Games Like Shio

Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight platformer from the creators of TowerFall. Brave hundreds of hand-crafted challenges, uncover devious secrets, and piece together the mystery of the mountain.

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 32.5%, Difficult 28.3%, Platformer 13.6%, Indie 10.4%, Action 3.8%

Why You'll Like It: It offers the gold standard of precision platforming with a deeply moving story and tight, momentum-based controls similar to Shio.

The infamous, tough-as-nails platformer comes to Steam with a playable Head Crab character (Steam-exclusive)!

Why similar: Difficult 36.1%, Platformer 22.5%, Great Soundtrack 21.1%, Indie 12.4%, Action 3.1%

Why You'll Like It: As the primary inspiration for Shio, it provides the same high-stakes, fast-paced platforming challenge.

Electronic Super Joy is a brutally hard platformer set in a world of pulse-pounding electronic music. Run, jump, smash & fly your way through 45+ weird & different levels, with low-gravity, world rotation, giant monsters & swarming missiles.

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 31.3%, Difficult 24.1%, Platformer 19%, Indie 10.3%, Action 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: It features a heavy emphasis on electronic music and rhythmic, difficult platforming that tests your reflexes.

The End Is Nigh is a sprawling adventure platformer where you die a lot, but thats ok because you are probably already dead anyway.

Why similar: Difficult 30.8%, Great Soundtrack 26.2%, Platformer 19.6%, Indie 12%, Action 8%

Why You'll Like It: Created by the team behind Super Meat Boy, this game features brutal precision platforming and a dark, atmospheric world.

VVVVVV is a platform game all about exploring one simple mechanical idea - what if you reversed gravity instead of jumping?

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 30.1%, Difficult 24.9%, Platformer 18.7%, Indie 11.9%, Retro 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: Its unique gravity-flipping mechanic creates a challenging, puzzle-like platforming experience that demands perfect timing.

“Ori and the Blind Forest” tells the tale of a young orphan destined for heroics, through a visually stunning Action-Platformer crafted by Moon Studios.

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 38.4%, Platformer 17.9%, Difficult 16%, Action 7.5%, Atmospheric 6%

Why You'll Like It: It matches Shio's atmospheric beauty while offering fluid, highly satisfying movement mechanics.

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: Great Soundtrack 34.3%, Difficult 17.4%, Action 15.9%, Platformer 14.6%, Indie 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: This game combines fast-paced, one-hit-kill action with a stylish, atmospheric narrative that feels very similar to Shio's presentation.

Dispersio is a retro-style action platformer. As you progress through the game, you will have to use and combine special abilities, such as dashing, wall-jumping and more. There's even a hard mode for hardcore players.

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 28.8%, Difficult 28.2%, Indie 22.1%, Platformer 14.6%, Adventure 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: This difficult platformer focuses on tight controls and trial-and-error gameplay that will feel familiar to Shio players.

Neon White is a single-player speedrunning FPS where you can sacrifice your guns for godlike parkour moves.

Why similar: Parkour 24.2%, Great Soundtrack 24%, Platformer 14.5%, Action 12.9%, Stylized 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: It is a high-speed platformer that focuses on precision, momentum, and the satisfying feeling of mastering a difficult course.

A super high difficulty, fantastical 2D action platformer complete with an expansive original soundtrack. 20+ Levels. Multiple playable characters. Rich lore. BLEAK: Welcome to Glimmer is Act One in a timeless tale of loss and redemption.

Why similar: Action 38%, Indie 28.9%, Great Soundtrack 13.9%, Difficult 12%, Platformer 7.1%

Why You'll Like It: A challenging indie platformer that emphasizes difficult jumps and atmospheric exploration.

kuso is the sequel to LOVE, and is a challenging yet fair platformer with a simple aesthetic. You have the ability to run, jump, and leave your own checkpoint. Make your way through acid, long jumps, disappearing platforms, bouncers, giant saws, and much more in this dreadful mechanical world.

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 27.2%, Action 24.7%, Indie 21.3%, Difficult 14.7%, Platformer 12.1%

Why You'll Like It: A minimalist, high-difficulty platformer that prioritizes clean design and precise movement.

