What is the best game similar to The Making of Karateka?

The closest game to The Making of Karateka is Ristar, scoring 65/100 on our similarity scale. They share 5 gameplay attributes, including precision platforming, single-player focus and melee combat. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like The Making of Karateka?

The three closest games to The Making of Karateka are: 1. Ristar (65/100, 5 shared attributes) 2. Gravity Circuit (65/100, 5 shared attributes) 3. Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment (65/100, 5 shared attributes). All share The Making of Karateka's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 32 candidates across 8 dimensions.

Is Gravity Circuit similar to The Making of Karateka?

Yes — Gravity Circuit scores 65/100 similarity to The Making of Karateka. They share 5 attributes, including precision platforming and single-player focus. There are some notable differences in pacing or mechanics.

What Platformer games are similar to The Making of Karateka?

The best Platformer games similar to The Making of Karateka are Ristar, Gravity Circuit, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment and Sonic Generations. All share the Platformer genre alongside other key The Making of Karateka attributes like precision platforming, single-player focus and melee combat.

How is similarity to The Making of Karateka calculated?

We compare The Making of Karateka against every game in our catalog using 8 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 The Making of Karateka experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

32 Games like The Making of Karateka that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

The Making of Karateka is hard to replace: few games combine precision platforming, strong narrative focus and linear, story-driven structure in quite the same way. We compared The Making of Karateka against over 6,700 titles across 8 gameplay attributes and found 32 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Ristar, Gravity Circuit and Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment lead the list, with Ristar reaching a 65/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes The Making of Karateka special.

iRank98/ 100

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GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

Top games similar to The Making of Karateka

32 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to The Making of Karateka. Each one has been evaluated across 8 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.

#1RistarClosest on genre

iRank100

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMelee2DPixel ArtSci-Fi

Steam👍 100%· 11

Year 1995Dev Sega Enterprises, Ltd. · Tec ToyOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling and setting scifi, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from The Making of Karateka: setting.

It predates The Making of Karateka by 28 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting0

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMelee2DPixel ArtSci-Fi

Steam👍 94%· 3.5KMC89IGDB90· 1OC86· 14

Year 2023Dev Domesticated Ants · Plug In DigitalPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings fighting mechanics and setting scifi, while skipping strong narrative focus

Gravity Circuit - a flashy action packed 2d platformer in the spirit of console classics. Mission: Stop Virus Army Uprising! In a post-apocalyptic world populated by sentient robots, its inhabitants are once more threatened by an old foe.

Where it drifts furthest from The Making of Karateka: setting.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting0

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#3Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment

iRank89

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMelee2DPixel ArtFantasy

Steam👍 94%· 481IGDB83· 6OC86· 32

Year 2017Dev Yacht Club GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling and fantasy world, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from The Making of Karateka: setting.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting0

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMelee2DThird Person3D

Steam👍 94%· 25KIGDB75· 10

Year 2011Dev Sonic Team · SegaOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, visual third person and visual 3d, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from The Making of Karateka: visuals.

It predates The Making of Karateka by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals42

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMelee2DPixel ArtSci-Fi

Steam👍 90%· 5.5KIGDB85· 1

Year 1993Dev Sonic Team · SegaOn PC

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, setting scifi and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from The Making of Karateka: setting.

It predates The Making of Karateka by 30 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting0

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMelee2DPixel ArtSci-Fi

Steam👍 88%· 137

Year 1991Dev Apogee SoftwareOn PC · Mac

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus

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

Where it drifts furthest from The Making of Karateka: setting.

It predates The Making of Karateka by 32 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting0

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Steam

#7Disney's The Jungle Book

iRank81

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMelee2D

Steam👍 86%· 14IGDB70· 1

Year 1994Dev Eurocom Entertainment Software · Virgin Interactive Entertainment (Europe) Ltd.On PC

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, while skipping strong narrative focus

It predates The Making of Karateka by 29 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals62

Details →

Steam GOG

#8Disney's Hercules Action Game

iRank79

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMelee2DMythologyThird Person

Steam👍 89%· 700IGDB60· 1

Year 1997Dev Eurocom Entertainment Software · Virgin Interactive EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, setting mythology and visual third person, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from The Making of Karateka: setting and visuals.

It predates The Making of Karateka by 26 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals48Setting0

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

Solo2DPixel Art

IGDB90· 11OC89· 88

Year 2015Dev Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.4 · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, single-player focus and visual 2d.

