Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality
24 games like Sanctum 2 (2026)
Every game below overlaps with Sanctum 2 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: Sanctum, which made by the same studio, Coffee Stain Studios.
- Sanctum 2 is tagged Tower Defense, FPS, Co-op, Strategy, Action, Sci-fi, Indie, Online Co-Op 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.
- 4 are free to download, so you can test the resemblance yourself at no cost.
- 2 are from the same studio: Sanctum, Satisfactory.
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
Sanctum
Why it matched: made by the same studio, Coffee Stain Studios; both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 12 player tags including Tower Defense, FPS and Strategy; released around the same time (2011).
You think Tower Defense games are all about building? You thought wrong. Sanctum is not your average Tower Defense title. When the havoc starts, you get to join the fray! As one of the world’s first First Person Shooter - Tower Defense games, Sanctum has taken the best of both worlds to deliver an epic, one-of-a-kind experience.
Sanctum at a glance Released 2011 Studio Coffee Stain Studios Player sentiment 89% positive of 3,359 Price $1.99 Tower DefenseFPSStrategyIndieSci-fiFirst-PersonOnline Co-OpShooter
- 2
Aliens vs. Predator
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 8 player tags including FPS, Aliens and Sci-fi; released around the same time (2010).
Survive, hunt and prey in the deadly jungles and swamps in distinctly new and thrilling first person gameplay.
Aliens vs. Predator at a glance Released 2010 Studio Rebellion Player sentiment 91% positive of 21,551 Price $1.49 FPSAliensSci-fiShooterFirst-PersonSurvivalOnline Co-OpStrategy
- 3
SCP: Secret Laboratory
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 8 player tags including First-Person, Shooter and Online Co-Op; released around the same time (2017).
Deep within a secure underground facility, a sudden containment breach allows many of the secured anomalies to escape from their chambers. Assist the Foundation in re-securing the facility, help the Insurgency in their goal to capture it, or wreak havoc as an SCP in a frantic bid to escape.
SCP: Secret Laboratory at a glance Released 2017 Studio Northwood Studios Player sentiment 91% positive of 234,020 Price Free First-PersonShooterOnline Co-OpFPSSurvivalSci-fiStrategyIndie
- 4
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 8 player tags including FPS, Shooter and First-Person; released around the same time (2012).
Pushing the boundaries of what fans have come to expect from the record-setting entertainment franchise, Call of Duty®: Black Ops II propels players into a near future Cold War
Call of Duty: Black Ops II at a glance Released 2012 Studio Treyarch Player sentiment 86% positive of 49,344 Price $39.99 FPSShooterFirst-PersonOnline Co-OpFuturisticSurvivalGreat SoundtrackSci-fi
- 5
Natural Selection 2
Why it matched: both science fiction and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Strategy, FPS and Sci-fi; released around the same time (2012).
A fast paced multiplayer shooter that pits aliens against humans in a strategic and action-packed struggle for survival!
Natural Selection 2 at a glance Released 2012 Studio Unknown Worlds Entertainment Player sentiment 85% positive of 13,363 Price $4.99 StrategyFPSSci-fiAliensIndieShooterFirst-PersonFuturistic
- 6
Crysis 2 - Maximum Edition
Why it matched: both survival and science fiction; shares 9 player tags including FPS, Sci-fi and Shooter; released around the same time (2011).
Aliens are decimating New York City, only you have the technology to survive. Be The Weapon.
Crysis 2 - Maximum Edition at a glance Released 2011 Studio Crytek Studios Player sentiment 85% positive of 13,866 Price $29.99 FPSSci-fiShooterAliensFirst-PersonFuturisticGreat SoundtrackSurvival
- 7
Dungeon of the ENDLESS
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including Strategy, Tower Defense and Indie; released around the same time (2014).
Dungeon of the ENDLESS™ is a Rogue-Like Dungeon-Defense game, in which the player and their team of heroes must protect the generator of their crashed ship while exploring an ever-expanding dungeon, all while facing waves of monsters and special events as they try to find their way out...
Dungeon of the ENDLESS at a glance Released 2014 Studio AMPLITUDE Studios Player sentiment 85% positive of 14,040 Price $11.99 StrategyTower DefenseIndieRPGSci-fiSurvivalGreat Soundtrack
- 8
Satisfactory
Why it matched: made by the same studio, Coffee Stain Studios; both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 5 player tags including Survival, First-Person and Strategy.
Satisfactory is a first-person open-world factory building game with a dash of exploration and combat. Play alone or with friends, explore an alien planet, create multi-story factories, and enter conveyor belt heaven!
