasarts and made Point-and-click adventure games and while Day of The Tentacle, Full Throttle, and Monkey Island are all great games.

Grim Fandango is my personal favorite out of all of them and what better way to celebrate Double Fine’s latest success than to recommend one of their prime titles back during the heyday of point-and-click adventure titles.

A mixture of film-noir and Mexican culture, Grim Fandango sees you play as Manny Calavera, a travel agent in the department of the dead that offers vacation plans to the recently departed. The game follows Calavera as he gets embroiled in a conspiracy involving a femme fatale female, as one would expect from a noir story.

It’s a great story with a wonderful cast of characters and some of the most entertaining writing you’ll find in gaming, the only drawback is the game’s obtuse puzzles and often lack any guidance on what to do next but that’s a small grievance to experience what is personally to me, the peak of point and click adventure games.

Pros:

• Many players believe Grim Fandango to be one of the best adventure games ever created.
• The story in Grim Fandango is written very well, as it contains some moments that have made many players tear up.
• It is an incredible experience to follow the thrilling journey of Manny and his sidekicks, with many beautiful moments.
• The soundtrack in Grim Fandango is great, as it fits the moment perfectly and can be very catchy at times.
• Grim Fandango features some great puzzles that require common sense and logic to solve, as they can be quite challenging.
• Grim Fandango has some very distinct characters, with great designs that make the characters hard to forget.

Cons:

• The controls of Grim Fandango might feel a bit clunky to new players and can turn them away.
• Grim Fandango might not be for everyone, as the progression requires you to be a bit patient.
• While the puzzle design is great, it might feel overwhelming to players that are not used to this genre.
• Grim Fandango does not have much replay value, as there is no reason to play the game if you finish it once.

Ratchet and Clank (PS2)

While it’s a different matter entirely as to why I’m talking about the PS2 trilogy and not the new reboots. The Ratchet and Clank series is a wacky, fun as hell action romp through various planets. One of the prime mascots of Sony, the series is still going strong to this day, although losing something in its transition to next-gen that the PS2 and PS3 titles delivered in spades.

The writing in the original games consistently engages with some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments in there, the dialogues share a similarly endearing quality to Double Fine’s best works including Psychonauts.

The main cast comprises the titular Ratchet and Clank and their escapades through various dangers as they learn to get along with each other and slowly begin to form an unbreakable bond over the course of the games. While the main gist of the games is usually about fancy explosions and addicting gunplay, they never fail to deliver on their stories either, with the first game showing a simple but memorable hero’s journey.

There isn’t much to fault Ratchet and Clank for, it’s a simple and extremely fun series that anyone can get into and can be just the fix you need after something like Psychonauts. Also, the music is incredible.

Pros:

• Ratchet and Clank has some of the best platforming mechanics, as they are very intuitive and satisfying.
• The relationship between Ratchet and Clank is very interesting and does a great job of entertaining you.
• Ratchet and Clank has some very good voice acting for its time.
• There are a wide variety of unique moves and items you can use and collect in Ratchet and Clank.
• The graphics of Ratchet and Clank were very good for their time and can still hold up in this modern day.
• There are a lot of unique levels in Ratchet and Clank that keep your gameplay experience feeling fresh.

Cons:

• The bosses in Ratchet and Clank are a bit disappointing.
• Ratchet and Clank might be a bit too easy for some players and not offer enough of a challenge to be thrilling.
• There are way too many camera problems present in Ratchet and Clank, especially during some of the boss fights.

American McGee’s Alice

A psychological horror retelling of Lewis Carrol’s classic novel “Alice in Wonderland”. American McGee’s Alice is a dark disturbing third-person action horror game by American McGee, one of the masterminds behind DOOM. Even though the game came out in the year 2000, it has still managed to attain a cult following over the years.

While a massive tonal departure from any other game in this list, Alice’s haunting and creative environments are reminiscent of the kind of stuff we’ll later see in the mind-bending worlds of Psychonauts. A game that proves that a strong art direction can age as well as any next-gen technology.  The game also get a sequel in 2010 called Madness Returns and while it’s not as good as the original, it’s still a great game on its own. Here’s hoping EA will finally greenlight that 3rd game that we fans have been dying for.

Pros:

• American McGee’s Alice is completely free to buy for all platforms it is available on.
• The visual design of American McGee’s Alice is genius, as it is very imaginative and has a lot of bright colors.
• American McGee’s Alice has a wide variety of puzzles that you can solve.
• American McGee’s Alice features some very talented voice actors that bring out the character’s emotions in a natural way.
• The weapons designs in American McGee’s Alice are very interesting, as each weapon is unique and offers a distinct visual aesthetic.

Cons:

• American McGee’s Alice has some very awkward controls that feel a bit clunky to use, making the gameplay unsatisfying.
• The level design is not the best, as the levels can get a bit boring after a while.
• American McGee’s Alice can get frustratingly difficult towards the end and many players might get stuck.

