You know that feeling when the credits roll on A Plague Tale: Requiem and you just sit there in the dark? It’s heavy. Your chest actually hurts a little bit because you’ve spent dozens of hours protecting Hugo, watching Amicia’s mental health crumble, and sprinting through literal seas of rats. Most people immediately go to Google and search for games like A Plague Tale because they want that specific, agonizing blend of "stealth-action" and "devastating sibling bond."
But here’s the thing. Most lists give you The Last of Us and call it a day.
Sure, Joel and Ellie have the surrogate parent-child thing going on. It’s a masterpiece. But if you’re looking for the specific DNA of Asobo Studio’s work—that grim, historical atmosphere mixed with light puzzles and a very specific type of linear storytelling—you have to look a bit deeper. You need games that understand that "stealth" isn't just a mechanic; it’s a manifestation of how powerless the characters are against the world.
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The Stealth-Action Connection You Actually Want
When people look for games like A Plague Tale, they’re usually looking for one of three things: the "protector" dynamic, the "low-fantasy" historical setting, or the "stealth-puzzles." If you loved the way Amicia used her sling to manipulate the environment, you should probably be looking at Dishonored.
I know, I know. Corvo is a magical assassin, not a teenage girl with a rock. But hear me out. Dishonored captures that same "rat-infested, plague-ridden" atmosphere better than almost anything else in the medium. Dunwall feels like a character. It’s oppressive. You’re navigating a city that is actively dying of the Weepers plague. The gameplay loop of staying in the shadows because you're outnumbered is the exact same itch that Innocence scratches. Plus, the environmental storytelling in Dishonored—the notes you find, the way the guards talk—is world-class.
Then there’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.
If the psychological toll on Amicia was what gripped you, Hellblade is the only logical next step. Ninja Theory did something incredible here. It’s not a fun game. It’s an ordeal. You play as a Pict warrior journeying into Helheim to save the soul of her dead lover, all while battling psychosis. The "voices" in Senua's head are binaural, so if you play with headphones, they whisper in your ears just like Amicia’s trauma whispers to her. It’s linear, it’s beautiful, and it’s emotionally exhausting.
Why the "Protector" Trope is So Hard to Find
It’s easy to throw God of War into the mix when talking about games like A Plague Tale. Kratos and Atreus? Amicia and Hugo? It fits on paper. But the "vibe" is totally different. In God of War, you are a god. You’re powerful. In A Plague Tale, you are a child trying not to get crushed by an armored knight.
The Last of Us Part I is the closest mechanical sibling. Naughty Dog’s influence on Asobo is undeniable. The way you scavenge for parts to upgrade your tools at workbenches? That’s straight out of the Naughty Dog playbook. The way the characters boost each other up to high ledges or squeeze through gaps while talking about the world? Same. If you haven't played it, that’s your first stop. But you probably already knew that.
Let's talk about Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.
It’s a shorter experience. It’s indie. But honestly? It might be the most "Plague Tale" game on this list in terms of emotional impact. You control two brothers simultaneously with one controller—the left stick for the older brother, the right stick for the younger. It’s a gimmick that becomes a profound narrative tool by the end of the game. Like Hugo, the younger brother is physically weaker and needs help. By the time you reach the finale, the way the mechanics change will break you.
Atmospheric Horrors and Historical Grime
One of the best things about the Plague Tale series is the 14th-century France setting. It’s beautiful but disgusting. You’re walking through a flower field one minute and a pile of rotting corpses the next.
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If you want that specific "European historical dread," look at Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
It’s an RPG, so it’s way more complex than Amicia’s journey. There are no rats or magic. But it’s the most authentic medieval simulator ever made. You start as Henry, a peasant who literally can’t read or swing a sword properly. You have to learn everything. The world is muddy, dangerous, and uncaring. It captures that feeling of being a small person in a very large, very violent historical period.
Then there's Vampyr.
