10 Games Like Enter the Gungeon (September 2026)

If you have poured hundreds of hours into Enter the Gungeon and rolled your way past every boss the Gungeon has to offer, you are probably hunting for something new. That exact feeling is what sent me down a rabbit hole of roguelikes and bullet hell games over the past year, testing everything from cult classics to hidden gems that scratch the same itch.

Enter the Gungeon set a high bar when Dodge Roll Games released it in 2016. It combined twin-stick shooting with bullet hell patterns, dungeon crawling, and a sense of humor that made every run feel fresh. The dodge roll mechanic alone changed how players thought about movement in roguelikes, and the sheer variety of guns and items kept people coming back for hundreds of hours.

In this guide, I will walk you through the best games like Enter the Gungeon that I have personally spent time with. Whether you want something nearly identical, a different take on the genre, or a game that works on your phone, you will find a recommendation here that fits.

What Makes Enter the Gungeon So Addictive

Before diving into alternatives, it helps to understand what makes Enter the Gungeon so hard to put down. The game succeeds because it nails three things simultaneously: tight controls, massive weapon variety, and perfectly tuned difficulty.

The twin-stick shooter mechanics give you precise movement and aiming. Every enemy fires projectiles in patterns that look chaotic but follow learnable rules. Once you internalize those patterns, you start dodging on instinct. That feeling of improvement is what hooks people.

Then there is the dodge roll. It gives you invincibility frames during the animation, turning what could be a simple movement mechanic into a skill-based timing challenge. Rolling through a wall of bullets feels incredible, and very few games replicate that specific sensation.

The procedural generation means no two runs are the same. You encounter different room layouts, different enemy spawns, different item drops, and different shops every time. Combined with over 300 guns and items, including synergies that combine weapon effects in surprising ways, the game stays interesting long after you have beaten the final boss.

When looking for games like Enter the Gungeon, I focused on titles that share at least two of these core qualities: bullet hell combat, roguelike progression, procedural generation, and a focus on skill-based improvement over stat grinding.

Best Games Like Enter the Gungeon

If you want the short version, the closest matches are Nuclear Throne, Voidigo, and The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth. Nuclear Throne captures the fast-paced top-down shooting most accurately. Voidigo mirrors the bullet hell dodge mechanics almost perfectly. The Binding of Isaac gives you the deepest content well to dive into with hundreds of hours of unlockables.

Here are all the games I recommend, broken down one at a time.

1. Nuclear Throne

Nuclear Throne is the closest thing to a spiritual predecessor of Enter the Gungeon. Developed by Vlambeer and released in 2015, this top-down roguelike shooter shares the same DNA: fast combat, procedurally generated levels, a massive roster of weapons, and a difficulty curve that punishes sloppy play.

The biggest similarity is the feel of combat. Enemies move fast, bullets fly everywhere, and you need sharp reflexes and good positioning to survive. Unlike Enter the Gungeon, there is no dodge roll. Instead, you have a melee attack that can deflect bullets, which creates its own skill expression. The game is shorter per run, typically taking 15 to 30 minutes compared to Gungeon’s 30 to 60 minutes, making it feel more like a series of intense sprints.

One thing I love about Nuclear Throne is the character variety. Each of the 12 playable characters has a passive ability and an active skill that genuinely changes how you approach runs. Fish can roll to dodge. Crystal shields herself. Melting starts with two hit points but can explode corpses for area damage. Finding your main character is part of the fun.

The loop system in Nuclear Throne is unique. After you beat the game, you can start over at a harder difficulty with tougher enemy types and more chaotic weapon drops. Looping multiple times becomes the real challenge, similar to how Enter the Gungeon players chase past the Dragun for hidden floors and secret bosses.

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS Vita, Nintendo Switch, Mobile (Android)

2. Voidigo

If you spend time on Reddit communities like r/EnterTheGungeon and r/roguelites, one name comes up more than any other when people ask for games similar to Enter the Gungeon: Voidigo. After playing it for 40-plus hours, I understand why.

