Games Like They Bleed Pixels

Slain: Back from Hell. A heavy metal inspired arcade combat with puzzle elements and gore galore. Stunning visuals and true old school gameplay accompanied by the most metal soundtrack you've ever heard.

Why similar: Gothic 24.6% ★, Gore 20.6%, Difficult 14%, Platformer 13.1%, Pixel Graphics 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: Features a similar gothic aesthetic, brutal gore, and challenging action-platforming gameplay.

Blasphemous is a brutal action-platformer with skilled hack’n slash combat set in the nightmare world of Cvstodia. Explore, upgrade your abilities, and perform savage executions on the hordes of enemies that stand between you and your quest to break eternal damnation.

Why similar: Blood 21.8% ★, Gore 19.2%, Gothic 15.3% ★, Difficult 12.5%, Pixel Graphics 11.3%

Why You'll Like It: A dark, atmospheric metroidvania that shares the game's focus on religious horror, gore, and precise combat.

Wings of Vi is a challenging 2D platformer in which the player controls the angel Vi, tasked with defeating the Demon Lord Jeh’oul after he is freed from captivity. While inspired by masochistic retro platformers, Wings of Vi aims to cut out arbitrary difficulty in favor of skill based gameplay.

Why similar: Precision Platformer 31.9%, Difficult 22.7%, Platformer 15.2%, Female Protagonist 11.9%, Pixel Graphics 4.1%

Why You'll Like It: An incredibly difficult precision platformer that mirrors the high-stakes movement and female-protagonist focus of the seed game.

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: Precision Platformer 40.2%, Difficult 24.4%, Platformer 21%, Pixel Graphics 3.9%, Indie 3.1%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses heavily on the punishing, frame-perfect precision platforming that makes the seed game so challenging.

Wryn is a girl with a big arsenal and big dreams -- she wants to be the ultimate videogame hero! Help her take down the Greatest Heroes of All Time in an action-packed bid to claim the title for herself and show the world what a true hero looks like!

Why similar: Platformer 27.1%, Female Protagonist 19.5%, Difficult 18.3%, Pixel Graphics 9.4%, Action 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: A fast-paced, action-oriented platformer featuring a female protagonist and intense, arcade-style combat.

The original video game femme fatale, Rayne, has returned to battle and feed in a brand new hack ‘n slash adventure. Slay ghastly enemies as Rayne, the sexy dhampir with superhuman strength, speed, and agility, recruited by the vampire hunting Brimstone Society for one last mission.

Why similar: Hack and Slash 24.5%, Female Protagonist 14.4%, Platformer 14.2%, Gore 12.5%, Blood 10.7% ★

Why You'll Like It: A stylish 2D hack-and-slash platformer featuring a female protagonist and intense, bloody combat.

Return to the Golden Age of arcades with a hardcore action platformer that pulls no punches! Possesses all the hallmarks of true classics like Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts (SNES), Rastan Saga (Arcade), Castlevania (NES) and more with precise controls, high challenge, and meticulous design.

Why similar: Difficult 37.3%, Platformer 30%, Action 6.2%, Pixel Graphics 5.3%, Side Scroller 5.3%

Why You'll Like It: A notoriously difficult retro-inspired platformer that demands mastery of its combat and movement mechanics.

Set in a far corner of space, Valfaris is a heavy metal infused 2D action-platformer and the next game from the team behind Unity Awards finalist, Slain: Back From Hell. Brutal combat. Deadly enemies. Stunning pixel art. Savage soundtrack. Get ready to rip the galaxy a new wormhole.

Why similar: Gore 24.3%, Platformer 16.5%, Gothic 15.9% ★, Difficult 10.5%, Pixel Graphics 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: Combines heavy metal aesthetics with brutal, gore-filled 2D action and platforming challenges.

The followup to 2009's Dead Samurai, The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is a combo-fueled, fast-paced, stylistic 2D action platformer that features the series' staple gritty, graphic novel-inspired art style, built on a new engine that allows for an even more visually gruesome experience.

Why similar: Gore 25.6%, Hack and Slash 25.5%, Beat 'em up 17.4%, Difficult 8.7%, Action 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: A stylish, gore-heavy 2D hack-and-slash game with fluid, fast-paced combat mechanics.

