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La-Mulana

42 Games like La-Mulana that you should try

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La-Mulana is hard to replace: few games combine adventure storytelling, punishing difficulty and open world exploration in quite the same way. The NextGameLike team compared La-Mulana against over 6,700 titles across 12 gameplay attributes and found 42 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Ori and the Blind Forest, Ato, and STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™ lead the list, with Ato reaching a 95/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes La-Mulana special.

NextGameLike78/ 100

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GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania
Tags
HardcoreSolo
Year 2012Dev NIGORO

Quick answer

The closest game to La-Mulana is Ato — scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. Ori and the Blind Forest and STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™ follow close behind.

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Top games similar to La-Mulana

42 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to La-Mulana. Each one has been evaluated across 12 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

Ato

95
NGL97
Ato
Closest overall match
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeHardcoreOpen WorldFantasyExploration2DPixel Art
Year 2019Dev WolfWoot · Tiny Warrior GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC

Of everything here, this is the nearest thing to La-Mulana — the two agree on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. It sets itself apart with fighting mechanics and strong narrative focus.

Released 7 years after La-Mulana.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting100World100Progression100
2

Ori and the Blind Forest

90
NGL92
Ori and the Blind Forest
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeHardcoreOpen WorldFantasyExploration2D
Year 2015Dev Moon Studios · Microsoft StudiosOn PC · Xbox · Switch

What brings it close to La-Mulana is punishing difficulty, open world exploration and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on tone and progression: this one brings loot and gear systems, and strong narrative focus.

Released 3 years after La-Mulana.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting100World100Visuals82
3

STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™

86
NGL84
STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeHardcoreOpen WorldFantasyExploration
Year 2019Dev Respawn Entertainment · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~8hOn PC · PS · Xbox

If La-Mulana worked for you because of punishing difficulty, open world exploration and melee combat, the same is here. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and fantasy world. Where the two diverge is visuals and setting: a sci-fi setting and a third-person camera.

Released 7 years after La-Mulana.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100World100Progression100Tone78
4

VVVVVV

84
NGL85
VVVVVV
Closest on tone
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeHardcoreFantasyExplorationPixel Art2D
Year 2010Dev NicalisPlaytime ~1hOn PC · PS · iOS

If La-Mulana worked for you because of punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world, the same is here. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on setting and game mode: this one brings a sci-fi setting and multiplayer gameplay.

Genre100Combat100Tone100Progression100Visuals100Game mode56
5

FEZ

81
NGL88
FEZ
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloOpen WorldFantasyExploration2DPixel Art
Year 2012Dev POLYTRON · Microsoft StudiosPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Matches like this one are rare: it meets La-Mulana on genre, game mode and setting. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and pixel art. They part company on tone: this one brings a casual, approachable feel.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100World100Progression100Visuals100
6

Carrion

82
NGL85
Carrion
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeHardcoreExplorationPixel Art2D
Year 2020Dev Phobia Game Studio · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · Linux · Android

It shares the essentials of what La-Mulana does: punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and pixel art. They part company on setting and tone: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

Released 8 years after La-Mulana.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Tone56
7

Owlboy

81
NGL84
Owlboy
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeFantasyExplorationPixel Art2D
Year 2016Dev D-Pad StudioPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

It shares the essentials of what La-Mulana does: melee combat, fantasy world and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and pixel art. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is strong narrative focus and a sci-fi setting.

Released 4 years after La-Mulana.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Setting67
8

ANIMAL WELL

79
NGL90
ANIMAL WELL
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeOpen WorldExplorationPixel Art2D
Year 2024Dev Shared MemoryPlaytime ~7hOn PC · PS · Nintendo

Matches like this one are rare: it meets La-Mulana on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is strong narrative focus and horror setting.

Released 12 years after La-Mulana.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals100
9

Teslagrad

80
NGL82
Teslagrad
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeHardcoreExploration2D
Year 2013Dev Rain Games · CIRCLE EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

What brings it close to La-Mulana is punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on setting: this one brings a sci-fi setting.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100Visuals82Tone81
10

Yoku's Island Express

78
NGL89
Yoku's Island Express
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloOpen WorldFantasyExploration2D
Year 2018Dev Team17 DigitalPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

What brings it close to La-Mulana is open world exploration, fantasy world and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and setting. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on tone: this one brings cozy, relaxing feel.

Released 6 years after La-Mulana.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100World100Progression100Visuals82
11

The Messenger

78
NGL88
The Messenger
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeHardcoreExplorationPixel Art2D
Year 2018Dev Sabotage · Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Of everything here, this is the nearest thing to La-Mulana — the two agree on genre, combat and game mode. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and pixel art.

Released 6 years after La-Mulana.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Progression100Visuals100
12

Reventure

77
NGL89
Reventure
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloOpen WorldExplorationPixel Art2D
Year 2019Dev PixelattoPlaytime ~3hOn PC · iOS · Nintendo

If La-Mulana worked for you because of exploration and discovery, open world exploration, and single-player focus, the same is here. The common ground extends to pixel art. Where the two diverge is tone: strong narrative focus.

Released 7 years after La-Mulana.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals100Tone0
13

Pseudoregalia

75
NGL97
Pseudoregalia
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeHardcoreOpen WorldFantasyExploration
Year 2023Dev rittzlerPlaytime ~2hOn PC

Matches like this one are rare: it meets La-Mulana on genre, game mode and tone. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and fantasy world. They part company on visuals and combat: this one brings magic-based combat and a third-person camera.

Released 11 years after La-Mulana.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Setting100World100Progression100
14

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap

77
NGL83
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeHardcoreFantasyExploration2D
Year 2017Dev Lizardcube · DotEmuOn PS4 · Linux · Android

What brings it close to La-Mulana is punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. It sets itself apart with cozy, relaxing feel.

Released 5 years after La-Mulana.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting100Progression100Visuals82
15

Iconoclasts

74
NGL85
Iconoclasts
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeExplorationPixel Art2D
Year 2018Dev Joakim Sandberg · Bifrost EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

What brings it close to La-Mulana is exploration and discovery, melee combat, and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on pixel art. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is strong narrative focus and a sci-fi setting.

Released 6 years after La-Mulana.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Tone0

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 La-Mulana by category

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

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a La-Mulana look-alike but simply the best Metroidvania 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 Adventure Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.