Games Like Fading Afternoon

A highschool gang leader Ringo Ishikawa trying to live through his last autumn before graduation. With his best friends.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 22%, Martial Arts 18.3% ★, Side Scroller 8.9%, Open World 6.9%, Sandbox 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: Developed by the same creator, this game shares the exact same existential, slice-of-life, and beat-'em-up DNA as Fading Afternoon.

Hitman is searching for an answer in France 70-s.

Why similar: Crime 22.3%, Drama 19.6%, Pixel Graphics 14.9%, RPG 13.4%, Story Rich 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: This title features the same developer's signature style, blending stylish, melancholic 2D action with a gritty, cinematic atmosphere.

Embody a hard-boiled detective seeking bloody justice. in an old-school, Korean-style beat-’em-up. Plow through the criminal underworld to find and punish those responsible for his sister's death...before his mind unravels and his vengeance completely destroys him.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 29.8%, Martial Arts 26.5% ★, Side Scroller 18.1%, Pixel Graphics 6.4%, Crime 5.1%

Why You'll Like It: A gritty, stylish 2D beat-'em-up that focuses on a dark, revenge-driven story within a criminal setting.

The Legend of Tianding is a sidescrolling action game about Liao Tianding, the legendary Taiwanese Folk Hero. Explore the dazzling streets of Colonial Japanese Taiwan in the early 20th century.

Why similar: Martial Arts 31.3% ★, Beat 'em up 22%, Side Scroller 14.3%, Multiple Endings 8%, RPG 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: A side-scrolling martial arts action game that combines fluid combat with a strong, historically-rooted narrative.

ERASE YOUR PAST TO PROTECT YOUR FUTURE Once a legendary yakuza, Kazuma Kiryu faked his own death and abandoned his name for the sake of protecting his family. Now, he is thrust into conflict by a mysterious figure attempting to drive him out of hiding.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 39.2%, Martial Arts 36.6% ★, Open World 10%, Story Rich 7.4%, Action 5.1%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the life of a weary, aging yakuza trying to move on from his past, mirroring the central theme of Fading Afternoon.

SEGA®’s most requested re-release of all time finally comes to a new generation. Shenmue delivers an epic story of revenge within a unique open world that is still unrivalled in depth and detail. Return to the epic saga that defined modern gaming. The saga begins…again.

Why similar: Martial Arts 48.4% ★, Open World 15.5%, Story Rich 9%, Beat 'em up 8.3%, RPG 7.1%

Why You'll Like It: As the spiritual ancestor to the Yakuza series, this game pioneered the blend of open-world life simulation and martial arts progression.

Sifu is a realistic third-person brawler with tight Kung Fu combat mechanics and cinematic martial arts action embarking you on a path for revenge.

Why similar: Martial Arts 50.6% ★, Beat 'em up 34.2%, Crime 10.5%, Action 3.5%, Indie 1.2%

Why You'll Like It: Features a unique aging mechanic that mirrors the protagonist's physical decline and the passage of time found in Fading Afternoon.

The Definitive Edition of the critically acclaimed, award winning open-world action adventure, reworked, rebuilt and re-mastered for the new generation. With all previously available DLC included and a wealth of tech and visual improvements, Hong Kong has never felt so alive.

Why similar: Martial Arts 44.7% ★, Open World 19.5%, Crime 17.3%, Sandbox 5.8%, Story Rich 5.6%

Why You'll Like It: An open-world crime drama that places a heavy emphasis on visceral martial arts combat and navigating the criminal underworld.

Hero's Adventure:Road to Passion is a wuxia open-world RPG. You will commence your journey as an underdog in the tumultuous Martial World and will be met with a wide array of choices as you navigate your own heroic saga.

Why similar: Martial Arts 50.1% ★, Open World 13%, Multiple Endings 9.5%, RPG 9%, Pixel Graphics 5%

Why You'll Like It: An open-world pixel-art RPG that focuses heavily on martial arts progression and offers multiple branching endings based on player choices.

Meifumado is an action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic, immersive world inspired by Japan.

Why similar: Martial Arts 48.5% ★, Open World 12.9%, RPG 8.8%, Story Rich 7.4%, Pixel Graphics 7.1%

Why You'll Like It: A post-apocalyptic action-RPG that emphasizes martial arts combat and exploration in a desolate, atmospheric world.

Wandering Sword is a Chinese martial-arts RPG where you play a young swordsman caught up in a feud and nearly dies. Escaping the event puts you on the path of pursuing the highest form of martial arts and exploring the pugilistic world to become the great hero you are always destined to be.

