Nuclear Throne

44 Games like Nuclear Throne that you should try

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Nuclear Throne is hard to replace: few games combine shooter, punishing difficulty and procedural generation in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 19 gameplay attributes and found 44 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Brotato, Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter and Roboquest lead the list, with Brotato reaching a 96/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Nuclear Throne special.

iRank86/ 100

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

Tags

HardcoreSoloMultiplayer

Year 2015Dev Vlambeer

Stores

Steam ↗GOG ↗Epic ↗Xbox ↗PS ↗Nintendo ↗

Quick answer

The closest game to Nuclear Throne is Brotato — scoring 96/100 on our similarity scale. Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter and Roboquest follow close behind.

#1Brotato96 #2Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter95 #3Roboquest95 #4Metal Slug X95 #5Enter the Gungeon95

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Games like Nuclear Throne

44 similar games found

96

iRank88

Brotato

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineRangedMeleeHardcoreProceduralSci-FiIsometricTop-Down2D

Steam👍 96%· 114KRAWG👍 84%· 142OC75· 6

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

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and roguelike runs

≠ Where it differs: brings survival mechanics, action RPG combat and fighting mechanics, while skipping adventure storytelling

#2Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

95

iRank89

Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeRangedHardcoreSci-Fi

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 and visual first person, while skipping roguelike runs

95

iRank88

Roboquest

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opRangedMeleeHardcoreProceduralPost-ApocalypticSci-Fi

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

Year 2020Dev RyseUp StudiosPlaytime ~4hOn PC

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and roguelike runs

≠ Where it differs: brings online features, loot and gear systems and visual first person, while skipping deep RPG systems

95

iRank85

Metal Slug X

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeHardcore2DPixel Art

Steam👍 88%· 3.9KIGDB80· 1

Year 1999Dev SNKOn Linux · Android · PC

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

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, while skipping roguelike runs

#5Enter the Gungeon

95

iRank87

Enter the Gungeon

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineRangedMeleeHardcoreProceduralIsometricPixel Art2DTop-Down

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 cozy, relaxing feel, fantasy world and exploration and discovery, while skipping setting scifi

93

iRank92

DOOM

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opRangedMeleeHardcoreSci-Fi

Steam👍 97%· 28KRAWG👍 91%· 837MC83IGDB90· 1

Year 1993Dev SEGAOn PC · PS · Xbox

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

≠ Stands apart with dark, oppressive atmosphere, horror setting and visual first person, while skipping roguelike runs

92

iRank91

Cuphead

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineRangedMeleeHardcore2DIsometric

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 adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with precision platforming, action RPG combat and combat magic, while skipping roguelike runs

#8The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

91

iRank91

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloCo-opMultiplayerOfflineMeleeRangedHardcoreProceduralIsometricPixel 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 roguelike runs

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, horror tension and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping setting scifi

#9Clone Drone in the Danger Zone

90

iRank94

Clone Drone in the Danger Zone

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcoreProceduralSci-FiPixel 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 deep RPG systems

≠ Its own twist: fighting mechanics, deep simulation and action RPG combat, while skipping adventure storytelling

Steam Epic Xbox

#10Paint the Town Red

91

iRank82

Paint the Town Red

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeRangedHardcoreProceduralIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 32KRAWG👍 80%· 68IGDB70· 2OC67· 13

Year 2015Dev South East GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

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

≠ Its own twist: fighting mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting, while skipping setting scifi

#11The Void Rains Upon Her Heart

86

iRank99

The Void Rains Upon Her Heart

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloRangedMeleeHardcoreProcedural2DPixel Art

Steam👍 99%· 1.9K

Year 2018Dev Veyeral Games · The Hidden LevelsPlaytime ~4hOn PC

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and roguelike runs

≠ Where it differs: brings cozy, relaxing feel, strong narrative focus and early access, while skipping deep RPG systems

89

iRank87

Helldivers

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

Co-opOfflineMultiplayerSoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiIsometricTop-Down

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 space and online features, while skipping roguelike runs

87

iRank93

Doom

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcoreSci-Fi

Steam👍 96%· 218KIGDB87· 28

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

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and roguelike runs

≠ Where it differs: brings horror tension, dark, oppressive atmosphere and strong narrative focus, while skipping deep RPG systems

#14BLUE REVOLVER

85

iRank99

BLUE REVOLVER

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloRangedMeleeHardcoreSci-FiIsometricPixel Art2D

Steam👍 99%· 868

Year 2016Dev Stellar CirclePlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

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

≠ Where it differs: brings setting anime, while skipping roguelike runs

#15Maiden and Spell

85

iRank97

Maiden and Spell

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

MultiplayerSoloOfflineMeleeRangedHardcoreIsometric2D

Steam👍 97%· 925

Year 2020Dev mino_devPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Nintendo

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

≠ Stands apart with fighting mechanics, cozy, relaxing feel and combat magic, while skipping roguelike runs

Steam Nintendo itch.io

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Nuclear Throne?: The closest game to Nuclear Throne is Brotato, scoring 96/100 on our similarity scale. They share 16 gameplay attributes, including shooter, first-person shooting and roguelike runs. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Nuclear Throne?: The three closest games to Nuclear Throne are: 1. Brotato (96/100, 16 shared attributes) 2. Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter (95/100, 11 shared attributes) 3. Roboquest (95/100, 12 shared attributes). All share Nuclear Throne's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 44 candidates across 19 dimensions.
Is Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter similar to Nuclear Throne?: Yes, very much so — Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter scores 95/100 similarity to Nuclear Throne. They share 11 attributes, including shooter and first-person shooting. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Shooter games are similar to Nuclear Throne?: The best Shooter games similar to Nuclear Throne are Brotato, Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter, Roboquest and Metal Slug X. All share the Shooter genre alongside other key Nuclear Throne attributes like shooter, first-person shooting and roguelike runs.
How is similarity to Nuclear Throne calculated?: We compare Nuclear Throne against every game in our catalog using 19 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 Nuclear Throne experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.