21 Dark games like Black Mesa that you should try

The resemblance to Black Mesa is about as close as this list gets: they line up on genre, combat and game mode. To that it adds a first-person view and single-player focus. Its own ground is puzzle design.

If Black Mesa worked for you because of strong narrative focus, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting, the same is here. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a first-person view. It sets itself apart with puzzle design and PvP competition.

It shares the essentials of what Black Mesa does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and horror setting. To that it adds multiplayer gameplay and a first-person view. They part company on setting: this one brings historical setting.

What carries over from Black Mesa is dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is combat: punishing difficulty and fantasy world.

It shares the essentials of what Black Mesa does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting. Both also lean on single-player focus and a first-person view. The distance is in combat and setting — its own ground is stealth mechanics and historical setting.

What brings it close to Black Mesa is dark, oppressive atmosphere, tactical combat and horror setting, and the two track each other on genre, combat and tone. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting: a contemporary setting.

If Black Mesa worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting, the same is here. Both also lean on single-player focus and a first-person view. The distance is in setting — its own ground is fantasy world.

What brings it close to Black Mesa is dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting, and the two track each other on genre, combat and tone. Both also lean on single-player focus and a first-person view. The distance is in game mode — its own ground is puzzle design.

Its point of contact with Black Mesa is dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting: sandbox freedom and stealth mechanics.

The genre is the same as Black Mesa’s, and with it strong narrative focus, melee combat and horror setting. Both also lean on single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and setting — its own ground is stealth mechanics and historical setting.

On paper it is what Black Mesa is — strong narrative focus, melee combat and a sci-fi setting — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Both also lean on multiplayer gameplay and a first-person view. The distance is in game mode and combat — its own ground is co-op play.

What brings it close to Black Mesa is strong narrative focus, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting, and the two track each other on genre, combat and setting. To that it adds single-player focus and a first-person view. They part company on game mode: this one brings PvP competition.

It shares the essentials of what Black Mesa does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting. Both also lean on single-player focus and a first-person view. The distance is in game mode and setting — its own ground is historical setting and co-op play.

Genre puts it alongside Black Mesa, and so does dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting. Both also lean on single-player focus and a first-person view. The distance is in game mode and setting — its own ground is a space setting and offline play.

If Black Mesa worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting, the same is here. The common ground extends to multiplayer gameplay and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting: historical setting.