Why similar: Martial Arts 58.3% ★, RPG 10.7%, Open World 10.2%, Pixel Graphics 7%, Story Rich 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: A martial arts RPG that captures the atmosphere of classic wuxia films with a beautiful pixel-art style and deep progression.

Build a "legitimate" corporation via open world missions, shakedowns, sabotage and property acquisition.

Why similar: Sandbox 25.8%, Crime 23.1%, Open World 19.2%, Story Rich 9.5%, Pixel Graphics 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: An open-world crime sandbox that uses a retro aesthetic to explore business management and criminal expansion.

Train hard, fight crocodiles and find love. Earn your place in the Punch Club ranks, and discover who brutally murdered your father, in this choose your own adventure boxing management tycoon.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 50%, Pixel Graphics 12.2%, RPG 11.5%, Story Rich 10.8%, 2D 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: A management-focused life-sim where you train to become a fighter, echoing the grind and dedication required in martial arts stories.

Step into Japan's criminal underworld in this explosive action brawler starring legendary yakuza, Kazuma Kiryu, who is hellbent on unraveling the truth around his daughter's tragic accident.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 35.3%, Crime 16.4%, Open World 14.4%, RPG 7.8%, Drama 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the later years of a legendary yakuza, directly mirroring the aging and legacy themes of Fading Afternoon.

A former member of the criminal underworld is lured back into “the life” by a mysterious drone claiming they have until sunrise to prevent a citywide criminal takeover together.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 77.7%, Martial Arts 11.6% ★, Action 8.2%, Indie 2.5%

Why You'll Like It: A high-octane beat-'em-up that focuses on fluid, cinematic combat sequences in a modern urban setting.

Face off against the most powerful yakuza in the Kansai region of Japan in an explosive conflict between rival clans, loaded with brutal brawling action, immersive exploration, and unforgettable experiences.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 27.1%, Martial Arts 22.7% ★, Crime 12.6%, RPG 9.1%, Open World 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: Continues the yakuza saga with refined combat mechanics and deep open-world exploration in a detailed city environment.

Hotline Miami is a high-octane action game overflowing with raw brutality, hard-boiled gunplay and skull crushing close combat.

Why similar: 1980s 41.2%, Pixel Graphics 25.1%, Action 12.6%, Indie 8.7%, 2D 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: Captures the gritty, violent, and highly stylized atmosphere of criminal underworlds with a focus on fast-paced, lethal combat.

Katana ZERO is a stylish neo-noir, action-platformer featuring breakneck action and instant-death combat. Slash, dash, and manipulate time to unravel your past in a beautifully brutal acrobatic display.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 37.1%, Story Rich 30.7%, Action 12.5%, 2D 12.4%, Indie 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: A fast-paced, story-rich 2D action game that emphasizes precision combat and deep, character-driven narrative moments.

There's trouble once again in River City, and this time only the girls can save the day! Using a variety of attacks, weapons, and items, these hot-blooded heroines are ready to teach the city’s lowlifes a lesson - either solo or in 2-player co-op! It’s an old-school rumble for a new generation!

Why similar: Beat 'em up 61.7%, Pixel Graphics 10.9%, Anime 10.4%, Side Scroller 5.2%, Action 5.1%

Why You'll Like It: A polished side-scrolling beat-'em-up with RPG elements and a vibrant, sandbox-like city to explore.

I Am The Hero is a pixel art, beat 'em up, fighting game that tells the story of a "Hero" with a glorious but mysterious past. Is he the hero he thinks he is or is there a another side to this legendary figure?

Why similar: Beat 'em up 46.3%, Side Scroller 14.2%, RPG 10.4%, Pixel Graphics 10.1%, Action 5.6%

Why You'll Like It: A fast-paced, stylish beat-'em-up with a unique visual flair and a focus on combo-heavy combat.

A short game about an average white-collar worker who struggles to find meaning in a life full of constant overtime and isolation. After an accident lands him in the hospital, Mr. Saitou is spirited away to a strange fantasy world where an unexpected friend takes him on a life-changing adventure.

Why similar: Story Rich 22.9%, RPG 20.7%, Pixel Graphics 19.5%, Anime 18.3%, 2D 10.3%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-heavy, surreal adventure that shares the melancholic, character-driven tone and focus on the mundane aspects of life.

Fight’N Rage is a brand new old-school side-scroller beat’em up. Inspired by the classics from the “golden age”, and with an art style that mimics the aesthetic from the 90's arcade gems, this game pays homage to all classic gameplay features that makes this genre one of the best from its time!