Michel Ancel, the celebrated creator of Rayman®, Beyond Good & Evil®, and the Raving Rabbids®, returns to unleash his innovative creativity on this new entry into the Rayman® franchise.When Rayman, Globox, and the Teensies discover a mysterious tent filled with captivating paintings, they are suddenly transported to a series of...

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 32.9%, Platformer 32.3%, Action 14.5%, Difficult 10.9%, Side Scroller 5.3%

Why You'll Like It: The game's music-based levels require perfect synchronization between movement and the soundtrack, much like Shio's rhythmic jumping.

A desperate, savage survival experience full of stunning visuals, dynamic creatures, and a haunting soundtrack.

Why similar: Action 30.3%, Indie 23.7%, Platformer 17.6%, Difficult 11.6%, Great Soundtrack 11.3%

Why You'll Like It: It features a distinct, atmospheric art style and physics-based movement that feels grounded and challenging.

Element4l is an immersive and experimental indie platform game, with a strong focus on flow and smooth gameplay, wrapped in an exceptional soundtrack by Mind Tree.

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 29%, Indie 19.7%, Platformer 17.7%, Action 13.9%, Difficult 13.7%

Why You'll Like It: This game uses physics-based movement and atmospheric design to create a unique, challenging platforming experience.

HoPiKo is an intense speed run platformer where you get to save gaming. Jump from platform to platform avoiding death, exploiting shortcuts and ripping through 100s of hand-crafted levels, each one dropped into a 5-stage mini run designed to break your mind!

Why similar: Platformer 30.8%, Action 30.5%, Indie 26.7%, Casual 11.9%

Why You'll Like It: A fast-paced, action-oriented platformer that demands quick reflexes and constant movement.

Atomik: RunGunJumpGun is a tough as nails game that puts a gravity-defying weapon in your hands. One button lets you fly, the other blasts obstacles out of the way. With a cast of crazed characters, challenging gameplay, and a pulsing musical score, it delivers twitchy platforming goodness.

Why similar: Action 27.7%, Difficult 22.4%, Indie 21.4%, Great Soundtrack 16.2%, Platformer 12.3%

Why You'll Like It: A relentless, fast-paced platformer that requires constant movement and precise timing to survive.

140 is a challenging minimalistic platformer with abstract colorful graphics. Rhythmic awareness is required to overcome obstacles controlled by an energetic, yet melancholic electronic soundtrack.

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 28.5%, Platformer 27.9%, Difficult 20.9%, Indie 15.9%, Action 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: A minimalist, rhythm-based platformer where the environment reacts to the music, mirroring the importance of sound in Shio.

Fight your way across the celestial world of Avalice where cats are green, motorcycles drive up walls and monster girls do most of the buttkicking! Freedom Planet is a cartoony, combat-based platform adventure that pits a spunky dragonoid and her friends against an alien attack force.

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 32.9%, Platformer 21.3%, Action 13.9%, Indie 9.9%, Difficult 9.8%

Why You'll Like It: It captures the high-speed, momentum-heavy platforming style reminiscent of classic action games.

Downwell is a curious game about a young person venturing down a well in search of untold treasures with only his Gunboots to protect him.

Why similar: Difficult 31.9%, Platformer 20.8%, Action 15.9%, Indie 15.1%, Great Soundtrack 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: The vertical, momentum-based gameplay provides a unique and challenging experience that rewards quick thinking and precise movement.

The Sun and Moon, the winner of Ludum Dare 29, is a platformer with a unique mechanic: you can dive into the ground. Momentum is conserved but gravity is reversed, letting you fling yourself high into the air or deep beneath the surface.

Why similar: Action 23.9%, Indie 23.5%, Great Soundtrack 20.2%, Platformer 17.7%, Difficult 14.7%

Why You'll Like It: It features a unique gravity-flipping mechanic that requires players to master momentum to navigate complex levels.

Spark the electric jester is an action/platformer video game heavily based on best classics from the 16-bit era from both sides of the aisle.

