GUARDS! similar games & best alternatives
GUARDS!
2024
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Quick resume
GUARDS! is an online co-op fantasy FPS that puts you in the underfunded and over-zealous steel boots of the City Watch. Kick down doors, bust criminals and cause excessive property damage as you fight to restore law and order to the corrupt city of New Alestead.
Global score
70/100
Genres
Action, Adventure, Indie
Similar games
Pros
- Fun and chaotic co-op gameplay
- Engaging combat mechanics
- Good character customization
- Developer responsiveness and updates
- Humorous and goofy theme
Cons
- Steep difficulty curve, especially solo
- Some bugs and unpolished elements
- Linear mission design limits exploration
- Friendly fire can be frustrating
- Limited narrative depth and content variety
Motivations
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Autonomy
Game with the same Autonomy vibe
3"Players can choose weapons, armor abilities, and modifiers before missions, allowing some control over playstyle, though missions are linear and scripted."
Halo: Spartan Assault
"Players can choose weapons, armor, and tactics; some desire for personal control though missions are linear and objectives fixed."
-
Competence
Game with the same Competence vibe
4"The game is challenging, requiring skillful play, deliberate tactics, and mastery of mechanics; players receive clear feedback and progression."
UnderMine 2
"Game is challenging, punishing mistakes, requiring skillful blocking, attacking, and teamwork; players report difficulty and learning curve."
-
Competition
Game with the same Competition vibe
-3"Focus is on cooperative play and personal/team success rather than direct competition or leaderboards."
PANICORE
"Focus is on cooperative play and personal/team success rather than direct competition or leaderboards."
-
Continuation
Game with the same Continuation vibe
3"Many players report habitual play and desire to keep progressing despite difficulty and frustration."
Deleveled
"Players report wanting to keep playing despite difficulty; progression and unlocking gear encourage habitual play."
-
Cooperation
Game with the same Cooperation vibe
5"Game is designed around co-op play with mechanics like riding other players, buffing, and teamwork-oriented combat."
Coridden
"Game is designed primarily for co-op play; teamwork and coordination are essential and emphasized."
-
Creativity
Game with the same Creativity vibe
3"Players customize loadouts, choose perks, and experiment with different character and weapon combinations."
Ziggurat 2
"Customization of characters and weapon loadouts available; players can experiment with different approaches and weapons."
-
Domination
Game with the same Domination vibe
-4"Interactions emphasize mutual respect and team dynamics; no evidence of power imposition or trash talk."
The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak
"Interactions emphasize shared team play and mutual respect; no evidence of power imposition or trash talk."
-
Escapism
Game with the same Escapism vibe
4"Players use the game as a fun distraction and stress relief with chaotic, humorous gameplay."
Stick Fight: The Game
"Players use the game as a fun, goofy distraction with chaotic physics and humor, escaping real-life stress."
-
Expectation
Game with the same Expectation vibe
-4"Players engage voluntarily for fun and social interaction, with no reports of obligation or pressure to play."
Stowaway
"Players engage voluntarily for fun and social experience; no reports of obligation or pressure."
-
Experimenting
Game with the same Experimenting vibe
4"Players try different strategies, skill builds, and equipment setups; game encourages trying new tactics and adapting."
Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery
"Players try different weapons, tactics, and approaches; game encourages trying new strategies."
-
Exploration
Game with the same Exploration vibe
-2"Levels are linear corridors with limited exploration, though varied locations exist."
Killer is Dead - Nightmare Edition
"Levels are procedurally generated but mostly linear corridors; limited open exploration."
-
Expression
Game with the same Expression vibe
3"Character customization and color options allow some self-expression, though mostly within predefined options."
Cobalt
"Character customization and armor color options allow for self-expression."
-
Fantasy
Game with the same Fantasy vibe
4"Medieval fantasy setting with magic, monsters, and quests; some humor and parody elements present."
Kaetram
"Medieval fantasy setting with imaginative combat, magic, and humorous elements."
-
Fellowship
Game with the same Fellowship vibe
5"Strong sense of community and shared experience among friends playing together."
RV There Yet?
"Strong sense of community and shared experience playing with friends; social interaction important."
-
Growth
Game with the same Growth vibe
3"Players learn combat mechanics, improve skills, and unlock upgrades and weapons."
Hellboy Web of Wyrd
"Players learn combat mechanics, improve skills, and progress through gear upgrades."
-
Health
Game with the same Health vibe
-4"Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."
Supraland Six Inches Under
"Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."
-
Idle
Game with the same Idle vibe
-3"Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during missions."
STAR WARS™ Republic Commando™
"Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during missions."
-
Intimacy
Game with the same Intimacy vibe
2"Some social bonding through cooperative play and shared humor, but limited evidence of close emotional relationships."
Mycopunk
"Some social bonding through cooperative play and shared humor, but limited emotional depth."
-
Leadership
Game with the same Leadership vibe
1"Some emergent leadership in team coordination, but mostly equal participation and shared decision-making."
R.E.P.O.
"Some emergent leadership in coordinating team tactics, but mostly shared decision-making."
-
Progression
Game with the same Progression vibe
4"Players accumulate gold to buy better weapons and armor, unlocking new characters and equipment."
Enclave
"Players accumulate gold, unlock weapons and armor, and improve gear over time."
-
Relaxation
Game with the same Relaxation vibe
-1"Game is challenging and fast-paced, with some tension; not primarily focused on relaxation."
CARNAL
"Game is chaotic and challenging with tension; not primarily relaxing but can be cathartic."
-
Sensation
Game with the same Sensation vibe
3"Enjoyable visual and audio effects with satisfying combat feedback."
Insect Swarm
"Enjoyable physics-based combat with satisfying sounds and visual feedback."
-
Status
Game with the same Status vibe
-2"No emphasis on social recognition or leaderboards; focus is on collective success."
Tonight We Riot
"No emphasis on social recognition or leaderboards; focus on team success."
-
Story
Game with the same Story vibe
-3"Minimal narrative or plot; gameplay centers on missions and tactical action rather than story immersion."
Door Kickers: Action Squad
"Minimal narrative immersion; gameplay is mission-based with limited plot."
-
Strategy
Game with the same Strategy vibe
3"Requires tactical planning of loadouts, resource management, and combat maneuvers."
EVERSPACE™
"Requires tactical planning of loadouts and combat approach; some strategic elements."
-
Thrill
Game with the same Thrill vibe
3"Players experience suspense and challenge from difficulty spikes and chaotic combat."
Morsels
"Players experience suspense and tension from difficulty and chaotic combat."
-
Value
Game with the same Value vibe
3"Players feel the game offers good value for price with satisfying gameplay and content."
Archvale
"Players feel the game offers good value for price with fun gameplay and progression."
-
Violence
Game with the same Violence vibe
3"Combat involves defeating enemies through melee and ranged attacks, with some violent action elements."
Ampersat
"Combat involves melee attacks, knocking down enemies, and some lethal options."
-
Survival
Game with the same Survival vibe
4"Players must avoid death and manage resources carefully to survive missions."
ARMA: Cold War Assault
"Players must avoid death and manage health carefully to complete missions."
Analysis
Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Story, Exploration, Relaxation.
How to use the graph
Similar games map
Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.
- Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
- Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
- Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
- 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.
Last update: 30/04/2026