Shenmue

18 Narrative games like Shenmue that you should try

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Shenmue down to the 18 that fit the “Narrative” category. Heavenly Sword, Killer is Dead - Nightmare Edition and Darksiders II top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Shenmue.

iRank88/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

Tags

NarrativeSolo

Year 1999Dev Sega AM2

Quick answer

Within the “Narrative” category, the closest game to Shenmue is Heavenly Sword — scoring 98/100 on our similarity scale. Killer is Dead - Nightmare Edition and Darksiders II follow close behind.

#1Heavenly Sword98 #2Killer is Dead - Nightmare Edition97 #3Darksiders II95 #4Sea Dogs: To Each His Own95 #5Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures95

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The best narrative games like Shenmue

18 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.

#1Heavenly Sword

98

Heavenly Sword

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloNarrativeFantasyThird Person

IGDB88· 4

Year 2007Dev Ninja Theory · Sony Computer Entertainment EuropeOn PlayStation 3

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

≠ Missing: deep simulation.

#2Killer is Dead - Nightmare Edition

97

Killer is Dead - Nightmare Edition

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeThird PersonDark

Steam👍 74%· 8.7KRAWG👍 55%· 404

Year 2014Dev Grasshopper Manufacture · Deep SilverPlaytime ~3hOn PC

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

≠ Its own twist: dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping deep simulation

#3Darksiders II

95

Darksiders II

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldFantasyExplorationLootSkill TreeThird Person

IGDB86· 16

Year 2012Dev Vigil Games · Spike ChunsoftOn PlayStation 3 · PC

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

≠ Missing: deep simulation.

#4Sea Dogs: To Each His Own

95

Sea Dogs: To Each His Own

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

#5Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures

95

Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeThird PersonCasual

Steam👍 88%· 413IGDB68

Year 2009Dev TelltaleOn PC

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

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, visual novel storytelling and vibe casual, while skipping deep simulation

#6Risen 2: Dark Waters

95

Risen 2: Dark Waters

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldFantasyExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 80%· 6.7KIGDB64· 6

Year 2012Dev Piranha Bytes · Uber EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: crafting mechanics, while skipping action RPG combat

#7DmC: Devil May Cry

95

DmC: Devil May Cry

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeFantasyThird Person

Steam👍 93%· 32KIGDB82· 12

Year 2013Dev Ninja Theory · CapcomOn PlayStation 3 · PC

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

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, fighting mechanics and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping deep simulation

#8Onimusha: Warlords

95

Onimusha: Warlords

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

#9Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

95

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeThird PersonPost-Apocalyptic

Steam👍 86%· 8.1KIGDB82· 9

Year 2010Dev Ninja Theory · Namco Bandai GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PC

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

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, puzzle design and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping deep simulation

#10Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series

95

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeThird PersonSci-Fi

Steam👍 87%· 1.8KIGDB69· 5OC71· 19

Year 2017Dev Telltale GamesOn PS4 · Android · PC

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, setting scifi and setting space, while skipping action RPG combat

#11Mass Effect 2

95

Mass Effect 2

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeSkill TreeExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 78%· 342IGDB96· 9

Year 2010Dev BioWare · Electronic ArtsOn PlayStation 3 · PC

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

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter, third-person shooting and roguelike runs, while skipping deep simulation

Steam Epic Xbox

#12Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

94

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

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

94

NieR

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

#14The Artful Escape

94

The Artful Escape

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 92%· 1.9KIGDB83· 6OC80· 77

Year 2021Dev Beethoven & Dinosaur · Annapurna InteractiveOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, precision platforming and setting scifi, while skipping action RPG combat

94

Maneater

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 87%· 25KIGDB73· 14OC71· 168

Year 2020Dev Blindside Interactive · Deep SilverOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

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

≠ Its own twist: dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping sandbox freedom

Steam Epic Xbox

Complete list of narrative games like Shenmue

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

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

RPG · Action RPG

Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered

Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered

RPG · Adventure

Alice: Madness Returns

Alice: Madness Returns

RPG · Action RPG

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Rankings in the same genre

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