IMHO.

Games like The Gunk

If The Gunk is your kind of game, the closest matches are Incredibug, Untravelled Planet and TECHNOSPHERE RELOAD — picked from the ranked list below. Reviewers single out its atmospheric, cozy and relaxing. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.

Get personalized picks →

The Gunk is a single-player action-adventure developed by Image & Form Games and published by Thunderful Publishing. Players control Rani, one half of a duo of space haulers who discover an untouched alien planet. The gameplay centers on vacuuming up a mysterious gunk from the environment to restore the world visually and mechanically. Reviewers and players describe the experience as atmospheric, cozy, relaxing, and whimsical, with exploration revealing the planet's tragic backstory. The game features crafting upgrades, light puzzle solving, resource collection, and dialogue-driven storytelling. Players highlight the heartfelt relationship between Rani and her partner Becks, and find the vacuuming mechanics satisfying with tactile feedback. Playable on Steam Deck, it costs $24.99 USD and holds an 86% positive rating from 1,780 Steam reviews.

About The Gunk: The Gunk is an action-adventure game in which you play as Rani, part of our duo of gritty space haulers. As they’re struggling to bring in funds, they chance upon an untouched planet brimming with life. They came in search of valuable resources, and it looks like they’ve hit the jackpot…

2022ActionAdventure24.99 USDDeck PlayableWindowsby Image & Form Games
The Gunk — Steam game cover
Players highlight
Cleaning gunk transforms the world visually and mechanicallyColorful alien world contrasts with the dark premiseExploration reveals the planets tragic backstoryAtmosphericCozyRelaxing

Players who liked The Gunk also play

Steam players who put hours into The Gunk also tend to own these titles — a signal called collaborative filtering. imho.run cross-references millions of library ownership patterns to surface games whose real audiences overlap, regardless of whether their genre tags match.

  1. Incredibug

    WHY THIS

    Top pick for The Gunk fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    Become the Incredibug: Control a cute pill bug, unite your fellow critters and rise up against a menacing smart home system in this physics-based platformer with metroidvania elements. Play together with a friend as Lumi the firefly in single-screen couch-coop.

    ActionIndieAdventureSteam ↗
  2. Untravelled Planet

    WHY THIS

    Second-strongest match for The Gunk fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    Discover the secrets of an unknown planet 🪐. Develop your weapons and equipment 🔫 to overcome obstacles and challenges in this action-adventure game inspired by the retro games .

    2024ActionIndieAdventure5.99 USDSteam ↗
  3. TECHNOSPHERE RELOAD

    WHY THIS

    Third-strongest match for The Gunk fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    Go on a dangerous journey into the heart of asteroid to save humanity from disaster! Control the TECHNOSPHERE, roll, jump, balance, solve puzzles and go through the mazes.

    2019ActionIndieAdventure9.99 USDSteam ↗
  4. Zeitgeist

    WHY THIS

    Ranked #4 for The Gunk fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    Equipped with your pot plant companion, travel through the roots of time delving into the past and present depths of an ancient submerged city. Exploring grand halls, navigating between walls, and taking advantage of ancient mechanisms on your mission to steal the heart of the city.

    2022ActionIndieAdventureFreeSteam ↗
  5. RAT MEMORY

    WHY THIS

    Ranked #5 for The Gunk fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Adventure with The Gunk.

    The 3D ratformer game you didn't know you wanted; RAT MEMORY is a 3D platformer game with exploration, in which you will have to complete tasks, such as collecting items and coins, and overcome challenges as a rat trying to discover his present and change his future.

    2025AdventureSimulation7.00 USDSteam ↗
  6. Rogue Bot Adventure

    WHY THIS

    Ranked #6 for The Gunk fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    Rogue Bot Adventure is an on-rails 3D platformer. Your goal is to collect the 10 parts of your ship and escape the enemies and hazards of this mysterious planet, including robots, lasers, acid, meteors, and more. Jump, slash, and reflect using your ancient artifact.

    2024ActionIndieAdventure0.99 USDSteam ↗
  7. Inferno

    WHY THIS

    Ranked #7 for The Gunk fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    Inferno is a 2D action-platformer centered on Kai, a Sergeant in the Krorion Space Forces, as he searches for his traitorous commanding officer. Run, jump, dash, and FIRE through this 16-bit world fueled by betrayal.

    ActionIndieAdventureSteam ↗
  8. PSYCRON

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with The Gunk.

    Ranked #8 for The Gunk fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    A fast-paced 2D handcrafted metroidvania with strange sci-fi environments. Something is roaming the halls, watching your every move.

    2021ActionAdventure6.99 USDSteam ↗

Reviewers mention these as similar to The Gunk

Surfaced from review text: when other players write 'if you liked X, try Y', we catch the name and resolve it back to a Steam game.

