34 Melee games like Musashi vs. Cthulhu 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 48 games similar to Musashi vs. Cthulhu down to the 34 that fit the “Melee” category. Guacamelee! Gold Edition, Dust: An Elysian Tail and ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Musashi vs. Cthulhu.

iRank87/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

The best melee games like Musashi vs. Cthulhu

34 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Musashi vs. Cthulhu. Each one has been evaluated across 14 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.

#1Guacamelee! Gold EditionClosest overall match

iRank89

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

Co-opSoloMeleeExploration2D

Steam👍 93%· 6.0KRAWG👍 79%· 305MC88IGDB94· 2

Year 2013Playtime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Shared with Musashi vs. Cthulhu: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and Metroidvania exploration

≠ Stands apart with fantasy world, multiplayer gameplay and offline, while skipping punishing difficulty

Guacamelee! Gold Edition is the enhanced edition of Guacamelee! that features all downloadable content for the original game and supports Steam Workshop to create and share custom character skins. In its core Guacamelee! is a 2D Metroidvania with platforming and brawling elements. Guacamelee!

Where it drifts furthest from Musashi vs. Cthulhu: setting.

It predates Musashi vs. Cthulhu by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Progression100Visuals100Game mode59Setting0

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Steam GOG

#2Dust: An Elysian Tail

iRank84

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMeleeAnimeExploration2D

Steam👍 95%· 19KRAWG👍 67%· 626MC84IGDB82· 7

Year 2012Dev Humble Hearts · Microsoft StudiosPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Shared with Musashi vs. Cthulhu: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and precision platforming

≠ Its own twist: strong narrative focus, fantasy world and crafting mechanics, while skipping punishing difficulty

Dust: an Elysian Tale is an action role-playing game with metroidvania elements set in an imaginary world called Falana. Dust, the main character, with his sentient sword called Blade of Ahrah and guardian Fidget explores the “2D” side-scrolled environments.

Where it drifts furthest from Musashi vs. Cthulhu: tone.

It predates Musashi vs. Cthulhu by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode76Progression64Setting62

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Steam GOG Xbox

#3ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist

iRank91

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMeleeHardcoreAnimeExploration2D

Steam👍 95%· 18KIGDB90· 2OC86· 68

Year 2025Dev Live Wire · Binary Haze InteractivePlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Shared with Musashi vs. Cthulhu: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and Metroidvania exploration

≠ Stands apart with dark, oppressive atmosphere, strong narrative focus and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping fighting mechanics

STORYSet in the Land of Fumes, this prosperous magical superpower is home to vast quantities of magical resources lurking underneath the surface. In hopes of advancing their kingdom's development, artificial life forms known as Homunculi came into being.

Where it drifts furthest from Musashi vs. Cthulhu: tone.

Genre100Combat100Progression100Visuals100Game mode76Setting56

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMeleeExploration2DSci-Fi

Steam👍 81%· 4.2KRAWG👍 54%· 333MC78IGDB78· 16OC77· 62

Year 2012Dev Capcom · SEGAPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Like Musashi vs. Cthulhu, it's known for deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and precision platforming

≠ Its own twist: setting scifi and setting cyberpunk, while skipping fighting mechanics

Strider is a platforming hack and slash game developed by Double Helix Games. The game is a reboot of 1989 title, yet the developers didn't intend the game to be viewed as one. The title retells the original game's story.

Where it drifts furthest from Musashi vs. Cthulhu: setting.

It predates Musashi vs. Cthulhu by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Progression100Visuals100Game mode76Setting0

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Steam Xbox PS

#5BlazBlue Entropy Effect

iRank91

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMeleeHardcoreAnime2D

Steam👍 94%· 35KOC84· 14

Year 2023Dev 91ActPlaytime ~8hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ If you enjoyed Musashi vs. Cthulhu, expect deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus, procedural generation and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping fighting mechanics

A brand-new action roguelite developed by a team with years of experience in action games, ready to present the best 2D action combat experience the world has ever seen! Each character has their own traits and hundreds of moves to choose from as you create your unique combos.

Where it drifts furthest from Musashi vs. Cthulhu: setting.

Genre100Combat100Game mode72Tone65Visuals58Setting41

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Steam

#6UnEpic

iRank79

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloCo-opMeleeExploration2D

Steam👍 91%· 8.1KRAWG👍 81%· 253MC68IGDB68· 4OC72· 24

Year 2011Dev @unepic_fran · EnjoyUp GamesPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed Musashi vs. Cthulhu, expect deep RPG systems, precision platforming and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, combat magic and fantasy world, while skipping action RPG combat

Unepic is a 2D platformer game with role-playing elements. The story follows Daniel, a sci-fi, and video games geek that one day was teleported into a fantasy world and found himself in a giant castle. The game’s dialogues, storyline, and aesthetics heavily relies on humor with a lot of geek-culture references and mocking on sci-fi and fantasy clichés.

Where it drifts furthest from Musashi vs. Cthulhu: setting.

