23 Co-op games like Nuclear Throne that you should try

Matches like this one are rare: it meets Nuclear Throne on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to a top-down view and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting: fantasy world.

On paper it is what Nuclear Throne is — punishing difficulty, procedural generation and melee combat — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Both also lean on multiplayer gameplay and an isometric view. The distance is in setting and tone — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

It shares the essentials of what Nuclear Throne does: punishing difficulty, procedural generation and ranged combat. Both also lean on multiplayer gameplay and an isometric view. The distance is in setting and tone — its own ground is a casual, approachable feel.

On paper it is what Nuclear Throne is — punishing difficulty, ranged combat and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds 2D presentation. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings a cartoon aesthetic.

The genre is the same as Nuclear Throne’s, and with it punishing difficulty, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. To that it adds single-player focus. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings a first-person view.

Genre puts it alongside Nuclear Throne, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds pixel art. They part company on combat and visuals: this one brings precision platforming.

On paper it is what Nuclear Throne is — punishing difficulty, melee combat and a sci-fi setting — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Both also lean on offline play and an isometric view. The distance is in setting and combat — its own ground is a space setting.

Same family as Nuclear Throne: punishing difficulty, melee combat and multiplayer gameplay. To that it adds 2D presentation. They part company on visuals and tone: this one brings a casual, approachable feel.

It meets Nuclear Throne on shooting mechanics, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on 2D presentation. The distance is in visuals — its own ground is precision platforming and free-to-play access.

Held in common with Nuclear Throne: shooting mechanics, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting. To that it adds offline play and a top-down view. They part company on setting: this one brings a cyberpunk setting.

Held in common with Nuclear Throne: shooting mechanics, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting. To that it adds an isometric view and offline play. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings fantasy world and a first-person view.

The overlap with Nuclear Throne is in what it evokes rather than what it is: shooting mechanics, punishing difficulty and melee combat. To that it adds pixel art and a sci-fi setting. They part company on combat and visuals: this one brings tactical combat.

Held in common with Nuclear Throne: shooting mechanics, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on 2D presentation. The distance is in combat and visuals — its own ground is precision platforming.

What carries over from Nuclear Throne is shooting mechanics, punishing difficulty and melee combat. Both also lean on multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in visuals and combat — its own ground is tactical combat and a first-person view.

What brings it close to Nuclear Throne is punishing difficulty, procedural generation and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, combat and world. To that it adds single-player focus and an isometric view. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.