Why similar: Beat 'em up 45.5%, Side Scroller 18.1%, Multiple Endings 12.3%, Anime 6.5%, Pixel Graphics 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: A deep, technical beat-'em-up that features multiple branching paths and endings, rewarding mastery of its combat system.

Disgraced is a unique samurai themed role playing game that allows players to lead a rebellion in a fight for freedom against a cruel and tyrannical Shogun in Feudal Japan.

Why similar: Martial Arts 53.2% ★, Open World 16.7%, RPG 9.9%, Pixel Graphics 7.5%, 2D 5.2%

Why You'll Like It: An open-world RPG set in feudal Japan that emphasizes character choices, survival, and combat in a sandbox environment.

Amongst the best beat’em up series ever created, jammin’ ‘90s beats and over the top street fighting, the iconic series Streets of Rage comes back with a masterful tribute to and revitalization of the classic action fans adore.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 68.4%, Side Scroller 15%, Action 6.2%, 2D 5.2%, Indie 4%

Why You'll Like It: The quintessential modern beat-'em-up that captures the classic arcade feel with high-quality art and satisfying combat.

An old-fashioned beat 'em up with big doses of adrenaline and trippiness, somewhere between the classic style of Streets of Rage and the ultra-violence of Hotline Miami. Set in a cold, ruthless Soviet Union, Mother Russia Bleeds aims to conjure up anxiety, unease, and drug-addled frenzy.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 71.4%, Pixel Graphics 11.9%, Action 5.3%, 2D 4.4%, Indie 3.6%

Why You'll Like It: A brutal, visceral beat-'em-up that leans into the darker, grittier side of criminal life and addiction.

The Takeover is a side-scrolling beat'em up inspired by 90's classics such as Streets of Rage and Final Fight. Battle solo or alongside a friend in local co-op while listening to awesome tunes from Little V Mills, Richie Branson, James Ronald and industry legend Yuzo Koshiro!

Why similar: Beat 'em up 75.3%, Side Scroller 16.2%, Action 4%, Indie 3.3%, Adventure 1.2%

Why You'll Like It: A modern tribute to classic 90s beat-'em-ups with high-quality pixel art and a focus on arcade-style action.

YAKUZA KIWAMI 3 is an extreme remake of the action-adventure beat 'em up Yakuza 3 featuring ex-yakuza Kazuma Kiryu's fight to protect those he loves. DARK TIES is a brand-new game featuring Yoshitaka Mine from Yakuza 3 included as a separate action-packed experience.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 28.1%, Martial Arts 22.6% ★, Crime 12.4%, RPG 8.8%, Open World 8.5%

2121 A.D, with no escape options, Akane prepares for her final battle in the rain-soaked neon streets of Mega-Tokyo. Akane is an arena arcade slasher. Take out as many yakuza as possible, slashing and shooting in a one-hit-one-kill fight to the death.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 46.7%, Action 20%, Indie 19.5%, 2D 13.8%

Why You'll Like It: A minimalist, high-intensity action game that captures the feeling of a lone warrior facing overwhelming odds.

Discover the decadence and danger of 1980's Japan as you fight like hell through its neon-lit entertainment districts in the definitive edition of the action-adventure crime drama that created yakuza legends.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 26.6%, Martial Arts 18.5% ★, Crime 12.4%, RPG 8.7%, Open World 8.1%

Path of Kung Fu is a Wuxia RPG that blends classic martial arts storytelling with open-world freedom. Master kung fu, navigate the Jianghu's bloody conflicts, and rise from a novice to a legendary hero. Subscribe to top-rated Workshop MODs to elevate your experience to the next level!

Why similar: Martial Arts 32.7% ★, Beat 'em up 20.6%, Sandbox 12.2%, Open World 8.9%, Drama 6.9%

Fight alone or with your friends, master the art of battle and bring peace back to the land in this arcade inspired epic brawler!

Why similar: Beat 'em up 70%, Pixel Graphics 14.7%, Action 6.5%, Adventure 4.6%, Indie 4.1%

Why You'll Like It: A side-scrolling beat-'em-up with a focus on martial arts and cooperative play in a stylized, retro-inspired world.

When a police officer discloses the murder of the student teacher who bullied his son to suicide, the twisted secrets of a Yokohama, high school bleed out. Nothing, in this case, is black and white.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 36.4%, Martial Arts 29% ★, Crime 18.7%, Drama 8.9%, Action 3.5%

Explore a dark and sinister Osaka as the Demon Hunter Shin. Battle demons, regain lost skills, and uncover the truth of your forgotten past in this exciting occult-inspired cyberpunk metroidvania.

