Exophobia

19 Games with a sci-fi setting like Exophobia 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 41 games similar to Exophobia down to the 19 that fit the “Sci-Fi” category. Downwell, Defy Gravity Extended and Returnal top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Exophobia.

iRank87/ 100

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

Tags

HardcoreSolo

Year 2024Dev Zarc Attack

Stores

Steam ↗GOG ↗PS ↗Nintendo ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Sci-Fi” category, the closest game to Exophobia is Downwell — scoring 75/100 on our similarity scale. Defy Gravity Extended and Returnal follow close behind.

#1Downwell75 #2Defy Gravity Extended64 #3Returnal61 #4Helldivers57 #5Freaking Meatbags51

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The best games with a sci-fi setting like Exophobia

19 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Exophobia. Each one has been evaluated across 13 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.

#1DownwellClosest on genre

75

Downwell

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreFantasySci-FiPixel Art

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 adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: precision platforming, roguelike runs and vibe casual, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

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 Exophobia by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Combat76Tone70Setting70Visuals60

#2Defy Gravity ExtendedClosest on combat

64

Defy Gravity Extended

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiSpace

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 punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, precision platforming and vibe casual, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

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 Exophobia: visuals.

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

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting85Tone52Visuals0

#3ReturnalClosest on progression

61

Returnal

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiSpaceExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 81%· 10KIGDB90· 19OC86· 201

Year 2021Dev Housemarque · Sony Interactive EntertainmentOn PC · PS5

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Stands apart with roguelike runs, third-person shooting and horror tension, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Where it drifts furthest from Exophobia: game mode and visuals.

Genre100Combat100Progression100Setting74Tone69Visuals47

#4HelldiversClosest on tone

57

Helldivers

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiSpace

Steam👍 90%· 33KIGDB84· 6OC83· 45

Year 2015Dev Arrowhead Game Studios · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings survival mechanics, co op and online features, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Where it drifts furthest from Exophobia: visuals and game mode.

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

Genre100Combat100Tone100Setting85Game mode15Visuals0

#5Freaking Meatbags

51

Freaking Meatbags

GenreShooterSubgenreFPS

SoloMeleeSci-FiSpacePixel Art

Steam👍 86%· 173MC69

Year 2014Dev Wild Factor · Plug In DigitalPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Like Exophobia, it's known for shooter, first-person shooting and melee combat

≠ Where it differs: brings tower defense planning, real-time strategy and survival mechanics, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Freaking Meatbags throws you into a futuristic world where robots have jobs, cephalopods aren't confined to a single dimension, and humans pretty much just stand around talking to themselves.

Where it drifts furthest from Exophobia: progression.

It predates Exophobia by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Combat100Game mode100Setting85Genre75Visuals54Progression0

#6Cave Story+Closest overall match

86

Cave Story+

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiExplorationPixel 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 Metroidvania exploration

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, strong narrative focus and ranged combat, while skipping setting space

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.

Where it drifts furthest from Exophobia: setting.

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

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Combat82Tone79Visuals58

70

MDK2

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiNarrative

Steam👍 81%· 237IGDB90· 1

Year 2000Dev BioWare · Interplay EntertainmentOn PC

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, third-person shooting and puzzle design, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Where it drifts furthest from Exophobia: visuals and setting.

It predates Exophobia by 24 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone82Setting32Visuals0

69

Ruiner

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiDark

Steam👍 89%· 12KIGDB76· 12OC77· 88

Year 2017Dev Reikon Games · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, deep RPG systems and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Where it drifts furthest from Exophobia: visuals and setting.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone62Setting30Visuals0

66

Hard Reset

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 82%· 4.9KIGDB70· 4

Year 2011Dev Flying Wild HogOn PC

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, procedural generation and setting cyberpunk, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Where it drifts furthest from Exophobia: setting.

It predates Exophobia by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals58Progression53

#10Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

64

Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 93%· 8.8KIGDB74· 2

Year 2009Dev Croteam · Devolver DigitalOn PC

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with dark, oppressive atmosphere, multiplayer gameplay and co op, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Where it drifts furthest from Exophobia: game mode and setting.

It predates Exophobia by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Tone72Visuals58Setting38Game mode28

#11SuperHot: Mind Control Delete

63

SuperHot: Mind Control Delete

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 84%· 13KIGDB84· 10OC81· 70

Year 2020Dev SUPERHOT TeamOn Xbox · PS4 · Linux

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, strong narrative focus and setting cyberpunk, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Where it drifts furthest from Exophobia: setting.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone77Visuals59Setting33

#12S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

62

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 95%· 48KRAWG👍 86%· 1.4KMC82IGDB80· 2

Year 2007Dev GSC Game WorldPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, survival mechanics and sandbox freedom, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

This post-apocalyptic game that spawned the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise is inspired by (but not really based on) the 'Roadside Picnic' novel by brothers Strugatsky and Tarkovsky's movie 'Stalker', borrowing some of the terms and aesthetics from both. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

Where it drifts furthest from Exophobia: setting and combat.

It predates Exophobia by 17 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression100Visuals58Game mode56Tone43Combat33

#13Nuclear Throne

62

Nuclear Throne

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiPixel Art

Steam👍 96%· 20KRAWG👍 83%· 301IGDB84· 4OC86· 24

Year 2015Dev VlambeerPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: roguelike runs, deep RPG systems and procedural generation, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Nuclear Throne is a top-down roguelike shooter, set in a post-apocalyptic universe. ###Plot and features The game has a sole objective: to reach the famed Nuclear Throne. The player controls one of the many mutated characters.

Where it drifts furthest from Exophobia: game mode and setting.

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

Genre100Tone100Combat57Visuals45Setting37Game mode28

#14BLUE REVOLVER

60

BLUE REVOLVER

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiPixel Art

Steam👍 99%· 868

Year 2016Dev Stellar CirclePlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings ranged combat, setting anime and visual isometric, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Ever feel like the world doesn't understand your talents? Mae is a rabbit-eared genius programmer, able to manipulate reality with a few keystrokes or - the more fun option - blow up large swathes of reality in one of her custom-built Devices.

Where it drifts furthest from Exophobia: setting and combat.

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

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals50Combat44Setting39

#15Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

60

Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 3.4KRAWG👍 85%· 603MC87IGDB83· 3

Year 2001Dev Croteam · Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Nintendo

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

Arena combat at absurd scale: dozens of enemies charging in open Egyptian ruins, with backpedalling and crowd control as the entire skill set. The cannon and minigun are gloriously heavy. There is almost no variety beyond that — no puzzles, minimal level design, and the loop of holding a corridor against a horde repeats for the full runtime.

Where it drifts furthest from Exophobia: game mode and setting.

It predates Exophobia by 23 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone69Visuals58Combat52Setting48Game mode28

Complete list of games with a sci-fi setting like Exophobia

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Exophobia, 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.

Clone Drone in the Danger Zone

Clone Drone in the Danger Zone

Shooter · FPS

Quake Live

Quake Live

Shooter · FPS

Doom

Doom

Shooter · FPS

Quake III Arena

Quake III Arena

Shooter · FPS

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Rankings in the same genre

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