14 Hardcore games like The Messenger that you should try

Of everything here, this is the nearest thing to The Messenger — the two agree on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. What it adds of its own: puzzle design and open world exploration.

What brings it close to The Messenger is punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is tone: strong narrative focus.

If The Messenger worked for you because of punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus, the same is here. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and pixel art. They part company on tone: this one brings strong narrative focus.

It shares the essentials of what The Messenger does: punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is tone: cozy, relaxing feel.

What brings it close to The Messenger is punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and pixel art. The distance is in tone — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere.

What brings it close to The Messenger is punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is visuals: deep RPG systems and procedural generation.

It shares the essentials of what The Messenger does: punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. The distance is in visuals — its own ground is puzzle design and strong narrative focus.

It shares the essentials of what The Messenger does: punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on visuals and tone: this one brings cozy, relaxing feel.

It shares the essentials of what The Messenger does: punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on tone: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere.

What brings it close to The Messenger is punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, combat and tone. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and pixel art. The distance is in game mode — its own ground is multiplayer gameplay.

On paper it is what The Messenger is — punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on tone and visuals: this one brings loot and gear systems, and strong narrative focus.

What brings it close to The Messenger is punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on exploration and discovery. The distance is in visuals — its own ground is a third-person camera.

With The Messenger it shares exploration and discovery, punishing difficulty, and single-player focus. Both also lean on 2D presentation. The distance is in visuals — its own ground is shooting mechanics and strong narrative focus.

If The Messenger worked for you because of punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus, the same is here. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery. Where the two diverge is visuals and combat: magic-based combat and a third-person camera.