9 Platformer games like Duck Paradox that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

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We filtered the 40 games similar to Duck Paradox down to the 9 that fit the “Platformer” category. Cuphead, Downwell and Cave Story+ top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Duck Paradox.

iRank87/ 100

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

The best platformer games like Duck Paradox

9 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Duck Paradox. Each one has been evaluated across 16 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.

#1CupheadClosest on genre

iRank91

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcore2DMultiplayer

Steam👍 96%· 209KRAWG👍 91%· 2.0KMC87IGDB87· 17OC88· 214

Year 2017Dev Studio MDHR · StudioMDHR EntertainmentPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox

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

≠ Stands apart with ranged combat, combat magic and setting cartoon, while skipping roguelike runs

Hand-drawn 2D platformer in the style of 30s cartoons. 2D Dark Souls as the fans refer to the difficulty of this one. It took developers 6 years to create and polish their magnum opus. Cuphead is a classic run and gun adventure that heavily emphasizes on boss battles.

Where it drifts furthest from Duck Paradox: game mode and combat.

Genre100Tone83Visuals44Combat42Game mode26

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Steam GOG Xbox

#2DownwellClosest overall match

iRank85

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreProceduralPixel Art2D

Steam👍 97%· 8.5KRAWG👍 76%· 457MC81IGDB78· 8OC83· 44

Year 2015Dev Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · iOS

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

≠ Its own twist: vibe casual, ranged combat and fantasy world, while skipping sandbox freedom

This is a procedurally generated rogue-lite, that lets players to explore the depths of a well. Taking a role of Welltaro, local curious man, players will drop down the well to kill monsters and collect the treasure.

It predates Duck Paradox by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Combat75World67Tone64

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Steam GOG PS

#3Cave Story+Closest on tone

iRank86

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreNarrative2DPixel Art

Steam👍 93%· 8.0KRAWG👍 79%· 316MC83IGDB81· 1OC88· 16

Year 2010Dev NicalisPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

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

≠ Where it differs: brings Metroidvania exploration, ranged combat and setting scifi, while skipping roguelike runs

Cave Story is a game in the Metroidvania platform-adventure genre, first released on PC in 2004. The game is set in deep dark caves on a floating island. The island is inhabited by a race of intelligent rabbit-like creatures called Mimigas.

It predates Duck Paradox by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Combat82

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreNarrativeRanged

Steam👍 98%· 20KRAWG👍 91%· 245MC88IGDB89· 6OC89· 81

Year 2022Dev Ben Esposito · Annapurna InteractivePlaytime ~7hOn PC · PS · Nintendo

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

≠ Stands apart with visual novel storytelling, card game strategy and ranged combat, while skipping roguelike runs

A first-person speedrunning game disguised as a shooter: every level is a short, restart-instantly puzzle where guns double as movement abilities and the real opponent is the leaderboard. The card-as-movement idea is genuinely original. The anime visual-novel dialogue between levels is the sticking point — a large share of otherwise positive players describe skipping it outright.

Where it drifts furthest from Duck Paradox: visuals and combat.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Combat49Visuals0

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Steam Nintendo

#5Metal Slug XClosest on combat

iRank85

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcore2DPixel Art

Steam👍 88%· 3.9KIGDB80· 1

Year 1999Dev SNKOn Linux · Android · PC

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

≠ Where it differs: brings multiplayer gameplay, co op and offline, while skipping roguelike runs

Where it drifts furthest from Duck Paradox: game mode.

It predates Duck Paradox by 25 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Tone73Game mode30

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Steam GOG

#6Ultimate Chicken Horse

iRank88

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcore2DMultiplayer

Steam👍 96%· 52KRAWG👍 89%· 228IGDB79· 5OC79· 23

Year 2016Dev NVIDIA Lightspeed Studios · Clever Endeavour GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

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

≠ Where it differs: brings racing gameplay, vibe casual and competitive edge, while skipping roguelike runs

Ever wish you were a wall-jumping, arrow-dodging, trap-setting horse, besting your animal pals in a race through a peril-laden obstacle course that you all built together? Wish Granted! Ultimate Chicken Horse is a party platformer where you and your friends build the level as you play, placing deadly traps before trying to reach the end of the level.

Where it drifts furthest from Duck Paradox: game mode and tone.

It predates Duck Paradox by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Visuals58Tone40Game mode15

GenreShooterSubgenreFPS

SoloMelee

Steam👍 93%· 43

Year 2015Dev Ivan Zanotti's MyMadnessWorks · Gamera GamePlaytime ~4hOn PC · iOS

✓ Nearly identical: shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling.

≠ Missing: roguelike runs.

Follow usWant to know how the game is progressing? Follow us here: DiscordWeibo About the GameFirework is an oriental horror puzzle game. The story takes place in a remote mountain village. An accidental fire at a funeral forces the police to re-investigate a closed case of massacre.

It predates Duck Paradox by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Combat100Game mode100Genre75

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeNarrativeHardcorePixel Art2D

Steam👍 96%· 5.6KRAWG👍 84%· 90MC76IGDB75· 2

Year 2016Dev Hopoo GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

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

≠ Where it differs: brings dark, oppressive atmosphere, stealth mechanics and ranged combat, while skipping adventure storytelling

DEADBOLT is an extremely challenging stealth-action hybrid that allows you to take control of the reaper to quell the recent undead uprising. Play and complete missions given to you by the mysterious fireplace as you become the avatar of death.

Where it drifts furthest from Duck Paradox: combat.

It predates Duck Paradox by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Tone82Combat35

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Steam GOG PS

#9Defy Gravity Extended

iRank56

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcore2DCasual

Steam👍 86%· 8.5KRAWG👍 12%· 162

Year 2016Dev Paul Fisch · Fish Factory GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC

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

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, vibe casual and setting scifi, while skipping adventure storytelling

Defy Gravity is an action platformer that is a mix between classic platforming and gravity based puzzle solving. Kara, our heroine, has access to a unique gameplay mechanic that she uses to manipulate the world around her.

Where it drifts furthest from Duck Paradox: tone.

It predates Duck Paradox by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals58Tone49

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Steam

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