11 Melee games like X: Beyond the Frontier that you should try

Matches like this one are rare: it meets X: Beyond the Frontier on genre, combat and game mode. To that it adds player trading and single-player focus.

It comes from the same genre as X: Beyond the Frontier and shares a sandbox world, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on game mode and visuals: this one brings co-op play.

Genre puts it alongside X: Beyond the Frontier, and so does open world exploration, melee combat and a space setting. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in world and visuals — its own ground is 3D presentation.

Shelved next to X: Beyond the Frontier for good reason: a sandbox world, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on game mode and visuals: this one brings multiplayer gameplay.

What brings it close to X: Beyond the Frontier is open world exploration, 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 player trading. The distance is in setting and world — its own ground is historical setting.

Shelved next to X: Beyond the Frontier for good reason: open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is setting and combat: ranged combat and historical setting.

Same family as X: Beyond the Frontier: a sandbox world, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery. The distance is in visuals and game mode — its own ground is multiplayer gameplay and an isometric view.

Same family as X: Beyond the Frontier: open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is world and progression: procedural generation.

The genre is the same as X: Beyond the Frontier’s, and with it open world exploration, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to a third-person camera and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and combat: stealth mechanics and a cyberpunk setting.

The genre is the same as X: Beyond the Frontier’s, and with it open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on setting and world: this one brings fantasy world.

Same family as X: Beyond the Frontier: open world exploration, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. Both also lean on a first-person view and single-player focus. The distance is in setting and game mode — its own ground is a cyberpunk setting and multiplayer gameplay.