Boiling Steel similar games & best alternatives

Boiling Steel

SteamVR • 2020

Should you play it?

"Boiling Steel" - is a sci-fi story-based FPS VR shooter. You are one of many who set off in search of a better life in the distant bastion of scientific progress. Immerse yourself in the thick of events and witness the inexplicable global cataclysm.

What works
  • Immersive sci-fi story and setting
  • Unique weapon mechanics and upgrades
  • Good vr controls and movement options
  • Engaging combat with tactical depth
  • Solid graphics and sound design
Things to keep in mind
  • Repetitive level design and enemy types
  • Lack of multiplayer or social features
  • Some bugs and control issues reported
  • Slow pacing and occasional frustration
  • No melee or single-handed weapon options

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • BEAR, VODKA, FALL OF BERLIN! 🐻

  • Radiation Island

  • MOUSE: P.I. For Hire

  • Black Skylands

  • Beyond Sunset

  • ITTA

  • Sublevel Zero Redux

  • AMID EVIL

  • Squirrel Stapler

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Beyond Sunset

  • ITTA

  • Ocean Keeper: Dome Survival

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Autonomy

    Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades

  • Escapism

    The Last Clockwinder

  • Fantasy

    Mega Man Legacy Collection

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Boiling Steel: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Violence, Survival, Fellowship, Intimacy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Violence. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Leadership, Continuation.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players have extensive freedom to choose weapons, customize attachments, select game modes, and control movement options."

    Capsule for Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades

    "Players have freedom to choose weapons, upgrade paths, and approach combat with different tactics; movement options and weapon handling are customizable."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Combat requires skillful aiming, timing reloads, and managing resources; players receive feedback and can improve through experimentation."

    Capsule for Rum & Gun Rum & Gun

    "Combat requires skillful aiming, weapon management, and dodging; upgrades and difficulty levels provide challenge and feedback on performance."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Game is single-player focused with no multiplayer or ranked modes; emphasis on personal progress and self-set goals without social comparison."

    Capsule for Knights of Pen and Paper 2 Knights of Pen and Paper 2

    "Game is single-player focused with no multiplayer or ranked modes; players progress at their own pace without social comparison."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players report being drawn into the story and world, playing long sessions; however, combat repetition and linearity may reduce long-term habitual play."

    Capsule for Lost in Random™ Lost in Random™

    "Many players report long play sessions and engagement with story and combat, though some find repetition and length a factor reducing sustained play."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative or team-based gameplay."

    Capsule for Brigador: Up-Armored Edition Brigador: Up-Armored Edition

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative or team-based gameplay."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Variety of weapons, skills, and character builds allow creative combat approaches and customization."

    Capsule for DarkMaus DarkMaus

    "Unique weapon mechanics and upgrade customization encourage creative combat approaches; some level design variety noted."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of dominance or power over others; interactions are narrative and character-driven."

    Capsule for Psychonauts 2 Psychonauts 2

    "No evidence of dominance or power over others; interactions are individual and narrative-driven."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players enjoy immersive, relaxing VR environments and engaging story as a pleasant escape from real life."

    Capsule for The Last Clockwinder The Last Clockwinder

    "Players enjoy immersive sci-fi world and story as a form of escape; VR environment enhances dissociation from real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and interest; no indication of obligation or external pressure to play."

    Capsule for Warlock - Master of the Arcane Warlock - Master of the Arcane

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and interest; no indication of obligation or external pressure to play."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players experiment with different weapons, upgrades, and tactics; the game encourages trying varied approaches within its mechanics."

    Capsule for Far Cry 3 - Blood Dragon Far Cry 3 - Blood Dragon

    "Players experiment with different weapons, upgrades, and tactics; some desire for more varied enemy types and mechanics."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    2

    "Levels introduce new mechanics and environments regularly, though exploration is limited by linear level design."

    Capsule for My Friend Pedro My Friend Pedro

    "Some exploration of varied sci-fi environments and levels, though many levels are reused and linear."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Customization of weapons and character equipment allows some self-expression, but limited cosmetic options."

    Capsule for Anarchy: Wolf's law : Prologue Anarchy: Wolf's law : Prologue

    "Customization of weapons and shells provides some self-expression, though limited cosmetic options."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Imaginative sci-fi setting with robot characters and fictional storylines."

    Capsule for Mega Man Legacy Collection Mega Man Legacy Collection

    "Strong sci-fi narrative with robot avatars and futuristic settings; immersive fictional experience."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; strictly solo play."

    Capsule for Toby: The Secret Mine Toby: The Secret Mine

    "No social or community features; strictly solo play."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop skills and upgrade weapons, showing learning and progression."

    Capsule for RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business

    "Players develop skills and upgrade weapons and abilities, showing learning and progression."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; typical sedentary VR play."

    Capsule for Vertigo 2 Vertigo 2

    "No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; typical VR sedentary play."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and active engagement; not a casual or background game."

    Capsule for Skydance's BEHEMOTH Skydance's BEHEMOTH

    "Requires focused attention and active engagement; not a casual or background game."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship building; purely individual experience."

    Capsule for Endless Fables: The Minotaur's Curse Endless Fables: The Minotaur's Curse

    "No social or emotional relationship building; purely individual experience."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements present."

    Capsule for FORM FORM

    "No leadership or group management elements present."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Clear progression through skill trees, weapon upgrades, and story advancement."

    Capsule for The Darkest Tales The Darkest Tales

    "Clear progression through weapon upgrades, abilities, and story advancement."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    1

    "Some players find pacing engaging and satisfying; others report tension from difficulty spikes and timers."

    Capsule for Hard West 2 Hard West 2

    "Some players find the pacing deliberate and immersive, but others report frustration and tension from difficulty and repetition."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "High-quality visuals, sound design, and VR immersion provide strong sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

    Capsule for Ghost Town Ghost Town

    "Visuals and sound design praised for immersion and excitement; VR enhances sensory engagement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems; focus is on individual play."

    Capsule for Chasm Chasm

    "No social recognition or status systems; focus is on individual play."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    4

    "Narrative is a core element with voiced characters and plot twists driving player engagement."

    Capsule for Unhack Unhack

    "Narrative is a key component with voice acting and plot driving player engagement."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Combat requires tactical weapon selection, positioning, and resource management, especially in later stages."

    Capsule for The World is Your Weapon The World is Your Weapon

    "Combat requires tactical weapon choice, positioning, and resource management."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    2

    "Combat encounters provide some excitement and challenge, but not extreme suspense or risk."

    Capsule for Raji: Prologue Raji: Prologue

    "Combat and enemy encounters provide some suspense and challenge, though not extreme risk or tension."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players generally feel the game offers good value for its price and length."

    Capsule for Occlude Occlude

    "Players generally feel the game offers good value for price and content length."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Core gameplay involves combat, shooting, and destroying robotic enemies."

    Capsule for Sublevel Zero Redux Sublevel Zero Redux

    "Core gameplay involves combat and destruction of robotic enemies."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    2

    "Players must manage health, shield energy, and avoid death; some challenge in surviving enemy attacks."

    Capsule for UberSoldier II UberSoldier II

    "Players must manage health and avoid death; some challenge in surviving enemy attacks."

Last update: 12/07/2026