Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality
24 games like Max Payne (2026)
Every game below overlaps with Max Payne on things players said about it rather than on our opinion of what feels alike. Each entry shows what it matched on, so you can throw out the ones matching on the part you did not care about.
The short version
- Closest match: Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, which both psychological, crime, story-rich and atmospheric.
- Max Payne is tagged Action, Noir, Classic, Third-Person Shooter, Bullet Time, Story Rich, Atmospheric, Dark by Steam players. Those tags are what the matching runs on.
- 24 games qualify, each with at least fifty player reviews behind its sentiment figure.
How these were matched
Steam tags carry the most weight, because players apply them and they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Souls-like, Atmospheric and Cozy exist as tags and as nothing else, which is exactly the vocabulary this question needs. Formal genres count for less, themes and a shared studio for more.
Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are thrown out before matching. Nearly everything is tagged Singleplayer, so matching on it is matching on nothing. That cutoff is computed from the catalogue rather than fixed, so it moves as the catalogue grows.
All 24, closest first
- 1
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Why it matched: both psychological, crime, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 12 player tags including Noir, Third-Person Shooter and Classic; released around the same time (2003).
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne is a violent, film-noir love story. Dark, tragic and intense, the in-depth story is a thrill-ride of shocking twists and revelations. Love hurts.
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne at a glance Released 2003 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 94% positive of 14,615 Price $2.49 NoirThird-Person ShooterClassicBullet TimeStory RichShooterThird PersonDark
- 2
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days
Why it matched: both horror, psychological, crime, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 8 player tags including Third-Person Shooter, Crime and Violent.
Pure adrenaline of non-stop action in Single Player, Online Co-op and Multiplayer. Double the pleasure and mayhem with new multiplayer DLCs! (click for details)
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days at a glance Released 2010 Studio IO Interactive Player sentiment 67% positive of 9,765 Price $9.99 Third-Person ShooterCrimeViolentShooterThird PersonStory RichGreat SoundtrackPsychological Horror
- 3
F.E.A.R.
Why it matched: both horror, psychological, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 8 player tags including Horror, Bullet Time and Classic; released around the same time (2005).
Experience the original F.E.A.R. along with F.E.A.R. Extraction Point and F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate.
F.E.A.R. at a glance Released 2005 Studio Monolith Productions Player sentiment 94% positive of 19,502 Price $9.99 HorrorBullet TimeClassicShooterPsychological HorrorDarkStory RichGreat Soundtrack
- 4
The Evil Within 2
Why it matched: both horror, psychological, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 9 player tags including Horror, Psychological Horror and Story Rich.
Detective Sebastian Castellanos has lost everything, including his daughter, Lily. To save her, he must descend into the nightmarish world of STEM. Horrifying threats emerge from every corner, and he must rely on his wits to survive. For his one chance at redemption, the only way out is in.
The Evil Within 2 at a glance Released 2017 Studio Tango Gameworks Player sentiment 92% positive of 30,959 Price $39.99 HorrorPsychological HorrorStory RichThird-Person ShooterThird PersonViolentShooterDark
- 5
Alan Wake
Why it matched: both horror, psychological, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 9 player tags including Horror, Third Person and Story Rich.
A Dark Presence stalks the small town of Bright Falls, pushing Alan Wake to the brink of sanity in his fight to unravel the mystery and save his love.
Alan Wake at a glance Released 2012 Studio Remedy Entertainment Player sentiment 90% positive of 59,228 Price $1.49 HorrorThird PersonStory RichPsychological HorrorGreat SoundtrackThird-Person ShooterDarkCinematic
- 6
Hitman: Contracts
Why it matched: both horror, psychological, crime and atmospheric; shares 9 player tags including Third Person, Classic and Great Soundtrack.
Enter the world of a HITMAN - a world of crime, sin and greed. Delve into the mind of Agent 47 and encounter his greatest adversaries, completing the work that made him so brutally efficient and shaped him as an assassin. Eliminate your targets by any means necessary. There are no rules... only the contract, signed in blood.
Hitman: Contracts at a glance Released 2014 Studio Io-Interactive A/S Player sentiment 87% positive of 3,658 Price $8.99 Third PersonClassicGreat SoundtrackDarkShooterCrimeThird-Person ShooterViolent
- 7
Mafia
Why it matched: both crime, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 8 player tags including Story Rich, Crime and Classic; published by the same company; released around the same time (2002).
It’s 1930. After an inadvertent brush with the mafia, cabdriver Tommy Angelo is reluctantly thrust into the world of organized crime. Initially, he is uneasy about falling in with the Salieri family, but soon the rewards become too big to ignore.
Mafia at a glance Released 2002 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 88% positive of 16,301 Price $14.99 Story RichCrimeClassicGreat SoundtrackThird PersonViolentThird-Person ShooterShooter
- 8
Max Payne 3
Why it matched: both story-rich and atmospheric; shares 11 player tags including Third-Person Shooter, Bullet Time and Story Rich.