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 36.8%, Platformer 24.1%, Action 22.2%, Indie 8.9%, Retro 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on high-speed platforming and momentum, offering a fast-paced experience for fans of difficult 2D action.

Never STANDBY in this fast-paced, precise platformer and get out of the glitched world! Can you do it faster than anyone?

Why similar: Difficult 23.6%, Great Soundtrack 23.3%, Action 15.1%, Platformer 13.2%, Indie 11.8%

Why You'll Like It: A high-speed, difficult platformer that rewards players for quick reactions and precise execution.

Super Fancy Pants Adventure is a wild free-running adventure with buttery smooth platforming and a slick fountain pen!

Why similar: Parkour 22%, Great Soundtrack 19.7%, Action 15.1%, Platformer 14.9%, Indie 11.4%

Why You'll Like It: It is built entirely around momentum and fluid movement, making it a great choice for fans of parkour-style platforming.

A simple, fast paced platformer with one small change: Your character can't run. Play as an adorable robot named Blitz and help it escape the factory it was built in. The only problem is, it seems like everything is trying to break you!

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 23.6%, Difficult 22.9%, Action 22%, Indie 17.5%, Platformer 14%

Why You'll Like It: A precision platformer that focuses on short, intense bursts of movement and difficult obstacle navigation.

Race across a curious island in this fast-paced, light-hearted platformer

Why similar: Difficult 27.2%, Action 23.9%, Indie 18.4%, Platformer 17.3%, Retro 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: This fast-paced action-platformer features tight controls and challenging levels that require constant momentum.

DYE is a challenging precision platformer where you help Hue rescue Pigments and defeat the nefarious Necrolights in order to restore color to the world! Jump, wall jump and float your way through 4 unique worlds with hundreds of challenges ranging from beginner to advanced level.

Why similar: Difficult 21.8%, Action 18.6%, Great Soundtrack 16.9%, Indie 15.7%, Platformer 14%

Why You'll Like It: A colorful, precision-based platformer that emphasizes timing and movement through difficult environments.

A platform game so difficult and at the same time, so addictive that you will enjoy having to repeat a levels dozens of times until complete them.

Why similar: Indie 27.1%, Action 23.2%, Difficult 22.5%, Platformer 15.3%, Casual 7.7%

Super Blasting Boy is a logical platform platformer made in the best traditions of retro games of the late 80's and 90's.

Why similar: Action 20.7%, Difficult 17.5%, Great Soundtrack 17.2%, Indie 16.4%, Platformer 11.1%

For those of you who cannot live without old-style hardcore platformer challenges, Yury brings the ultimate spikes-lava-monsters experience.

Why similar: Difficult 28%, Indie 25.1%, Action 19.6%, Platformer 16.5%, Retro 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: A challenging indie platformer that provides a straightforward, difficult experience for fans of the genre.

Retro sidescrolling action and adventure greet you in Sacred Stones! The indie atmosphere is easy to immerse yourself in. Have a great time as you explore, run/jump & fight your way to victory. This game is perfect for both hardcore and casual fans alike seeking that nostalgic-indie fix!

Why similar: Action 39.1%, Indie 31.3%, Difficult 15.2%, Platformer 12.5%, Adventure 1.8%

2D platform game focused on intense combat against enemies and exploration of secret areas in dark dungeons full of dangers.

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 21.8%, Difficult 18.2%, Action 14.5%, Platformer 11.9%, Indie 11.8%

Never Give Up is a hardcore platformer determined to turn you into bloody chunks. Run, jump, and slide your way through ever-changing levels that get harder each time you succeed. You’ll need to try, die, and try again if you want to conquer the game without pressing the Give Up button.

Why similar: Difficult 27.4%, Platformer 17.4%, Great Soundtrack 16.7%, Indie 14.7%, Action 14.6%

Hardcore pixel 2D platformer with steampunk elements, with randomly generated levels.

