DRAINUS similar games & best alternatives

DRAINUS - Trailer
DRAINUS - drainus_1.avif
DRAINUS - drainus_2.avif
DRAINUS - drainus_3.avif
DRAINUS - drainus_4.avif
DRAINUS - drainus_5.avif
DRAINUS - drainus_6.avif

DRAINUS

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch • 2022

Should you play it?

This is a side-scrolling shooting game in which you take control of the "Drainus", the Kharlal Empire's most cutting-edge fighter with the ability to absorb energy bullets, and take down the enemy ships zipping through space.

What works

  • Highly customizable ship loadouts
  • Accessible yet challenging gameplay
  • Intuitive bullet absorption mechanic
  • Gorgeous pixel art and animations
  • Multiple difficulty modes and replayability

Things to keep in mind

  • Short overall game length
  • Some difficulty spikes and balance issues
  • Story is light and somewhat cheesy
  • Limited content beyond two loops
  • No multiplayer or social features

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • X Invader

  • Galactic Glitch

  • Sodaman

  • Star of Providence

  • Keeper's Toll

  • Pinball Storm: Lokanta

More competitive

Games that feels like DRAINUS but with more competition against others

  • Syder Arcade

  • BLUE REVOLVER

  • Velocity®Ultra

  • Earthion

  • Hell is Other Demons

  • Super Galaxy Squadron EX Turbo

More intense

Games that feels like DRAINUS but with a more intense feel

  • Teleglitch: Die More Edition

  • SATAZIUS

  • ScourgeBringer

  • Atomik: RunGunJumpGun

  • Starward Rogue

  • Angry Video Game Nerd II: ASSimilation

Choose your own criteria ->

From the same developer

From the same developer, ranked by motivational fit.

  • BLADECHIMERA

  • Touhou Luna Nights

  • The Great Villainess: Strategy of Lily

  • NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD: Typing of The Net

  • Yunyun Syndrome!? Rhythm Psychosis

Similarity map

How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • 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 to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

DRAINUS: 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, Exploration.

Last update: 03/08/2026