9 Melee games like Valheim that you should try

It shares the essentials of what Valheim does: a sandbox world, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and an early-access release. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

The genre is the same as Valheim’s, and with it punishing difficulty, open world exploration and melee combat. Both also lean on fantasy world and co-op play. The distance is in progression and world — its own ground is procedural generation and 3D presentation.

Shelved next to Valheim for good reason: exploration and discovery, melee combat, and single-player focus. Both also lean on a third-person camera. The distance is in setting and game mode — its own ground is a contemporary setting and 3D presentation.

Shelved next to Valheim for good reason: exploration and discovery, melee combat, and single-player focus. The common ground extends to a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is tone and setting: strong narrative focus and horror setting.

Same family as Valheim: exploration and discovery, melee combat, and single-player focus. Both also lean on a third-person camera. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is strong narrative focus and a sci-fi setting.

The genre is the same as Valheim’s, and with it punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is ranged combat and a sci-fi setting.

Shelved next to Valheim for good reason: melee combat, single-player focus and a third-person camera. They part company on tone and setting: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and a sci-fi setting.

Genre puts it alongside Valheim, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and game mode: a casual, approachable feel and 2D presentation.

Shelved next to Valheim for good reason: punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is a casual, approachable feel and ranged combat.