Games like Risk of Rain 2

Each run asks you to turn a handful of random drops into a build that can survive escalating chaos. Like Risk of Rain 2, that uncertainty makes reruns compelling: an unexpected weapon or upgrade changes your priorities, creating stories through play rather than cutscenes.

Both games also thrive on third-person shooting, bullet-heavy encounters, and two-player online co-op. Coordinating attacks while scrambling for better loot produces the same wonderfully messy multiplayer moments, while Crab Champions’ fluid movement and deep upgrade system keep each run mechanically distinct.

The detour is in its faster, more arcade-like platforming and lighter presentation; it has virtually no narrative, making moment-to-moment mastery the main reward. Its generally smooth optimization can also feel like a welcome answer to Risk of Rain 2’s frequent multiplayer bugs and performance complaints, though huge late-game effects may still cause drops.

This is a worthy, partial match for players who want build experimentation and chaotic co-op without committing to another long grind.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Crab Champions.

Both titles capture the exact same panic of watching a relentless difficulty timer tick upward while you desperately hunt for teleporters. You will experience the identical thrill of stacking item synergies like Soldier's Syringe and Ukulele to trigger screen-clearing chain reactions. This mechanical overlap ensures that theorycrafting chaotic, overpowered builds remains deeply satisfying.

Shifting from a 3D arena to a 2D side-scrolling perspective offers a fresh tactical angle, demanding precise platforming and spacing. This dimension swap directly resolves the sequel's overwhelming visual clutter, utilizing clean pixel art to deliver a much more readable battlefield during intense fights. Chris Christodoulou’s haunting, synth-heavy soundtrack returns to anchor this lonelier, more focused struggle for survival.

Though this transition represents a retro detour rather than a direct clone, the core loop is unmistakable. Best for players who value mechanical readability and tight platforming mastery over chaotic 3D spectacle.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Risk of Rain.

Both games hook you through the same addictive loop: enter a run, grab loot that fundamentally changes how you play, and chase one more attempt despite mounting difficulty. That escalating power fantasy—where item synergies turn you from fragile to unstoppable—is what makes each run feel distinct and rewarding.

Megabonk strips away Risk of Rain 2's visual complexity in favor of retro 3D pixel art and snappy arcade pacing, which actually addresses one of RoR2's criticisms: overwhelming visuals during chaos. The roguelite structure, character variety, and bullet-hell combat remain core to both, creating that same "just one more run" compulsion.

The trade-off here is scale: Megabonk favors tight, score-attack focused sessions over sprawling multiplayer campaigns. This is leaner, faster, and optimized for portability—a different flavor of the same core satisfaction.

Grind is a concern in both games, though neither avoids it entirely. If you thrived on Risk of Rain 2's replayability despite tedious unlocks, Megabonk's shorter run times make the loop feel fresher without requiring a full hour commitment per attempt.

Best for players who prioritize moment-to-moment combat feel and momentum over spectacle, and who want roguelike depth in a more bite-sized package.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Megabonk.

Both games weaponize the "just one more run" psychology through procedural roguelite structures. After a failed attempt, you immediately want to try again because the next loop might deliver that perfect item combination that trivializes the challenge.

The loot systems create comparable depth. In Risk of Rain 2, stacking items like Tough Times and Paul's Goat Hoof produces exponential power spikes. Vampire Survivors mirrors this with evolution mechanics where weapons gain new forms after reaching specific thresholds. The reason this feels similar: both games train you to evaluate every pickup as a potential game-changer, turning passive collection into active strategy.

Multiplayer support is present in both, though Vampire Survivors focuses more on couch co-op while Risk of Rain 2 excels online. If you played Risk of Rain 2 socially, the local experience captures that shared chaos.

The tradeoff: Vampire Survivors shifts from active aiming to passive positioning. Your character auto-attacks while you focus entirely on movement and evolution timing. It trades the satisfying gunplay of Risk of Rain 2 for strategic resource management under constant threat.

Best for players who crave endless progression systems and enjoy watching numbers grow across runs.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Vampire Survivors.

That escalating panic of a Risk of Rain 2 run — kiting a growing horde while your build finally clicks — carries over directly into Gatekeeper's bullet hell co-op chaos. Both games hinge on stacking items mid-run until your character transforms from fragile to absurd, and both reward that same build-experimentation itch.

The co-op scaling with revives creates a similar tension: teammates aren't just extra damage, they're your safety net when a run goes sideways. Gatekeeper's top-down perspective changes how you read enemy patterns compared to RoR2's third-person scramble, but the core loop of "loot, adapt, survive the next wave" feels familiar fast.

Where Gatekeeper diverges is presentation — tighter, more atmospheric art direction instead of RoR2's sprawling biomes — which some will find a refreshing change of pace rather than a downgrade.

It won't fully replace RoR2's replay depth (enemy and map variety here is thinner), so treat this as a worthy detour, not a replacement. Best for players who care more about build synergy and tight co-op teamwork than sprawling content variety.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Gatekeeper.

