Ico
Ico is a 2001 puzzle-platformer developed by Team Ico under director Fumito Ueda, a minimalist and atmospheric game in which a young boy born with horns, cast out and imprisoned in a vast, crumbling castle, must escape alongside a mysterious, ethereal girl named Yorda.
The game centered on the bond between the two characters, often literally guiding Yorda by the hand through environmental puzzles, boosting her to high ledges and calling to her, while fending off shadowy creatures that tried to drag her into portals. Its spare storytelling with almost no dialogue, dreamlike architecture, subtle sound design and restrained, unhurried design created a powerful sense of emotion, loneliness and place.
Widely praised as a defining example of games as art and cited as an influence by many later designers, Ico has been remastered for later hardware, keeping its quiet, evocative adventure available to modern players seeking something contemplative.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Ico, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Indie | € 14,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Indie
€ 14,99An indie adventure about companionship and guiding another character through danger.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons runs on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Sign in or create an account to add an alternative or vote.