What is the best game similar to Contra?

The closest game to Contra is Splatoon 2, scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 8 gameplay attributes, including shooter, third-person shooting and precision platforming. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like Contra?

The three closest games to Contra are: 1. Splatoon 2 (97/100, 8 shared attributes) 2. Splatoon 3 (97/100, 8 shared attributes) 3. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (91/100, 7 shared attributes). All share Contra's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 9 dimensions.

Is Splatoon 3 similar to Contra?

Yes, very much so — Splatoon 3 scores 97/100 similarity to Contra. They share 8 attributes, including shooter and third-person shooting. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What Shooter games are similar to Contra?

The best Shooter games similar to Contra are Splatoon 2, Splatoon 3, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and ARC Raiders. All share the Shooter genre alongside other key Contra attributes like shooter, third-person shooting and precision platforming.

How is similarity to Contra calculated?

We compare Contra against every game in our catalog using 9 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Contra experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

50 Games like Contra that you should try

Games like Contra · Find similar →

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Contra is hard to replace: few games combine shooter, setting scifi and single-player focus in quite the same way. We compared Contra against over 6,700 titles across 9 gameplay attributes and found 50 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Splatoon 2, Splatoon 3 and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves lead the list, with Splatoon 2 reaching a 97/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Contra special.

iRank79/ 100

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GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

Top games similar to Contra

50 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Contra. Each one has been evaluated across 9 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Splatoon 2

iRank83

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opSci-FiThird Person

IGDB83· 17OC83· 118

Year 2017Dev Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Nearly identical: shooter, third-person shooting and precision platforming.

≠ Missing: visual 2d.

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opSci-FiThird Person

IGDB82· 6OC83· 124

Year 2022Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 5 · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Both are third-person shooters — sharing shooter, third-person shooting and precision platforming

≠ Its own twist: skill tree progression, while skipping visual 2d

Details →

Nintendo

#3Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

iRank95

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opThird PersonFantasy

IGDB95· 8

Year 2009Dev Naughty Dog · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

✓ Fits the third-person shooters cluster, with shooter, third-person shooting and precision platforming

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, fantasy world and historical setting, while skipping setting scifi

Details →

#4ARC Raiders

iRank86

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

MultiplayerCo-opSci-FiThird PersonPost-Apocalyptic

Steam👍 84%· 395KIGDB89· 4OC87· 95

Year 2025Dev Embark StudiosOn Xbox · PC · PS5

✓ Same family of third-person shooters: shooter, third-person shooting and setting scifi

≠ Where it differs: brings post-apocalyptic world, skill tree progression and crafting mechanics, while skipping precision platforming

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

SoloCo-opSci-FiThird PersonSandbox World

IGDB85· 2

Year 2007Dev Realtime Worlds · Microsoft Game Studios

✓ Same family of third-person shooters: shooter, third-person shooting and setting scifi

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, fighting mechanics and adventure storytelling, while skipping precision platforming

Details →

Xbox

#6Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

iRank93

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opThird PersonFantasy

IGDB93· 8

Year 2011Dev Naughty Dog · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

✓ Both are third-person shooters — sharing shooter, third-person shooting and precision platforming

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, fantasy world and historical setting, while skipping setting scifi

Details →

#7Gears of War 3

iRank97

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opSci-FiThird Person

IGDB97· 4

Year 2011Dev Epic Games · Microsoft Studios

✓ Same family of third-person shooters: shooter, third-person shooting and setting scifi

≠ Its own twist: dark, oppressive atmosphere, horror setting and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping precision platforming

Details →

Xbox

#8Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

iRank87

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opSci-FiThird Person

Steam👍 92%· 33KIGDB78· 6

Year 2011Dev Relic Entertainment · THQOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Fits the third-person shooters cluster, with shooter, third-person shooting and setting scifi

≠ Its own twist: deep RPG systems, first-person shooting and action RPG combat, while skipping precision platforming

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

SoloCo-opSci-FiThird PersonSkill Tree

IGDB81· 14OC81· 81

Year 2015Dev Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.2 · Nintendo

✓ Same family of third-person shooters: shooter, third-person shooting and precision platforming

≠ Its own twist: skill tree progression, while skipping multiplayer gameplay

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opSci-FiThird Person

IGDB90· 5

Year 2008Dev Epic Games · Microsoft Game Studios

✓ Both are third-person shooters — sharing shooter, third-person shooting and setting scifi

≠ Stands apart with melee combat, ranged combat and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping precision platforming

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

MultiplayerCo-opSoloSci-FiThird Person

Steam👍 94%· 347KRAWG👍 85%· 696MC82IGDB87· 6OC86· 34

Year 2020Dev Hopoo Games · Gearbox PublishingPlaytime ~8hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of third-person shooters: shooter, third-person shooting and setting scifi

≠ Its own twist: roguelike runs, adventure storytelling and survival mechanics, while skipping precision platforming

Details →

Steam Epic Xbox

#12Crackdown 3

iRank63

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opSci-FiThird Person

IGDB62· 11OC63· 124

Year 2019Dev Sumo Digital · Microsoft StudiosOn PC · Xbox

✓ Fits the third-person shooters cluster, with shooter, third-person shooting and setting scifi

≠ Its own twist: open world exploration and exploration and discovery, while skipping precision platforming

Details →

Xbox

#13Halo: Spartan Assault

iRank63

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opSci-FiThird Person

Steam👍 78%· 4.9KRAWG👍 34%· 216MC70IGDB66· 10OC61· 37

Year 2013Dev 343 Industries · Microsoft StudiosPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Xbox · iOS

✓ Fits the third-person shooters cluster, with shooter, third-person shooting and setting scifi

≠ Stands apart with melee combat, ranged combat and combat tactical, while skipping precision platforming

Details →

Steam Xbox

#14Inversion

iRank59

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

Co-opSoloMultiplayerSci-FiThird Person

Steam👍 62%· 697IGDB54· 7

Year 2012Dev Saber Interactive · Bandai Namco EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Both are third-person shooters — sharing shooter, third-person shooting and setting scifi

≠ Where it differs: brings first-person shooting, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat, while skipping precision platforming

Details →

Steam

#15Red Faction: Guerrilla

iRank82

GenreShooterSubgenreTPS

SoloMultiplayerSci-FiThird PersonOpen World

IGDB82· 6

Year 2009Dev Reactor Zero · THQOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Same family of third-person shooters: shooter, third-person shooting and setting scifi

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, open world exploration and exploration and discovery, while skipping precision platforming

Details →

Complete list of Contra alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Contra, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.