10 Games To Play If You Love Saros

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Housemarque has consistently delivered popular games, with critical successes like Returnal (2021) and now Saros (2026). Recognizing that Returnal’s challenging difficulty kept some players from finishing it, Housemarque created Saros as a similar but more accessible experience, making it easier for a wider range of players to pick up and enjoy.

Saros offers a fresh experience, and while it’s different from most games, there are other titles out there with similar gameplay and storytelling. So, if you’ve finished Saros and are looking for something else to play, don’t worry – you have options!

Enjoying Saros and looking for something similar? If you loved its fast-paced action and challenging waves of enemies, here are 10 games you might like.

10. Resogun

2D Saros

Before making Returnal and Saros, Housemarque was already famous for creating challenging “Bullet Hell” video games. Though they’ve made many games, they’re perhaps best known for Resogun, a fast-paced 2D shooter released in 2013.

Resogun plays a lot like the game Saros, with quick, action-packed gameplay focused on skillfully avoiding enemy fire. However, Resogun offers a unique twist: instead of dodging bullets in a 3D environment, it’s a side-scrolling shooter where bullets come directly across the screen.

Housemarque first explored the ‘bullet hell’ genre with Super Stardust, but they became well-known with Resogun. That game was a turning point for the studio, and likely paved the way for titles like Returnal and Saros. Despite being a 2D, arcade-style game, Resogun shares a similar feel with Saros thanks to its fast-paced combat, emphasis on dodging a barrage of projectiles, and the rewarding feeling of mastering a tough challenge.

9. Risk of Rain 2

An Addictive Experience

Saros and Risk of Rain 2 both feature challenging gameplay centered around overcoming chaos, repeating cycles, and becoming more powerful. In Risk of Rain 2, players attempt to complete runs by collecting items that boost their character’s abilities. When they inevitably fail, they return with new items to help them progress further.

Saros and Risk of Rain 2 share a core gameplay loop – players repeatedly perform similar actions, like collecting resources to improve their character. Interestingly, Saros’s slogan, “Come Back Stronger,” perfectly captures the essence of Risk of Rain 2, which is all about becoming more powerful with each playthrough.

Both Saros and Risk of Rain 2 are fast-paced, third-person shooter Roguelikes with constantly engaging combat. While both can be challenging, Risk of Rain 2 is a bit more accessible thanks to its adjustable difficulty settings. If you liked how Saros let you customize the difficulty with gameplay modifiers but still want a thrilling experience, Risk of Rain 2 would be a great fit.

8. Remnant 2

Soulslike With Roguelike Elements

While often compared to Souls-like games, Remnant 2 actually has a lot in common with games like Saros and the ‘Bullet Hell’ genre. Like Saros, Remnant 2 uses Roguelike elements, meaning when you die, you restart at the beginning of the area and have to play through it all over again.

Unlike many traditional Roguelike games where progress is reset with each playthrough, this game lets you keep your items, improvements, and weapons. This means it falls into the Roguelite category.

Remnant 2, similar to Saros, challenges players to fight through rooms filled with waves of enemies. Success depends on skillfully dodging a constant stream of attacks and carefully managing your health. It’s a demanding game that requires intense focus, strong spatial awareness, and perseverance against massive bosses that may take several tries to defeat. Like Saros, each playthrough features a randomly generated world, meaning the map layout changes every time you play.

7. Vampire Survivors

Waves and Waves of Enemies

Vampire Survivors and Saros might seem very different, but they actually share a lot. Both games focus on repetitive gameplay and getting really good at the core combat. They both use a ‘run-based’ system – you start a run and try to survive as long as possible, with elements common in ‘Roguelike’ games.

Both Vampire Survivors and Saros focus on building powerful combinations of weapons and upgrades to become stronger. The core gameplay involves starting a run, collecting the best items you can find, and stacking upgrades to improve your combat ability – essentially creating a powerful build as you play. Importantly, failure isn’t final in either game; both feature permanent progression systems that help you improve with each attempt and make future runs easier.

6. Helldivers 2

Bombastic Gameplay

Helldivers 2 quickly became a hit multiplayer game when it launched in 2024. Simply put, it’s a third-person shooter where you fight endless waves of robots and bugs in a series of missions.

While Helldivers 2 isn’t a traditional Roguelike, each playthrough starts fresh, and the action is fast, explosive, and really enjoyable. It shares this addictive, replayable quality with the game Saros.