The combat loop in Voidigo feels like it was built by someone who studied Enter the Gungeon’s dodge roll mechanic and said, “What if we made the entire game about that?” You dodge enemy bullet patterns in real-time, using a paint-themed dash mechanic that feels snappy and responsive. The bullet patterns are creative and challenging without feeling unfair, which is exactly the balance Gungeon strikes.

Boss fights are the highlight. Each one has multiple phases with distinct attack patterns, and learning those patterns feels rewarding rather than frustrating. The weapon system offers good variety, with different firing modes and upgrade paths that keep each run interesting.

Where Voidigo differs is in its art style and tone. It goes for a colorful, hand-drawn look with a quirky sense of humor, which gives it a lighter feel than Enter the Gungeon’s pixel art dungeon aesthetic. The difficulty is also slightly more forgiving, making it a great entry point for players who found Gungeon too punishing.

Platforms: PC (Steam)

3. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is arguably the most important roguelike ever made, and it shares a surprising amount of DNA with Enter the Gungeon. Both feature procedurally generated floors, hundreds of items that stack and combine in unexpected ways, unlockable characters, and a difficulty system that scales as you progress.

The core difference is perspective and combat style. Isaac is a top-down twin-stick shooter where you fire tears (projectiles) in eight directions, compared to Gungeon’s full 360-degree aiming. Movement feels different too. Instead of dodge rolling, you rely on speed upgrades and positioning to avoid damage.

Where Isaac outshines almost every other roguelike is item synergy depth. With the Repentance DLC included, there are over 700 items that interact with each other in wild combinations. A run can transform entirely based on two items stacking in a way you have never seen before. This is the game that inspired Enter the Gungeon’s own synergy system.

I have put over 300 hours into Isaac, and I still discover new item combinations. The completionist content is staggering. There are multiple endings, secret characters, challenge modes, and a daily run system that keeps the community active. If you want a game that will last you longer than Enter the Gungeon, this is it.

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

4. Hades

Hades takes a different approach to the roguelike formula by wrapping it around a narrative that actually progresses between runs. Supergiant Games built something special here, and while the combat feels different from Enter the Gungeon, the core loop of dying, upgrading, and trying again will feel familiar.

The combat is an isometric hack-and-slash rather than a twin-stick shooter. You pick a weapon at the start of each run from six options, each with completely different playstyles. As you progress, you collect Boons from Greek gods that modify your attacks with elemental effects, creating build variety that rivals Gungeon’s weapon diversity.

What sets Hades apart is the story. Characters remember your previous runs. Dialogue changes based on how you died, which weapons you used, and which relationships you have built. For players who wanted more narrative depth from Enter the Gungeon, Hades delivers in spades.

The difficulty system deserves special mention. Hades has a Pact of Punishment that lets you customize difficulty modifiers after your first successful run, similar to Enter the Gungeon’s challenge mode but more granular. You can tune exactly how hard each run should be.

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Mobile (iOS via Netflix)

5. Dead Cells

Dead Cells is a side-scrolling action roguelite that trades top-down shooting for fast-paced melee and ranged combat. Do not let the perspective change fool you. The gameplay loop of dying, unlocking new weapons, and getting further on the next run is nearly identical to Enter the Gungeon’s structure.

The movement system in Dead Cells is where it really shines. You roll to dodge attacks, similar to Gungeon’s dodge roll, but you also have wall jumps, ground pounds, and a momentum-based platforming system that makes traversal feel incredible. Speedrunning through levels while dodging enemies becomes second nature after a few dozen runs.

Weapon variety is strong, with melee weapons, bows, shields, traps, and spells that all interact differently. The game uses a blueprint system where finding new weapons during runs permanently adds them to the drop pool, creating the same sense of progression and discovery that makes Gungeon’s unlocks satisfying.

Difficulty in Dead Cells scales through Boss Stem Cells, which you earn by beating the final boss at each difficulty tier. Each new tier adds stronger enemies and changes level layouts, keeping the challenge fresh for hundreds of hours.

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Mobile (iOS, Android)

6. Exit the Gungeon

Exit the Gungeon is the official follow-up from Dodge Roll Games, and it is worth playing even though it takes a very different approach. Instead of entering a dungeon and fighting your way down, you are escaping an elevator that is constantly shifting and changing.

