If you’ve sunk dozens of runs into Risk of Rain 2, you know the itch: a few minutes of scrappy looting, a screen-filling boss, then game-over—start again. This list of games like Risk of Rain 2 digs into the best alternatives—from the explosive co-op of Megabonk to the bullet-hell polish of Returnal—and shows you which ones are worth your time on PC, console, and even mobile.

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Copies sold: 4 million+ ·
Steam rating: Very Positive (90%) ·
Developer: Hopoo Games ·
Genre: 3D roguelike shooter

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Hopoo Games is working on a new unannounced title (Hopoo Games)
  • Megabonk entered early access in 2024 with regular updates (G2A)

Key facts about Risk of Rain 2 and its alternatives are summarized below.

Key facts about Risk of Rain 2 and its alternatives
Attribute Details
Risk of Rain 2 release date August 11, 2019 (full release)
Risk of Rain 2 platforms PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Number of playable characters 12+ (including DLC)
Megabonk early access date 2024
Gunfire Reborn release 2021 (full release)

Is Risk of Rain 2 indie or AAA?

Developer background

  • Risk of Rain 2 was developed by Hopoo Games, an indie studio founded by Duncan Drummond and Paul Morse (Hopoo Games).
  • The team originally created the 2D side-scroller Risk of Rain; the sequel’s jump to 3D was a bold indie bet.

Publishing and sales figures

  • The game was published by Gearbox Publishing (a AAA publisher label) but remains an indie-developed title at heart (Steam).
  • It sold over 4 million copies as of 2023 according to publicly reported figures (IGN).
  • It has a Very Positive rating on Steam with over 200,000 reviews (Steam).
The upshot

Risk of Rain 2 is an indie triumph disguised as a AAA experience. For players, this means a studio-sized heart with community-driven updates—but also the risk of slower future support as Hopoo moves to new projects.

The pattern: indie origin with AAA polish creates a unique value proposition, but long-term support hinges on the developer’s roadmap.

What is the best roguelike game of all time?

Criteria for best roguelike

  • Key criteria include depth of procedural generation, run variety, replayability, and impact on the genre (IGN).
  • Community polls on Reddit (r/roguelikes community) weigh innovation and accessibility heavily.

Top contenders according to IGN and community

  • IGN lists Risk of Rain 2 among the best roguelike games (IGN).
  • Other top roguelikes include The Binding of Isaac, Hades, and Dead Cells (IGN).
  • Spelunky 2 and Returnal also appear on many “best of” lists (YouTube – Top 10 Co-Op Roguelike Games).

Where Risk of Rain 2 ranks

  • Risk of Rain 2 is praised for its 3D movement and co-op gameplay, which set it apart from 2D roguelikes (IGN).
  • It consistently ranks in the top 10 of “best roguelikes” on aggregate sites like Rogue Liker.
Bottom line: There is no single “best” roguelike—your preference depends on combat style. For 3D shooter fans, Risk of Rain 2 is the benchmark. For 2D dungeon-crawling, Hades and Binding of Isaac dominate.

What this means: the genre’s diversity is its strength, and Risk of Rain 2 owns the 3D shooter niche.

Is Megabonk similar to Risk of Rain 2?

Core similarities

  • Megabonk is described as “Risk of Rain 2 fused with Vampire Survivors” (G2A).
  • Both feature 3D roguelike gameplay and fast-paced combat with randomized loot (G2A).
  • Co-op support (up to 4 players) and character progression are central to both.

Key differences: Vampire Survivors influence

  • Megabonk adds auto-aim and massive enemy hordes inspired by Vampire Survivors (G2A).
  • Risk of Rain 2 requires manual aiming and positioning; Megabonk focuses on movement and level-up choices.
  • Megabonk’s runs are shorter (15–20 minutes) compared to Risk of Rain 2’s typical 30–60 minutes.

Why players enjoy both

  • Both games deliver constant engagement and dopamine-triggering loot drops every few seconds.
  • Community threads on Reddit (r/riskofrain community) praise Megabonk as a perfect palate cleanser after hundreds of Risk of Rain 2 runs.

Three core alternatives, one pattern: each borrows from Risk of Rain 2’s DNA but twists the formula.

Comparison of top games like Risk of Rain 2
Game Developer Release year Platforms Co-op Key twist
Risk of Rain 2 Hopoo Games 2019 PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch Up to 4 Benchmark 3D roguelike shooter
Gunfire Reborn Duoyi Games 2021 PC, mobile (China) Up to 4 First-person perspective, RPG skill trees
Megabonk Indie developer 2024 (EA) PC Up to 4 Auto-aim, Vampire Survivors wave density
Returnal Housemarque 2021 PS5, PC Single-player Bullet-hell AAA, narrative-driven loops
Atomic Picnic Indie developer 2024 PC Up to 4 Stylized art, unique character skills

Upsides

  • Wide variety of playstyles—first-person, third-person, auto-aim
  • Co-op focus across almost all alternatives
  • Regular content updates for newer games like Megabonk
  • Lower price points for indie alternatives (typically $15–$30)

Downsides

  • Risk of Rain 2’s unique 3D movement is hard to replicate in many alternatives
  • Returnal is expensive ($70) and lacks co-op
  • Megabonk is still in early access—bugs and missing content
  • Mobile alternatives are scarce and often cut-down
Bottom line: The catch: no alternative perfectly replicates Risk of Rain 2’s movement, but each offers a compelling trade-off.

What games do ADHD people play?

