The Punisher

37 Melee games like The Punisher 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.

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We filtered the 47 games similar to The Punisher down to the 37 that fit the “Melee” category. Guacamelee! Gold Edition, The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile and Battletoads top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to The Punisher.

iRank64/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

Tags

OfflineSolo

Year 1993Dev Capcom

Quick answer

Within the “Melee” category, the closest game to The Punisher is Guacamelee! Gold Edition — scoring 84/100 on our similarity scale. The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile and Battletoads follow close behind.

#1Guacamelee! Gold Edition84 #2The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile75 #3Battletoads75 #4Dungeon Siege III72 #5Niffelheim71

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The best melee games like The Punisher

37 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to The Punisher. 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.

#1Guacamelee! Gold EditionClosest overall match

84

Guacamelee! Gold Edition

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

Co-opSoloMultiplayerOfflineMelee2D

Steam👍 93%· 6.0KRAWG👍 79%· 305MC88IGDB94· 2

Year 2013Playtime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Shared with The Punisher: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and melee combat

≠ Stands apart with Metroidvania exploration, precision platforming and adventure storytelling

Guacamelee! Gold Edition is the enhanced edition of Guacamelee! that features all downloadable content for the original game and supports Steam Workshop to create and share custom character skins. In its core Guacamelee! is a 2D Metroidvania with platforming and brawling elements. Guacamelee!

Released 20 years after The Punisher.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100

#2The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile

75

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

Co-opSoloMultiplayerMelee2D

Steam👍 95%· 1.8KIGDB88· 4

Year 2017Dev Ska StudiosPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ If you enjoyed The Punisher, expect deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: fighting mechanics, horror tension and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping offline

Three marks remain. Embark on a blood soaked quest of vengeance as either Yuki, a machine-armed, mentally unraveling prisoner, or The Dishwasher, a relentless, reanimated samurai, against the corrupted leaders of society: the Banker, the General, and the Judge.

Released 24 years after The Punisher.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode77

75

Battletoads

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMelee2D

OC73· 115

Year 1991Dev Rare · Masaya

✓ Like The Punisher, it's known for deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and melee combat

≠ Stands apart with precision platforming, setting scifi and setting cyberpunk, while skipping offline

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode77

#4Dungeon Siege III

72

Dungeon Siege III

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

Co-opOfflineSoloMeleeFantasy

Steam👍 58%· 2.9KRAWG👍 40%· 227MC72

Year 2011Dev Square EnixPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed The Punisher, expect deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: fantasy world, while skipping multiplayer gameplay

In Dungeon Siege III, 150 years have passed since the ending of the original Dungeon Siege. Some 30 years ago, a woman named Jeyne Kassynder led the rebellion and took over the power in the fantasy realm of Ehb.

Released 18 years after The Punisher.

Genre100Combat100Game mode82

71

Niffelheim

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

Co-opSoloMultiplayerMelee2D

Steam👍 71%· 2.3KRAWG👍 38%· 44IGDB74· 3OC65· 14

Year 2018Dev Ellada GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed The Punisher, expect deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and melee combat

≠ Where it differs: brings survival mechanics, sandbox freedom and deep simulation, while skipping offline

Your avatar is a brave warrior who has fallen in battle. But instead of well-deserved peace in Asgard, his soul is trapped in the harsh world of Niffelheim.

Released 25 years after The Punisher.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode55

#6Bloodsports.TV

68

Bloodsports.TV

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

MultiplayerCo-opSoloMeleePvP

Steam👍 78%· 674MC69IGDB55· 1

Year 2015Dev FatsharkPlaytime ~4hOn PC

✓ If you enjoyed The Punisher, expect deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: MOBA team gameplay, sports simulation and adventure storytelling, while skipping offline

Featured DLC About the GameTeam up Gladiators! New volunteers are incoming. Bloodsports.TV is a co-op top-down Hero Defense game. In this spin-off set in the world of Krater, take on waves of incoming enemies and bosses in this old school, fast-paced approach to strategic co-op games.

Released 22 years after The Punisher.

Genre100Combat100Game mode51

#7Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

67

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

OfflineSoloMultiplayerCo-opMelee

IGDB65· 2

Year 2008Dev Namco Tales Studio · Bandai Namco Entertainment

✓ Like The Punisher, it's known for deep RPG systems, melee combat and offline

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus, open world exploration and exploration and discovery, while skipping action RPG combat

Released 15 years after The Punisher.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100

#8Trine Enchanted Edition

66

Trine Enchanted Edition

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMelee2D

Steam👍 96%· 16KIGDB92· 1OC81· 12

Year 2014Dev FrozenbyteOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ If you enjoyed The Punisher, expect deep RPG systems, melee combat and single-player focus

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

Released 21 years after The Punisher.