The combat shifts from twin-stick shooting to a 2D platformer with auto-aiming weapons. Your gun automatically targets the nearest enemy, and you focus on movement, jumping, and dodging. It sounds limiting, but the weapon escalation system keeps things interesting. Your gun upgrades as you maintain a combo, growing more powerful the longer you avoid damage.

Runs are shorter than Enter the Gungeon, typically lasting 10 to 20 minutes. This makes Exit the Gungeon feel more like a pick-up-and-play experience, good for quick sessions when you want the Gungeon feel without committing to a full hour-long run.

The biggest drawback is content depth. Exit the Gungeon has fewer weapons, fewer items, and fewer secrets than its predecessor. Think of it as a companion piece rather than a full replacement.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mobile (iOS via Apple Arcade)

7. Spelunky 2

Spelunky 2 is for the players who found Enter the Gungeon too easy. This is a punishing, precision-platforming roguelike that demands near-perfect execution. One mistake can end a 45-minute run, and the game does not apologize for it.

Like Enter the Gungeon, Spelunky 2 features procedurally generated levels, permadeath, hidden secrets, and a progression system based on learning rather than stat upgrades. The key difference is that Spelunky 2 is a platformer rather than a shooter. You use bombs, ropes, and a whip to navigate caves filled with traps and enemies.

The depth of Spelunky 2’s world is what keeps people playing for thousands of hours. There are multiple branching paths through the game, secret areas hidden behind complex puzzles, and a community of players constantly discovering new interactions. The online multiplayer mode adds cooperative chaos.

I recommend Spelunky 2 specifically to players who loved the challenge of learning Enter the Gungeon’s boss patterns. Spelunky 2 demands the same kind of pattern recognition, but for entire levels rather than individual encounters.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch

8. Risk of Rain 2

Risk of Rain 2 takes the roguelike formula into 3D, and the result is surprisingly close to Enter the Gungeon in how it feels to play. You pick a character with a unique ability set, fight through procedurally generated stages, collect items that stack and interact, and face a final boss to complete a run.

The third-person perspective changes the combat significantly, but the item synergy system carries the same addictive quality. Items stack multiplicatively, meaning your character becomes exponentially more powerful as a run progresses. By late game, you are an unstoppable force demolishing waves of enemies, which is a power fantasy Enter the Gungeon rarely delivers outside of broken synergy builds.

Multiplayer is where Risk of Rain 2 stands apart. Up to four players can play cooperatively online, and the chaos of coordinating builds and sharing items adds a social dimension that Enter the Gungeon only touches with its two-player co-op mode.

The game also features an Artifact system that lets you modify run rules. You can enable artifacts that remove random item drops, double enemy spawns, or let you choose your items from a list. This customization keeps the game fresh long after you have beaten it.

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

9. Brotato

Brotato is one of the best picks-up-and-play roguelikes I have found, and it shares more with Enter the Gungeon than you might expect from a game about a potato fighting aliens. You play as a potato armed with up to six weapons simultaneously, surviving waves of enemies in arena-based combat.

The weapon variety is impressive for a smaller game. Each weapon type behaves differently, and combining six weapons that complement each other creates satisfying build diversity. Some weapons are melee, some fire projectiles in patterns, and some have special effects like freezing or poisoning enemies.

Between waves, you buy items and weapons from a shop, similar to Enter the Gungeon’s shop rooms. The economy of deciding between upgrading existing weapons or buying new ones adds strategic depth that makes each wave transition feel meaningful.

Runs last about 20 to 30 minutes, making Brotato perfect for quick sessions. The difficulty scales well across multiple tiers, and there are dozens of characters to unlock, each with unique modifiers that change how you approach the game.

Platforms: PC, Mobile (iOS, Android)

10. Dungreed

Dungreed blends dungeon crawling with RPG progression in a way that fills a specific niche for Enter the Gungeon fans who want more permanent character growth between runs. Each time you die, you keep some gold that you can spend on permanent upgrades in the town hub.

The combat is side-scrolling rather than top-down, with melee and ranged weapons available. You can block attacks with a shield, dodge with a dash, and use magic skills alongside your primary weapon. The variety of combat options makes each run feel distinct depending on what weapons and skills you find.

