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Waking Mars

40 Games like Waking Mars that you should try

Games like Waking Mars · Find similar →

If Waking Mars left you wanting more, this list of 40 similar games is for you. Each one shares part of its essence — adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and melee combat — and the NextGameLike editorial team ranks them by a similarity score computed across 10 attributes. Iconoclasts comes closest (89/100).

NextGameLike77/ 100

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GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania
Tags
NarrativeSolo
Year 2012Dev Tiger Style

Quick answer

The closest game to Waking Mars is Iconoclasts — scoring 89/100 on our similarity scale. The Fall and Teslagrad follow close behind.

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Top games similar to Waking Mars

40 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Waking Mars. Each one has been evaluated across 10 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

Iconoclasts

89
NGL85
Iconoclasts
Closest overall match
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2018Dev Joakim Sandberg · Bifrost EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

What brings it close to Waking Mars is strong narrative focus, melee combat and a sci-fi setting, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on visuals: this one brings pixel art.

Released 6 years after Waking Mars.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting100Progression100Tone79
2

The Fall

88
NGL82
The Fall
Closest on visuals
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2014Dev Over The MoonOn PS4 · Linux · PC

It shares the essentials of what Waking Mars does: strong narrative focus, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. What it adds of its own: shooting mechanics and dark, oppressive atmosphere.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Tone76
3

Teslagrad

87
NGL82
Teslagrad
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2013Dev Rain Games · CIRCLE EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

The resemblance to Waking Mars is about as close as this list gets: they line up on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is tone: punishing difficulty.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting100Progression100Visuals100
4

Owlboy

86
NGL84
Owlboy
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2016Dev D-Pad StudioPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

If Waking Mars worked for you because of strong narrative focus, melee combat and a sci-fi setting, the same is here. To that it adds 2D presentation and single-player focus. They part company on tone and visuals: this one brings cozy, relaxing feel and pixel art.

Released 4 years after Waking Mars.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100Setting70Tone53
5

qomp

82
NGL96
qomp
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeNarrativeExploration2D
Year 2021Dev Stuffed Wombat · AtariPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Linux

What brings it close to Waking Mars is strong narrative focus, 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 and visuals: punishing difficulty and pixel art.

Released 9 years after Waking Mars.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100Visuals57Tone36
6

Carrion

84
NGL85
Carrion
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2020Dev Phobia Game Studio · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · Linux · Android

It shares the essentials of what Waking Mars does: strong narrative focus, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in tone and visuals — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

Released 8 years after Waking Mars.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100Setting66Visuals52
7

The Swapper

84
NGL84
The Swapper
Closest on tone
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloNarrativeSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2013Dev Curve DigitalPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

What brings it close to Waking Mars 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: a space setting.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression100Visuals100Setting60
8

Ato

79
NGL97
Ato
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeNarrativeExploration2D
Year 2019Dev WolfWoot · Tiny Warrior GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC

What brings it close to Waking Mars is strong narrative focus, 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 2D presentation. The distance is in setting and tone — its own ground is punishing difficulty and fantasy world.

Released 7 years after Waking Mars.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100Visuals66Tone54
9

STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™

81
NGL84
STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiExploration
Year 2019Dev Respawn Entertainment · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~8hOn PC · PS · Xbox

If Waking Mars worked for you because of strong narrative focus, melee combat and a sci-fi setting, the same is here. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and tone: punishing difficulty and a space setting.

Released 7 years after Waking Mars.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100Setting48Tone46
10

Gateways

82
NGL81
Gateways
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2012Dev Smudged Cat GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

If Waking Mars worked for you because of exploration and discovery, a sci-fi setting, and single-player focus, the same is here. To that it adds 2D presentation.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Progression100Visuals100
11

Reventure

80
NGL89
Reventure
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloNarrativeExploration2DDark
Year 2019Dev PixelattoPlaytime ~3hOn PC · iOS · Nintendo

Its point of contact with Waking Mars is exploration and discovery, strong narrative focus, and single-player focus. Both also lean on 2D presentation. The distance is in visuals — its own ground is pixel art.

Released 7 years after Waking Mars.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Tone73Visuals53
12

SteamWorld Dig 2

79
NGL90
SteamWorld Dig 2
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2017Dev Image & FormPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

What brings it close to Waking Mars is melee combat, a sci-fi setting 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: a casual, approachable feel.

Released 5 years after Waking Mars.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Setting78
13

Shadow Complex

80
NGL85
Shadow Complex
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeSci-FiExploration2D
Year 2009Dev ChAIR Entertainment Group · Microsoft Game StudiosOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

If Waking Mars worked for you because of melee combat, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus, the same is here. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on combat and progression: this one brings loot and gear systems, and tactical combat.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Visuals100Progression52Combat46
14

Ori and the Blind Forest

78
NGL92
Ori and the Blind Forest
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeNarrativeExploration2D
Year 2015Dev Moon Studios · Microsoft StudiosOn PC · Xbox · Switch

If Waking Mars worked for you because of strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus, the same is here. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is setting and tone: dark, oppressive atmosphere and fantasy world.

Released 3 years after Waking Mars.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Progression56Tone39
15

ANIMAL WELL

78
NGL90
ANIMAL WELL
AdventureMetroidvania
SoloMeleeNarrativeExploration2D
Year 2024Dev Shared MemoryPlaytime ~7hOn PC · PS · Nintendo

It shares the essentials of what Waking Mars does: strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on setting and tone: this one brings a relaxing pace and horror setting.

Released 12 years after Waking Mars.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100Visuals54Tone39

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 Waking Mars by category

If Waking Mars left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the puzzle or the narrative 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 Waking Mars 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.