13 Melee games like The Making of Karateka that you should try

Games like The Making of Karateka · Find similar →

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

Filter by:Melee×← Back to home

We filtered the 32 games similar to The Making of Karateka down to the 13 that fit the “Melee” category. Wake, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I and Disney's The Jungle Book top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to The Making of Karateka.

iRank98/ 100

Did you find what you were looking for?

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

The best melee games like The Making of Karateka

13 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.

#1WakeClosest 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

#2Sonic 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

Details →

Steam

#3Disney'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

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

Details →

Steam

#5Ristar

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

#7Shovel 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

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

Details →

Steam

#10Super 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

#12Kirby's Dream Land

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMelee2DFantasy

Year 1992Dev 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 31 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals62Setting0

Details →

Nintendo

#13Disney'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

Details →

Steam GOG

Explore games similar to The Making of Karateka by category

Rankings in the same genre

Best 2D Platformer Games Best Platformer Games