Heavy Rain is an interactive action-adventure game that’s inspired by the noir movies of the early ’40s. If you have a penchant for this genre, we give you a list of games similar to Heavy Rain. Take your pick…
Did You Know?
The theme of Heavy Rain is a homage to Blade Runner, that features both origami and rain.
The early films of the ’40s had a cinematic style that let the story move at its own pace. The characters are stereotypical, with the hard-boiled detective who keeps his feelings to himself, the femme fatale with an air of mystery and grace; all of these make up pulp fiction. Now with the advent of technology, games are taking the same step as television did. With more of their plot-lines aiming towards character development, the lines between fiction and reality are becoming blurry. One of the games that has already succeeded in this journey is Heavy Rain.
Heavy Rain is the masterpiece of David Cage, that narrates the story through 4 characters – Ethan Mars, an estranged husband who stays distant from his wife and son; Scott Shelby, a private investigator who suffers from asthma; Norman Jayden, an FBI profiler whose only talent is investigation of cases and an addiction to tripocaine; and Madison Paige, a photojournalist who suffers from insomnia. All their lives converge in the small town they live in, where a serial killer abducts children and drowns them, with the only evidence being an origami figure, whom the press later dubs as the ‘Origami Killer’. The hunt intensifies when Ethan’s son gets kidnapped, and it snowballs into a climax unseen. If you are a fan of interactive adventure games, then scroll down and check out our list of games like Heavy Rain, and end your suspense.
L.A. Noire
The game is set in 1940s Los Angeles, with the war coming to an end, and the residents enjoying the sun and the babes frolicking the beaches. Enter Cole Phelps, a former Marine, and currently a police officer, who finds out that his former comrades from the Marines are being whacked one after another. Solve the mystery and more to come in this glitzy potboiler, which pays a homage to noir movies.
Available on Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
Alan Wake
From the creators of Max Payne comes Alan Wake, a psychological thriller, where the protagonist tries to find his wife and fight off the surreal nightmares that he believes are a part of his writer’s block. Though psychological, there are elements of actions involved with creatures that can only be defeated by light. Similar to Heavy Rain, the game focuses more on the drama than the lock-n-load action that follows later on.
Available on Platforms: Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
Fahrenheit
Fahrenheit is an interactive action-adventure game similar to Heavy Rain, where a group of mysterious murders attracts the presence of the police, and the protagonist (player) is framed for it. In some areas, it has been released under the name Indigo Prophecy. The murders have a mysterious pattern: a group of people are killed at random, with no eyewitnesses. Lucas Kane is a loner who has been troubled by clairvoyant visions since childhood, but with a cult committing grisly murders all over town, and framing him for it, will he ever get out of it alive? With a combination of telekinesis and mixed martial arts, fight your way through this bloody mess.
Available on Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS2, Xbox, iOS, Linux, OS X
Beyond: Two Souls
Beyond: Two Souls has a great storyline for a movie, but let’s contend with the game for now. You play as Jodie Holmes, who has tremendous psychic powers due to an unexplained link in the other world. Due to her powers, Jodie has been under the care of Nathan Dawkins, a member of the Department of Paranormal Research, who built a machine that connects the dead to the living. With hostile entities at an arm’s length, use Jodie’s powers to stop Nathan’s crazy ambitions. As a bonus, this psychological adventure from Quantic Dreamit has Hollywood bigwigs Willem Dafoe and Ellen Page providing voice-over acting.
Available on Platforms: PS3
The Stanley Parable
This game is based on an individual named Stanley, who has the routine job of monitoring data. One day, when the data stops coming, he decides to explore the premises when desktop support doesn’t come through. Follow Stanley on his adventures, as every action he takes has a different ending to the story. This game plays homage to the movie Being John Malkovich.
Available on Platforms: Microsoft Windows, OS X
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
This game is unique, and functions as a time machine, where the player can recollect or experience events from the past. Room 215 is supposedly a room in a rundown motel in downtown Los Angeles that grants wishes. Kyle is a former detective-turned-salesman, who investigates the room to find out the truth. Come experience the point-and-click nightmare, and remember to check out.
Available on Platforms: Nintendo DS
Black Dahlia
Black Dahlia is based on the real-life murder of Elizabeth Short, but the game mixes it with occult rituals and Neo-Nazi propaganda. As Agent Pearson, your mission is to solve he mysteries of the Black Dahlia murders, and the hidden conspiracy within. This is one adventure game you are sure to enjoy.
Available on Platforms: Microsoft Windows
The 7th Guest
As a guest, you try to solve the mysteries of the haunted mansion that you checked into. As you delve deeper into the mansion, ghosts of the past appear in a torrent, giving cryptic messages that hold the link to the future. The game has a linear format, and involves puzzles of logic and creativity. The plot thickens as you go in further, so don’t you dare miss this adventure.
Available on Platforms: PC, Mac, OS X, Linux, iOS
Condemned 2: Bloodshot
It narrates the story of Ethan Thomas, who has resigned from office after the events of Condemned left him in a traumatic state. With the homeless population going insane and causing more riots, it is the mission of the protagonist to find a cure for the insanity as well as hold on to his own. Are you game for this?
Available on Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360
The Walking Dead
This game, although inspired by the TV series, focuses on Lee Everett, a convicted criminal who stands a chance of redemption by saving the life of an orphaned girl, Clementine, who he just met. With the virus creating more zombies, Lee does everything to find a safe haven for Clementine. Get ready to find zombies and insane hillbillies, as you embark on this epic journey of survival of the fittest.
Available on Platforms: Android, iOS, Kindle Fire HDX, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Ouya, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Some Other Options
- Alice: Madness Returns
- Kentucky Route Zero
- 7Framed
- The Room
- Myst
These alternatives to Heavy Rain are all that you need to get your dose of adventure up and running. Enjoy!