Sundered is a chaotic hand­-drawn metroidvania where you resist or embrace ancient eldritch powers, a challenging and unique take on a classic genre from the creators of Jotun, now with local co-op!

Why similar: Lovecraftian 44.1%, Platformer 14.9%, Difficult 12.7%, Female Protagonist 12.2%, Side Scroller 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: Directly captures the Lovecraftian horror theme with chaotic, combat-heavy 2D gameplay.

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: Hack and Slash 17.1%, Platformer 16%, Pixel Graphics 15.2%, 2D Platformer 14.3%, Difficult 14%

Why You'll Like It: Features incredibly fast-paced, one-hit-kill precision combat that rewards reflexes and pattern recognition.

Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight is the fourth installment in the beloved Momodora series of 2D platformers. Unleash ravaging combos against a variety of formidable monsters and deftly dodge your way through a cursed land to seek audience with the Queen and dispel the evil that threatens all life.

Why similar: Difficult 19.4%, 2D Platformer 15.7%, Female Protagonist 14.2%, Platformer 14.2%, Side Scroller 11.6%

Why You'll Like It: A dark, atmospheric 2D action-platformer featuring a female protagonist and challenging boss encounters.

A century after the legendary boy Noitu Love saved the world from the evil Darns, they rise again, but in a chaos of time-bending mayhem!

Why similar: Beat 'em up 33.5%, Platformer 18.1%, Pixel Graphics 13.3%, Female Protagonist 10.4%, Action 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: A high-energy, pixel-art action game that prioritizes fluid movement and intense combat encounters.

Blood of the Werewolf (2.0) Become Selena, loving mother, devoted wife and -- powerful werewolf. Take revenge on the monsters that have slain your husband and stolen your child, in this love letter to classic platformers.

Why similar: Platformer 28.6%, Gothic 26.6% ★, Female Protagonist 23.4%, Difficult 6.9%, Action 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: A 2D action-platformer featuring a female protagonist and a heavy emphasis on horror-themed combat.

Bleed 2 is a relentless arcade action game featuring air-dodging, bullet-reflecting, and tons of bosses. Now with randomly-generated levels and daily challenges, too!

Why similar: Female Protagonist 27.7%, Platformer 27.7%, Action 16.7%, Pixel Graphics 13.4%, Indie 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: Refines the fast-paced, arcade-style action and female-protagonist focus of the original game.

Explore a haunting, punishing island in this stylized 2D action RPG. Salt and Sanctuary combines fast and brutal 2D combat with richly developed RPG mechanics in a cursed realm of forgotten cities, blood-soaked dungeons, and desecrated monuments.

Why similar: Difficult 39.3%, Platformer 20.6%, Gore 15.7%, Side Scroller 8.3%, 2D 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: A dark, gothic 2D souls-like that emphasizes difficult combat and exploration in a grim world.

Only the strong will conquer this gruesome action platformer with RPG elements. Dismember demonic creatures and terrifying bosses by wielding brutal weapons in intense skill-based combat. Slay or be slain as you collect glory and treasure in this nightmarish 2D world.

Why similar: Lovecraftian 23.9%, Gothic 22.8% ★, Gore 12%, Hack and Slash 11.1%, Side Scroller 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: A dark, 2D action-RPG that features challenging combat and exploration in a gothic setting.

Dead Cells is a roguelite, metroidvania inspired, action-platformer. You'll explore a sprawling, ever-changing castle... assuming you’re able to fight your way past its keepers in 2D souls-lite combat. No checkpoints. Kill, die, learn, repeat.

Why similar: Hack and Slash 27.5%, Difficult 26.4%, Platformer 19.1%, Pixel Graphics 13.7%, Action 5%

Why You'll Like It: Offers fast-paced, combat-focused 2D platforming with a high degree of difficulty and replayability.

Caveblazers is a challenging and brutal roguelike platformer. Journey into a mysterious cave, fighting orcs and goblins with an abundance of weapons and magical items! Make friends along the way, then watch in despair as they are crushed in to a bloody pulp under a troll's fist.

Why similar: Difficult 25.4%, Platformer 25.1%, 2D Platformer 22.4%, Pixel Graphics 16.6%, Action 4.5%

Why You'll Like It: An action-roguelike that emphasizes platforming and fast-paced combat in a dangerous, pixelated world.

