Waking Mars

21 Games with a sci-fi setting like Waking Mars that you should try

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We filtered the 40 games similar to Waking Mars down to the 21 that fit the “Sci-Fi” category. Metroid: Samus Returns, Gateways and AM2R: Return of Samus top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Waking Mars.

iRank77/ 100

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GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

Tags

NarrativeSolo

Year 2012Dev Tiger Style

Stores

Steam ↗GOG ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Sci-Fi” category, the closest game to Waking Mars is Metroid: Samus Returns — scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. Gateways and AM2R: Return of Samus follow close behind.

#1Metroid: Samus Returns97 #2Gateways97 #3AM2R: Return of Samus97 #4Metroid96 #5Metroid Fusion96

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The best games with a sci-fi setting like Waking Mars

21 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Waking Mars. Each one has been evaluated across 10 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.

#1Metroid: Samus Returns

97

Metroid: Samus Returns

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloSci-FiExploration2D

IGDB88· 14OC86· 92

Year 2017Dev Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming.

≠ Missing: puzzle design.

97

Gateways

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloSci-FiExploration2D

Steam👍 90%· 250MC72IGDB70· 1

Year 2012Dev Smudged Cat GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Nearly identical: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and puzzle design.

≠ Missing: strong narrative focus.

#3AM2R: Return of Samus

97

AM2R: Return of Samus

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloSci-FiExploration2D

Year 2016Dev DoctorM64On PC

✓ Nearly identical: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming.

≠ Missing: puzzle design.

96

Metroid

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloSci-FiExploration2DOpen World

IGDB60· 1

Year 1987Dev Nintendo R&D1 · Playtronic

✓ Same family of Metroidvanias: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Where it differs: brings open world exploration, loot and gear systems and skill tree progression, while skipping puzzle design

#5Metroid Fusion

96

Metroid Fusion

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloMeleeSci-FiExploration2D

IGDB85· 2

Year 2002Dev Nintendo R&D1 · Nintendo

✓ Both are Metroidvanias — sharing adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter, loot and gear systems and skill tree progression, while skipping puzzle design

#6Metroid: Zero Mission

96

Metroid: Zero Mission

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloSci-FiExploration2DOpen World

IGDB95· 2

Year 2004Dev Nintendo R&D1 · Nintendo

✓ Same family of Metroidvanias: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Its own twist: shooter, open world exploration and loot and gear systems, while skipping puzzle design

95

Axiom Verge

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D

Steam👍 90%· 6.5KIGDB84· 15OC85· 90

Year 2015Dev Thomas Happ GamesOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Fits the Metroidvanias cluster, with adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Where it differs: brings setting cyberpunk and visual pixel, while skipping puzzle design

Steam Epic Xbox

95

Iconoclasts

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D

Steam👍 86%· 4.9KIGDB85· 8OC84· 57

Year 2018Dev Joakim Sandberg · Bifrost EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of Metroidvanias: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and puzzle design

≠ Stands apart with cozy, relaxing feel and visual pixel

95

The Swapper

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D

Steam👍 94%· 7.5KRAWG👍 63%· 528MC87IGDB88· 10OC85· 33

Year 2013Dev Curve DigitalPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of Metroidvanias: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and puzzle design

≠ Where it differs: brings horror tension, setting space and horror setting, while skipping melee combat

94

Bad Bots

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloMeleeSci-FiExploration2D

Steam👍 55%· 260MC49IGDB50· 2

Year 2013Dev Point Five Projects · Digital TribePlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Both are Metroidvanias — sharing adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Where it differs: brings ranged combat and visual pixel, while skipping puzzle design

94

The Fall

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D

Steam👍 88%· 3.7KIGDB78· 2OC74· 38

Year 2014Dev Over The MoonOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of Metroidvanias: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and puzzle design

≠ Its own twist: shooter, horror tension and dark, oppressive atmosphere

#12Metroid Dread

94

Metroid Dread

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D

IGDB84· 11OC87· 153

Year 2021Dev Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Same family of Metroidvanias: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Stands apart with shooter and punishing difficulty, while skipping puzzle design

93

Teslagrad

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D

Steam👍 84%· 2.5KIGDB79· 6OC79· 45

Year 2013Dev Rain Games · CIRCLE EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

✓ Same family of Metroidvanias: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Where it differs: brings punishing difficulty and cozy, relaxing feel

92

Owlboy

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D

Steam👍 84%· 6.1KRAWG👍 74%· 307MC88IGDB89· 13OC88· 98

Year 2016Dev D-Pad StudioPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the Metroidvanias cluster, with adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Its own twist: cozy, relaxing feel, fantasy world and visual pixel

91

Carrion

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D

Steam👍 95%· 31KIGDB75· 9OC76· 118

Year 2020Dev Phobia Game Studio · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · Linux · Android

✓ Both are Metroidvanias — sharing adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Stands apart with horror tension, dark, oppressive atmosphere and punishing difficulty

Complete list of games with a sci-fi setting like Waking Mars

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Waking Mars, 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.

The Gunk

The Gunk

Adventure · Metroidvania

Shadow Complex

Shadow Complex

Adventure · Metroidvania

STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™

STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™

Adventure · Metroidvania

Gato Roboto

Gato Roboto

Adventure · Metroidvania

SteamWorld Dig 2

SteamWorld Dig 2

Adventure · Metroidvania

SteamWorld Dig

SteamWorld Dig

Adventure · Metroidvania

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Rankings in the same genre

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