What is the best game similar to Shank?

The closest game to Shank is Streets of Rage 2, scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 9 gameplay attributes, including fighting mechanics, deep RPG systems and action RPG combat. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like Shank?

The three closest games to Shank are: 1. Streets of Rage 2 (97/100, 9 shared attributes) 2. Golden Axe (97/100, 9 shared attributes) 3. Shank 2 (97/100, 12 shared attributes). All share Shank's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 48 candidates across 12 dimensions.

Is Golden Axe similar to Shank?

Yes, very much so — Golden Axe scores 97/100 similarity to Shank. They share 9 attributes, including fighting mechanics and action RPG combat. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What Fighting games are similar to Shank?

The best Fighting games similar to Shank are Streets of Rage 2, Golden Axe, Shank 2 and Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks. All share the Fighting genre alongside other key Shank attributes like fighting mechanics, deep RPG systems and action RPG combat.

How is similarity to Shank calculated?

We compare Shank against every game in our catalog using 12 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 Shank experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

48 Games like Shank that you should try

Games like Shank · Find similar →

More about this game →

Looking for games like Shank? We analyzed its gameplay DNA — fighting mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat — against over 6,700 titles. These 48 alternatives are ranked by real similarity, not marketing tags. Streets of Rage 2 leads with 97/100, followed by the rest of the list.

iRank76/ 100

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GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

Top games similar to Shank

48 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Shank. Each one has been evaluated across 12 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.

#1Streets of Rage 2

iRank88

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

Co-opSoloMultiplayerOfflineMelee2D

Steam👍 92%· 25RAWG👍 88%· 236IGDB80· 1

Year 1992Dev SEGAPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Nearly identical: fighting mechanics, deep RPG systems and action RPG combat.

≠ Missing: precision platforming.

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

SoloMultiplayerOfflineCo-opMelee2D

Steam👍 84%· 25RAWG👍 76%· 85

Year 1989Dev SEGAPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the hack and slash action games cluster, with fighting mechanics, action RPG combat and deep RPG systems

≠ Its own twist: fantasy world, while skipping precision platforming

Details →

Steam Xbox PS

#3Shank 2

iRank80

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeDark2D

Steam👍 82%· 3.6KIGDB75· 4

Year 2012Dev Klei Entertainment · Electronic ArtsOn PlayStation 3 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of hack and slash action games: adventure storytelling, fighting mechanics and action RPG combat

≠ Stands apart with shooter and first-person shooting

Details →

Steam

#4Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks

iRank74

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

OfflineSoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDark2D

IGDB74· 3

Year 2005Dev Mortal Kombat Team · Midway Games

✓ Same family of hack and slash action games: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and fighting mechanics

≠ Stands apart with horror setting and fantasy world, while skipping precision platforming

Details →

#5Mother Russia Bleeds

iRank79

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

MultiplayerCo-opSoloOfflineMeleeDark2D

Steam👍 87%· 5.3KIGDB73· 8OC69· 42

Year 2016Dev Le Cartel Studio · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of hack and slash action games: fighting mechanics, deep RPG systems and action RPG combat

≠ Its own twist: horror tension, strong narrative focus and punishing difficulty, while skipping precision platforming

Details →

Steam GOG PS

#6Dragon Ball: Xenoverse

iRank81

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMelee2D

Steam👍 90%· 22KIGDB74· 10OC71· 46

Year 2015Dev Dimps · Bandai Namco EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

✓ Both are hack and slash action games — sharing fighting mechanics, deep RPG systems and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings open world exploration, setting anime and fantasy world, while skipping precision platforming

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

Co-opSoloMultiplayerOfflineMelee2D

Steam👍 91%· 22

Year 1991Dev Sega Enterprises, Ltd. · Sega of AmericaOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Fits the hack and slash action games cluster, with fighting mechanics, deep RPG systems and action RPG combat

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus and setting scifi, while skipping precision platforming

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

Co-opOfflineSoloMultiplayerMelee2D

Steam👍 91%· 3.3KIGDB84· 13OC86· 115

Year 2018Dev Drinkbox StudiosOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Fits the hack and slash action games cluster, with precision platforming, fighting mechanics and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: Metroidvania exploration, punishing difficulty and strong narrative focus, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

SoloMultiplayerMelee2DThird Person

IGDB90· 3

Year 2005Dev Namco · Sony Computer Entertainment

✓ Same family of hack and slash action games: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and fighting mechanics

≠ Where it differs: brings visual third person, while skipping precision platforming

Details →

#10Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition

iRank90

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2DFantasy

Steam👍 92%· 7.0KIGDB86· 6OC89· 53

Year 2014Dev Drinkbox Studios · ActivisionOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Both are hack and slash action games — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and deep RPG systems

