10 Games with a historical setting like Shenmue that you should try

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Shenmue down to the 10 that fit the “Historical” category. God of War, God of War II and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Shenmue.

iRank88/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

The best games with a historical setting like Shenmue

10 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Shenmue. Each one has been evaluated across 16 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.

#1God of War

100

iRank94

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloFantasyHistoricalThird Person

OC94· 256

Year 2009Dev SCE Santa Monica Studio · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

✓ Nearly identical: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling.

≠ Missing: deep simulation.

Details →

#2God of War II

100

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloFantasyHistoricalThird Person

Year 2009On PlayStation 3

✓ Nearly identical: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling.

≠ Missing: deep simulation.

Details →

#3The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

iRank65

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloFantasyHistoricalThird PersonMedieval

IGDB65· 2

Year 2002Dev Hypnos Entertainment · Electronic Arts

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings setting medieval, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

#4Onimusha: Warlords

iRank89

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeFantasyHistoricalThird Person

Steam👍 94%· 3.3KRAWG👍 92%· 103MC86IGDB75· 8

Year 2001Dev Capcom · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings survival mechanics, horror tension and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam Xbox PS

#5Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

iRank87

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeFantasyHistoricalThird Person

Steam👍 90%· 76KIGDB84· 22OC84· 156

Year 2017Dev Ninja TheoryOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: horror tension, dark, oppressive atmosphere and setting mythology, while skipping sandbox freedom

Details →

Steam GOG Xbox

#6Rise of the Argonauts

iRank60

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeFantasyHistoricalThird Person

Steam👍 73%· 811RAWG👍 41%· 94MC59IGDB60· 2

Year 2008Dev Liquid Entertainment · CodemastersPlaytime ~1hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: combat magic and setting mythology, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam Xbox

#7Assassin's Creed III: Liberation

iRank59

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldHistoricalFantasyExplorationLootSkill TreeThird Person

Steam👍 54%· 3.2KIGDB69· 6

Year 2012Dev Ubisoft Milan · Ubisoft Entertainment

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with stealth mechanics and setting scifi, while skipping deep simulation

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeHistoricalThird Person

IGDB73· 3

Year 2006Dev Clover Studio · CapcomOn PlayStation 3

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

≠ Missing: deep simulation.

Details →

#9Sea Dogs: To Each His Own

iRank81

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldHistoricalExplorationSkill TreeThird Person

Steam👍 74%· 2.4KRAWG👍 92%· 24

Year 2016Dev BlackMark Studio · AkellaPlaytime ~5hOn PC

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings punishing difficulty, crafting mechanics and visual 3d, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam

#10NieR

iRank69

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldHistoricalExplorationThird Person

IGDB69· 4

Year 2010Dev Cavia · Square EnixOn Xbox · PlayStation 3

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, deep simulation and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: shooter, third-person shooting and setting scifi, while skipping action RPG combat

Details →

Xbox

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