Both games thrive on the relentless escalation of chaos, forcing you to constantly adapt as screen-filling bullet hell intensity pushes your reflexes to the breaking point.

You’ll find the same addictive loot-and-perk cycle here, which matters because it keeps the momentum high even after your inevitable death.

The primary shift is perspective: you are trading Risk of Rain 2’s 3D third-person mobility for the precise, top-down twin-stick intensity of Nuclear Throne.

Pick this up if you crave the high-stakes, mechanical mastery of a Roguelite shooter but can live without 3D exploration and high-fidelity visuals.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Nuclear Throne.

Gunfire Reborn nails the same co-op roguelite loot grind that makes Risk of Rain 2 work: every run is a fresh build experiment, and that matters because the fun comes from chaining absurd item synergies under pressure.

The big difference is perspective and pace. Gunfire Reborn is a first-person shooter with tighter gunplay and cleaner readability, while Risk of Rain 2 leans harder into third-person chaos and larger-scale spectacle.

Pick this up if you want the same run-to-run replayability in a sharper FPS package, but can live without Risk of Rain 2’s broader sense of battlefield mayhem.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Gunfire Reborn.

Both games hook you with roguelite runs, procedurally generated chaos, and unlockable characters that keep the "one more run" loop irresistible. This matters because the randomized loot and escalating difficulty create that addictive trial-and-error feedback.

Shared bullet-hell intensity and split-screen co-op deliver similarly frantic sessions whether you're playing solo or with a friend. Local multiplayer is built in, so you can immediately jump into chaotic runs together.

Risk of Rain 2 offers 3D sci-fi worlds and a phenomenal soundtrack, while windowkill strips everything down to a minimalist 2D desktop-window mechanic that's clever but far less polished.

Pick this up if you want a roguelite shooter fix and can live without polished visuals or narrative depth—it's a niche alternative for fans who appreciate experimental takes on the formula.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to windowkill.

Both games nail the roguelite shooter loop with procedural variety—randomized levels, branching paths, and loot combinations ensure runs stay fresh across dozens of playthroughs. This is the core draw for both audiences.

Roboquest trades Risk of Rain 2's third-person chaos for first-person gunplay and movement, which matters because the mechanical feedback feels tighter and more immediately satisfying.

The real tradeoff: Roboquest's cel-shaded aesthetic and minimal story are its strengths, but they strip away the atmospheric sci-fi depth and character personality that Risk of Rain 2 leans on.

Pick this up if you want faster-paced, gun-focused roguelike action without Risk of Rain 2's visual clutter—but don't expect the same narrative hooks or atmospheric pull.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Roboquest.

Both titles thrive on frenetic bullet hell combat that forces you to master chaotic screens full of projectiles. This overlap is crucial because it rewards spatial awareness and twitch reflexes, mirroring the same high-stakes intensity found in Risk of Rain 2.

The primary trade-off is perspective: you are moving from 3D third-person chaos to a tight, top-down 2D dungeon crawler. While Enter the Gungeon lacks the 3D scale, it compensates with vastly superior weapon variety and intricate room-clearing puzzles.

Pick this up if you want the punishing, high-speed roguelite loop of Risk of Rain 2 but can live without the 3D exploration and massive open-world boss fights.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Enter the Gungeon.

Solo dungeon crawler that strips away multiplayer chaos but keeps the roguelike replayability and loot-driven progression loop.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dungeon Peplum.

Top-down fantasy alternative with full co-op support and procedural dungeons, trading the sci-fi aesthetic for pixel-art medieval adventure.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Heroes of Hammerwatch.

Metroidvania roguelite that anchors runs to a persistent world, replacing Risk of Rain 2's sprint-and-escape urgency with careful exploration and upgrades.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dead Cells.

Cyberpunk twin-stick shooter with matching co-op multiplayer and bullet-hell intensity, swapping sci-fi tone for harder industrial aesthetics and tighter mechanical challenge.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Synthetik.

Survival sandbox that borrows multiplayer and early-access DNA but replaces roguelike runs with permanent-death permadeath and resource management in a zombie apocalypse.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Project Zomboid.

Nautical co-op roguelite that channels Risk of Rain 2's chaotic multiplayer fun into a colorful naval combat setting with a smaller, tighter scope.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Ship of Fools.

Local co-op twin-stick shooter with roguelike runs and humor, but trades sci-fi intensity for cartoony comedy and split-screen portability.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Voidigo.

Strategy roguelite hybrid that captures the bullet-hell action and procedural variety but layers deckbuilding and Lovecraftian magic systems instead of character loadouts.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Magicraft.

First-person survival sandbox with multiplayer and early-access status, replacing roguelike runs with persistent base-building and tower-defense horde waves.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to 7 Days to Die.

Action-comedy shooter built for couch co-op chaos but rooted in gun customization and brutal hand-to-hand combat rather than item stacking and procedural progression.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to MADNESS: Project Nexus.

This loose spin on western survival replaces space-age sci-fi with robot-infested frontier comedy for players wanting a more narrative-driven co-op experience.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Far Far West.

