Returnal

35 Hardcore games like Returnal that you should try

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We filtered the 43 games similar to Returnal down to the 35 that fit the “Hardcore” category. SCP: Secret Laboratory, Doom and The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth 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

Stores

Steam ↗Epic ↗PS ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Hardcore” category, the closest game to Returnal is SCP: Secret Laboratory — scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. Doom and The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth follow close behind.

#1SCP: Secret Laboratory95 #2Doom95 #3The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth86 #4Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number86 #5Hotline Miami84

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The best hardcore games like Returnal

35 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.

#1SCP: Secret Laboratory

95

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

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.

#3The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

86

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

#4Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

86

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

#5Hotline Miami

84

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

83

Ruiner

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeDarkHardcoreNarrativeSci-FiThird Person

Steam👍 89%· 12KIGDB76· 12OC77· 88

Year 2017Dev Reikon Games · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and action RPG combat

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, setting cyberpunk and visual isometric, while skipping roguelike runs

#7Condemned: Criminal Origins

82

Condemned: Criminal Origins

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeNarrativeDarkHardcoreHorrorFirst Person

Steam👍 87%· 4.3KRAWG👍 78%· 423MC80IGDB74· 5

Year 2005Dev Monolith Productions · SEGAPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Xbox

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and horror tension

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, adventure storytelling and survival mechanics, while skipping roguelike runs

#8Hitman: Contracts

81

Hitman: Contracts

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeNarrativeDarkHardcoreThird PersonFirst Person

Steam👍 87%· 3.5KIGDB70· 1

Year 2004Dev IO Interactive · Eidos InteractiveOn PC · Mac

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings stealth mechanics, while skipping roguelike runs

#9The Binding of Isaac

79

The Binding of Isaac

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeDarkNarrativeHardcoreProceduralHorrorExploration

Steam👍 95%· 62KRAWG👍 76%· 1.2KMC84IGDB84· 2

Year 2011Dev Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl · Edmund McMillenPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

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

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

#10Devil Daggers

78

Devil Daggers

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreDarkNarrativeHorrorFirst Person

Steam👍 95%· 9.3KRAWG👍 78%· 160MC83IGDB78· 3OC83· 12

Year 2016Dev SorathPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and horror tension

≠ Its own twist: survival mechanics, ranged combat and combat magic, while skipping roguelike runs

77

DEADBOLT

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeNarrativeDarkHardcoreHorror

Steam👍 96%· 5.6KRAWG👍 84%· 90MC76IGDB75· 2

Year 2016Dev Hopoo GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and strong narrative focus

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

#12Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

95

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

#13Paint the Town Red

90

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

88

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

#15Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

86

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

Complete list of hardcore games 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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