10 Hardcore games like Intravenous 2 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 43 games similar to Intravenous 2 down to the 10 that fit the “Hardcore” category. Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad, Insurgency: Sandstorm and Amnesia: The Bunker top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Intravenous 2.

iRank87/ 100

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GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

The best hardcore games like Intravenous 2

10 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Intravenous 2. Each one has been evaluated across 17 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.

#1Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of StalingradClosest overall match

iRank93

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

SoloTacticalStealthMeleeNarrativeHardcoreDarkOpen World

Steam👍 93%· 38K

Year 2011Dev Tripwire InteractiveOn Linux · PC

✓ Both are immersive sims — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and deep simulation

≠ Its own twist: turn-based strategy, historical setting and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping adventure storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Intravenous 2: visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Intravenous 2.

It predates Intravenous 2 by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone100World100Combat85Game mode54Visuals0

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Steam

#2Insurgency: Sandstorm

iRank82

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

SoloTacticalMeleeDarkHardcoreNarrativeOpen World

Steam👍 85%· 132KIGDB77· 6OC79· 58

Year 2018Dev New World Interactive · Focus EntertainmentOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the immersive sims cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and deep simulation

≠ Its own twist: historical setting, multiplayer gameplay and co op, while skipping adventure storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Intravenous 2: visuals and game mode.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Intravenous 2.

Genre100Tone100World100Combat57Game mode19Visuals0

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Steam Epic Xbox

#3Amnesia: The BunkerClosest on game mode

iRank87

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloStealthMeleeNarrativeHardcoreDarkOpen World

Steam👍 93%· 12KIGDB85· 4OC77· 97

Year 2023Dev Frictional GamesOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Like Intravenous 2, it's known for adventure storytelling, shooter and first-person shooting

≠ Stands apart with survival mechanics, horror tension and puzzle design, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Intravenous 2: visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Intravenous 2.

Game mode100Tone100Combat65World65Genre50Visuals0

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Steam GOG Epic

#4Control

iRank85

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMeleeNarrativeDarkHardcoreOpen World

Steam👍 86%· 60KIGDB83· 15OC84· 183

Year 2019Dev Remedy Entertainment · 505 GamesOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Like Intravenous 2, it's known for adventure storytelling, shooter and first-person shooting

≠ Where it differs: brings third-person shooting, horror tension and Metroidvania exploration, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Intravenous 2: visuals and combat.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Intravenous 2.

Game mode100Tone100World100Genre50Combat28Visuals0

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Steam Epic Xbox

#5HatredClosest on visuals

iRank63

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMeleeDarkNarrativeHardcoreOpen WorldIsometricTop-Down

Steam👍 84%· 28KIGDB43· 3OC40· 30

Year 2015Dev Destructive CreationsOn Linux · PC · Switch

✓ If you enjoyed Intravenous 2, expect shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Its own twist: horror tension, third-person shooting and survival mechanics, while skipping adventure storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Intravenous 2: combat.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Intravenous 2.

It predates Intravenous 2 by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Game mode100Tone100World100Visuals71Genre50Combat24

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Steam

#6Shadow Tactics: Aiko's Choice

iRank91

GenreActionSubgenreStealth

SoloStealthTacticalMeleeNarrativeHardcoreDarkIsometric

Steam👍 93%· 4.8KIGDB87· 3

Year 2021Dev Mimimi Productions · Daedalic EntertainmentPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Linux

✓ Like Intravenous 2, it's known for adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, real-time strategy and survival mechanics, while skipping shooter

A standalone expansion to Shadow Tactics set in the same Edo-period Japan, with the same real-time squad stealth: pause, plan, and execute several characters' actions at once. If you finished the original and want more, this is exactly that. It is also only three real missions long, reuses maps from the base game, and adds nothing mechanically new.

Where it drifts furthest from Intravenous 2: visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Intravenous 2.

Game mode100Tone100Combat85Genre50Visuals41

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Steam

#7I Expect You To Die

iRank86

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

SoloMeleeHardcoreNarrativeOpen World

Steam👍 94%· 2.8KRAWG👍 87%· 76MC76IGDB80· 6OC83· 13

Year 2016Dev Schell GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS

✓ Both are immersive sims — sharing adventure storytelling, deep simulation and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design and visual first person, while skipping shooter

** AGENT, YOUR EXPLOSIVE, FINAL MISSION 'OPERATION: DEATH ENGINE' IS NOW AVAILABLE ** I Expect You To Die is a virtual reality puzzle game that places you in the well-polished shoes of an elite secret agent. You must attempt to survive deadly situations in immersive and dangerous locales.

Where it drifts furthest from Intravenous 2: visuals and combat.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Intravenous 2.

It predates Intravenous 2 by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Tone76Combat26Visuals0

GenreActionSubgenreStealth

SoloStealthTacticalMeleeHardcoreNarrativeIsometric

Steam👍 97%· 16KRAWG👍 90%· 218MC84IGDB86· 9OC85· 118

Year 2020Dev Mimimi Productions · THQ NordicPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Shared with Intravenous 2: punishing difficulty, strong narrative focus and stealth mechanics

≠ Its own twist: real-time strategy, historical setting and visual third person, while skipping shooter

Desperados III is a modern real-time tactics game set in a ruthless Wild West scenario. You take control of a ragtag band becoming a highly functional group of unlikely heroes and heroines.

Where it drifts furthest from Intravenous 2: visuals.

Game mode100Combat84Tone70Genre50Visuals38

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Steam GOG Xbox

#9Hitman: Codename 47Closest on combat

iRank71

GenreActionSubgenreStealth

SoloStealthTacticalMeleeRangedHardcore

Steam👍 71%· 4.9KRAWG👍 77%· 597MC73IGDB60· 2

Year 2000Dev IO Interactive · Square EnixPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ If you enjoyed Intravenous 2, expect shooter, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings third-person shooting and visual third person, while skipping first-person shooting

The game that started the Hitman franchise. The protagonist is a talented yet nameless hitman, known only by his code number 47. He has no past, as he is a clone created by a mad scientist. In the beginning, 47 is being held in a mental hospital, before he escapes to become a killer for hire.

Where it drifts furthest from Intravenous 2: visuals and tone.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Intravenous 2.

It predates Intravenous 2 by 24 years, with what that implies technically.

Combat100Game mode100Genre50Tone49Visuals0

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Steam GOG

#10Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun

iRank89

GenreActionSubgenreStealth

SoloStealthTacticalMeleeHardcoreIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 38KRAWG👍 86%· 465MC85IGDB86· 12OC83· 77

Year 2016Dev Daedalic EntertainmentPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed Intravenous 2, expect deep simulation, punishing difficulty and stealth mechanics

≠ Where it differs: brings real-time strategy and historical setting, while skipping shooter

The game takes place in Japan during the Edo period (early 17th century). The new shogun united Japan after many years of war, but a conspiracy arises against him, the leader of which is hiding under the name Kage-sama. The shogun orders the samurai Mugen to find out who Kage-sama really is.

Where it drifts furthest from Intravenous 2: visuals and tone.

It predates Intravenous 2 by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Game mode100Combat85Genre50Tone49Visuals39

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Steam GOG Epic

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