  1. Okami HD

    WHY THIS

    Shares exploration and a whimsical mood with The Gunk.

    Reviewers of The Gunk cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Adventure with The Gunk.

    Experience the critically acclaimed masterpiece with its renowned Sumi-e ink art style in breathtaking high resolution.

    2017Adventure19.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  2. PowerWash Simulator

    WHY THIS

    Shares a relaxing mood with The Gunk.

    Reviewers of The Gunk cross-mention this title as a similar play.

    Release the Pressure with PowerWash Simulator! Wash away your worries with the soothing sounds of high-pressure water. Fire up your power washer and blast away every speck of dirt and grime you can find, all with the simple satisfaction of power-washing to a sparkling finish.

    2022IndieSimulationCasual12.49 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  3. Viewfinder

    WHY THIS

    Shares a relaxing mood with The Gunk.

    Reviewers of The Gunk cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Adventure with The Gunk.

    Challenge perception, redefine reality, and reshape the world around you with an instant camera. Viewfinder is a new single player game offering gamers hours of interesting and fun experiences while uncovering the mysteries left behind.

    2023IndieAdventure24.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  4. Terra Nil

    WHY THIS

    Shares a cozy mood with The Gunk.

    Reviewers of The Gunk cross-mention this title as a similar play.

    Terra Nil is an intricate environmental strategy game about transforming a barren wasteland into a thriving, balanced ecosystem. Bring life back to a lifeless world by purifying soil, cleaning oceans, planting trees, and reintroducing wildlife, then leave without a trace.

    2023StrategyIndieCasual24.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  5. SteamWorld Heist II

    WHY THIS

    Shares exploration and a relaxing mood with The Gunk.

    Reviewers of The Gunk cross-mention this title as a similar play.

    Skill-based gunplay meets turn-based tactics in SteamWorld Heist 2! Aim carefully, bounce bullets, and pull off trick shots in high-stakes heists. Choose your crew and utilize 150+ items to navigate real-time naval battles and daring missions in this 30+ hour adventure to stop a deadly water crisis.

    2024StrategyIndieRPG29.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  6. Pandora

    WHY THIS

    Reviewers of The Gunk cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    Pandora brings a mix of the moba genre with soul mechanics, destroy towers and fight different enemies with an innovative playstyle, use mounts and pets to help you during your gameplay.

    2023ActionStrategyIndie4.99 USDSteam ↗

Cheaper alternatives

Games in the same vein priced at least 40% below The Gunk at current Steam store prices.

  1. Terraria

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~60% under The Gunk on Steam right now. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    Dig, fight, explore, build! Nothing is impossible in this action-packed adventure game. Four Pack also available!

    2011ActionIndieAdventure9.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  2. Lethal Company

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~60% under The Gunk on Steam right now. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    A co-op horror about scavenging at abandoned moons to sell scrap to the Company.

    2023ActionIndieAdventure9.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  3. Left 4 Dead 2

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~60% under The Gunk on Steam right now. Shares Action with The Gunk.

    Set in the zombie apocalypse, Left 4 Dead 2 is a co-operative action horror FPS takes you and your friends through the cities, swamps and cemeteries of the Deep South, from Savannah to New Orleans across five expansive campaigns.

    2009Action9.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  4. People Playground

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~60% under The Gunk on Steam right now. Shares Action with The Gunk.

    Shoot, stab, burn, poison, tear, vaporise, or crush ragdolls in a large open space.

    2019ActionIndieSimulation9.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  5. Portal 2

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~60% under The Gunk on Steam right now. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    The "Perpetual Testing Initiative" has been expanded to allow you to design co-op puzzles for you and your friends!

    2011ActionAdventure9.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  6. Fallout: New Vegas

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~60% under The Gunk on Steam right now. Shares Action with The Gunk.

    Welcome to Vegas. New Vegas. Enjoy your stay!

    2010ActionRPG9.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  7. Vampire Survivors

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~80% under The Gunk on Steam right now. Shares Action with The Gunk.

    Mow down thousands of night creatures and survive until dawn! Vampire Survivors is a gothic horror casual game with rogue-lite elements, where your choices can allow you to quickly snowball against the hundreds of monsters that get thrown at you. Be the bullet hell!

    2022ActionIndieRPG4.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  8. R.E.P.O.

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~72% under The Gunk on Steam right now. Shares Action with The Gunk.

    An online co-op horror game with up to 6 players. Locate valuable, fully physics-based objects and handle them with care as you retrieve and extract to satisfy your creator's desires.

    2025ActionEarly Access6.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗

Free alternatives

Free-to-play games that recommended players of this title also tend to enjoy.