Helldivers 2 differs from Saros in its approach to storytelling – it’s much less focused on a serious narrative. If you enjoyed Saros for its story, you likely won’t find that same experience in Helldivers 2. However, if you’re looking for similar fast-paced gameplay – requiring strategic movement, spatial awareness, and using all available tools to defeat waves of enemies – Helldivers 2 is an excellent fit.

5. Hades 2

Top Tier Roguelike

Saros is incredibly captivating, making it easy to get hooked and think, “just one more run.” Hades 2, the follow-up to the popular and highly-rated Hades, creates that same addictive feeling.

Saros is entirely a 3D game, while Hades 2 mixes 2D and 3D styles. Despite this difference, both games share a similar core gameplay cycle: you attempt a run, try to progress as far as possible, collect resources to improve your character, and then start a new run. Honestly, Hades 2 is one of the best roguelike games available.

Both Saros and Hades 2 reveal their stories gradually as you play. Like Saros, Hades 2 doesn’t just focus on action; it keeps you engaged by constantly teasing new story elements and lore as you explore each area. As you advance in Hades 2, you’ll uncover the narrative through new characters, key story scenes, and interesting details – much like the experience in Saros.

4. Nex Machina

Hit The Flow State

If you liked the quick, action-packed combat of Saros, you’ll probably enjoy Nex Machina. Interestingly, both games were made by the same developer, Housemarque, and you can definitely see similarities between them.

Okay, so picture this: you’re thrown into these really tight arenas and just swarmed by enemies – it reminds me a lot of playing Saros. You’ve gotta think fast and constantly tweak your character build to survive. And just like in Saros, Nex Machina is all about dodging, keeping mobile, and avoiding a ton of bullets flying everywhere. Seriously, it’s a bullet hell!

When you’re really succeeding at Saros, you can get completely absorbed in the game – what I call the “flow state.” You’re fully focused, almost mesmerized, quickly defeating enemies and feeling incredibly powerful. Nex Machina delivers that same feeling of being “in the zone” and effortlessly controlling the battlefield. That’s why Nex Machina is just as addictive as Saros; you’re constantly driven to improve and chase that perfect, immersive experience.

3. Control

Weird Sci-fi Energy

While Control isn’t a roguelike like Saros, the way you fight is comparable. The game generally involves going into rooms, facing groups of enemies, and shooting your way through to move forward.

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Like the game Saros, Control keeps you constantly moving and relies on your awareness of the surrounding environment to dodge attacks. Battles are often fast-paced and chaotic with many enemies, so you’ll need to use quick platforming to maneuver around the battlefield and gain an advantage.

Like Saros, Control features a captivating and mysterious sci-fi story where things aren’t always what they appear to be. It’s a game that encourages you to really think and uncover hidden details to fully understand what’s going on – a type of storytelling that’s uncommon now. If you found yourself analyzing the story of Saros and searching for explanations online, you’ll likely enjoy Control, as it offers a similar depth. Plus, with the sequel, Control: Resonant, scheduled for release in late 2026, now is a perfect time to experience the first game.

2. Doom Eternal

Heart Pumping Action

DOOM: Eternal’s gameplay is remarkably similar to the fast-paced action of Saros, even though it doesn’t share the roguelike elements. Like Saros, DOOM: Eternal demands intense focus and quick reflexes, throwing waves of enemies at you that you must defeat rapidly. It’s about as close as you can get to that experience in a first-person shooter not made by the creators of Saros, Housemarque.

Like Saros, this game combines shooting and close-combat fighting. Players will find health and resources to improve their character as they defeat enemies.

Like Saros, DOOM: Eternal features challenging boss battles where players must constantly move and jump to dodge powerful, screen-filling attacks. Compared to other recent DOOM games like DOOM 2016 and Dark Ages, DOOM Eternal most closely resembles the fast-paced action of Saros.

1. Returnal

The Start of Saros

If you’re a fan of Returnal, Saros is the game you should definitely play. It’s no surprise, as Saros is very similar to Returnal and made by the same team – it’s essentially a spiritual successor. This connection is so strong, it’s worth highlighting just how alike the two games are.

Returnal captures the fast-paced, engaging combat feel of Saros, but with a key difference. Saros encourages players to be aggressive, using a shield for blocking and parrying, while Returnal requires more careful planning and dodging to stay alive.

Returnal differs from Saros by lacking the extensive, permanent upgrades found in its skill tree. While Returnal does offer some lasting progress – like unlockable gadgets that carry over between runs – you generally restart from the beginning each time you die. This makes Returnal a tougher game overall, but it’s still just as enjoyable and fast-paced as Saros. In fact, the two games are so alike that some players feel Returnal could have easily been a sequel to Saros.

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2026-05-04 19:41