Little Nightmares

An indie horror title inspired by similar works as Psychonauts, Little Nightmares feels like a Tim Burton movie come manifest. It is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer with a gorgeous creepy aesthetic. Filled to the brim with off-putting imagery and bizzare unimaginable designs. The game sees you taking control of a little boy called “Six” as you explore a mysterious vessel called the Maw that is filled with various horrors out to get you. A terrifying little title that preys on your sense of safety at every turn with a disturbing story about childhood trauma. Fun for the whole family. All in all, great choice if you are searching Games like Psychonauts 2.

Pros:

• Little Nightmares has some genuinely scary aspects, which makes it a treat for players that are fans of the horror genre.
• Little Nightmares has an interesting art style that looks great.
• The atmosphere in Little Nightmares is very creepy and unsettling, which keeps you on the edge of your seat at all times.
• Little Nightmares features an incredible soundtrack that is haunting and adds to the game’s atmosphere.
• You can easily access Little Nightmares, as the game is available on mobile phones and most modern systems.
• Little Nightmares is optimized very well, as there are no frame rate or crashing issues and you can play it on low-end systems.

Cons:

• Little Nightmares is a relatively short game and it might not contain enough gameplay for some players.
• The puzzles in Little Nightmares feel a bit too easy and lack any challenging aspects, making them boring.
• The controls in Little Nightmares fail to respond sometimes, which can get incredibly frustrating.

Day of The Tentacle

Told you that wasn’t going to be the last Lucasarts game on this list. Another Double Fine game and the second of their classic titles to get the remastered treatment after The Secret of Monkey Island. Day of The Tentacle is an entertaining, funny as hell time travel story starring 3 protagonists chasing down an evil tentacle bent on taking over the world. The game sees you traveling through various timelines to figure out different puzzles and solve problems. While it runs into similar issues as Grim Fandango, the funny writing and a huge amount of charm and passion oozing from this game manage to alleviate most of its faults.

Pros:

• Day of the Tentacle features some genuinely funny jokes that are sure to get a chuckle out of you.
• The story in Day of the Tentacle is very simple yet engaging at the same time due to the witty humor.
• The graphics in Day of the Tentacle are very unique, as they are all drawn by hand and offer a western cartoon aesthetic.
• You can choose to play any of the 3 main protagonists of the game and each one offers a unique experience.
• The soundtrack of Day of the Tentacle is very goofy and adds to the overall playful atmosphere of the game.
• Day of the Tentacle offers an auto-save feature and saves you a lot of progress.

Cons:

• The puzzles in Day of the Tentacle feel a bit unintuitive, as a lot of the solutions seem illogical.
• There are a lot of crashing issues present in Day of the Tentacle due to poor optimization.
• Day of the Tentacle does not have a hint system for its puzzles, which can get very frustrating if you are stuck.
• The movement speed for the characters might feel a bit too slow for some players.

Jak and Daxter

Often considered to be Ratchet and Clank’s darker, edgy cousin. The Jak and Daxter series started off as a whimsical, fun platformer featuring the mute Jak and his light-hearted furry companion Daxter. Naughty Dog later took the series to a darker and more mature setting with the second game, a change of direction that eventually lead the beloved developer to the grim, broken world of The Last of Us.

The Jak and Daxter series is more expansive and content-rich than the Ratchet games while lacking the humor and charm of what makes Ratchet so entertaining. It mostly depends on what you’re looking for in the end, and it’s not all doom and gloom either since Jak’s companion Daxter always serves as great comic relief throughout the entire series. Another great series to fill that Games like Psychonauts 2 hole in your heart.

Pros:

• Jak and Daxter feature many bright colors that do not get too overwhelming, making the game very appealing to look at.
• There are many things that you can collect in Jak and Daxter.
• The gameplay in Jak and Daxter is very unique, as it combines platforming and gunplay to create a very fun gameplay experience.
• You get to pilot the plane in Jak and Daxter, which is one of the most satisfying things to do in the game.
• There are various customization options available in Jak and Daxter.

Cons:

• Some of the controls in Jak and Daxter are designed horribly, as they feel clunky and awkward to use.
• The story of Jak and Daxter might be a bit disappointing for some players, as it can be very easy to predict.
• Jak and Daxter has a very strange camera that can interfere with a lot of the great moments.
• Jak and Daxter might not be as long as some players would like.

Conclusion

While time will tell of what awaits in the future of Double Fine Games, These are all the games like Psychonauts that you can play to bide your time until whatever wacky wohoo concept they come up with after setting yet another bar with Psychonauts 2. Hope you(yes, you) had a good time reading this and may you have a very good day.

While you are here, why not check out Psychonauts 2  Psychoseismometers.