Why similar: Indie 23.2%, Great Soundtrack 20.8%, Difficult 17.9%, Platformer 12.2%, Runner 10.6%

Shovel Knight is a sweeping classic action-adventure game with awesome gameplay, memorable characters, and an 8-bit retro aesthetic. If you love games with perfect platforming, beautiful art, infectious music, lovable bosses, humor and levity, and real heart… Shovel Knight is for you!

Why similar: Action 27%, Indie 20.8%, Great Soundtrack 15.5%, Platformer 13.2%, Difficult 11.5%

Skeleton Boomerang is a platformer where the hero, Hunter, must use an enchanted boomerang to put an end to an army of bony soldiers led by the voodoo master Mr. Saturday. Get high scores, collect upgrades, find secrets, and overcome many skeletal challenges!

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 39.8%, Action 27.6%, Indie 19.6%, Platformer 13%

Love is a reductive platforming game with a retro aesthetic and a focus on a challenging difficulty. It has an custom respawn system, 16 levels, 12 track soundtrack, competitive scoring, and a simple-to-use level creation feature.

Why similar: Platformer 28.5%, Great Soundtrack 25.8%, Indie 18.2%, Action 11.2%, Difficult 8.5%

Take control of Specter Knight, servant to the Enchantress, in a quest to recruit a cadre of knights and create the Order of No Quarter. Experience perfect platforming, world-class visuals, impeccable stage design, incredible music, and even meet a friend or two in Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment!

Why similar: Action 30%, Indie 22.7%, Platformer 19.1%, Great Soundtrack 13.8%, Adventure 6.3%

Phantom Jump is a skill based platformer with rhythm mechanics, built to turn you into a speedrunner.

Why similar: Difficult 40%, Indie 34.9%, Platformer 25.2%

Swiftly is a very challenging platformer game. It has simple graphics and easy to understand rules, but you are going to have a hard time completing the levels.

Why similar: Action 52.1%, Indie 30.4%, Platformer 17.5%

An absurd retro-platformer that tests your patience.

Why similar: Difficult 26%, Action 14.4%, Platformer 14.2%, Silent Protagonist 12.4% ★, Indie 11.6%

F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch is a Metroidvania action game featuring exploration, intense combat and challenging platforming.

Why similar: Platformer 24%, Action 21.2%, Great Soundtrack 14.3%, Indie 8.6%, Retro 7%

Cowboy's Adventure - is a Western Deathrun, with three levels of difficulty for your choice!

Why similar: Difficult 31.6%, Action 16.7%, Indie 13.3%, Great Soundtrack 12.2%, Platformer 8.1%

Neon Boost is a frenetic First Person Platformer based on mechanics like Rocket-Jump or Wall-Run. Run across 3 different worlds to get the best times!

Why similar: Parkour 27.2%, Great Soundtrack 18.2%, Difficult 13.6%, Action 11.8%, Platformer 10.2%

Play as android MIO in this mesmerizing metroidvania where you explore the Vessel, an enormous technological ark overgrown with machines gone rogue. Uncover its secrets, enhance MIO's abilities, and save the spaceship and its residents from oblivion.

Why similar: Difficult 36.4%, Platformer 23.8%, Indie 14.8%, Action 9.9%, Exploration 8.1%

Mekazoo is a 2D platformer set in a vibrant 3D world with fast-flowing gameplay and a cast of kinetically-diverse mechanized animals.

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 26.4%, Action 17.1%, Indie 12.6%, Runner 11%, Platformer 10.8%

Electronic Super Joy 2 is a brutally hard platformer, set in a world of brain-smashing electronic music. Run, jump, smash, & slice your way through 55+ weird & different levels, with giant monsters, swarming missiles & secret areas.

Why similar: Difficult 24.6%, Great Soundtrack 22.2%, Indie 13.2%, Platformer 12.6%, Soundtrack 9.7% ★

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is a fast-paced platformer that will plunge you into the heart of two opposing worlds.

Why similar: Platformer 27.1%, Action 25.6%, Indie 20.5%, Great Soundtrack 19%, Difficult 7.9%

Escape into a world kept secret by a tyrant, and discover the truth about your freedom. Run, jump, and fly through forgotten lost kingdoms with a uniquely momentum-based flying mechanic.

