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Returnal

25 Games with a sci-fi setting like Returnal that you should try

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We filtered the 43 games similar to Returnal down to the 25 that fit the “Sci-Fi” category. Aliens: Colonial Marines, SCP: Secret Laboratory and Doom top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Returnal.

iRank84/ 100

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS
Tags
HardcoreDarkSoloCo-op
Year 2021Dev Housemarque

Quick answer

Within the “Sci-Fi” category, the closest game to Returnal is Aliens: Colonial Marines — scoring 75/100 on our similarity scale. SCP: Secret Laboratory and Doom follow close behind.

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The best games with a sci-fi setting like Returnal

25 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Returnal. Each one has been evaluated across 22 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.

Aliens: Colonial Marines
ShooterFPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeDarkNarrativeHorrorSci-FiSpaceFirst Person
Steam👍 62%· 12KIGDB45· 14
Year 2013Dev Gearbox Software · SegaOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Like Returnal, it's known for shooter, first-person shooting and horror tension

≠ Its own twist: survival mechanics and offline, while skipping roguelike runs

SCP: Secret Laboratory
ShooterFPSArena 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

Doom
ShooterFPSArena 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.

Helldivers
ShooterFPSArena 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

DOOM
ShooterFPSArena 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

Defy Gravity Extended
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiSpace
Steam👍 86%· 8.5KRAWG👍 12%· 162
Year 2016Dev Paul Fisch · Fish Factory GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC

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

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, precision platforming and vibe casual, while skipping roguelike runs

F.E.A.R. 3
ShooterFPS
Co-opSoloMultiplayerOnlineMeleeDarkNarrativeHorrorSci-FiFirst Person
Steam👍 71%· 14KIGDB76· 5
Year 2011Dev Day 1 Studios · WB GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Shared with Returnal: shooter, first-person shooting and horror tension

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, while skipping roguelike runs

Star Wars Battlefront
ShooterFPS
MultiplayerSoloCo-opOnlineMeleeSci-FiSpaceFirst PersonThird Person
Steam👍 79%· 5.7KIGDB68· 18OC71· 112
Year 2015Dev EA Digital Illusions CE · Electronic ArtsOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Shared with Returnal: shooter, first-person shooting and third-person shooting

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, offline and PvP competition, while skipping roguelike runs

Descent
ShooterFPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeSci-FiSpaceFirst Person
Steam👍 96%· 471IGDB73· 3
Year 1994Dev Parallax Software · SoftBankOn PC · Mac

✓ Like Returnal, it's known for shooter, first-person shooting and melee combat

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, while skipping roguelike runs

Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter
ShooterFPSArena 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

Clone Drone in the Danger Zone
ShooterFPSArena 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

Roboquest
ShooterFPSArena 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

Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter
ShooterFPSArena 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

Nuclear Throne
ShooterFPSArena 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

Quake Live
ShooterFPSArena FPS
MultiplayerSoloMeleeHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person
Steam👍 87%· 16K
Year 2010Dev id SoftwareOn PC

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

≠ Its own twist: competitive edge, PvP competition and free to play, while skipping roguelike runs

Complete list of games with a sci-fi setting like Returnal

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Returnal, 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.

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