  1. Life is Strange - Episode 1

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    Episode 1 now FREE! Life is Strange is an award-winning and critically acclaimed episodic adventure game that allows the player to rewind time and affect the past, present and future.

    2015ActionAdventureFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  2. Ultimate Custom Night

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with The Gunk.

    Welcome to the ultimate FNAF mashup, featuring 50 selectable characters and custom difficulties!

    2018ActionIndieFree To PlayFreeSteam ↗
  3. ENA: Dream BBQ

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Adventure with The Gunk.

    Experience surreal environments and inexplicable characters as ENA in a new wild world.

    2025IndieAdventureFreeDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  4. Indigo Park: Chapter 1

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    Explore the abandoned childhood wonder of Indigo Park! Guided by Rambley the Raccoon, help restore power to the destroyed amusement park while you run from the reason it shut down.

    2024ActionIndieAdventureFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  5. The Looker

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.

    You wake up, alone, on a strangely familiar island full of puzzles that will frustrate and annoy you.

    2022IndieFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  6. missed messages.

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.

    ‘goth gf’s iPhone’ airdrops you - accept or decline? A love/horror story about life, death, & memes.

    2019IndieSimulationFree To PlayFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  7. Travellin Cats in Paris

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.

    Find 100 cats hidden in Paris, France in this cute hand-drawn hidden object game by Travellin Cats - the original viral hidden cat game creator!

    2023IndieFree To PlayCasualFreeDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  8. Grimm's Hollow

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Adventure with The Gunk.

    A spooky, freeware RPG where you search the afterlife for your brother. Reap ghosts with your scythe, explore haunted caves, and eat ghostly treats on your journey through death.

    2019IndieAdventureRPGFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗

More from Image & Form Games

Other recommendable Steam games by Image & Form Games, ranked by review count so the studio's hits land first.

  1. SteamWorld Dig

    WHY THIS

    Another title from Image & Form Games, the studio behind The Gunk. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    SteamWorld Dig is an action-adventure puzzler with strong Metroidvanian influences set in the SteamWorld Universe. You’ll need to dig deep into the earth, gather resources to upgrade your tools and abilities, take on enemies, solve challenging puzzles and uncover the secrets to save a dying town.

    2013ActionIndieAdventure9.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  2. SteamWorld Dig 2

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with The Gunk.

    Another title from Image & Form Games, the studio behind The Gunk. Shares Action and Adventure with The Gunk.

    SteamWorld Dig is back! Dig deep, gain riches and unearth the terrors of the underworld in this platform mining adventure influenced by classic Metroidvania style games.

    2017ActionIndieAdventure19.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  3. SteamWorld Heist

    WHY THIS

    Shares a whimsical mood with The Gunk.

    Another title from Image & Form Games, the studio behind The Gunk.

    Command a steam-driven pirate crew in a series of epic tactical shootouts in SteamWorld Heist. This is turn-based strategy with a twist: You manually aim the guns of your robots, allowing for insane skill shots and bullet-bouncing action!

    2016StrategyRPG14.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  4. SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech

    WHY THIS

    Shares a whimsical mood with The Gunk.

    Another title from Image & Form Games, the studio behind The Gunk. Shares Adventure with The Gunk.

    Lead a party of aspiring heroes through a beautifully hand-drawn world and intense battles using only your wits and a handful of cards. Take on whatever threat comes your way by crafting your own deck choosing from over 100 unique punch-cards!

    2019AdventureRPG24.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  5. SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech - Soundtrack

    WHY THIS

    Another title from Image & Form Games, the studio behind The Gunk.

    Let SteamWorld Quest's soundtrack take you on a journey through lush forests, mysterious caves, eerie ruins and cold mountains.

    20199.99 USDSteam ↗

Frequently asked about The Gunk

Does The Gunk run on Steam Deck?
The Gunk is rated Playable on Steam Deck — it runs, but expect some manual adjustments (control remapping, text size, or graphics settings) for the best experience.
How much does The Gunk cost?
The Gunk is listed on Steam at 24.99 USD (current store price; Steam sales may reduce this temporarily).
What games are most similar to The Gunk?
Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside The Gunk are Incredibug, Untravelled Planet, TECHNOSPHERE RELOAD.
Who developed The Gunk?
The Gunk was developed by Image & Form Games and published by Thunderful Publishing.

imho.run ranks Steam game alternatives using a mix of collaborative filtering (ALS / iALS / EASE / LightGCN), content scoring over genres, categories, Steam tags, developers, and publishers, plus AI-extracted vibes mined from review text. The page above is generated in seed mode anchored on The Gunk.

For library-aware picks tuned to your specific taste, sign in with Steam on the home page.