Rosenkreuzstilette is a mega-action-platformer game in which you step into the shoes of Spiritia Rosenberg, a virtuous young woman caught on the wrong side of a revolution instigated by her closest friends.

Why similar: Difficult 16.4%, Beat 'em up 15%, Platformer 13.8%, Female Protagonist 13%, Side Scroller 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: A difficult action-platformer featuring a female protagonist and challenging boss fights.

The world has been taken over by synthetic lifeforms. A desperate plea for help sets Shadow, the sole survivor of his clan, on one last mission to uncover what started the path to perpetual ruin.

Why similar: Platformer 23.4%, Difficult 20.9%, Pixel Graphics 16%, 2D Platformer 14%, Side Scroller 10.8%

Why You'll Like It: A challenging, retro-styled action-platformer that demands precision and mastery of character abilities.

Skelethrone is a challenging 2D action platformer with RPG elements inspired by games like Castlevania and Dark Souls.

Why similar: Blood 25.7% ★, Gothic 20.5% ★, Difficult 13.4%, Gore 11.3%, Platformer 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: A dark-fantasy 2D action game that focuses on souls-like combat and platforming challenges.

SANABI is an exhilarating stylish dystopian action-platformer. Play as a legendary retired veteran and use your signature prosthetic arm to jump over cliffs and skyscrapers, zip through bullets and traps and defeat powerful enemies.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 20.1%, 2D Platformer 18.3%, Platformer 15.4%, Difficult 12.9%, Precision Platformer 10.7%

Why You'll Like It: A precision-based action game with a unique grappling hook mechanic that demands high-speed movement and reflexes.

Risk insanity in the gruesome slash-em-up Morbid: The Lords of Ire, with brutal combat and souls-like elements. Defeat the five Lords of Ire as you fight for your life across tortured landscapes, rending the evil Gahars of their flesh-bound forms.

Why similar: Lovecraftian 22.9%, Blood 22.7% ★, Hack and Slash 16.5%, Difficult 14.5%, Female Protagonist 10.8%

Why You'll Like It: A 3D souls-like hack-and-slash that maintains a dark, horror-themed atmosphere and a female protagonist.

Aeterna Noctis is a challenging metroidvania that majestically combines action, exploration and adventure. With 2 game modes and difficulty based on action or the exclusive Noctis mode where a level of difficulty is added in precision platforming never seen in the metroidvania genre.

Why similar: Precision Platformer 32.8%, Difficult 26.3%, Platformer 19.1%, Side Scroller 10.4%, 2D 3.5%

Why You'll Like It: A massive, difficult precision platformer that tests your movement skills to their absolute limit.

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is a side-scrolling action platformer that channels the golden age of classic 16-bit action games in a full-throttle quest for revenge. Created to defend a totalitarian state, the Moonrider rejects its programming and now seeks vengeance on its creators.

Why similar: Hack and Slash 30%, Platformer 21%, 2D Platformer 16.1%, Pixel Graphics 13.3%, Side Scroller 10.6%

Why You'll Like It: A tight, retro-inspired action-platformer that focuses on fast movement and satisfying combat.

CARRION is a reverse horror game in which you assume the role of an amorphous creature of unknown origins, stalking and consuming those that imprisoned you.

Why similar: Blood 29.6% ★, Gore 26.4%, Lovecraftian 18.5%, Pixel Graphics 11.8%, Platformer 3.9%

Why You'll Like It: A reverse-horror game that emphasizes gore and unique, fluid movement through dark environments.

Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs, all in a classic, hand-drawn 2D style.

Why similar: Difficult 39%, Platformer 29.5%, Side Scroller 6.8%, Cute 6.8%, 2D 6%

Why You'll Like It: A beautifully atmospheric 2D game that offers challenging combat and precise platforming in a dark world.

A mysterious agent, capable of becoming a digital ghost, sneaks aboard the Nakamura Space Station. This is where the fun begins: the station is well-protected with its heavy defences, never-ending arsenal of weapons, and mysterious artifacts. It will all have to be destroyed.

Why similar: Female Protagonist 32.2%, Platformer 25.2%, Action 10.9%, Side Scroller 9.9%, Indie 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: A 2D action game featuring a female protagonist and a blend of platforming and intense combat.