What makes Dungreed special is the town rebuilding system. As you progress, you rebuild the town that was destroyed by the dungeon, unlocking new NPCs who provide services and items. This gives a sense of permanent progress that roguelikes like Enter the Gungeon intentionally avoid, which some players find more motivating.

The food system adds another layer. Eating meals at the town restaurant gives permanent stat boosts, encouraging you to invest in your character between runs rather than relying solely on in-run items and pickups.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mobile (iOS, Android)

Games Like Enter the Gungeon by Category

Sometimes you want a specific type of experience. Here are quick picks based on what you are looking for.

Best for Bullet Hell Fans

Voidigo and Nuclear Throne deliver the closest bullet hell experience to Enter the Gungeon. Both games feature dense projectile patterns that require careful dodging and spatial awareness. If dodging through walls of bullets is your favorite part of Gungeon, start with Voidigo.

Best for Story and Narrative

Hades is the clear winner here. No other roguelike integrates story into the gameplay loop as effectively. If you wanted Enter the Gungeon’s NPCs to have more depth and dialogue, Hades will feel like exactly what you have been searching for.

Best for Co-op Multiplayer

Risk of Rain 2 offers the best cooperative roguelike experience with support for up to four players online. Spelunky 2 is a strong runner-up with both local and online multiplayer. For local co-op specifically, Enter the Gungeon itself has a two-player mode, and Spelunky 2 supports up to four players on the same screen.

Best for Beginners (Easier Than Gungeon)

Brotato and Voidigo are more forgiving than Enter the Gungeon while maintaining the same core appeal. Brotato’s shorter runs and simpler mechanics make it a great entry point. Hades also deserves mention here because its God Mode toggle gives damage resistance that increases with each death, naturally lowering difficulty for struggling players.

Best Mobile Alternatives

If you want Enter the Gungeon vibes on your phone, Nuclear Throne is available on Android, and Dead Cells has excellent iOS and Android ports. Brotato and Dungreed both have mobile versions that translate well to touch controls. Exit the Gungeon is playable on iOS through Apple Arcade. The Binding of Isaac: Repentance does not have a mobile version officially, though the original Flash version can be played through browser emulators.

Games Like Enter the Gungeon by Platform

PS5

Hades, Dead Cells, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (with Repentance DLC), Risk of Rain 2, and Spelunky 2 are all available on PlayStation 5, many with native PS5 upgrades that load in seconds and run at high frame rates.

Xbox

The same lineup works on Xbox Series X/S, and most of these titles are available through Xbox Game Pass, which makes trying multiple alternatives affordable. Hades, Dead Cells, and Risk of Rain 2 have all appeared on Game Pass.

Nintendo Switch

The Switch is arguably the best platform for roguelikes because of its portable nature. Nuclear Throne, Hades, Dead Cells, Binding of Isaac, Spelunky 2, Risk of Rain 2, Exit the Gungeon, and Dungreed all run on Switch. Quick roguelike runs during a commute feel natural on this system.

Mobile (Android and iOS)

Mobile options are more limited but growing. Dead Cells has a premium mobile port with full controller support. Brotato and Dungreed both have mobile versions. Nuclear Throne is available on Android. Hades is on iOS through Netflix Games. For a free option, Soul Knight is a mobile-first roguelike shooter heavily inspired by Enter the Gungeon with surprisingly solid touch controls.

Final Thoughts on Games Like Enter the Gungeon

Finding games like Enter the Gungeon means finding the right balance of challenge, variety, and that satisfying loop of dying and wanting to try again immediately. After testing all of these titles, here is how I would choose.

Go with Nuclear Throne if you want the closest match to Gungeon’s combat. Pick up Voidigo if bullet hell dodging is your favorite part. Choose The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth if you want the most content for your time. Grab Hades if you want a story that respects your time between runs.

Every game on this list shares something important with Enter the Gungeon: they respect your skill and reward persistence. None of them hand you victory. You earn it, run after run, death after death, until suddenly you do something you thought was impossible. That feeling is what the roguelike genre is all about, and every one of these games delivers it.