The Next Penelope similar games & best alternatives

The Next Penelope

Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Wii U, Nintendo Switch • 2015

Should you play it?

Set in a futuristic Odyssey, "The Next Penelope" is a fast paced action racing game with loud colors, an original story and a challenging risk-reward system. Weapons can be mixed and used at any time, but all these abilities cost vital energy!

What works

  • Unique blend of racing and action
  • Challenging gameplay with high skill ceiling
  • Impressive visuals and soundtrack
  • Non-linear world selection
  • Local multiplayer for up to 4 players

Things to keep in mind

  • Short main campaign
  • Steep difficulty curve and die-and-retry frustration
  • Camera zoom too close by default
  • No online multiplayer
  • Some control and ai balance issues

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • Pocky & Rocky Reshrined

  • Super Hydorah

  • GRADIUS ORIGINS

  • Serious Sam Double D XXL

  • HARDCORE MECHA

  • Bullet Heaven 2

Less social

Games that feels like The Next Penelope but with less teamwork and cooperation

  • GALAK-Z

  • Galactic Glitch

  • DRAINUS

  • Starward Rogue

  • Azure Striker Gunvolt

  • DRACOMATON

Less competitive

Games that feels like The Next Penelope but with less competition against others

  • Voidigo

  • Enter the Gungeon

  • CRYPTARK

  • UNSIGHTED

  • Metaverse Keeper / 元能失控

  • Beyond Contact

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).

The Next Penelope: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Competition. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Leadership, Intimacy.

Last update: 03/08/2026