No longer a New York City cop, Max Payne moves to São Paulo to protect a wealthy family in an effort to finally escape his troubled past. This complete edition of Max Payne 3 includes the complete original game and all previously released downloadable content.
Max Payne 3 at a glance Released 2012 Studio Rockstar Vancouver Player sentiment 87% positive of 64,035 Price $5.99 Third-Person ShooterBullet TimeStory RichShooterCinematicThird PersonNoirGreat Soundtrack
- 9
Murdered: Soul Suspect
Why it matched: both horror, psychological, crime, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 7 player tags including Detective, Horror and Crime.
MURDERED: SOUL SUSPECT™ takes players into a whole new realm of mystery where the case is personal and the clues just out of reach, challenging gamers to solve the hardest case of all… their own murder.
Murdered: Soul Suspect at a glance Released 2014 Studio Airtight Games Player sentiment 86% positive of 17,391 Price $19.99 DetectiveHorrorCrimeStory RichThird PersonNoirDark
- 10
The Evil Within
Why it matched: both horror, psychological, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 8 player tags including Horror, Psychological Horror and Third Person.
Developed by Shinji Mikami -- creator of the seminal Resident Evil series -- and the talented team at Tango Gameworks, The Evil Within embodies the meaning of pure survival horror. Highly-crafted environments, horrifying anxiety, and an intricate story are combined to create an immersive world that will bring you to the height of tension.
The Evil Within at a glance Released 2014 Studio Tango Gameworks Player sentiment 85% positive of 33,579 Price $19.99 HorrorPsychological HorrorThird PersonDarkThird-Person ShooterCinematicShooterStory Rich
- 11
CONTROL Ultimate Edition
Why it matched: both horror, psychological, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 8 player tags including Story Rich, Third Person and Horror.
Winner of over 80 awards, CONTROL is a visually stunning third-person action-adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
CONTROL Ultimate Edition at a glance Released 2020 Studio Remedy Entertainment Player sentiment 86% positive of 63,191 Price $3.99 Story RichThird PersonHorrorThird-Person ShooterPsychological HorrorShooterViolentGreat Soundtrack
- 12
Mafia II
Why it matched: both crime, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 9 player tags including Crime, Story Rich and Violent.
War hero Vito Scaletta becomes entangled with the mob in hopes of paying his father’s debts. Vito works to prove himself, climbing the family ladder with crimes of larger reward and consequence.
Mafia II at a glance Released 2010 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 74% positive of 38,540 Price $29.99 CrimeStory RichViolentThird PersonThird-Person ShooterNoirShooterGreat Soundtrack
- 13
Alan Wake's American Nightmare
Why it matched: both horror, psychological, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 8 player tags including Horror, Third Person and Third-Person Shooter.
A thrilling new storyline, hordes of creepy enemies, serious firepower and beautiful Arizona locations, combined with a fun and challenging new game mode!
Alan Wake's American Nightmare at a glance Released 2012 Studio Remedy Entertainment Player sentiment 74% positive of 10,751 Price $0.89 HorrorThird PersonThird-Person ShooterPsychological HorrorShooterCinematicDetectiveStory Rich
- 14
Resident Evil 4
Why it matched: both horror, psychological and story-rich; shares 8 player tags including Horror, Third-Person Shooter and Story Rich; released around the same time (2005).
Survival is just the beginning. Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City. Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors, tracks the president's kidnapped daughter to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals.
Resident Evil 4 at a glance Released 2005 Studio Capcom Player sentiment 97% positive of 274,646 Price $39.99 HorrorThird-Person ShooterStory RichCinematicDarkThird PersonViolentPsychological Horror
- 15
Mafia: Definitive Edition
Why it matched: both crime, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 9 player tags including Crime, Story Rich and Third-Person Shooter.
An inadvertent brush with the mob thrusts cabdriver Tommy Angelo into the world of organized crime. Initially uneasy about falling in with the Salieri family, the rewards become too big to ignore.
Mafia: Definitive Edition at a glance Released 2020 Studio Hangar 13 Player sentiment 87% positive of 110,615 Price $39.99 CrimeStory RichThird-Person ShooterViolentThird PersonShooterClassicNoir
- 16
Mafia II: Definitive Edition
Why it matched: both crime, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 9 player tags including Crime, Story Rich and Violent.
War hero Vito Scaletta becomes entangled with the mob in hopes of paying his father’s debts. Vito works to prove himself, climbing the family ladder with crimes of larger reward and consequence.
Mafia II: Definitive Edition at a glance Released 2020 Studio Hangar 13 Player sentiment 74% positive of 38,558 Price $29.99 CrimeStory RichViolentThird PersonThird-Person ShooterNoirShooterGreat Soundtrack
- 17
Spec Ops: The Line
Why it matched: both horror, psychological, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 7 player tags including Story Rich, Third-Person Shooter and Third Person.
A Third-Person modern military Shooter designed to challenge players' morality by putting them in the middle of unspeakable situations.
Spec Ops: The Line at a glance Released 2012 Studio YAGER Player sentiment 93% positive of 56,315 Price Not listed Story RichThird-Person ShooterThird PersonShooterDarkGreat SoundtrackPsychological Horror
- 18
L.A. Noire
Why it matched: both psychological, crime, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 7 player tags including Detective, Crime and Noir.
In his fight to climb the ranks and do what's right, LAPD detective Cole Phelps must unravel the truth behind a string of arson attacks, conspiracies, and brutal murders, battling the L.A. underworld and even members of his own department.
L.A. Noire at a glance Released 2011 Studio Team Bondi Player sentiment 86% positive of 36,822 Price $19.99 DetectiveCrimeNoirStory RichThird PersonCinematicThird-Person Shooter
- 19
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
Why it matched: both horror, psychological, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 7 player tags including Horror, Shooter and Bullet Time.
Assume the role of Special Forces Sgt. Becket as your routine mission quickly turns into a fight for survival against the wrath of Alma Wade. As Alma's terrifying power surges out of control, your squad is forced to battle through an apocalyptic landscape in search of clues for how to destroy her!
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin at a glance Released 2009 Studio Monolith Player sentiment 85% positive of 9,496 Price $14.99 HorrorShooterBullet TimePsychological HorrorClassicViolentStory Rich
- 20
Manhunt
Why it matched: both horror, psychological and atmospheric; shares 8 player tags including Violent, Horror and Psychological Horror; released around the same time (2003).
You awake to the sound of your own panicked breath. In Manhunt, you must run, hide and fight to survive. If you can stay alive long enough, you may find out who did this to you. This is a brutal blood sport.
Manhunt at a glance Released 2003 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 71% positive of 9,522 Price $3.49 ViolentHorrorPsychological HorrorDarkClassicThird PersonGreat SoundtrackShooter
- 21
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition
Why it matched: both horror, psychological, crime and story-rich; shares 7 player tags including Crime, Third-Person Shooter and Violent.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: It’s the early ’90s. After a couple of cops frame him for homicide, Carl ‘CJ’ Johnson is forced on a journey that takes him across the entire state of San Andreas, to save his family and to take control of the streets.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition at a glance Released 2023 Studio Rockstar Games Player sentiment 80% positive of 16,017 Price $59.99 CrimeThird-Person ShooterViolentThird PersonStory RichClassicPsychological Horror
- 22
Mafia III
Why it matched: both crime, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 8 player tags including Crime, Story Rich and Third Person.
After Lincoln Clay's surrogate family, the black mob, is betrayed and killed by the Italian Mafia, Lincoln builds a new family and blazes a path of revenge through the Mafioso responsible.
Mafia III at a glance Released 2016 Studio Aspyr Player sentiment 57% positive of 64,036 Price $29.99 CrimeStory RichThird PersonViolentShooterGreat SoundtrackThird-Person ShooterClassic
- 23
Resident Evil 2
Why it matched: both horror, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 7 player tags including Horror, Third Person and Story Rich; released around the same time (1998).
A deadly virus engulfs the residents of Raccoon City in September of 1998, plunging the city into chaos as flesh eating zombies roam the streets for survivors. An unparalleled adrenaline rush, gripping storyline, and unimaginable horrors await you. Witness the return of Resident Evil 2.
Resident Evil 2 at a glance Released 1998 Studio Capcom Player sentiment 97% positive of 221,677 Price $39.99 HorrorThird PersonStory RichViolentClassicDarkShooter
- 24
Mafia III: Definitive Edition
Why it matched: both crime, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 8 player tags including Crime, Story Rich and Third Person.
After Lincoln Clay's surrogate family, the black mob, is betrayed and killed by the Italian Mafia, Lincoln builds a new family and blazes a path of revenge through the Mafioso responsible.
Mafia III: Definitive Edition at a glance Released 2020 Studio Hangar 13 Player sentiment 57% positive of 64,063 Price $29.99 CrimeStory RichThird PersonViolentShooterGreat SoundtrackThird-Person ShooterClassic
Common questions
What game is most like Max Payne?
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, on the evidence we have. It both psychological, crime, story-rich and atmospheric. That is a statement about overlap, not a promise you will like it as much: two games can share every tag and still feel different to play.
How is "similar to Max Payne" decided?
By overlap on the tags Steam players applied to each game, the formal genres, the themes both sit in, and whether the same studio made them. Tags carry the most weight because players write them, so they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are ignored: matching on "Singleplayer" is matching on nothing. Every entry below shows exactly what it matched on.
Are these ranked by quality?
No. They are ordered by how much they overlap with Max Payne. Where two games overlap equally, the better received one goes first, but that only moves a game a place or two. Each entry shows its own player sentiment so you can weigh that separately.
Do you get paid for these recommendations?
No. The order is computed from tag and genre overlap and nothing else. No placement here can be bought, and a game appearing high on this page is a statement about resemblance rather than an endorsement.