≠ Missing: strong narrative focus.

It predates The Making of Karateka by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100

Details →

Nintendo

#10Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode IClosest on tone

iRank52

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMeleeNarrative2DHorror

Steam👍 40%· 3.7KIGDB75· 5

Year 2010Dev Dimps · SegaOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, strong narrative focus and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, horror tension and horror setting, while skipping linear, story-driven structure

Where it drifts furthest from The Making of Karateka: setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly negative, against very positive for The Making of Karateka.

It predates The Making of Karateka by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals63Setting0

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Steam

#11Rayman

iRank78

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

Solo2DPixel Art

IGDB78· 2

Year 1995Dev Ubi Pictures · Ubi Soft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, single-player focus and visual 2d

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, while skipping strong narrative focus

It predates The Making of Karateka by 28 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100

Details →

Nintendo

#12Super Mario Bros. 2

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMelee2DPixel ArtFantasy

Year 1988Dev Nintendo R&D4 · Nintendo

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling and fantasy world, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from The Making of Karateka: setting.

It predates The Making of Karateka by 35 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting0

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMelee2DFantasy

IGDB60· 1

Year 1993Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with fantasy world, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from The Making of Karateka: setting.

It predates The Making of Karateka by 30 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals62Setting0

Details →

Nintendo

#14WakeClosest overall match

iRank27

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMelee2DPixel Art

Steam👍 27%· 195

Year 2013Dev Boss BaddiePlaytime ~3hOn PC

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus.

≠ Missing: strong narrative focus.

Wake is the story of an engineer trapped on a sinking ship. Navigate through the ship however you want to find your way to the surface above, but avoid the ship's corrupted security system!Key Features Run and swim to escape a sinking ship Dodge bullets, fire, electricity and LASERS - but most of all avoid drowning!

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly negative, against very positive for The Making of Karateka.

It predates The Making of Karateka by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100

Details →

Steam

#15Mega Man 8

iRank69

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

Solo2DPixel ArtSci-Fi

IGDB69· 2

Year 1996Dev Capcom · Ocean SoftwareOn PlayStation 3

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, single-player focus and visual 2d

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

Where it drifts furthest from The Making of Karateka: setting.

It predates The Making of Karateka by 27 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Setting0

Details →

Complete list of The Making of Karateka alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with The Making of Karateka, 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.

Kirby's Dream Land

Platformer

Crash Bandicoot: Warped

Platformer · Adventure

Super Mario Run

Platformer · Adventure

Mega Man 5

Platformer · Shooter

Mega Man 7

Platformer · Shooter

Mega Man 4

Platformer · Shooter

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3

Platformer

Donkey Kong

Platformer

Hudson's Adventure Island

Platformer · Adventure

Disney's Toy Story

Platformer

Cool Spot

Platformer

Pitfall!

Platformer · Adventure

Donkey Kong Junior

Platformer

Happy Wheels

Platformer · Racing

Yoshi's Story

Platformer · Adventure

Tiny Toon Adventures

Platformer

Disney's Tarzan

Platformer · Adventure

Explore games similar to The Making of Karateka by category

Rankings in the same genre

Best 2D Platformer Games Best Platformer Games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to The Making of Karateka?: The closest game to The Making of Karateka is Ristar, scoring 65/100 on our similarity scale. They share 5 gameplay attributes, including precision platforming, single-player focus and melee combat. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like The Making of Karateka?: The three closest games to The Making of Karateka are: 1. Ristar (65/100, 5 shared attributes) 2. Gravity Circuit (65/100, 5 shared attributes) 3. Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment (65/100, 5 shared attributes). All share The Making of Karateka's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 32 candidates across 8 dimensions.
Is Gravity Circuit similar to The Making of Karateka?: Yes — Gravity Circuit scores 65/100 similarity to The Making of Karateka. They share 5 attributes, including precision platforming and single-player focus. There are some notable differences in pacing or mechanics.
What Platformer games are similar to The Making of Karateka?: The best Platformer games similar to The Making of Karateka are Ristar, Gravity Circuit, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment and Sonic Generations. All share the Platformer genre alongside other key The Making of Karateka attributes like precision platforming, single-player focus and melee combat.
How is similarity to The Making of Karateka calculated?: We compare The Making of Karateka against every game in our catalog using 8 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 The Making of Karateka experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.