≠ Where it differs: brings Metroidvania exploration, fantasy world and exploration and discovery, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#11Armed with Wings: Rearmed

iRank87

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

SoloMultiplayerMelee2DFantasy

Steam👍 87%· 536

Year 2015Dev Sun-StudiosPlaytime ~4hOn PC

✓ Both are hack and slash action games — sharing precision platforming, fighting mechanics and action RPG combat

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design and fantasy world, while skipping adventure storytelling

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

MultiplayerSoloOfflineCo-opMeleeDark2D

Steam👍 69%· 1.2KRAWG👍 27%· 124MC61IGDB66· 6

Year 2013Dev Deep SilverPlaytime ~1hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of hack and slash action games: fighting mechanics, deep RPG systems and action RPG combat

≠ Where it differs: brings fantasy world, online features and loot and gear systems, while skipping adventure storytelling

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMelee2D

Steam👍 84%· 3.8KIGDB77· 6OC79· 59

Year 2019Dev Arc System Works · WayForwardOn PS4 · Android · PC

✓ Same family of hack and slash action games: fighting mechanics, deep RPG systems and action RPG combat

≠ Its own twist: cozy, relaxing feel, setting anime and visual pixel, while skipping precision platforming

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

SoloMultiplayerMelee2D

Steam👍 77%· 131MC69IGDB70· 2

Year 2005Dev Sony Interactive Entertainment · Mark HealeyPlaytime ~1hOn PC · PS

✓ Nearly identical: fighting mechanics, deep RPG systems and action RPG combat.

≠ Missing: precision platforming.

Details →

Steam PS

#15Soul Edge

iRank83

GenreActionSubgenreHack and Slash

OfflineSoloMultiplayerMelee2D

IGDB83· 1

Year 1996Dev Project Soul · Namco

✓ Same family of hack and slash action games: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and fighting mechanics

≠ Its own twist: strong narrative focus, fantasy world and historical setting, while skipping precision platforming

Details →

Complete list of Shank alternatives

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

Streets of Rage 3

Fighting · RPG

Evil West

Shooter · Third-person shooter

Spark the Electric Jester 3

Platformer · Action RPG

Kung Fury

Fighting · Adventure

Double Dragon II: The Revenge

RPG · Action RPG

Overgrowth

Fighting · Adventure

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja

RPG · Action RPG

STAR WARS Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy

Adventure · Shooter

Dissidia Final Fantasy

RPG · Action RPG

SENRAN KAGURA SHINOVI VERSUS

Action RPG · Fighting

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game

RPG · Action RPG

Golden Axe II

Fighting · RPG

Double Dragon

RPG · Action RPG

Golden Axe III

Fighting · RPG

Kung Fu Strike - The Warrior's Rise

Fighting · RPG

Castle Crashers®

Action RPG · Adventure

Ninjin: Clash of Carrots

Adventure · Fighting

DeathSpank

RPG · Action RPG

One Finger Death Punch

Fighting · RPG

Ape Out

Fighting · Puzzle

Battletoads / Double Dragon

RPG · Action RPG

The Warriors

RPG · Action RPG

Fighting Force

RPG · Action RPG

Zeno Clash 2

Fighting · FPS

Furi

Shooter · Action RPG

Sifu

Fighting · Action RPG

Trek to Yomi

Adventure · Action RPG

Final Fight 2

RPG · Action RPG

Final Fight

RPG · Action RPG

Naval Warfare

RPG · Action RPG

BloodRayne 2 (Legacy)

Action RPG · RPG

Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure

RPG · Action RPG

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

RPG · Action RPG

Explore games similar to Shank by category

Rankings in the same genre

Best Hack and Slash Games Best Action Games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Shank?: The closest game to Shank is Streets of Rage 2, scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 9 gameplay attributes, including fighting mechanics, deep RPG systems and action RPG combat. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Shank?: The three closest games to Shank are: 1. Streets of Rage 2 (97/100, 9 shared attributes) 2. Golden Axe (97/100, 9 shared attributes) 3. Shank 2 (97/100, 12 shared attributes). All share Shank's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 48 candidates across 12 dimensions.
Is Golden Axe similar to Shank?: Yes, very much so — Golden Axe scores 97/100 similarity to Shank. They share 9 attributes, including fighting mechanics and action RPG combat. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Fighting games are similar to Shank?: The best Fighting games similar to Shank are Streets of Rage 2, Golden Axe, Shank 2 and Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks. All share the Fighting genre alongside other key Shank attributes like fighting mechanics, deep RPG systems and action RPG combat.
How is similarity to Shank calculated?: We compare Shank against every game in our catalog using 12 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 Shank experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.