Metal Slug 3

16 Melee games like Metal Slug 3 that you should try

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Metal Slug 3 down to the 16 that fit the “Melee” category. New Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Kirby's Dream Land 3 top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Metal Slug 3.

iRank82/ 100

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GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

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DarkSoloMultiplayer

Year 2000Dev SNK

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Quick answer

Within the “Melee” category, the closest game to Metal Slug 3 is New Super Mario Bros. — scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Kirby's Dream Land 3 follow close behind.

#1New Super Mario Bros.97 #2Sonic the Hedgehog 293 #3Kirby's Dream Land 393 #4Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land92 #5Sonic Lost World92

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The best melee games like Metal Slug 3

16 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.

97

New Super Mario Bros.

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

#2Sonic the Hedgehog 2

93

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

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

#3Kirby's Dream Land 3

93

Kirby's Dream Land 3

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMelee2D

Year 1997Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo

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

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

#4Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

92

Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerMelee2D

IGDB70· 1

Year 2002Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo

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

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

#5Sonic Lost World

92

Sonic Lost World

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerMelee2DThird Person

Steam👍 62%· 5.5KIGDB58· 14

Year 2013Dev Sonic Team · NintendoOn PC

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

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling and visual third person, while skipping shooter

#6Gunstar Heroes

91

Gunstar Heroes

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

91

Metal Slug 2

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

#8Rayman Origins

89

Rayman Origins

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

#9Kirby: Squeak Squad

88

Kirby: Squeak Squad

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerMelee2DOffline

IGDB65· 2

Year 2006Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo

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

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

#10Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

88

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerMelee2DOffline

Year 2000Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo

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

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

88

Sonic Mania

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMelee2DPixel Art

Steam👍 94%· 28KIGDB85· 16OC87· 126

Year 2017Dev Headcannon · SegaOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

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

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, vibe casual and offline, while skipping shooter

Steam Epic Xbox

#12Metal Slug 5

86

Metal Slug 5

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloCo-opMelee2DTactical

IGDB50· 1

Year 2003Dev Noise Factory · SNK PlaymoreOn PC

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

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling and combat tactical, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

86

Ristar

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMeleeSci-Fi2DPixel Art

Steam👍 100%· 11

Year 1995Dev Sega Enterprises, Ltd. · Tec ToyOn Linux · Android · PC

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

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, while skipping shooter

#14Gravity Circuit

86

Gravity Circuit

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMeleeSci-Fi2DPixel Art

Steam👍 94%· 3.5KMC89IGDB90· 1OC86· 14

Year 2023Dev Domesticated Ants · Plug In DigitalPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, melee combat and setting scifi

≠ Where it differs: brings fighting mechanics, while skipping shooter

#15Super Mario Bros.

86

Super Mario Bros.

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerMelee2DPixel Art

Year 1985Dev Nintendo R&D4 · Playtronic

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

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

Complete list of melee games like Metal Slug 3

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.

Duke Nukem

Duke Nukem

Platformer · Shooter

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