Characteristics of ADHD-friendly games

  • Game Quitters (gaming addiction resource) identifies fast-paced action, constant engagement, and short runs as key features.
  • Games with clear goals and immediate rewards (loot, level-ups) maintain focus better than slow-paced titles.

Why Risk of Rain 2 is recommended

  • Risk of Rain 2 is listed by Game Quitters as a top game for people with ADHD.
  • The constant stream of items, enemies, and progression prevents boredom between action beats.

Other similar games for ADHD players

  • Similar games: Doom Eternal, Vampire Survivors, and Celeste (according to Game Quitters).
  • Among roguelike shooters, Megabonk and Gunfire Reborn also fit the “always something to do” design.

The implication: Risk of Rain 2’s design principles align with ADHD-friendly mechanics, making it a standout recommendation.

What is the OG roguelike game?

Origins of the roguelike genre

  • The original roguelike is Rogue, released in 1980 for Unix systems (IGN).
  • Roguelike features include permadeath, turn-based combat, and procedural generation (IGN).

Rogue (1980) and its legacy

  • Rogue inspired the entire genre name and established the core loop that persists today.
  • Its ASCII graphics have evolved into modern pixel art and 3D models, but the permadeath + randomness remains.

How Risk of Rain 2 modernizes the formula

  • Risk of Rain 2 adapts these concepts into a real-time 3D shooter (IGN).
  • It keeps permadeath and procedural levels but swaps turn-based tactics for motion-oriented combat and co-op chaos.
The trade-off

Modern roguelikes like Risk of Rain 2 gain accessibility and thrills but lose the strategic depth of turn-based origins. Rogue purists may miss the chess-like tension; action fans won’t care.

The pattern: Risk of Rain 2 proves that the roguelike formula adapts well to real-time action, sacrificing depth for speed.

What we know and what’s uncertain

Confirmed facts

  • Risk of Rain 2 is an indie game developed by Hopoo Games (Rogue Liker).
  • Megabonk is described as a fusion of Risk of Rain 2 and Vampire Survivors (G2A).
  • Rogue (1980) is considered the original roguelike (IGN).
  • Risk of Rain 2 is frequently recommended for players with ADHD (Game Quitters).

What remains unclear

  • Whether future updates for Risk of Rain 2 will continue – developer focus has reportedly shifted to new projects (Hopoo Games).
  • Exact ranking of Risk of Rain 2 among “best roguelike” lists varies by source – YouTube community lists may reflect user bias (YouTube – Top 10 Co-Op Roguelike Games).
  • Whether Megabonk will leave early access with the same depth as Risk of Rain 2 is uncertain (G2A).

The implication: while the core facts are solid, the long-term trajectory of both Risk of Rain 2 and its alternatives remains uncertain.

What players are saying

“I LOVE Risk of Rain 2, but like I’ve played it so much already I just have to wait for some more mods or the DLCs to come out.”
— Reddit user on r/riskofrain (Reddit)

“Megabonk is Risk of Rain 2 fused with Vampire Survivors and it’s glorious.”
— G2A (game marketplace coverage)

“Returnal’s bullet-hell combat and deep story make it the AAA equivalent of Risk of Rain 2, minus the co-op.”
— IGN (gaming editorial authority)

The demand for games like Risk of Rain 2 shows no sign of slowing. For players craving that same co-op roguelike rush, the field is richer than ever—from the immediate chaos of Megabonk to the polished narrative of Returnal. For PC players, the clear move is to grab Megabonk for its novelty, or Gunfire Reborn for a first-person twist. Console-only players should put Returnal at the top of their list, even with its single-player limitation. The trade-off is stark: sacrifice co-op for production value, or embrace early-access jank for fresh ideas. For the Risk of Rain 2 veteran, the next run starts now—just choose your platform first.

Related reading: Best Horror Movies 2025 · Last of Us Season 3

Additional sources

youtube.com, store.steampowered.com, steampeek.hu, youtube.com, gamesradar.com

For a deeper dive into the original game’s mechanics and strategies, check out this comprehensive Risk of Rain 2 guide.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I play Risk of Rain 2 on mobile?

Risk of Rain 2 is not officially available on mobile. However, Gunfire Reborn has a mobile version in China, and some indie alternatives like Dungreed are mobile-friendly. No direct port exists as of 2025.

Is Risk of Rain 2 cross-platform?

No, Risk of Rain 2 does not support cross-platform play as of 2025. You can only play with others on the same platform (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch separately).

What is the best character in Risk of Rain 2?

Community favorites include Huntress for mobility and Loader for raw damage. According to the Reddit (r/riskofrain community), Loader is often considered the most powerful with proper items.

How many players can play Risk of Rain 2 co-op?

Up to 4 players can team up in co-op mode. The game scales difficulty based on player count (Steam).

Are there free alternatives to Risk of Rain 2?

Some free roguelike shooters exist like Devil Daggers (free demo) and Spelunky 2 (sometimes on Game Pass). However, most high-quality alternatives cost between $10 and $30.

Is Risk of Rain 2 better than Gunfire Reborn?

It depends on preference: Risk of Rain 2 offers 3D third-person combat with deeper item synergies; Gunfire Reborn provides a first-person perspective with RPG skill trees. Player reviews on Steam rate both Very Positive.

Does Risk of Rain 2 have a story mode?

Risk of Rain 2 has a loose narrative told through environment logs and ending events, but no traditional story mode. The focus is on gameplay loops rather than cutscenes (IGN).