BRUTAL JOHN 2 similar games & best alternatives

BRUTAL JOHN 2

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2025

Should you play it?

Join BRUTAL JOHN and BRUTAL DOG in a ultraviolent old-school FPS set in a world overrun by crypto-mining technologies, where it’s up to you to destroy them and reclaim control. Prepare for an adrenaline ride that pays homage to the best shooters of the '90s.

What works
  • Nostalgic and humorous homage to classic 90s shooters
  • Satisfying and varied weaponry with impactful combat
  • Rich level design with many secrets and easter eggs
  • Dynamic soundtrack and sound effects enhance atmosphere
  • Active developer support with frequent updates
Things to keep in mind
  • Limited enemy variety and ai simplicity
  • Some gameplay mechanics (vehicles, upgrades) feel underdeveloped
  • Voice acting and humor may not appeal to all
  • Short campaign length in current early access state
  • Minor bugs and balance issues reported

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • AMID EVIL

  • KINGDOM of the DEAD

  • Fallen Aces

  • MOUSE: P.I. For Hire

  • Trench Tales

  • PIGFACE

  • Selaco

  • Mohrta

  • Beyond Sunset

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • KINGDOM of the DEAD

  • Beyond Sunset

  • Zortch

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Violence

    STRAFE: Gold Edition

  • Autonomy

    Copy Kitty

  • Escapism

    Safety First!

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).

BRUTAL JOHN 2: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Intimacy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Violence. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Strategy, Leadership.

Why this game works

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

  • Autonomy

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  • Competence

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  • Competition

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    "Focus is on cooperative multiplayer and solo play without leaderboards or ranked modes; no competitive elements emphasized."

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  • Continuation

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  • Cooperation

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  • Creativity

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    "Players experiment with different choices and explore hidden content and easter eggs, encouraging creative exploration."

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  • Domination

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  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

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    "Players use the game as a humorous distraction and stress relief from real life."

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    "Players use the game as a fun distraction with over-the-top action and humor to escape real life stress."

  • Expectation

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    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and nostalgia for classic shooters."

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  • Experimenting

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    "Players try different weapons, stealth or combat approaches, and explore secrets and alternate modes."

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  • Exploration

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    "Game encourages searching for hidden secrets, easter eggs, and side quests across large, detailed levels."

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  • Expression

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  • Fantasy

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    "Game features absurd, exaggerated fiction with mutant lizards, crypto dystopia, and over-the-top characters."

  • Fellowship

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    "Primarily a solo experience with minimal social interaction or community features."

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  • Growth

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    "Players learn enemy patterns and weapon usage; some skill development but limited depth."

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  • Health

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  • Idle

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    "Requires constant attention and focus; fast-paced combat and exploration demand active engagement."

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  • Intimacy

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    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing; focus is on individual play."

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  • Leadership

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    "No leadership roles; single-player game without group management."

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  • Progression

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    "Players collect upgrades and power-ups, but progression is limited and sometimes frustrating."

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  • Relaxation

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    "Fast-paced action provides flow and excitement, though some find difficulty spikes stressful."

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  • Sensation

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    "Enjoyable gunplay, sound effects, and visual feedback provide sensory stimulation."

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  • Status

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    "No social status or recognition systems; achievements exist but focus is personal."

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  • Story

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    "The story is nonsensical and humorous, providing narrative context but not deep immersion."

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    "Story is minimal and absurd, serving as a humorous backdrop rather than deep narrative immersion."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

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    "Combat involves some tactical weapon switching and dodging, but overall gameplay is straightforward with limited strategic depth."

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    "Combat is mostly straightforward and reflex-based, with limited strategic depth or planning."

  • Thrill

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    "Fast-paced combat and boss fights create moments of tension and excitement."

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    "Fast-paced combat and boss fights create moments of tension and excitement."

  • Value

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    "Players find good entertainment value for price with ongoing updates and content additions."

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    "Players find good entertainment value for price, especially given active development and content updates."

  • Violence

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    "Game emphasizes combat, gore, dismemberment, and destruction as core gameplay elements."

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  • Survival

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    "Some survival elements in boss fights and resource management, but low risk overall."

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Last update: 13/07/2026