18 Games like Nuclear Throne on PlayStation 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.

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.

Same family as Nuclear Throne: punishing difficulty, procedural generation and melee combat. Both also lean on a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and setting — its own ground is horror setting and a first-person view.

The genre is the same as Nuclear Throne’s, and with it punishing difficulty, procedural generation and melee combat. To that it adds a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. They part company on game mode and setting: this one brings fantasy world.

Same family as Nuclear Throne: punishing difficulty, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. To that it adds a top-down view and single-player focus. They part company on game mode and setting: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and a cyberpunk 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 comes from the same genre as Nuclear Throne and shares punishing difficulty, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and setting: dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

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.

Genre puts it alongside Nuclear Throne, and so does punishing difficulty, ranged combat and single-player focus. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings an anime aesthetic and a first-person view.

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.

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.

Same family as Nuclear Throne: punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds pixel art. They part company on game mode and tone: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere.

Same family as Nuclear Throne: punishing difficulty, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting. To that it adds multiplayer gameplay. They part company on visuals and game mode: this one brings competitive edge and PvP competition.

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.