About This Site

1. About This Site

Why We Built This

Looking for games similar to your favourites usually ends in frustration — existing services stop at genre labels, and you end up researching everything yourself. Steam's "More Like This" algorithm is purchase-history-based and opaque; you never know why something was recommended. Genre filters on game sites can't capture the difference between a turn-based RPG and an action RPG, even though the experience is completely different.

The obvious reality that "NieR:Automata and Apex Legends aren't similar, even though both are sci-fi action RPGs" deserved to be expressed in numbers. That is where GPA started.

Concept: Compare What the Experience Is Actually Like

Generic genre labels often fail to convey what playing a game actually feels like. Within the same RPG genre, satisfaction varies greatly depending on whether the focus is narrative, exploration, or combat.

GPA compares "similarity" not by the presence of a tag but by the weighting of each element, making it easier to find experiences that genuinely match your taste.

Why These Axes?

Our scoring axes are chosen to target the aspects most likely to cause post-purchase disappointment. Specifically, we focus on elements that create meaningful experiential differences: narrative density, tone, strategic depth, action intensity, and difficulty.

How Are Scores Determined? (Primary Sources)

Scores are based on gameplay observation by our editorial team, rated against a shared scoring sheet. Values are then adjusted through multi-reviewer discussion and cross-checked against official information, patch history, and user reception. We do not rely on a single automated system — scores combine primary observation and human review.

2. Scoring Logic

Why We Show the Logic

The goal is informed comparison, not vague similarity. By publishing our calculation methodology, we ensure the recommendations are transparent and trustworthy.

Major Tag Definitions & Scoring Criteria (21 Representative Tags)

Each title is assigned a weight (0–100%) for each experience / gameplay element. The 21 representative tags are defined below. All tags are visible on each title's detail page.

Score Composition (4 Key Indicators)

The overall score for each title is a weighted average of the following four components.

• Market Reception Score: Indexes the breadth of support based on user ratings and review volume.
• Gameplay Depth: Evaluates replayability and decision density, not just playtime.
• Narrative Logic: Assesses structural coherence and world-building consistency.
• Innovation Index: Measures how much new experience the title delivers relative to its genre.

Similarity Score Formula (Overview)

The order of "similar games" is calculated using the following logic. Cosine similarity of major tag vectors is the primary axis, with minor tag Jaccard coefficient and target audience proximity added as supplements.

// Similarity Score Calculation (Overview)
// Input: base title, candidate title

Step 1. Retrieve major tag weight vectors
  - Generate a multi-dimensional vector using 21+ major tags as axes
  - Each dimension is a weight score from 0 to 100%

Step 2. Calculate closeness of major tag vectors (primary component)
  - Evaluate "directional similarity of distribution", not absolute values
  - Similarity increases when dominant tags align; decreases when key axes diverge
  - This component carries the highest weight in the final similarity score

Step 3. Add minor tag (keyword tag) match rate as a supplement
  - Compensates for fine-grained features not captured by major tags
    (e.g. playstyle, setting details)

Step 4. Add target audience proximity as a supplement
  - Calculates closeness of beginner / intermediate / advanced scores
  - Applied with lower weight than major tags to minimise recommendation drift

Step 5. Weighted sum and normalisation
  - Combine Steps 2–4 at fixed ratios and normalise to 0–100 for display
  - Major tag proximity is dominant; minor tags and audience level are supplementary

* On individual game pages, sliders let you manually adjust the weight of top tags. Adjustments feed directly into the Step 2 vector calculation and recalculate results in real time.

Target Audience (Target Range) and Similarity

Each title shows a numeric range for its intended audience: beginner, intermediate, or advanced. On-screen, scores of 50 or above are highlighted as the "recommended range", making it easy to see which skill levels a title strongly targets. Target audience proximity plays a supplementary role in similarity calculations, with game content (major tags) remaining the primary axis.

When Scores May Change

• Scores are re-evaluated when a major update or DLC changes the balance of the experience.
• Corrections may be made based on user feedback reviewed by the editorial team (submit via the contact form).
• Spreadsheet data is updated approximately monthly; site changes go live within 12 hours (via revalidate settings).

3. How GPA Differs from Other Services

The Problem We Are Solving

Consider a player who loved NieR:Automata trying to find Stellar Blade. Both titles are "sci-fi action RPGs" — genre tags match. But that is where most services stop.

Looking at GPA tag scores: NieR:Automata scores "Existential Themes" at 95% and "Emotional Narrative" at 90%, while Stellar Blade scores "Existential Themes" at 80% and "Action" at 85%. If you are looking for philosophical weight, they are somewhat different; if you are looking for combat excitement, they are similar. Being able to show which axis they are similar on is what genre filters alone cannot provide.

We have also published a detailed column analysing Stellar Blade from story, combat, and music perspectives.

Comparison with Other Services

4. Editorial Independence

To ensure GPA scores and similarity rankings are never influenced by advertising or partnership arrangements, we follow these policies.

• ✓Titles are selected independently by the editorial team — no publisher requests or payments accepted
• ✓Scores are not influenced by publisher PR or promotional materials
• ✓The ordering of 'similar games' is never affected by advertising or commercial relationships
• ✓Score correction requests from users are reviewed by the editorial team when a clear rationale is provided (all requests receive a response)

5. Image Usage (Copyright)

Game cover images displayed on this site are retrieved via the RAWG Video Games Database API— a game database service built on official publisher assets. Usage complies with RAWG's API terms of service and the media / promotional use guidelines of each respective publisher.

Images are used solely for the purpose of identifying and introducing individual titles and are displayed in a minimal, necessary scope. We do not reproduce, distribute, or use them for any secondary purpose beyond their original intent.

For the latest RAWG API terms and documentation, please refer to the official site (RAWG API Docs).

6. About the Operator

Mochi88

GPA (Gamer's Profile Analyzer) Operator / Former employee at a major Japanese game company

Background

Drawing on experience at a major Japanese game company, Mochi88 launched GPA with the goal of helping players discover games that genuinely match their taste. Has been running personal game strategy sites independently for over 10 years.

Specialising in marketing, Mochi88 applies that expertise to design and operate GPA — an approach that quantifies the "plot (narrative structure)" and "gameplay (strategic depth)" of games into measurable scores. The aim is to cut through emotionally driven reviews and deliver logically grounded, multi-angle analysis that gives players reproducible insight for choosing their next game.

Philosophy & Mission

"Define what feels fun — logically."

The mission is to build an environment where players can reliably find games that align with their personal preferences.