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 22.5%, Parkour 19%, Platformer 14.4%, Action 14.2%, Difficult 9.9%

Breathtakingly fast and tough-as-nails, Rifter is an acrobatic platformer drenched in neon and infused with a pumping 80’s synthwave soundtrack. Run, swing, smash and dash at exhilarating speeds on a quest to discover the secrets of a shattered world.

Why similar: Action 18.9%, Great Soundtrack 16.3%, Parkour 12.4%, Indie 12.2%, Platformer 11.6%

Karma Knight is a fast paced 2D side-scrolling platform action game with stylish combat. Find hidden items in the stages, collect different spells, defeat the enemies as you gain more experience and enjoy the overall platform action game style.

Why similar: Action 41.6%, Indie 31.6%, Difficult 13.6%, Platformer 7.5%, Side Scroller 5.7%

Super Helmets on Fire DX is a crazy side scrolling action platformer game, with lots of nods to old school games, mixed with hardcore runner gameplay and a pinch of RPG lite elements.

Why similar: Difficult 33.7%, Action 23.6%, Platformer 20.1%, Indie 17.7%, Retro 4.9%

Shu is a stylish 2.5D platformer set in a beautiful and engrossing world. Guide Shu and a cast of beautifully hand-drawn characters as they run, jump and glide their way across exotic lands, forever pursued by the monstrous and unrelenting Storm. CAN YOU OUTRUN THE END OF THE WORLD?

Why similar: Action 28.6%, Platformer 24.5%, Indie 22.7%, Stylized 9.5%, Side Scroller 8.3%

Follow a boy's wordless journey as he climbs an ancient tower stretching above the clouds. Fossil Echo is a story-driven, short and challenging 2D platformer with hand drawn visuals. Why, and how did he get there? What will he find at the top?

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 28.9%, Action 21.4%, Soundtrack 16.4% ★, Indie 15.8%, Platformer 12.8%

In this pixel-perfect homage to the classic action platformers, you play as Sydney Hunter - an explorer who gets trapped inside a Mayan pyramid while he's out exploring!

Why similar: Action 26.3%, Indie 18.9%, Great Soundtrack 15.1%, Platformer 12.4%, Difficult 11.8%

Mr. Bree+ is a hardcore sidescrolling adventure platformer, enriched with great visual and musical aspects. It's about 60 levels of pure challenge, revealing along the progress, the dark past events which tells the story of our hero, a householding family pig, Mr. Bree.

Why similar: Platformer 33.3%, Action 29.9%, Indie 29.9%, Adventure 6.9%

Time Up is a fast paced action platformer, with each level only being 9 seconds. Sieze every opportunity, plan your route, Survive various deadly traps, and reach the finish line! This game combines a variety of classic platformer elements: The levels are carefully designed to make them harder, yet more enjoyable to give the player a...

Why similar: Action 26.9%, Difficult 23.7%, Indie 20.7%, Platformer 12.1%, Casual 10.4%

TetherGeist is a challenging precision platformer that rewards practice and perseverance. Guide Mae and her axolotl spirit, Bao, on a wholesome coming-of-age pilgrimage while mastering Astral Projection, a tether that links Mae to her spirit and is the source of her strength.

Why similar: Difficult 30%, Action 15%, Platformer 13.4%, Indie 10.8%, Side Scroller 9.7%

A precise 2D platformer with a twist. NO JUMPING. Master your magnetic powers to beat each level with speed and skill. Enjoy classic 16-bit gaming vibes, tackle challenging achievements and compete for global leaderboard supremacy along the way.

Why similar: Difficult 27%, Indie 19.3%, Action 15.7%, Great Soundtrack 14.2%, Platformer 10.5%

Concursion is a multi-genre game played on the boundaries between worlds. Steer your hero through a dangerous interdimensional universe, switching between different genres on the fly, pulling off feats of tight aerial acrobatics otherwise unattainable in one genre alone.

Why similar: Action 44%, Indie 35.1%, Platformer 21%