Genre100Visuals100Game mode94Combat67

62

Apotheon

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMultiplayerMelee2DRanged

Steam👍 90%· 3.8KRAWG👍 47%· 329MC78IGDB85· 4OC78· 30

Year 2015Dev AlientrapPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Like The Punisher, it's known for deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and melee combat

≠ Stands apart with Metroidvania exploration, adventure storytelling and precision platforming, while skipping offline

The Gods of Olympus have abandoned humanity, leaving you to perish without their benevolence. Take up arms against the Gods, climb Mount Olympus, and take their divine powers for yourself to ensure mankind’s survival!

Released 22 years after The Punisher.

Genre100Visuals100Combat67Game mode51

#10Ninja Gaiden

62

Ninja Gaiden

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloCo-opMelee2DMagic

Year 1988Dev Tecmo

✓ Like The Punisher, it's known for deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: combat magic and fantasy world, while skipping offline

Genre100Visuals100Game mode58Combat51

#11Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

58

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMelee2D

Steam👍 93%· 41KIGDB83· 11OC83· 135

Year 2019Dev ArtPlay · 505 GamesOn PS4 · PC · iOS

✓ Like The Punisher, it's known for deep RPG systems, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: Metroidvania exploration, adventure storytelling and precision platforming, while skipping action RPG combat

Released 26 years after The Punisher.

Genre100Visuals100Game mode77Combat58

58

UnEpic

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMelee2D

Steam👍 91%· 8.1KRAWG👍 81%· 253MC68IGDB68· 4OC72· 24

Year 2011Dev @unepic_fran · EnjoyUp GamesPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed The Punisher, expect deep RPG systems, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with precision platforming, adventure storytelling and puzzle design, while skipping action RPG combat

Unepic is a 2D platformer game with role-playing elements. The story follows Daniel, a sci-fi, and video games geek that one day was teleported into a fantasy world and found himself in a giant castle. The game’s dialogues, storyline, and aesthetics heavily relies on humor with a lot of geek-culture references and mocking on sci-fi and fantasy clichés.

Released 18 years after The Punisher.

Genre100Game mode78Visuals73Combat57

#13ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist

57

ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMelee2DDarkHardcore

Steam👍 95%· 18KIGDB90· 2OC86· 68

Year 2025Dev Live Wire · Binary Haze InteractivePlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Shared with The Punisher: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and melee combat

≠ Stands apart with Metroidvania exploration, adventure storytelling and precision platforming, while skipping offline

STORYSet in the Land of Fumes, this prosperous magical superpower is home to vast quantities of magical resources lurking underneath the surface. In hopes of advancing their kingdom's development, artificial life forms known as Homunculi came into being.

Where it drifts furthest from The Punisher: game mode.

Released 32 years after The Punisher.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode23

#14Dust: An Elysian Tail

57

Dust: An Elysian Tail

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMelee2DNarrativeFantasy

Steam👍 95%· 19KRAWG👍 67%· 626MC84IGDB82· 7

Year 2012Dev Humble Hearts · Microsoft StudiosPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Shared with The Punisher: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: precision platforming, Metroidvania exploration and adventure storytelling, while skipping offline

Dust: an Elysian Tale is an action role-playing game with metroidvania elements set in an imaginary world called Falana. Dust, the main character, with his sentient sword called Blade of Ahrah and guardian Fidget explores the “2D” side-scrolled environments.

Where it drifts furthest from The Punisher: game mode.

Released 19 years after The Punisher.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode23

#15STRIDER / ストライダー飛竜

57

STRIDER / ストライダー飛竜

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloMelee2DSci-FiCyberpunk

Steam👍 81%· 4.2KRAWG👍 54%· 333MC78IGDB78· 16OC77· 62

Year 2012Dev Capcom · SEGAPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Like The Punisher, it's known for deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: precision platforming, Metroidvania exploration and adventure storytelling, while skipping offline

Strider is a platforming hack and slash game developed by Double Helix Games. The game is a reboot of 1989 title, yet the developers didn't intend the game to be viewed as one. The title retells the original game's story.

Where it drifts furthest from The Punisher: game mode.

Same studio: Capcom.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode23

Complete list of melee games like The Punisher

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