Metal Slug X

45 Games like Metal Slug X that you should try

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Metal Slug X is hard to replace: few games combine shooter, punishing difficulty and melee combat in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 12 gameplay attributes and found 45 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Clone Drone in the Danger Zone, Helldivers and Nuclear Throne lead the list, with Clone Drone in the Danger Zone reaching a 95/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Metal Slug X special.

iRank84/ 100

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

Tags

HardcoreSoloMultiplayer

Year 1999Dev SNK

Stores

Steam ↗GOG ↗

Quick answer

The closest game to Metal Slug X is Clone Drone in the Danger Zone — scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. Helldivers and Nuclear Throne follow close behind.

#1Clone Drone in the Danger Zone95 #2Helldivers96 #3Nuclear Throne95 #4Doom93 #5Cuphead93

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Games like Metal Slug X

45 similar games found

#1Clone Drone in the Danger Zone

95

iRank94

Clone Drone in the Danger Zone

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcorePixel Art

Steam👍 96%· 38KRAWG👍 90%· 57

Year 2016Dev Doborog GamesPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: fighting mechanics, deep simulation and deep RPG systems, while skipping precision platforming

Steam Epic Xbox

96

iRank87

Helldivers

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

Co-opOfflineMultiplayerSoloMeleeHardcore

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, setting scifi and setting space, while skipping precision platforming

#3Nuclear Throne

95

iRank89

Nuclear Throne

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeHardcorePixel Art2D

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 precision platforming

93

iRank93

Doom

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcore

Steam👍 96%· 218KIGDB87· 28

Year 2016Dev id Software · Bethesda SoftworksOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

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

≠ Where it differs: brings roguelike runs, horror tension and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping precision platforming

93

iRank91

Cuphead

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeHardcore2D

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 action RPG combat, deep RPG systems and ranged combat, while skipping visual pixel

#6Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

93

iRank87

Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcore

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, setting scifi and online features, while skipping precision platforming

#7The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

91

iRank91

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloCo-opMultiplayerOfflineMeleeHardcorePixel Art2D

Steam👍 97%· 392KRAWG👍 87%· 1.2KMC86IGDB95· 2OC87· 27

Year 2014Dev NicalisPlaytime ~31hOn PC · PS · Xbox

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

≠ Its own twist: roguelike runs, deep RPG systems and puzzle design, while skipping precision platforming

#8Enter the Gungeon

92

iRank87

Enter the Gungeon

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeHardcorePixel Art2D

Steam👍 95%· 89KRAWG👍 82%· 1.1KMC84IGDB83· 13OC84· 79

Year 2016Dev Dodge Roll · Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox

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

≠ Where it differs: brings roguelike runs, deep RPG systems and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping precision platforming

92

iRank84

Returnal

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloCo-opMultiplayerMeleeHardcore

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 precision platforming

91

iRank88

Brotato

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeHardcore2D

Steam👍 96%· 114KRAWG👍 84%· 142OC75· 6

Year 2022Dev BlobfishPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

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

≠ Where it differs: brings roguelike runs, survival mechanics and deep RPG systems, while skipping precision platforming

#11Ultimate Chicken Horse

91

iRank88

Ultimate Chicken Horse

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

MultiplayerOfflineCo-opSoloMeleeHardcore2D

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 visual pixel

#12Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

90

iRank89

Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeHardcore

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 setting scifi, while skipping precision platforming

89

iRank92

Postal

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerMeleeHardcoreNarrative

Steam👍 92%· 14K

Year 1997Dev Running With Scissors · Ripcord GamesOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: horror tension, strong narrative focus and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping precision platforming

#14SCP: Secret Laboratory

88

iRank91

SCP: Secret Laboratory

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

MultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcoreOnline

Steam👍 91%· 230K

Year 2017Dev Northwood StudiosOn PC

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

≠ Stands apart with deep RPG systems, horror tension and survival mechanics, while skipping precision platforming

88

iRank88

Roboquest

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcore

Steam👍 95%· 24KRAWG👍 84%· 44IGDB83· 3OC85· 12

Year 2020Dev RyseUp StudiosPlaytime ~4hOn PC

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

≠ Where it differs: brings roguelike runs, procedural generation and ranged combat, while skipping precision platforming

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Metal Slug X?: The closest game to Metal Slug X is Clone Drone in the Danger Zone, scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. They share 8 gameplay attributes, including shooter, first-person shooting and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Metal Slug X?: The three closest games to Metal Slug X are: 1. Clone Drone in the Danger Zone (95/100, 8 shared attributes) 2. Helldivers (96/100, 8 shared attributes) 3. Nuclear Throne (95/100, 11 shared attributes). All share Metal Slug X's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 45 candidates across 12 dimensions.
Is Helldivers similar to Metal Slug X?: Yes, very much so — Helldivers scores 96/100 similarity to Metal Slug X. They share 8 attributes, including shooter and first-person shooting. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Shooter games are similar to Metal Slug X?: The best Shooter games similar to Metal Slug X are Clone Drone in the Danger Zone, Helldivers, Nuclear Throne and Doom. All share the Shooter genre alongside other key Metal Slug X attributes like shooter, first-person shooting and single-player focus.
How is similarity to Metal Slug X calculated?: We compare Metal Slug X against every game in our catalog using 12 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 X experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.