It’s set in 1918 London during the Spanish Flu. Again, plague is the central theme. You play as a doctor turned vampire who has to decide which citizens to eat to get stronger. The atmosphere is thick with fog and death. It has that AA-game charm—slightly janky, but deeply ambitious and focused on story over "map markers."
The Underappreciated Gems
Sometimes the search for games like A Plague Tale leads to weird places. Have you heard of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden?
It came out recently from Don’t Nod (the Life is Strange people). It’s about a couple of ghost hunters in 1695 North America. One is dead; one is alive. You switch between them to solve puzzles and fight spirits. The chemistry between Red and Antea mirrors the bond between Amicia and Hugo, though it’s romantic rather than familial. It has that same "over-the-shoulder" cinematic feel and a heavy focus on difficult moral choices.
- Tchia: If you want the "sibling/family" quest but need a break from the misery. It’s set in a New Caledonia-inspired world. It’s colorful but has some surprisingly dark moments.
- Ico: The blueprint. If you haven't played this PS2 classic (or the remaster), you’re missing the origin of the "hold hands to stay safe" mechanic.
- The Pathless: Excellent atmosphere and a bond with an animal companion that feels very grounded.
Addressing the "Stealth" Misconception
People often say A Plague Tale is a stealth game. It's really not. Not in the way Splinter Cell is. It's a puzzle game where the "fail state" is getting caught.
If you loved the specific "environment as a weapon" part—lighting torches to move rats, extinguishing fires to let them eat guards—you should check out Styx: Shards of Cyanide. It’s a pure stealth game where you play as a goblin. It’s much harder than Plague Tale, but it rewards that same kind of environmental manipulation.
On the flip side, if you just liked the "running away from something terrifying" part, Alien: Isolation is the gold standard. Instead of a swarm of rats, it’s one Xenomorph. But the tension? The way you feel your heart in your throat while hiding under a table? It’s identical.
Why We Keep Looking for These Games
We look for games like A Plague Tale because they treat us like adults. They don't shy away from the fact that children suffer in war. They don't give you an assault rifle and tell you to "go to town." They make you feel vulnerable.
Most AAA games are power fantasies. A Plague Tale is a "responsibility fantasy." You are responsible for someone smaller than you, and the world wants to take them away. That’s a powerful motivator that makes the stealth feel necessary rather than optional.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Backlog
Don't just buy every game with a "Very Positive" rating on Steam. Think about what specifically you liked about Amicia and Hugo’s journey.
- If you want the emotional gut-punch: Play Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons or The Last of Us Part I. These are the heavy hitters that will make you cry.
- If you want the plague-ridden atmosphere: Go with Dishonored or Vampyr. The world-building in these is top-tier.
- If you want the "vulnerable person in a scary world" vibe: Try Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice or Alien: Isolation.
- If you want a historical setting that feels real: Get Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Just be prepared for a steep learning curve.
The reality is that there isn't a "Plague Tale 3" coming anytime soon (Asobo is busy with other things, and Requiem ended... well, you know how it ended). But the DNA of that game—that mix of love, dirt, rats, and desperation—is scattered across several other titles. Start with Hellblade if you want the "prestige" feel, or Brothers if you have a free afternoon and some tissues handy.
The "protector" genre is growing, but it’s still rare to find games that balance the narrative and the gameplay as well as Innocence and Requiem did. Focus on the games that prioritize tone over mechanics, and you'll find what you're looking for. Most of these titles go on sale frequently during seasonal Steam or PlayStation events, so keep an eye on your wishlist.
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Expert Insight: Many players forget that Asobo Studio worked on Microsoft Flight Simulator at the same time as A Plague Tale. This is why the environments in Requiem look so much better than almost any other linear game; they used the same photogrammetry and cloud-rendering tech to build 14th-century Provence. If you're looking for a game that matches the visual fidelity, you're almost strictly limited to Naughty Dog or Sony's first-party titles like Horizon Forbidden West.