Spelunky

21 Hardcore games like Spelunky that you should try

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We filtered the 36 games similar to Spelunky down to the 21 that fit the “Hardcore” category. Shovel Knight, Pizza Tower and Mighty No. 9 top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Spelunky.

iRank90/ 100

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GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

Tags

HardcoreSoloCo-op

Year 2012Dev BlitWorks

Stores

Steam ↗GOG ↗PS ↗Nintendo ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Hardcore” category, the closest game to Spelunky is Shovel Knight — scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. Pizza Tower and Mighty No. 9 follow close behind.

#1Shovel Knight95 #2Pizza Tower94 #3Mighty No. 991 #4Risk of Rain89 #5Trials 2: Second Edition89

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The best hardcore games like Spelunky

21 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Spelunky. Each one has been evaluated across 14 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.

#1Shovel Knight

95

Shovel Knight

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloCo-opMultiplayerMeleeHardcoreFantasy2D

Steam👍 94%· 960IGDB89· 19OC89· 100

Year 2014Dev Yacht Club GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: visual pixel, while skipping roguelike runs

94

Pizza Tower

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcore2D

Steam👍 98%· 71KRAWG👍 79%· 58IGDB90· 1OC91· 10

Year 2023Dev Tour De PizzaPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings visual pixel, while skipping roguelike runs

91

Mighty No. 9

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeHardcore2D

Steam👍 50%· 3.4KIGDB52· 20OC52· 92

Year 2016Dev Inti Creates · Deep SilverOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Stands apart with shooter, vibe casual and setting anime, while skipping roguelike runs

89

Risk of Rain

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeHardcoreProceduralFantasy2D

Steam👍 93%· 30KIGDB85· 4OC77· 17

Year 2013Dev Hopoo Games · Chucklefish GamesOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Fits the precision platformers cluster, with precision platforming, roguelike runs and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: deep RPG systems, shooter and action RPG combat, while skipping exploration and discovery

#5Trials 2: Second Edition

89

Trials 2: Second Edition

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerHardcore2D

Steam👍 84%· 280RAWG👍 67%· 24IGDB80· 1

Year 2008Dev Redlynx · RedLynxPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, punishing difficulty and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with racing gameplay and sports simulation, while skipping roguelike runs

#6Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

87

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerMeleeHardcoreFantasy2D

Steam👍 87%· 3.9KIGDB86· 16OC85· 170

Year 2020Dev Toys for Bob · ActivisionOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: setting scifi, visual third person and visual 3d, while skipping roguelike runs

Steam PS Nintendo

#7Super House of Dead Ninjas

86

Super House of Dead Ninjas

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcoreProcedural2D

Steam👍 96%· 1.7KRAWG👍 62%· 75MC79IGDB80· 1

Year 2013Dev Megadev · Adult Swim GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, roguelike runs and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings visual pixel, while skipping adventure storytelling

#8Sonic the Hedgehog

83

Sonic the Hedgehog

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcoreFantasy2D

Steam👍 85%· 41IGDB85· 2

Year 1991Dev Sonic Team · SegaOn PlayStation 3 · PC · iOS

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: setting scifi and visual pixel, while skipping roguelike runs

83

Clustertruck

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcoreCasualFirst Person

Steam👍 94%· 18KIGDB74· 10OC74· 45

Year 2016Dev Landfall Games · tinyBuildOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, punishing difficulty and melee combat

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe casual and visual first person, while skipping roguelike runs

#10Super Meat Boy

82

Super Meat Boy

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloHardcore2DCasualPixel Art

Steam👍 94%· 38KIGDB85· 4OC83· 25

Year 2010Dev Team Meat · BlitWorksOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe casual and visual pixel, while skipping roguelike runs

Steam Epic Xbox

81

Mega Man 11

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcore2DSci-Fi

Steam👍 89%· 5.3KIGDB80· 12OC81· 115

Year 2018Dev Capcom Development Division 2 · CapcomOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Fits the precision platformers cluster, with precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter, first-person shooting and setting scifi, while skipping roguelike runs

#12The End Is Nigh

80

The End Is Nigh

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcore2DDark

Steam👍 94%· 3.4KIGDB74· 3OC82· 29

Year 2017Dev Tyler GlaielOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings dark, oppressive atmosphere, post-apocalyptic world and visual pixel, while skipping roguelike runs

79

Mega Man 9

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcore2DNarrative

Steam👍 84%· 1.8KIGDB88· 7

Year 2008Dev Inti Creates · CapcomOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the precision platformers cluster, with precision platforming, punishing difficulty and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: shooter, first-person shooting and strong narrative focus, while skipping roguelike runs

#14Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy

74

Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloHardcore2DNarrativeDark

Steam👍 82%· 81K

Year 2017Dev Bennett FoddyOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Fits the precision platformers cluster, with precision platforming, adventure storytelling and survival mechanics

≠ Where it differs: brings horror tension, deep simulation and strong narrative focus, while skipping roguelike runs

59

Lugaru HD

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcoreExplorationStealth

Steam👍 79%· 587RAWG👍 33%· 42

Year 2010Dev Wolfire GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, fighting mechanics and action RPG combat, while skipping roguelike runs

Complete list of hardcore games like Spelunky

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

SANABI

SANABI

Platformer · Adventure

Rayman Legends

Rayman Legends

Platformer · Adventure

Octodad: Dadliest Catch

Octodad: Dadliest Catch

Platformer · Adventure

N++ (NPLUSPLUS)

N++ (NPLUSPLUS)

Platformer · Puzzle

Vibrant Venture

Vibrant Venture

Platformer · Adventure

Sonic the Hedgehog: Spinball

Sonic the Hedgehog: Spinball

Platformer · Puzzle

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