Eldritch is the original imsim roguelike: a first-person action game inspired by roguelikes, immersive sims, and H. P. Lovecraft.

Why similar: Lovecraftian 77%, Female Protagonist 7.9%, Action 4.7%, Pixel Graphics 4.2%, Indie 4.1%

You are the Entangled One, a malformed entity. Traverse the flesh wastes under the eye of an eternal eclipse. Delve deep into the planet's guts. Uncover a fleshy ecosystem. Engage in deliberate, challenging combat, using your whiplike arms and collectible sub attacks to augment your combat style!

Why similar: Lovecraftian 32%, Precision Platformer 15.8%, Difficult 15.1%, Platformer 10%, 2D Platformer 9.5%

ION Shift delivers fast, high-stakes gameplay with precision controls and a unique sandbox-style approach to combat arenas. The campaign progressively challenges the player through evolving level design, tight mechanics, and a focus on player-driven mastery.

Why similar: Blood 24.9% ★, Difficult 16.6%, Gore 14.8%, Precision Platformer 13%, 2D Platformer 9.8%

This is a SHORT, 2D PLATFORMER with TIGHT CONTROLS about exploring a single level to get past a bunch of TRAPS. There is an EASY mode and a HARD mode depending on your skill level.

Why similar: Precision Platformer 27.3%, Difficult 18.7%, 2D Platformer 13.8%, Platformer 11.5%, Female Protagonist 9%

DEADBOLT is an extremely challenging stealth-action hybrid that allows you to take control of the reaper to quell the recent undead uprising.

Why similar: Blood 26.9% ★, Difficult 18.8%, Gore 16.7%, Pixel Graphics 14.3%, Side Scroller 7.6%

Action-RPG slasher in which you have to get into the dark atmosphere of dungeons full of monsters and madness.

Why similar: Hack and Slash 31.7%, Difficult 28.1%, Female Protagonist 17%, Pixel Graphics 12%, 2D 4.3%

FREE DEMO features 1 playable character and 1 complete level with leaderboards. Try, die, retry in this challenging but fair precision platformer that takes place on 1 screen. Ultra tight controls, dozens of traps. Great for speedrunning, and 100% completionists. Also, no water levels!

Why similar: Precision Platformer 27.1%, Difficult 18.9%, 2D Platformer 13.6%, Platformer 9.7%, Side Scroller 9.3%

Trapped in a buried, forgotten facility, you must reach the core of an ancient machine to rescue your lost lover. System Purge is a challenging, atmospheric 2D platformer.

Why similar: Platformer 17.8%, Gore 17.6%, Female Protagonist 16.7%, Precision Platformer 15.8%, Pixel Graphics 10.2%

Slay grim cultists, infernal minions, and nightmarish creatures in this dark and bloody retro-inspired action platformer. Uncover secrets, acquire powerful artifacts, and face challenging bosses in the Haunted Lands.

Why similar: Blood 36.7% ★, Difficult 17.4%, 2D Platformer 12.5%, Platformer 12.2%, Side Scroller 8.9%

Experience rage-inducing precision platforming as a recently deceased soccer player damned to Inferno! Kick your sibling's soul out of Hell for your chance at redemption!

Why similar: Precision Platformer 24.7%, Difficult 17.9%, Supernatural 13.8%, Platformer 11.3%, 2D Platformer 10.7%

Momodora III is a classic action platform game with a variety of items and secrets. It's the third installment of the Momodora series, although playing the previous titles is not necessary to enjoy the game!

Why similar: Platformer 28.1%, Female Protagonist 23.5%, Pixel Graphics 17.3%, Cute 12.6%, Action 7.4%

Nixxsz Castle is a precision platform and rage inducing game. Inspired by games from previous generations, Nixxsz Castle has a very hard gameplay experience for those with patience and skill.

Why similar: Precision Platformer 26.7%, Difficult 21.4%, 2D Platformer 15.5%, Platformer 11%, Female Protagonist 9.7%

UnderParty is an Action Platformer game. This game is made up of a very high level of difficulty. It's very violent, so be careful.

Why similar: Gore 28.6%, 2D Platformer 14.6%, Female Protagonist 13%, Platformer 12.9%, Difficult 8.7%

Morbid: The Seven Acolytes is a Horrorpunk Action RPG filled with Lovecraftian horrors and Cronenbergian gore, making it the most gruesome take on the isometric Souls-like genre yet!

