Choose Landstalker if you want an adventure built around isometric movement and platforming. Choose Alundra if you want a PlayStation action RPG that combines real-time combat with demanding puzzles and a darker, character-focused story. The games share creative lineage, but Alundra is not a direct sequel to Landstalker.
At a glance: which game fits you?
| If you want… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Isometric platforming and spatially tricky jumps | Landstalker | Movement and judging jumps through layered spaces are central to its feel. Sega-16’s history of the game describes how its perspective can make jumps easy to misjudge. |
| Action combat, equipment, bosses, and demanding puzzles | Alundra | Its localizer describes real-time combat, weapons and items, jumping, enemies and bosses, alongside puzzles that can be extremely difficult. Victor Ireland’s PlayStation Blog retrospective outlines those elements. |
| A darker story with emotional focus on its characters | Alundra | Ireland’s retrospective emphasizes the villagers of Inoa, escalating danger, and the story’s emotional weight. That is his critical impression, not an objective measure. |
| Playing on original hardware | Depends on your setup | Landstalker is a Genesis/Mega Drive game; Alundra is a PlayStation game. Check regional compatibility and current supported re-release options before buying digitally. |
How their gameplay and difficulty differ
Landstalker: movement is the main hurdle
Landstalker makes its isometric viewpoint part of the challenge. Jumps can be difficult to judge in the layered spaces, and a fall may send you down to a lower level and force you to retrace ground. That friction suits players who enjoy learning how a game represents distance and direction; it may frustrate anyone looking for forgiving, straightforward platforming. Sega-16’s account discusses this platform-focused execution.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins | $24.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Alundra - PlayStation | $195.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Alundra 2: Mashinka no Nazo [Japan Import]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/4159WivF3tL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Alundra 2: Mashinka no Nazo [Japan Import] | $143.24 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Riders Republic PlayStation 5 Standard Edition | $25.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Days Gone - Playstation 4 | $28.48 | Buy on Amazon |
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Alundra: combat and puzzles share the spotlight
Alundra also uses an isometric presentation, but its gameplay combines action-RPG systems with puzzle-solving. In Ireland’s description, players jump, equip weapons and items, attack enemies in real time, explore dungeons, fight bosses, and tackle puzzles ranging from challenging to exceptionally hard. Its faux-3D perspective can also make jumps visually deceptive, so it is not a puzzle-only alternative to Landstalker. The retrospective describes both the combat and the puzzle challenge.
There is no established like-for-like difficulty score here. The useful distinction is where challenge tends to come from: movement judgment is especially notable in Landstalker, while Alundra is known for demanding puzzles as well as perspective-sensitive jumping. Neither can be called universally easier on this evidence.
#1 Best Overall
- Alundra 2
- Great rpg from one of the greatest consoles of all time.
Story and the games’ connection
Alundra follows a character who arrives in the village of Inoa and becomes involved in the villagers’ dreams and troubles. Ireland’s retrospective praises the story’s darkening stakes and the emotional connection to its characters; those are his assessments of the game, rather than neutral measurements.
The resemblance between the games has a historical basis, but it does not make them entries in one continuous story. Ireland recalled asking, “Is this a Landstalker sequel?” He was told it was not, though some of the same staff had worked on it and it was a spiritual successor. The translated developer interview and the Working Designs PlayStation manual provide further context on the staff connection, including crediting Landstalker’s original main programmer and scenario writer with responsibility for Alundra. That supports a creative connection, not shared continuity or a direct sequel relationship.
Rank #2
- Exciting, somewhat demented RPG
- Control other characters' dreams
- Includes action, puzzles, and roleplaying
- Lengthy storyline
- For one player
Platforms and what to check before buying
The original platform is a practical difference: Landstalker was released for Genesis/Mega Drive, while Alundra is a PlayStation action RPG. Matrix Software’s product listing identifies Alundra as a PlayStation title; the Landstalker history covers its Genesis/Mega Drive release.
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For original copies, search for the Genesis/Mega Drive cartridge or PlayStation disc that matches the version you want. Compare region, condition, and completeness; no current listings or prices are established here. Controller and hardware fit depend on your region and setup.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Harsh Open World: Using the power of PlayStation 4 and unreal engine 4, days one offers an incredibly realistic and detailed open world experience. But be careful— day and night cycles, all affect gameplay and enemy behavior
- Brutal Sandbox Combat: Perfect your gameplay with an endless combination of strategy and play in every situation. Craft customized items using pieces and parts found in the field, from brutal melee weapons to traps and more
- Compelling Story: At its core, days gone is about survivors and what makes them human: desperation, loss, madness, betrayal, friendship, brotherhood, regret, love and hope. It’s about how hope never dies
- Play as Deacon St.John, a bounty hunter facing a brutal struggle for survival while searching for a reason to live
Rank #4
- Battle against over 50 players simultaneously in a massive multiplayer playground.
- Compete in an all-out mass start race—collide, grind, and fight your way to the finish
- Customize your character to show off your style to your friends or show up the competition.
- Bike, ski, snowboard, or wingsuit through a seamless open world in Career mode or multiplayer events.
- Go wild on the heights of iconic US national parks like Yosemite, Zion, and Bryce Canyon.
How to decide
- Pick Landstalker if its distinctive isometric platforming is the draw and you are comfortable with jumps that can take practice to judge.
- Pick Alundra if you want real-time action and equipment alongside puzzles, and welcome a darker story centered on a village and its people.
- If the deciding factor is access, first confirm which original hardware you have or whether a supported version is currently available where you live.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
