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Descenders

16 Racing games like Descenders that you should try

Games like Descenders · Find similar →

We filtered the 50 games similar to Descenders down to the 16 that fit the “Racing” category. Jet Island, Need for Speed™ Payback and Need for Speed™ top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Descenders.

NextGameLike75/ 100

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GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action
Tags
RelaxingMultiplayerSolo
Year 2019Dev RageSquid

Quick answer

Within the “Racing” category, the closest game to Descenders is Jet Island — scoring 70/100 on our similarity scale. Need for Speed™ Payback and Need for Speed™ follow close behind.

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The best racing games like Descenders

16 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Descenders. Each one has been evaluated across 13 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.

1

Jet Island

70
NGL96
Jet Island
Closest overall match
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen WorldExploration
Dev Master IndiePlaytime ~2hOn PC

It shares the essentials of what Descenders does: open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery. The distance is in tone and world — its own ground is a casual, approachable feel.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100World35Tone0
2

Need for Speed™ Payback

68
NGL65
Need for Speed™ Payback
ActionOpen World Action
MultiplayerSoloCo-opMeleeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2017Dev Ghost Games · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

It comes from the same genre as Descenders and shares open world exploration, melee combat and multiplayer gameplay. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is tone and world: strong narrative focus and a sandbox world.

Genre100Combat100Progression100Game mode63Visuals60World39
3

Need for Speed™

69
NGL63
Need for Speed™
ActionOpen World Action
MultiplayerSoloCo-opMeleeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2015Dev Ghost Games · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

It shares the essentials of what Descenders does: open world exploration, melee combat and multiplayer gameplay. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in world and visuals — its own ground is a first-person view.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100Visuals57World53
4

Trailmakers

62
NGL77
Trailmakers
ActionOpen World Action
Co-opSoloMultiplayerMeleeOpen WorldExploration
Year 2020Dev FlashbulbPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

On paper it is what Descenders is — open world exploration, melee combat and co-op play — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds exploration and discovery. They part company on world and progression: this one brings a sandbox world and crafting mechanics.

Genre100Combat100Game mode76Progression46World35
5

Need for Speed: Rivals

60
NGL78
Need for Speed: Rivals
ActionOpen World Action
MultiplayerSoloCo-opMeleeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2013Dev Ghost Games · Electronic ArtsOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

Same family as Descenders: open world exploration, melee combat and multiplayer gameplay. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is tone and game mode: strong narrative focus and PvP competition.

Genre100Combat100Progression100Visuals61World60Game mode59
6

Crash Time 3

58
NGL85
Crash Time 3
ActionOpen World Action
MultiplayerSoloMeleeOpen WorldExploration
Year 2009Dev Synetic · Kalypso MediaPlaytime ~1hOn PC

On paper it is what Descenders is — open world exploration, melee combat and multiplayer gameplay — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds exploration and discovery. They part company on world and game mode: this one brings offline play.

It predates Descenders by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Progression100Game mode67World45
7

Saints Row 2

55
NGL74
Saints Row 2
Closest on visuals
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2008Dev Volition · Deep SilverPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Shelved next to Descenders for good reason: open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on world and progression: this one brings a sandbox world and ranged combat.

It predates Descenders by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Visuals100Game mode90Combat64Progression61World43
8

Just Cause

53
NGL62
Just Cause
Closest on world
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerMeleeOpen WorldProceduralExplorationThird Person
Year 2006Dev Avalanche Studios · Square EnixPlaytime ~1hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Same family as Descenders: open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is combat and game mode: ranged combat.

It predates Descenders by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression100Visuals100World77Game mode66Combat64
9

Saints Row: The Third

53
NGL92
Saints Row: The Third
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2011Dev Volition · Square EnixOn PlayStation 3 · Linux · PC

The genre is the same as Descenders’s, and with it open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in tone and world — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and a sandbox world.

It predates Descenders by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode88Visuals66Progression49World43
10

RAGE

52
NGL72
RAGE
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2011Dev Aspyr Media · Bethesda SoftworksPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

The genre is the same as Descenders’s, and with it open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on tone and combat: this one brings strong narrative focus and ranged combat.

It predates Descenders by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals60World54Combat44
11

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

51
NGL93
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
ActionOpen World Action
SoloCo-opMultiplayerMeleeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2004Dev Rockstar North · CapcomPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Shelved next to Descenders for good reason: open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in tone and combat — its own ground is strong narrative focus and a sandbox world.

It predates Descenders by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals64World51Combat43
Details →1/1 agree it's a good match
12

Just Cause 2

50
NGL82
Just Cause 2
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerMeleeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2010Dev Square EnixPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Genre puts it alongside Descenders, and so does open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in world and combat — its own ground is a sandbox world and ranged combat.

It predates Descenders by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression100Visuals100Game mode69Combat68World43
13

Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now

49
NGL88
Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerMeleeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 1998Dev Stainless Games Ltd. · Interplay EntertainmentOn PC · Mac

Shelved next to Descenders for good reason: open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in tone and world — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and a first-person view.

It predates Descenders by 21 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Progression100Game mode71Visuals62World52
14

Grand Theft Auto 2

47
NGL85
Grand Theft Auto 2
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerMeleeOpen WorldExploration
Year 1999Dev DMA Design · Take-Two InteractiveOn PC

The genre is the same as Descenders’s, and with it open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery. They part company on tone and visuals: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and an isometric view.

It predates Descenders by 20 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Progression100Game mode72World54Tone0
15

Grand Theft Auto

46
NGL83
Grand Theft Auto
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerMeleeOpen WorldExploration
Year 1997Dev DMA Design · BMG InteractiveOn PC

It comes from the same genre as Descenders and shares open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery. Where the two diverge is tone and visuals: punishing difficulty and a sandbox world.

It predates Descenders by 22 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Progression100Game mode72World40Tone0

More similar-games lists to keep going

Found one on the list you already love? Open its own list: the games that play most like it, ranked, with the reason for each.

Explore games similar to Descenders by category

If Descenders left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the racing or the simulation that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on Nintendo Switch, PS5, PlayStation and Xbox, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a Descenders look-alike but simply the best Open-World Action Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Action Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.