40 Melee games like NieR:Automata™ that you should try

What brings it close to NieR:Automata™ is strong narrative focus, open world exploration and ranged combat, and the two track each other on genre, combat and world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on game mode and tone: this one brings multiplayer gameplay.

Same family as NieR:Automata™: ranged combat, an anime aesthetic and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery. They part company on tone and visuals: this one brings loot and gear systems, and cozy, relaxing feel.

It meets NieR:Automata™ on deep RPG systems, melee combat and fantasy world. To that it adds single-player focus and 2D presentation. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings magic-based combat and an isometric view.

The resemblance to NieR:Automata™ is about as close as this list gets: they line up on genre, game mode and tone. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is combat and visuals: magic-based combat.

Genre puts it alongside NieR:Automata™, and so does strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is tone and combat: skill tree progression.

What brings it close to NieR:Automata™ is strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and world. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: fighting mechanics.

If NieR:Automata™ worked for you because of strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat, the same is here. The common ground extends to an anime aesthetic and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: fighting mechanics.

It shares the essentials of what NieR:Automata™ does: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on visuals: this one brings fighting mechanics.

On paper it is what NieR:Automata™ is — strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on combat and tone: this one brings magic-based combat.

On paper it is what NieR:Automata™ is — strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in tone and combat — its own ground is loot and gear systems, and cozy, relaxing feel.

Shelved next to NieR:Automata™ for good reason: strong narrative focus, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is visuals and setting: a cyberpunk setting and pixel art.

It comes from the same genre as NieR:Automata™ and shares dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat. To that it adds fantasy world and single-player focus. They part company on setting and combat: this one brings magic-based combat and historical setting.

Genre puts it alongside NieR:Automata™, and so does strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat. Both also lean on a third-person camera and fantasy world. The distance is in visuals and combat — its own ground is linear, story-driven structure and magic-based combat.

It comes from the same genre as NieR:Automata™ and shares punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on tone and setting: this one brings loot and gear systems.

Genre puts it alongside NieR:Automata™, and so does strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and game mode: multiplayer gameplay and an isometric view.