Returnal

43 Games like Returnal that you should try

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Returnal 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 22 gameplay attributes and found 43 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. SCP: Secret Laboratory, Doom and Clone Drone in the Danger Zone lead the list, with SCP: Secret Laboratory reaching a 95/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Returnal special.

iRank84/ 100

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

Tags

HardcoreDarkSoloCo-op

Year 2021Dev Housemarque

Stores

Steam ↗Epic ↗PS ↗

Quick answer

The closest game to Returnal is SCP: Secret Laboratory — scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. Doom and Clone Drone in the Danger Zone follow close behind.

#1SCP: Secret Laboratory95 #2Doom95 #3Clone Drone in the Danger Zone95 #4Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter95 #5Helldivers93

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Games like Returnal

43 similar games found

#1SCP: Secret Laboratory

95

iRank91

SCP: Secret Laboratory

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

MultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeDarkNarrativeHardcoreHorrorSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 91%· 230K

Year 2017Dev Northwood StudiosOn PC

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and deep RPG systems

≠ Stands apart with survival mechanics, adventure storytelling and vibe casual, while skipping roguelike runs

95

iRank93

Doom

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkHardcoreNarrativeHorrorSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 218KIGDB87· 28

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

✓ Nearly identical: shooter, first-person shooting and roguelike runs.

≠ Missing: third-person shooting.

#3Clone Drone in the Danger Zone

95

iRank94

Clone Drone in the Danger Zone

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeHardcoreProceduralSci-FiThird Person

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 survival mechanics, while skipping third-person shooting

Steam Epic Xbox

#4Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

95

iRank87

Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 93%· 8.8KIGDB74· 2

Year 2009Dev Croteam · Devolver DigitalOn PC

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, while skipping roguelike runs

93

iRank87

Helldivers

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

Co-opOnlineMultiplayerSoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiSpace

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, offline and visual isometric, while skipping roguelike runs

92

iRank85

Metal Slug X

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcore

Steam👍 88%· 3.9KIGDB80· 1

Year 1999Dev SNKOn Linux · Android · PC

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

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, adventure storytelling and offline, while skipping roguelike runs

#7Ultimate Chicken Horse

90

iRank88

Ultimate Chicken Horse

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

MultiplayerCo-opSoloOnlineMeleeHardcore

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 punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, racing gameplay and adventure storytelling, while skipping roguelike runs

88

iRank92

DOOM

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiHorrorFirst Person

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

Year 1993Dev SEGAOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Stands apart with ranged combat, while skipping roguelike runs

#9Paint the Town Red

90

iRank82

Paint the Town Red

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkHardcoreProceduralHorrorFirst Person

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 deep RPG systems

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, fighting mechanics and ranged combat, while skipping third-person shooting

87

iRank88

Roboquest

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeHardcoreProceduralSci-FiFirst Person

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 ranged combat, post-apocalyptic world and loot and gear systems, while skipping third-person shooting

#11The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

86

iRank91

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloCo-opMultiplayerMeleeDarkHardcoreNarrativeProceduralHorrorExploration

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, adventure storytelling and combat magic, while skipping third-person shooting

#12Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

86

iRank89

Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person

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 dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, ranged combat and offline, while skipping roguelike runs

#13Nuclear Throne

86

iRank89

Nuclear Throne

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcoreProceduralSci-Fi

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 roguelike runs

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, ranged combat and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping third-person shooting

#14Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

86

iRank83

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeDarkHardcoreNarrative

Steam👍 94%· 78KIGDB71· 13OC74· 70

Year 2015Dev Dennaton Games · Devolver DigitalOn Xbox · PlayStation 3 · PS4

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Where it differs: brings visual pixel, visual isometric and visual topdown, while skipping roguelike runs

#15Hotline Miami

84

iRank91

Hotline Miami

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeDarkHardcoreNarrative

Steam👍 97%· 122KRAWG👍 90%· 2.6KMC85IGDB86· 10

Year 2012Dev Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, ranged combat and visual isometric, while skipping roguelike runs

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Returnal?: The closest game to Returnal is SCP: Secret Laboratory, scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. They share 14 gameplay attributes, including shooter, first-person shooting and deep RPG systems. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Returnal?: The three closest games to Returnal are: 1. SCP: Secret Laboratory (95/100, 14 shared attributes) 2. Doom (95/100, 14 shared attributes) 3. Clone Drone in the Danger Zone (95/100, 14 shared attributes). All share Returnal's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 43 candidates across 22 dimensions.
Is Doom similar to Returnal?: Yes, very much so — Doom scores 95/100 similarity to Returnal. They share 14 attributes, including shooter and first-person shooting. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Shooter games are similar to Returnal?: The best Shooter games similar to Returnal are SCP: Secret Laboratory, Doom, Clone Drone in the Danger Zone and Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter. All share the Shooter genre alongside other key Returnal attributes like shooter, first-person shooting and deep RPG systems.
How is similarity to Returnal calculated?: We compare Returnal against every game in our catalog using 22 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 Returnal experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.