Satisfactory at a glance Released 2024 Studio Coffee Stain Studios Player sentiment 97% positive of 278,668 Price $39.99 SurvivalFirst-PersonStrategySci-fiIndie
- 9
Alien: Isolation
Why it matched: both survival and science fiction; shares 8 player tags including Sci-fi, Aliens and First-Person; released around the same time (2014).
Discover the true meaning of fear in Alien: Isolation, a survival horror set in an atmosphere of constant dread and mortal danger.
Alien: Isolation at a glance Released 2014 Studio Creative Assembly Player sentiment 93% positive of 66,658 Price $11.99 Sci-fiAliensFirst-PersonFemale ProtagonistSurvivalGreat SoundtrackFPSShooter
- 10
Orcs Must Die! 2
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including Tower Defense, Strategy and Online Co-Op; released around the same time (2012).
You’ve tossed, burned and sliced them by the thousands – now orcs must die more than ever before! Grab a friend and slay orcs in untold numbers in this sequel to the 2011 AIAS Strategy Game of the Year from Robot Entertainment.
Orcs Must Die! 2 at a glance Released 2012 Studio Robot Entertainment Player sentiment 92% positive of 19,620 Price $14.99 Tower DefenseStrategyOnline Co-OpIndieRPGShooterFemale ProtagonistFunny
- 11
Atlas Reactor
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 6 player tags including Strategy, Online Co-Op and Sci-fi; released around the same time (2016).
SEASON 6 NOW LIVE! The battle for Atlas continues as a hot (some might even say fiery) new freelancer enters the scene.
Atlas Reactor at a glance Released 2016 Studio Trion Worlds Player sentiment 84% positive of 5,291 Price Not listed StrategyOnline Co-OpSci-fiFunnyShooterSurvival
- 12
PlanetSide 2
Why it matched: both science fiction and strategy; shares 8 player tags including FPS, Shooter and Sci-fi; released around the same time (2012).
PlanetSide 2 is an all-out planetary war, where thousands of players battle as one across enormous continents. Utilize infantry, ground and air vehicles, and teamwork to destroy your enemies in this revolutionary first-person shooter on a massive scale.
PlanetSide 2 at a glance Released 2012 Studio Rogue Planet Games Player sentiment 80% positive of 74,813 Price Free FPSShooterSci-fiFirst-PersonFuturisticOnline Co-OpStrategyRPG
- 13
MechWarrior Online Solaris 7
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 6 player tags including Shooter, Sci-fi and FPS; released around the same time (2015).
MechWarrior Online™ Legends is a tactical, 'Mech-based online shooter set in the vast BattleTech Universe. Assume the role of an elite MechWarrior, piloting powerful BattleMechs, fighting for supremacy over the Inner Sphere.
MechWarrior Online Solaris 7 at a glance Released 2015 Studio Piranha Games Inc. Player sentiment 80% positive of 12,817 Price Free ShooterSci-fiFPSStrategyFirst-PersonSurvival
- 14
STAR WARS Battlefront
Why it matched: both science fiction and strategy; shares 8 player tags including Shooter, Sci-fi and Strategy.
The STAR WARS™ Battlefront™ Ultimate Edition includes the STAR WARS™ Battlefront™ Deluxe Edition as well as the STAR WARS™ Battlefront™ Season Pass.
STAR WARS Battlefront at a glance Released 2020 Studio DICE Player sentiment 79% positive of 5,869 Price $19.99 ShooterSci-fiStrategyOnline Co-OpFirst-PersonCombatAliensFPS
- 15
Crysis
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including FPS, Shooter and Sci-fi.
The classic first person shooter from Crytek is back with the action-packed gameplay, sandbox world, and thrilling epic battles you loved the first time around – now with remastered graphics optimized for a new generation of hardware.
Crysis at a glance Released 2007 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 77% positive of 17,705 Price $10.49 FPSShooterSci-fiAliensFuturisticFirst-PersonSurvival
- 16
Crysis Remastered
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including FPS, Shooter and Sci-fi.
The classic first person shooter from Crytek is back with the action-packed gameplay, sandbox world, and thrilling epic battles you loved the first time around – now with remastered graphics optimized for a new generation of hardware.
Crysis Remastered at a glance Released 2021 Studio Crytek Player sentiment 77% positive of 17,722 Price $10.49 FPSShooterSci-fiAliensFuturisticFirst-PersonSurvival
- 17
The Cycle: Frontier
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including Survival, Shooter and First-Person.
The Cycle: Frontier is a free-to-play PvPvE Extraction Shooter driven by suspense and danger. