10 Copycat Games That Are Actually Good

10 Copycat Games That Are Actually Good

As someone who has spent countless hours exploring the vast landscapes of video games, I must say that these titles are truly remarkable. Each one offers a unique twist on established genres, making them stand out from the crowd.


Over time, gaming has become so established that numerous individuals who initially played it have grown into professionals within the field.

A fascinating consequence of this development is that enthusiasts for specific games have stepped up to resurrect their cherished classics.

Essentially, if there’s been a prolonged absence of a new installment in a series or the creators have steered it in a way that fans disapprove, these enthusiastic newcomers often respond by declaring, “Alright, we’ll take the reins and create our own version instead.

The results of this can be hit or miss, but when they hit, they hit surprisingly hard.

Despite appearing as imitations, certain games have surprisingly garnered numerous awards and recognitions for their unique qualities.

10 Bomb Rush Cyberfunk

Like Jet Set Radio With Jetpacks

10 Copycat Games That Are Actually Good

Jet Set Radio is a franchise not frequently used by Sega; its initial release occurred in 2000, and it received just a single sequel in 2002.

The desire for an incredibly fashionable skate-and-graffiti themed game is what ultimately brought about Bomb Rush Cyberfunk.

In much the same vein as Jet Set Radio, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk boasts a comparable style, largely due to the musical contributions of composer Hideki Naganuma.

Instead, the game offers a variety of motion methods such as skateboarding and BMX riding, with jetpacks available for added height and speed.

Additionally, there are enhancements that improve overall user experience, such as quicker and easier graffiti creation, and the freedom to move around naturally by walking and jumping at will.

9 Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night

Like Castlevania Without The Vampires

10 Copycat Games That Are Actually Good

Even though the Metroidvania game style is extremely well-liked nowadays, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen any new Castlevania games following that design, truth be told – and honestly, there haven’t been any recent Castlevania games at all.

Koji Igarashi, who was an assistant director on Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, chose to create a new game in the gothic adventure genre due to…

The result was Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. This game features a similar vibe to its inspiration, taking place in a massive castle full of all manner of spooky beasties.

Through defeating mythical beasts and venturing into unknown territories, you gain access to additional skills for both battle and exploration, bit by bit unfolding a larger portion of the map and unearthing hidden locations.

8 Stardew Valley

Like Story of Seasons With More Stuff To Do

10 Copycat Games That Are Actually Good

To this day, there continue to be periodic installments of the ongoing Story of Seasons series, which was previously recognized by its western name, Harvest Moon.

Indeed, some might contend that it wasn’t Story of Seasons, but rather Stardew Valley released in 2016, which sparked renewed excitement for farming and life simulation games.

Stardew Valley is kind of like a Story of Seasons game cranked up to its logical extreme.

You can raise a farm, build a family, and all that good stuff, but there’s also a greater emphasis on crafting, combat, and interpersonal relationships.

7 Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling

Like Paper Mario With Bugs

10 Copycat Games That Are Actually Good

After the launch of Paper Mario: Sticker Star in 2012, the path taken by the Paper Mario series has sparked quite a debate among fans, and I’d say it’s fair to describe this debate as heated or divisive.

If you’re craving the classic feel of Paper Mario with its traditional turn-based combat and captivating narratives, consider giving Bug Fables a try instead.

The game, Bug Fables, doesn’t hesitate to show its inspirations openly, as the characters are drawn in a style reminiscent of thin, paper-like sprites.

The game establishes its unique character and playstyle, particularly focusing on the importance of teamwork during battles and creating a more engaging narrative for a more dramatic experience.

6 Freedom Planet

Like Sonic With Dragons

10 Copycat Games That Are Actually Good

For nearly as long as Sonic has been a character, other games have been striving to mimic the fast-paced action that was made possible by his Blast Processing technology.

Among numerous years, it’s Freedom Planet that comes across as being quite similar to the sensation of traditional 2D Sonic games.

Freedom Planet delivers the excitement of steering with precision on the D-pad, propelling swiftly through stages at top velocity.

Additionally, it offers a wider range of gameplay options with various characters, intricate and diverse level designs, as well as an unexpectedly engaging cinematic narrative.

5 Pizza Tower

Like Wario Land With Pizza

10 Copycat Games That Are Actually Good

WarioWare notwithstanding, Wario doesn’t really get his own games anymore.

Man, I’ve got to say, I really miss the good old days of the WarioLand series. The thrill of exploration and the fast-paced gameplay was something I truly enjoyed!

Thankfully, WarioLand’s frantic spirit lives on in the grease-soaked halls of Pizza Tower.

Pizza Tower adopts mechanisms initially developed in WarioLand, including unexpected character metamorphoses and time-constrained returns to the level’s starting point.

Everything has been carefully adjusted to prioritize accuracy and speed, enabling you to string together sequences of frenetic action into a chaotic dance.

4 A Hat In Time

Like Super Mario Sunshine But Cuter

10 Copycat Games That Are Actually Good

In recent years, the 3D platformer game genre featuring collect-a-thons has experienced a cycle of popularity, yet one title that attempted to rejuvenate this style was the 2017 release, “A Hat in Time.

Born from the triumphant Kickstarter campaign, A Hat in Time stands out as an amusing, adorable, and at times eerie 3D game that prioritizes platforming and the uncovering of hidden treasures.

The game draws inspiration from the entire collect-a-thon genre, not just one particular game. However, if we must find a similar title, Super Mario Sunshine would likely be the most fitting comparison.

Both games boast a variety of movement and exploration abilities, and both have secret platforming levels with oddly soothing music.

3 The Messenger

Like Ninja Gaiden But Sillier

10 Copycat Games That Are Actually Good

The classic NES game, Ninja Gaiden, is well-known for its challenging nature, swiftly penalizing even minor errors with multiple game overs.

The Messenger adopts certain ideas from Ninja Gaiden and combines them to create a more expansive and balanced gameplay experience.

Initially, it resembles an action platformer, but over time, it evolves into a comprehensive Metroidvania experience, inviting you to employ your ninja skills for thorough exploration.

It’s also an exceptionally silly game, as opposed to Ninja Gaiden which kept things mostly serious.

2 Signalis

Like Silent Hill With Robots

10 Copycat Games That Are Actually Good

Over the extended, unofficial break, enthusiasts of the Silent Hill series yearned for the unique mix of haunting solitude in horror and meticulous puzzle-solving that the series offered.

Signalis aspires to recreate that sensation, though it does so on a more compact level, featuring a top-down perspective and pixel art design.

Regardless of the varying camera perspectives, Signalis maintains an eerie feeling reminiscent of being ensnared within a treacherous scenario filled with unknown terrors.

Additionally, there are some not-so-subtle allusions to its influences, for instance, the radiant red interfaces where you can preserve your advancements.

1 Tunic

Like Zelda Without An Instruction Manual

10 Copycat Games That Are Actually Good

During the era of Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), games typically lacked integrated tutorials. To even vaguely understand how to play, one had to thoroughly study the user manual from start to finish.

“Just like the original Legend of Zelda, Tunic intentionally evokes a sense of puzzling complexity, which might seem outdated compared to modern standards.

At first, the tunic is silent about its mysteries. However, as you delve deeper into its in-game guidebook, it slowly starts to disclose its hidden details.

Besides having elements reminiscent of Zelda, it also adopts some Souls-style dynamics, particularly by placing great importance on evasive maneuvers like dodging and counterattacking during intense battles with high damage output.

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2024-11-21 18:09