Why similar: Martial Arts 51.7% ★, Side Scroller 27.4%, Pixel Graphics 7.8%, 2D 5.4%, Atmospheric 3.3%

Back to the Dawn is a story-rich RPG set in a high-security prison ruled by factions and buried secrets. Investigate two conspiracies from the inside, gather evidence, and outsmart a system designed to silence you. Make friends (or foes) with fellow inmates and with their help, break out of prison.

Why similar: Crime 22.6%, RPG 16.1%, Multiple Endings 16%, Story Rich 14.5%, Pixel Graphics 14%

When a dark secret brings a loan shark, a death-row inmate, a corrupt cop and the legendary yakuza Kazuma Kiryu together the resulting war in Kamurocho might level the district to the ground.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 37.9%, Crime 14.4%, Open World 13.4%, Drama 7.5%, RPG 7.4%

"99Vidas" is a "beat 'em up" set in a contemporary world that pays tribute to both the new and the classic in gaming industry. Brought to you in all pixelated, 16 bit-esque glory, chockfull of references to not only gaming, but all 80's and 90's pop culture.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 40.7%, Side Scroller 18.5%, 1980s 12.5%, Pixel Graphics 8.7%, Old School 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: A nostalgic beat-'em-up that emphasizes character variety and combo-heavy combat in a vibrant, retro setting.

Unwind a 10 billion yen conspiracy in Tokyo's red-light district, fueled by your fists and unyielding resolve that will make you a legend.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 27.6%, Martial Arts 20.3% ★, Crime 12.9%, RPG 9.5%, Open World 8.9%

Kazuma Kiryu has earned his retirement on the sandy beaches of Okinawa. But when a deadly power struggle arrives on his doorstep, he’ll have to walk the streets of Kamurocho to escape his past for good. Complete The Dragon of Dojima’s journey.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 36.8%, Crime 15.3%, Open World 13.5%, Story Rich 8.2%, Drama 7.6%

Born as the heir to a crime syndicate, yet longing for an ordinary and peaceful life, the kind-hearted protagonist fights desperately to protect their loved ones. Set against a backdrop of towering skyscrapers, this visual novel weaves together the lives of 23 characters in a modern-day legend.

Why similar: Crime 31.7%, Anime 20.9%, Drama 18.7%, Story Rich 16.7%, 2D 12%

A nostalgic metroidvania from the good old days back in 19XX. Take on the role of Sean, a young boy who ventures into the fictional city of Arostia to repay his father's debt. Rescue your 3 friends from imprisonment, defeat strong enemies, all while getting your debt paid in time!

Why similar: Multiple Endings 27.7%, Pixel Graphics 17.8%, Story Rich 16.2%, 1980s 15.1%, Adventure 7.2%

Make a name for yourself in this old-school Wuxia RPG. Explore the chaotic lands of ancient China and engage in challenging turn-based battles to change the world of kungfu forever.

Why similar: Martial Arts 43% ★, 1980s 9.7%, Multiple Endings 9.1%, RPG 7.7%, Old School 7.1%

Step into the shoes of a young aspiring fighter facing other fighters. To survive and protect your loved ones, you must enter the renowned world of fighting. Every choice you make, from intense training to accepting risky challenges has an effect on your favorite girls.

Why similar: Crime 29.2%, Life Sim 22.7%, Sandbox 14.3%, Multiple Endings 11.2%, Open World 9.6%

The game world is set in a turbulent state and the mighty Tang-Man declines. The threats from the old enemies keep coming one after another.As a nobody, will you choose either to leave yourself out of it or to fight for Tang-Man's future and turning the tide? The journey of yours,is unpredictable.

Why similar: Martial Arts 55.5% ★, Multiple Endings 16.9%, RPG 11.2%, Drama 9.8%, 2D 1.7%

The story opens with a family massacre, telling the chaotic Wuxia world under the darkness, you will play a warrior, out of the family door, set foot on the heroic river lake road of chivalrousness, to save the Central plains of the wind and rain.

Why similar: Martial Arts 26.8% ★, Side Scroller 25.1%, RPG 17.7%, Drama 10%, Adventure 8.2%

Spend one last afternoon exploring your childhood neighborhood before the world ends at 6:38 PM.