Why similar: Lovecraftian 56.2%, Gore 15%, Pixel Graphics 10.4%, Female Protagonist 9.6%, Action 6%

Dive into the latest evolution of The Last Faith: a dark and gothic fusion of metroidvania and soulslike. Engage in merciless and precise combat with a huge range of weapons, firearms, and custom executions. Let nothing stand in the way of your journey to salvation.

Why similar: Gothic 24.2% ★, Blood 23.3% ★, Gore 15.3%, Difficult 10.6%, Pixel Graphics 8.7%

Everything in Tormentor❌Punisher can be killed in one hit, from bosses to yourself. Bosses conjure traps to make the arena hellish. Demons adjust to your play style and punish you. Perform combos on enemies and gain cool upgrades. Reload your machine gun by firing your shotgun. Let's do this!

Why similar: Gore 34.4%, Difficult 19.7%, Female Protagonist 18.7%, Action 12.1%, Indie 6.7%

Bloody stealth platformer, about the ninja in which you cut the enemies into pieces.

Why similar: Gore 17.7%, Difficult 16.4%, Platformer 16.1%, Hack and Slash 14.6%, Pixel Graphics 11.9%

Hardcore, bloody platformer with a simple dude.

Why similar: Gore 46.3%, Platformer 19.3%, Pixel Graphics 11.9%, Action 11.7%, Indie 7.3%

Super House of Dead Ninjas is an action arcade game with roguelite elements. Race against a 30 second timer as you descend floor after foe-filled floor and attempt to unlock the secrets of this deadly tower!Play as the fearsome Crimson Ninja, wielding an arsenal of deadly ninja weapons and attacks.

Why similar: Platformer 34.8%, Difficult 26.1%, Female Protagonist 13.2%, Action 9.7%, Pixel Graphics 5.6%

Explore the secrets of a mysterious fallen temple and put your Templar faith to the test in Dark Devotion, where no sacrifice is too great in praise of your God.

Why similar: Female Protagonist 22.9%, Gore 18.7%, Pixel Graphics 18.6%, Difficult 17.3%, Side Scroller 7.8%

Experience a meta horror pixel platformer retro game haunted by a mysterious yandere.

Why similar: Precision Platformer 23.1%, Difficult 19.4%, Platformer 15.5%, 2D Platformer 15.4%, Female Protagonist 11.8%

A pseudo 8-bit action platformer taking a bit of inspiration from film-noir and samurai dramas, iaidoka_interlude applies a few parkour and fighting game influences to mix up familiarity with a little uniquity.

Why similar: Platformer 24.7%, Difficult 23%, Female Protagonist 16.4%, Pixel Graphics 15.3%, Action 12.7%

A hardcore, 2D action-platformer where only precision can keep you from death.

Why similar: Hack and Slash 19.2%, Precision Platformer 18.8%, Platformer 15%, 2D Platformer 13.3%, Pixel Graphics 9.4%

Hardcore action platformer with multiple endings that depend on your choices.

Why similar: Difficult 22.8%, Platformer 18.1%, Female Protagonist 15.8%, Side Scroller 12.6%, 2D Platformer 11.2%

This game is a challenging 2D action platformer with RPG elements inspired by games like Castlevania and Dark Souls. Skelethrone: The Prey is a free prequel to the main game, setting the stage for the events that will unfold throughout Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona campaign.

Why similar: Gothic 23.2% ★, Blood 21.2% ★, Difficult 14.6%, Platformer 9.2%, Side Scroller 9.1%

Love is Hell. In this precision platformer based on the 5 stages of grief, navigate the bowels of Hell and escape the torment of love.

Why similar: Precision Platformer 29%, Difficult 21.1%, Platformer 15.5%, 2D Platformer 15.1%, Side Scroller 11.4%

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: Platformer 30.8%, Difficult 28.8%, Precision Platformer 17.9%, Pixel Graphics 7.7%, Side Scroller 4%

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 38.2%, Gore 30.4%, Pixel Graphics 10.8%, Difficult 8%, Action 4.8%

A crazy action-adventure platformer... In Hell.

Why similar: Platformer 52.8%, Gore 20.5%, Action 11.2%, 2D 6.8%, Side Scroller 4.5%