What is the best game similar to Metal Slug 3?

The closest game to Metal Slug 3 is New Super Mario Bros., scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 7 gameplay attributes, including precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like Metal Slug 3?

The three closest games to Metal Slug 3 are: 1. New Super Mario Bros. (97/100, 7 shared attributes) 2. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (93/100, 8 shared attributes) 3. LittleBigPlanet (91/100, 5 shared attributes). All share Metal Slug 3's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 10 dimensions.

Is Sonic the Hedgehog 2 similar to Metal Slug 3?

Yes, very much so — Sonic the Hedgehog 2 scores 93/100 similarity to Metal Slug 3. They share 8 attributes, including precision platforming and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What Platformer games are similar to Metal Slug 3?

The best Platformer games similar to Metal Slug 3 are New Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog 2, LittleBigPlanet and Donkey Kong Country Returns. All share the Platformer genre alongside other key Metal Slug 3 attributes like precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.

How is similarity to Metal Slug 3 calculated?

We compare Metal Slug 3 against every game in our catalog using 10 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 Metal Slug 3 experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

50 Games like Metal Slug 3 that you should try

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Looking for games like Metal Slug 3? We analyzed its gameplay DNA — precision platforming, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat — against over 6,700 titles. These 50 alternatives are ranked by real similarity, not marketing tags. New Super Mario Bros. leads with 97/100, followed by the rest of the list.

iRank82/ 100

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GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

Top games similar to Metal Slug 3

50 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Metal Slug 3. Each one has been evaluated across 10 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.

#1New Super Mario Bros.

iRank95

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDark2D

IGDB95· 2

Year 2006Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development · Nintendo

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, while skipping shooter

Details →

Nintendo

#2Sonic the Hedgehog 2

iRank87

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeSci-Fi2DPixel Art

Steam👍 86%· 37IGDB90· 2

Year 1992Dev Sega Technical Institute · SegaOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, melee combat and setting scifi

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling and offline, while skipping shooter

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2DSandbox World

IGDB96· 9

Year 2008Dev Media Molecule · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay

≠ Stands apart with sandbox freedom, sandbox world and fantasy world, while skipping shooter

Details →

#4Donkey Kong Country Returns

iRank86

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2D

IGDB86· 7

Year 2010Dev Retro Studios · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.

≠ Missing: shooter.

Details →

Nintendo

#5Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

iRank85

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2D

IGDB86· 12OC84· 138

Year 2014Dev Retro Studios · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.

≠ Missing: shooter.

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2D

IGDB85· 4

Year 2010Dev Good-Feel · Nintendo

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, while skipping shooter

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

MultiplayerCo-opSoloMelee2DPixel Art

Steam👍 89%· 1.4K

Year 1998Dev DotEmu · SNK PlaymoreOn PlayStation 3 · Android · PC

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, shooter and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, first-person shooting and fantasy world, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opSci-Fi2D

IGDB87· 10OC88· 69

Year 2020Dev BlitWorks · MossmouthOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, setting scifi and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, roguelike runs and procedural generation, while skipping shooter

Details →

PS Nintendo

#9New Super Mario Bros. Wii

iRank81

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2D

IGDB81· 4

Year 2009Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development · Nintendo

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, while skipping shooter

Details →

#10Gunstar Heroes

iRank83

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

Co-opSoloMultiplayerMeleeSci-Fi2DPixel Art

Steam👍 94%· 16IGDB60· 1

Year 1993Dev Treasure · Tec ToyOn PlayStation 3 · Linux · Android

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, shooter and melee combat

≠ Where it differs: brings combat tactical and offline, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMelee2D

Steam👍 94%· 5.9KIGDB89· 8

Year 2011Dev Ubisoft Montpellier · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Mac

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, fantasy world and offline, while skipping shooter

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#12New Super Mario Bros. U

iRank80

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2D

IGDB80· 9

Year 2012Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development · Nintendo

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, while skipping shooter

Details →

Nintendo

#13Donkey Kong Country

iRank80

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2D

IGDB80· 1

Year 1994Dev Rare · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.

≠ Missing: shooter.

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opSci-Fi2D

IGDB58· 3

Year 1988Dev KonamiOn PC

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, shooter and setting scifi

≠ Where it differs: brings visual isometric, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Details →

#15LittleBigPlanet 3

iRank79

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2DSandbox World

IGDB78· 10OC79· 57

Year 2014Dev Sumo Digital · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PS4

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and sandbox world, while skipping shooter

Details →

Complete list of Metal Slug 3 alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Metal Slug 3, 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.

Ristar

Platformer · Adventure

New Super Mario Bros. 2

Platformer · Adventure

Yoshi's Woolly World

Platformer

Sonic Rush

Platformer

Sonic Mania

Platformer · Adventure

Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

Platformer · Adventure

Kirby's Return to Dream Land

Platformer · Adventure

Gravity Circuit

Platformer · Fighting

Donkey Kong Bananza

Platformer · Adventure

Sonic Colors

Platformer · Adventure

Super Mario Maker 2

Platformer

Duke Nukem

Platformer · Shooter

Trials Evolution

Platformer · Racing

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Platformer

Yoshi's Crafted World

Platformer

Sonic Lost World

Platformer · Adventure

Kirby's Dream Land 3

Platformer · Adventure

Mario Bros.

Platformer

Kirby: Squeak Squad

Platformer · Adventure

Jazz Jackrabbit 2

Platformer · Shooter

Disney's Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers

Platformer · Adventure

Disney's Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers 2

Platformer · Adventure

Trials Rising

Platformer · Racing

Sonic & Knuckles

Platformer

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!

Platformer

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

Platformer · Adventure

Ice Climber

Platformer

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Platformer · Adventure

Metal Slug 5

Platformer · Shooter

Super Mario Bros. 3

Platformer

Doodle Jump

Platformer · Survival

Worms 2

Platformer · Shooter

Circus Charlie

Platformer

Contra: Hard Corps

Platformer · Shooter

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

Platformer · Adventure

Explore games similar to Metal Slug 3 by category

Rankings in the same genre

Best 2D Platformer Games Best Platformer Games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Metal Slug 3?: The closest game to Metal Slug 3 is New Super Mario Bros., scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 7 gameplay attributes, including precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Metal Slug 3?: The three closest games to Metal Slug 3 are: 1. New Super Mario Bros. (97/100, 7 shared attributes) 2. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (93/100, 8 shared attributes) 3. LittleBigPlanet (91/100, 5 shared attributes). All share Metal Slug 3's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 10 dimensions.
Is Sonic the Hedgehog 2 similar to Metal Slug 3?: Yes, very much so — Sonic the Hedgehog 2 scores 93/100 similarity to Metal Slug 3. They share 8 attributes, including precision platforming and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Platformer games are similar to Metal Slug 3?: The best Platformer games similar to Metal Slug 3 are New Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog 2, LittleBigPlanet and Donkey Kong Country Returns. All share the Platformer genre alongside other key Metal Slug 3 attributes like precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.
How is similarity to Metal Slug 3 calculated?: We compare Metal Slug 3 against every game in our catalog using 10 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 Metal Slug 3 experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.