8 Hardcore games like Gratuitous Space Battles that you should try

It shares the essentials of what Gratuitous Space Battles does: punishing difficulty, tactical combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus and an isometric view. Where the two diverge is world and visuals: open world exploration.

Genre puts it alongside Gratuitous Space Battles, and so does punishing difficulty, tactical combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on 2D presentation. The distance is in setting and game mode — its own ground is a casual, approachable feel and historical setting.

The genre is the same as Gratuitous Space Battles’s, and with it punishing difficulty, a sandbox world and tactical combat. The common ground extends to multiplayer gameplay and an isometric view. Where the two diverge is tone and game mode: a casual, approachable feel and magic-based combat.

On paper it is what Gratuitous Space Battles is — punishing difficulty, a sandbox world and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Both also lean on 2D presentation. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is open world exploration and fantasy world.

Same family as Gratuitous Space Battles: punishing difficulty, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus and an isometric view. Where the two diverge is setting and game mode: pixel art.

It comes from the same genre as Gratuitous Space Battles and shares punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on an isometric view. The distance is in setting and combat — its own ground is strong narrative focus and magic-based combat.

Where it meets Gratuitous Space Battles is tone and place, not genre: deep simulation, punishing difficulty and a sandbox world. The common ground extends to 2D presentation and a sci-fi setting. Where the two diverge is visuals and genre: survival mechanics.

Genre puts it alongside Gratuitous Space Battles, and so does punishing difficulty, single-player focus and 2D presentation. The distance is in setting and world — its own ground is strong narrative focus and procedural generation.