5 Hardcore games like Shadow Warrior that you should try

What brings it close to Shadow Warrior is dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on a first-person view and free-to-play access.

What carries over from Shadow Warrior is punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and genre: adventure storytelling and 2D presentation.

It meets Shadow Warrior on punishing difficulty, single-player focus and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is genre and tone: adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus.

The genre is the same as Shadow Warrior’s, and with it punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and tone — its own ground is an isometric view.

It comes from the same genre as Shadow Warrior and shares punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and combat: this one brings strong narrative focus and 2D presentation.