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The Swapper

18 Games with a sci-fi setting like The Swapper that you should try

Games like The Swapper · Find similar →

We filtered the 40 games similar to The Swapper down to the 18 that fit the “Sci-Fi” category. The Fall, Carrion and STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™ top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to The Swapper.

NextGameLike83/ 100

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GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania
Tags
NarrativeSolo
Year 2013Dev Curve Digital

Quick answer

Within the “Sci-Fi” category, the closest game to The Swapper is The Fall — scoring 90/100 on our similarity scale. Carrion and STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™ follow close behind.

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The best games with a sci-fi setting like The Swapper

18 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to The Swapper. Each one has been evaluated across 12 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

1

The Fall

90
NGL82
The Fall
Closest overall match
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloNarrativeSci-FiHorrorExploration2D
Year 2014Dev Over The MoonOn PS4 · Linux · PC

It shares the essentials of what The Swapper does: strong narrative focus, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on setting: this one brings a cyberpunk setting.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Tone79Setting64
2

Carrion

87
NGL85
Carrion
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloNarrativeHorrorSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2020Dev Phobia Game Studio · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · Linux · Android

Same family as The Swapper: strong narrative focus, horror setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. The distance is in tone and visuals — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and pixel art.

Released 7 years after The Swapper.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Setting73Visuals52Tone39
3

STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™

75
NGL84
STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloNarrativeSci-FiSpaceExploration
Year 2019Dev Respawn Entertainment · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~8hOn PC · PS · Xbox

The genre is the same as The Swapper’s, and with it strong narrative focus, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery. They part company on visuals and tone: this one brings punishing difficulty and a third-person camera.

Released 6 years after The Swapper.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Setting82Tone50Visuals0
4

The Gunk

58
NGL77
The Gunk
Closest on setting
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloNarrativeSci-FiSpaceExploration
Year 2021Dev Image & Form · ThunderfulOn Xbox · PC

What brings it close to The Swapper is strong narrative focus, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and progression. Both also lean on exploration and discovery. The distance is in visuals and tone — its own ground is a relaxing pace and a third-person camera.

Released 8 years after The Swapper.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Setting95Tone48Visuals0
5

Waking Mars

78
NGL76
Waking Mars
Closest on tone
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2012Dev Tiger Style · Tiger Style GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · iOS · Android

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

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression100Visuals100Setting60
6

Iconoclasts

76
NGL85
Iconoclasts
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2018Dev Joakim Sandberg · Bifrost EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

It comes from the same genre as The Swapper and shares strong narrative focus, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings pixel art.

Released 5 years after The Swapper.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Tone82Setting56Visuals52
7

Teslagrad

74
NGL82
Teslagrad
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2013Dev Rain Games · CIRCLE EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

If The Swapper worked for you because of strong narrative focus, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus, the same is here. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is tone and setting: punishing difficulty.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Setting56Tone53
8

Owlboy

74
NGL84
Owlboy
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2016Dev D-Pad StudioPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Same family as The Swapper: strong narrative focus, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: cozy, relaxing feel and fantasy world.

Released 3 years after The Swapper.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Tone58Visuals53Setting43
9

Gateways

74
NGL81
Gateways
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2012Dev Smudged Cat GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

If The Swapper worked for you because of exploration and discovery, a sci-fi setting, and single-player focus, the same is here. The common ground extends to 2D presentation. Where they diverge is setting.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Setting56
10

Shadow Complex

73
NGL85
Shadow Complex
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloSci-FiExploration2DTactical
Year 2009Dev ChAIR Entertainment Group · Microsoft Game StudiosOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

The genre is the same as The Swapper’s, and with it exploration and discovery, a sci-fi setting, and single-player focus. To that it adds 2D presentation. They part company on progression and setting: this one brings loot and gear systems.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Setting54Progression45
11

Axiom Verge

67
NGL87
Axiom Verge
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2015Dev Thomas Happ GamesOn PS4 · Linux · PC

It shares the essentials of what The Swapper does: strong narrative focus, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is a cyberpunk setting and pixel art.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression100Visuals63Setting44
12

Metroid Dread

66
NGL86
Metroid Dread
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2021Dev Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development · NintendoOn Switch

It shares the essentials of what The Swapper does: strong narrative focus, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is setting and tone: punishing difficulty.

Released 8 years after The Swapper.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Tone63Setting54
13

Metroid: Samus Returns

64
NGL87
Metroid: Samus Returns
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2017Dev Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development · Nintendo

It shares the essentials of what The Swapper does: exploration and discovery, a sci-fi setting, and single-player focus. Both also lean on 2D presentation. The distance is in setting.

Released 4 years after The Swapper.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Setting54
14

AM2R: Return of Samus

64
AM2R: Return of Samus
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2016Dev DoctorM64On PC

If The Swapper worked for you because of exploration and discovery, a sci-fi setting, and single-player focus, the same is here. Both also lean on 2D presentation. The distance is in setting.

Released 3 years after The Swapper.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Setting54
15

Bad Bots

64
NGL52
Bad Bots
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloSci-FiExploration2DMelee
Year 2013Dev Point Five Projects · Digital TribePlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

With The Swapper it shares exploration and discovery, a sci-fi setting, and single-player focus. To that it adds 2D presentation. They part company on setting: this one brings melee combat and pixel art.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals76Setting54

More similar-games lists to keep going

Found one on the list you already love? Open its own list: the games that play most like it, ranked, with the reason for each.

Explore games similar to The Swapper by category

If The Swapper left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the puzzle or the horror that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox and Mobile, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a The Swapper look-alike but simply the best Metroidvania Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Adventure Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.