Why similar: Open World 39.2%, Pixel Graphics 25.4%, Story Rich 22.9%, Adventure 8.9%, Indie 3.7%

An action/adventure game taking ques from both film-noir and samurai-drama's of old, "samurai_jazz" takes players on an adventure through an enigmatic city, engaging in sword-fights, encounters with mythological beings, and quirky dialog with the local inhabitants presented with a pseudo 8-bit style.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 23.9%, Anime 21.6%, Action 19.4%, Adventure 19.1%, Indie 16%

Become Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking yakuza grunt left on the brink of death by the man he trusted most. Take up your legendary bat and get ready to crack some underworld skulls in dynamic RPG combat set against the backdrop of modern-day Japan.

Why similar: RPG 24.8%, Crime 20.5%, Open World 17.7%, Story Rich 12.7%, Adventure 8.3%

A Wuxia-themed action game featuring one-hit-kill martial arts combat.

Why similar: Martial Arts 44.6% ★, Beat 'em up 37.9%, Action 5.9%, 2D 5.2%, Anime 4.9%

Get ready for a Yakuza experience of unprecedented scale! Follow five characters across five Japanese cities, each trying to achieve their dream. The connections between them bring them together, but the conflict that unfolds is nothing any of them could have predicted.

Why similar: Beat 'em up 35.8%, Crime 17.4%, Open World 13.5%, Drama 8.3%, RPG 6.2%

Shi Lei once ruled the underground world and retired at his peak. Years later, unsettling truths emerge, disrupting his peace. Will he resolve old issues or break free from fate to uncover the secrets behind these truths? This time, he won't face it alone; she will help him.

Why similar: RPG 25.5%, Multiple Endings 25.4%, Story Rich 23.5%, Drama 23.4%, Indie 2.2%

Side-scrolling, soul-shifting sandbox action adventure brought to life with a striking new 2D style! With only his soul remaining, Yushin must fight tooth and nail, possessing body after body on a quest to find his sister. With just seven days left until his soul departs, can he save her in time?

Why similar: Side Scroller 39.4%, Story Rich 13.2%, Pixel Graphics 11.7%, RPG 10.7%, 2D 8.5%

Hikikomori No Chuunibyou is a pseudo 8-bit platform-adventure game with beat-em-up, puzzle, and stealth elements. With its storytelling directing the player through open-ended levels, progression through each stage requires usage of parkour-like abilities and martial-arts techniques.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 30.8%, Action 25%, Adventure 24.5%, Indie 19.7%

Game Of Mafia is an adventure game set in New York City in the mid-1920s. You play as Frank, an ordinary postman whose quiet life changes dramatically when he meets his old friend. Opening your own bar sounds much better than delivering packages for the rest of life.

Why similar: Old School 32.3%, Pixel Graphics 30.3%, Action 20.1%, Story Rich 12.7%, Adventure 2.6%

As a vow to his dying Master, the young swordsman Hiroki is sworn to protect his town and the people he loves against all threats. Faced with tragedy and bound to duty, the lone samurai must voyage beyond life and death to confront himself and decide his path forward.

Why similar: Martial Arts 42.4% ★, Side Scroller 25.8%, Drama 10.6%, Story Rich 8%, Atmospheric 5.1%

He can't escape the memories that haunt him, and soon Setyo realizes he must return to Neo-Surabaya to save what's left of his family. Experience the upheaval of Setyo's mundane life in Bay City in this action-adventure prologue to Rendezvous.

Why similar: Side Scroller 47%, Pixel Graphics 20.4%, Adventure 9.5%, Story Rich 7.5%, 2D 7.1%

Martial Law is a game about difficulties that came with Communism in Poland. The story is shown from the perspective of a man who is abandoned because of his low social status. He tries his best to be there for his daughter despite the difficulties.

Why similar: Multiple Endings 24.6%, Pixel Graphics 20.9%, 1980s 17.9%, Story Rich 13.8%, Atmospheric 8%

"Have we all been acting waywardly?" An Adventure RPG that deals with the life and death of wayward humans, striving to escape a syndicate that creates monsters.

Why similar: Multiple Endings 28.4%, Story Rich 19.5%, Anime 15%, RPG 11.1%, Atmospheric 10.8%

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the heroes were fighting for hegemony, and the flames were everywhere. In the game, players played the role of Zhao Yun, a well-known general of the Three Kingdoms, and interpreted the story of his youth.

Why similar: Martial Arts 47.6% ★, Drama 12.3%, Multiple Endings 9.7%, Open World 9.5%, Story Rich 8%