The Binding of Isaac

21 Dark games like The Binding of Isaac that you should try

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We filtered the 40 games similar to The Binding of Isaac down to the 21 that fit the “Dark” category. Devil Daggers, Hotline Miami and Condemned: Criminal Origins top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to The Binding of Isaac.

iRank85/ 100

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

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DarkNarrativeSolo

Year 2011Dev Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl

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Quick answer

Within the “Dark” category, the closest game to The Binding of Isaac is Devil Daggers — scoring 99/100 on our similarity scale. Hotline Miami and Condemned: Criminal Origins follow close behind.

#1Devil Daggers99 #2Hotline Miami97 #3Condemned: Criminal Origins97 #4DEADBOLT94 #5Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number94

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The best dark games like The Binding of Isaac

21 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to The Binding of Isaac. Each one has been evaluated across 20 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.

#1Devil Daggers

99

Devil Daggers

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloRangedMeleeMagicHardcoreDarkNarrativeHorror

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 survival mechanics

≠ Its own twist: horror tension, visual first person and visual pixel, while skipping roguelike runs

#2Hotline Miami

97

Hotline Miami

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeRangedDarkHardcoreNarrativeIsometricTop-Down2D

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 and visual pixel, while skipping roguelike runs

#3Condemned: Criminal Origins

97

Condemned: Criminal Origins

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeRangedNarrativeDarkHardcoreHorror

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 adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: horror tension, puzzle design and visual first person, while skipping roguelike runs

94

DEADBOLT

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeRangedNarrativeDarkHardcoreHorror2D

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 visual pixel, while skipping roguelike runs

#5Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

94

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeDarkHardcoreNarrativeIsometricTop-Down2D

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, while skipping roguelike runs

#6Hitman: Contracts

91

Hitman: Contracts

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeNarrativeDarkHardcore

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, visual third person and visual first person, while skipping roguelike runs

89

Ruiner

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeDarkHardcoreNarrativeIsometricTop-Down

Steam👍 89%· 12KIGDB76· 12OC77· 88

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

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, setting cyberpunk and setting scifi, while skipping roguelike runs

#8The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

87

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeMagicRangedDarkHardcoreNarrativeProceduralHorrorExplorationLootIsometric2D

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, horror tension and fantasy world, while skipping survival mechanics

81

Doom

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeDarkHardcoreNarrativeHorror

Steam👍 96%· 218KIGDB87· 28

Year 2016Dev id Software · Bethesda SoftworksOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and roguelike runs

≠ Where it differs: brings horror tension, setting scifi and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping deep RPG systems

79

Returnal

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreDarkNarrativeProceduralHorrorExploration

Steam👍 81%· 10KIGDB90· 19OC86· 201

Year 2021Dev Housemarque · Sony Interactive EntertainmentOn PC · PS5

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and roguelike runs

≠ Stands apart with third-person shooting, horror tension and action RPG combat, while skipping adventure storytelling

#11Paint the Town Red

86

Paint the Town Red

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeRangedDarkHardcoreProceduralHorrorIsometric

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 adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: fighting mechanics, multiplayer gameplay and co op, while skipping survival mechanics

84

DOOM

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloRangedMeleeDarkHardcoreHorror

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 setting scifi, multiplayer gameplay and co op, while skipping roguelike runs

#13Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

79

Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeRangedDarkHardcore

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 adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings setting scifi, multiplayer gameplay and co op, while skipping roguelike runs

#14Quake III Arena

79

Quake III Arena

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloRangedMeleeDarkHardcore

Steam👍 96%· 4.0KRAWG👍 90%· 530IGDB87· 3

Year 1999Dev id Software · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~1hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Its own twist: competitive edge, setting scifi and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping roguelike runs

76

PAKO 2

GenreShooterSubgenreFPS

SoloMeleeRangedNarrativeDarkProceduralTop-Down

Steam👍 95%· 414

Year 2017Dev Tree Men GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Like The Binding of Isaac, it's known for shooter, first-person shooting and roguelike runs

≠ Where it differs: brings racing gameplay, deep simulation and vibe casual, while skipping deep RPG systems

Complete list of dark games like The Binding of Isaac

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with The Binding of Isaac, 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.

Half-Life 2: Episode One

Half-Life 2: Episode One

Shooter · FPS

Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

Shooter · FPS

Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Shooter · FPS

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth

Shooter · FPS

Resident Evil Survivor

Resident Evil Survivor

Shooter · FPS

Shadow Warrior Classic Redux

Shadow Warrior Classic Redux

Shooter · FPS

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