NEXT JUMP: Shmup Tactics similar games & best alternatives

NEXT JUMP: Shmup Tactics

Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2017

Should you play it?

NEXT JUMP is a turn-based, tactics Shoot 'em up. Do space-jumps on procedurally generated boards and chase the vicious Dragons who stole all the stock of Beverage from the Galaxy!

What works
  • Unique blend of turn-based tactics and bullet hell
  • Addictive gameplay loop with high replayability
  • Deep strategic mechanics rewarding skill and planning
  • Variety of ships and upgrades for customization
  • Good value for price with polished core gameplay
Things to keep in mind
  • Steep learning curve and confusing tutorial
  • Visual clutter and ui can be overwhelming
  • Minimal narrative and story engagement
  • Lack of multiplayer or social features
  • Some balance issues and limited content variety

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Wantless : Solace at World’s End

  • Deepest Chamber: Resurrection

  • Monster Train 2

  • SpellRogue

  • StarVaders

  • Rogue Voltage

  • Phantom Rose 2 Sapphire

  • Blood Card

  • Flick Shot Rogues

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Wantless : Solace at World’s End

  • Deepest Chamber: Resurrection

  • Rogue Voltage

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Strategy

    Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance

  • Autonomy

    SENTRY

  • Competence

    Touhou Kikeijuu ~ Wily Beast and Weakest Creature.

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).

NEXT JUMP: Shmup Tactics: 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 Strategy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Leadership, Story.

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 freedom to choose routes on the star map, select gear and traps, and decide which ship areas to defend, allowing personal strategic control."

    Capsule for SENTRY SENTRY

    "Players choose their path on the map and make tactical decisions each turn, with freedom to upgrade and customize ships."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "Game challenges players with bullet hell patterns requiring skill and learning, with a high skill ceiling and feedback on performance."

    Capsule for Touhou Kikeijuu ~ Wily Beast and Weakest Creature. Touhou Kikeijuu ~ Wily Beast and Weakest Creature.

    "The game challenges players with complex turn-based bullet hell mechanics requiring skillful planning and execution."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -2

    "Mostly single-player with some leaderboard elements mentioned; focus is on personal progression rather than direct competition."

    Capsule for Legacy of Defense Legacy of Defense

    "Mostly single-player focused with no strong emphasis on player-vs-player competition; some leaderboard stats exist but not central."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players report addictive gameplay loops and replayability, with multiple runs and unlocks encouraging habitual play."

    Capsule for SENTRY SENTRY

    "Players report addictive gameplay loops and replayability, returning for multiple runs despite difficulty."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative multiplayer or teamwork elements."

    Capsule for Wolfenstein: The New Order Wolfenstein: The New Order

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative multiplayer or teamwork elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players can customize their ship, craft various weapons and armor with upgrades, and experiment with different builds."

    Capsule for Roguelands Roguelands

    "Players can customize ships with various weapons and upgrades, experimenting with different builds and strategies."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of dominance or power over other players; interactions are solo and balanced."

    Capsule for Our Darker Purpose Our Darker Purpose

    "No evidence of dominance or power over other players; interactions are solo and balanced."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game as a challenging distraction and stress relief with immersive sci-fi strategy gameplay."

    Capsule for Particle Fleet: Emergence Particle Fleet: Emergence

    "Players use the game as a challenging distraction and stress relief through strategic gameplay and sci-fi setting."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Engagement is driven by intrinsic interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for MONSTER HUNTER RISE MONSTER HUNTER RISE

    "Engagement is driven by intrinsic interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Encourages trying different weapons, upgrades, and strategies; players explore synergies and new tactics."

    Capsule for Dungeon Peplum Dungeon Peplum

    "Encourages trying new tactics, weapons, and ship builds; players learn enemy patterns and mechanics through experimentation."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Procedurally generated maps and random events encourage discovery of new locations and secrets."

    Capsule for Battle Brothers Battle Brothers

    "Procedurally generated maps and random events provide new experiences each run, encouraging discovery."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Some customization through ship selection and equipment, but limited cosmetic or avatar personalization."

    Capsule for For The Warp For The Warp

    "Some avatar expression through ship choice and equipment customization, though limited cosmetic options."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Sci-fi setting with imaginative ships, abilities, and enemies, blending fantasy elements with futuristic themes."

    Capsule for Astroloot Astroloot

    "Sci-fi setting with space dragons and imaginative narrative elements, blending fantasy and futuristic themes."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; gameplay is solitary without shared group identity."

    Capsule for Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2

    "No social or community features; gameplay is solitary without shared group identity."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop skills and improve their ship through upgrades and mastering objectives."

    Capsule for Sky Force Anniversary Sky Force Anniversary

    "Players develop skills and knowledge of game mechanics and improve ship capabilities through upgrades."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for Capes Capes

    "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and strategic thinking; not suited for passive or background play."

    Capsule for Fights in Tight Spaces Fights in Tight Spaces

    "Requires focused attention and strategic thinking; not suited for passive or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No close social interactions or relationship-building features."

    Capsule for Vtuber Simulator : Vtuber模擬器 Vtuber Simulator : Vtuber模擬器

    "No close social interactions or relationship-building features."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; purely individual gameplay."

    Capsule for Katamari Damacy REROLL Katamari Damacy REROLL

    "No leadership or group management roles; purely individual gameplay."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Players accumulate resources, unlock parts, and upgrade ships and fleets over time."

    Capsule for Reassembly Reassembly

    "Players accumulate scrap and upgrades to improve ships and unlock new equipment across runs."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    1

    "Some players find the game engaging and satisfying, but it also involves tension and challenge."

    Capsule for Arms Trade Tycoon: Tanks Arms Trade Tycoon: Tanks

    "Some players find the game engaging and rewarding, but the difficulty and complexity can cause tension."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Visual pixel art and atmospheric soundtrack provide sensory enjoyment; bullet hell action adds excitement."

    Capsule for ITTA ITTA

    "Retro pixel art and chiptune soundtrack provide sensory enjoyment; bullet hell action creates excitement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -3

    "No strong social recognition or ranking systems; achievements exist but social status is minimal."

    Capsule for Rustil: Eternal Labyrinth Castle Rustil: Eternal Labyrinth Castle

    "Minimal social recognition or status systems; achievements exist but are not highly visible socially."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    1

    "Basic narrative provides context but is minimal; gameplay is mostly context-free survival and combat."

    Capsule for Death in the Water 2 Death in the Water 2

    "Minimal narrative mostly told in intro; gameplay is largely context-free tactical battles."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "Core gameplay revolves around deep strategic planning, resource management, and tactical problem solving."

    Capsule for Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance

    "Core gameplay revolves around deep tactical planning, resource management, and problem solving."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Bullet hell dodging creates moments of suspense and challenge."

    Capsule for Dodge Show Dodge Show

    "Turn-based bullet hell creates suspense and tension, rewarding careful timing and risk management."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players consider the game a great value for its price, with extensive gameplay and replayability."

    Capsule for Hammerfight Hammerfight

    "Players consider the game a good value for its price, with satisfying gameplay and replayability."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Gameplay centers on shooting and destroying enemy ships with various weapons."

    Capsule for NEOMORPH NEOMORPH

    "Combat-focused gameplay with shooting and destruction of enemy ships, typical of shoot-em-up genre."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Players must avoid damage, manage resources, and survive increasingly difficult encounters."

    Capsule for Lake of Creatures Lake of Creatures

    "Players must avoid damage, manage resources, and survive increasingly difficult encounters."

Last update: 12/07/2026