While lacking the cartoony loot-heavy chaos, this punishing third-person shooter offers a more refined, atmospheric roguelike experience centered on precise, high-stakes movement.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Returnal.

If you enjoy the team-based sci-fi shooting but prefer shorter, bite-sized missions, this colorful isometric arcade shooter offers a more casual local co-op pace.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Relic Hunters Zero.

Distilling the genre down to pure head-to-head combat, this physics-based card battler emphasizes competitive dueling over the long-form item accumulation found in typical runs.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to ROUNDS.

Shifting from vibrant sci-fi to grimdark dungeon crawling, this first-person roguelite focuses on visceral melee swordplay rather than ranged projectile-based destruction.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Mortal Sin.

Capturing the top-down intensity of bullet hell encounters, this western-themed title provides a tighter, more focused approach to wave-based survival for smaller groups.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Bounty of One.

Though diverging into tactical military simulation, the core loop of grinding for powerful gear in a sci-fi setting remains a familiar hook for co-op squads.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tom Clancy's The Division 2.

Replacing real-time action with thoughtful, turn-based deckbuilding, this classic provides the same addictive sense of broken item combinations without the need for twitch reflexes.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Slay the Spire.

Merging traditional tower defense with hero-based action, this colorful co-op title rewards strategic base building rather than purely aggressive map traversal and looting.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dungeon Defenders.

This minimalist twin-stick shooter strips away the complex traversal of 3D spaces, offering a more streamlined, screen-filling bullet hell challenge for solo players.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Rogue: Genesia.

For players who want Risk of Rain 2's roguelite churn recast as tactical card-driven crawling, with slower, turn-based runs and deckbuilding.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors.

This is only a loose fit: Cinderwake keeps the run-based indie spirit, but strips away the co-op chaos and loot-heavy spectacle.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Cinderwake.

Deadzone: Rogue swaps Risk of Rain 2's third-person chaos for first-person co-op shooting, targeting players who want bullets, loot, and zombies.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Deadzone: Rogue.

Dying Light only loosely overlaps through co-op action, but it pivots into parkour survival, open-world progression, and a much heavier zombie setting.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dying Light.

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 keeps the four-player co-op pressure, but trades alien bullet storms for melee-focused fantasy brawling and mission-based runs.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Warhammer: Vermintide 2.

DARK SOULS III fits players who want Risk of Rain 2's difficulty and multiplayer tension translated into slower, punishing soulslike duels.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to DARK SOULS III.

Roguelands channels the same co-op roguelite energy, but emphasizes crafting, retro pixel art, and a more survival-minded sci-fi loop.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Roguelands.

Rogue Glitch is for fans of Risk of Rain 2 who want the same run-based chaos in a brighter, local-multiplayer-friendly package.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Rogue Glitch.

R.E.P.O. only loosely matches the source, swapping combat-heavy runs for physics-driven scavenging, spooky comedy, and first-person extraction vibes.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to R.E.P.O..

Shape of Dreams borrows the co-op roguelite framework, but shifts toward top-down MOBA-like combat and a more stylized fantasy feel.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Shape of Dreams.

Vampire Hunters delivers a retro boomer shooter vibe, swapping Risk of Rain 2's sci‑fi chaos for gothic score‑attack thrills aimed at solo challenge seekers.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Vampire Hunters.

Barony brings first‑person dungeon crawling with a fantasy twist, offering co‑op and split‑screen play that contrasts Risk of Rain 2's sci‑fi bullet‑storm and randomized stages.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Barony.

Ember Knights swaps bullet‑hell for top‑down melee combat, delivering pixel‑art roguelite action with early‑access content that appeals to co‑op fans seeking a different pace.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Ember Knights.

Streets of Rogue brings twin‑stick, emergent PvP chaos, turning Risk of Rain 2's loot grind into a goofy sandbox where runs constantly rewrite the rules.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Streets of Rogue.

Shiro Enkai offers a single‑player indie twist with turn‑based cat battles, swapping Risk of Rain 2's fast action for a more strategic, cute‑centric roguelite.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Shiro Enkai.

Pathogenic delivers top‑down twin‑stick bullet‑hell combat, a science‑focused roguelite that replaces Risk of Rain 2's third‑person perspective with pure reflex‑driven survival.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Pathogenic.

30XX turns roguelite into a fast 2D platformer with pixel‑art style, swapping Risk of Rain 2's shooter chaos for precise jumping and run‑and‑gun action.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to 30XX.

Mewgenics replaces shooting with turn‑based cat battles and a surreal soundtrack, appealing to fans who love dark humor and strategic roguelite gameplay over frantic action.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Mewgenics.

Gatekeeper: Infinity offers top‑down bullet‑hell roguelite with loot focus and free‑to‑play access, replacing Risk of Rain 2's third‑person chaos with tighter co‑op shooter action.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Gatekeeper: Infinity.

Hero Siege delivers top‑down action RPG with bullet‑hell, shifting Risk of Rain 2's sci‑fi chaos into a pixel‑art fantasy dungeon grind and co‑op progression.

If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Hero Siege.