It predates Musashi vs. Cthulhu by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression100Game mode74Visuals73Combat69Setting0

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Steam GOG Xbox

#7Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMelee2DPixel Art

Year 1990Dev Tecmo Koei Games

✓ Like Musashi vs. Cthulhu, it's known for deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and precision platforming

≠ Stands apart with visual pixel, while skipping fighting mechanics

It predates Musashi vs. Cthulhu by 34 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode75Visuals72

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Nintendo

#8Chasm

iRank72

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMeleeExploration2DProcedural

Steam👍 73%· 2.7KIGDB70· 8OC72· 39

Year 2018Dev Bit Kid, Inc.On PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ If you enjoyed Musashi vs. Cthulhu, expect deep RPG systems, Metroidvania exploration and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with roguelike runs, procedural generation and fantasy world, while skipping action RPG combat

Where it drifts furthest from Musashi vs. Cthulhu: setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Musashi vs. Cthulhu.

Genre100Combat100Progression100Game mode76Visuals54Setting0

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Steam GOG PS

#9Shantae and the Pirate's CurseClosest on setting

iRank87

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMeleeAnimeExploration2D

Steam👍 93%· 3.0KIGDB82· 5OC81· 52

Year 2014Dev WayForward · Rising Star GamesOn PS4 · PC · PS5

✓ If you enjoyed Musashi vs. Cthulhu, expect deep RPG systems, precision platforming and Metroidvania exploration

≠ Where it differs: brings cozy, relaxing feel, combat magic and visual pixel, while skipping action RPG combat

Where it drifts furthest from Musashi vs. Cthulhu: tone.

It predates Musashi vs. Cthulhu by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Setting100Progression100Game mode76Combat68Visuals63

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Steam GOG Xbox

#10Katana ZERO

iRank90

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMeleeHardcore2DNarrative

Steam👍 98%· 75KRAWG👍 90%· 1.1KMC83IGDB85· 8OC84· 72

Year 2019Dev Askiisoft · Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

✓ Shared with Musashi vs. Cthulhu: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and precision platforming

≠ Its own twist: strong narrative focus, dark, oppressive atmosphere and setting cyberpunk, while skipping fighting mechanics

Katana ZERO is a fast paced neo-noir action platformer, focusing on tight, instant-death acrobatic combat, and a dark 80's neon aesthetic.

Where it drifts furthest from Musashi vs. Cthulhu: setting and tone.

Genre100Combat100Game mode76Visuals51Tone46Setting0

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Steam GOG Xbox

#11Alex Kidd in Miracle World

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMelee2DFantasy

Year 1986Dev Sega Enterprises, Ltd.On PlayStation 3

✓ If you enjoyed Musashi vs. Cthulhu, expect deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and precision platforming

≠ Where it differs: brings fantasy world, while skipping fighting mechanics

Where it drifts furthest from Musashi vs. Cthulhu: setting.

It predates Musashi vs. Cthulhu by 38 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode75Setting0

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#12Islets

iRank88

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMeleeExploration2DNarrative

Steam👍 96%· 2.3KRAWG👍 87%· 29IGDB81· 2OC79· 19

Year 2022Dev Kyle Thompson · Armor Games StudiosPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Xbox · Nintendo

✓ Like Musashi vs. Cthulhu, it's known for deep RPG systems, Metroidvania exploration and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus, cozy, relaxing feel and open world exploration, while skipping action RPG combat

Iko is an aspiring yet hopeful warrior exploring the land and sky to reunite a series of floating islands. With his rickety airship, he must travel from island to island in order to reignite each one’s magnetic core while fighting off the many adversaries standing in his way.

Where it drifts furthest from Musashi vs. Cthulhu: tone and setting.

Genre100Combat100Progression100Visuals100Game mode76Tone0

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Steam GOG

#13The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile

iRank93

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

Co-opSoloMeleeHardcore2D

Steam👍 95%· 1.8KIGDB88· 4

Year 2017Dev Ska StudiosPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ If you enjoyed Musashi vs. Cthulhu, expect deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and fighting mechanics

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

Three marks remain. Embark on a blood soaked quest of vengeance as either Yuki, a machine-armed, mentally unraveling prisoner, or The Dishwasher, a relentless, reanimated samurai, against the corrupted leaders of society: the Banker, the General, and the Judge.

Where it drifts furthest from Musashi vs. Cthulhu: setting and tone.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode75Tone45Setting0

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Steam

#14Battletoads

iRank73

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloCo-opMelee2DMultiplayer

OC73· 115

Year 1991Dev Rare · Masaya

✓ Like Musashi vs. Cthulhu, it's known for deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and precision platforming

≠ Stands apart with setting scifi, setting cyberpunk and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping fighting mechanics

Where it drifts furthest from Musashi vs. Cthulhu: setting.

It predates Musashi vs. Cthulhu by 33 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode75Setting0

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#15The Revenge of Shinobi

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMelee2D

Year 1989Dev Sega Enterprises, Ltd.On PlayStation 3 · Linux · Android

✓ Nearly identical: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and precision platforming.

≠ Missing: fighting mechanics.

It predates Musashi vs. Cthulhu by 35 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode76

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Steam

Complete list of melee games like Musashi vs. Cthulhu

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Musashi vs. Cthulhu, 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.