Nex Machina similar games & best alternatives

Nex Machina

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2017

Should you play it?

Nex Machina is an intense arcade style twin-stick shooter from Housemarque. Taking hints from both Robotron and Smash TV, Nex Machina focuses on pure action, voxel destruction and competition in the distant, cablepunk themed future.

What works

  • Fast-paced and addictive gameplay
  • Tight and responsive controls
  • Vibrant visuals with impressive particle effects
  • Excellent electronic soundtrack
  • High replay value with leaderboards and secrets

Things to keep in mind

  • Short campaign length
  • Some difficulty spikes can feel punishing
  • Limited online multiplayer (only local co-op)
  • Mouse and keyboard aiming can be awkward
  • Lack of extensive game modes beyond core arcade

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • Chippy

  • Geometry Wars™ 3: Dimensions Evolved

  • Sky Force Reloaded

  • Bullet Heaven 2

  • Assault Android Cactus+

  • Ikaruga

Less competitive

Games that feels like Nex Machina but with less competition against others

  • Bosorka

  • Doomsday Hunters

  • Army of Ruin

  • Turbo Overkill

  • Solstice Chronicles: MIA

  • SYNTHETIK 2

More creative

Games that feels like Nex Machina but with more room to create and customize

  • Entropy Survivors

  • BALL x PIT

  • Danger Scavenger

  • Jets'n'Guns 2

  • X-Morph: Defense

  • Gatekeeper

Less social

Games that feels like Nex Machina but with less teamwork and cooperation

  • KILL KNIGHT

  • Syder Arcade

  • Sine Mora

  • REVOLVER360 RE:ACTOR

  • RUINER

  • KILLBUG

Choose your own criteria ->

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).

Nex Machina: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Status, Fellowship, Domination. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Creativity, Relaxation, Leadership.

Last update: 03/08/2026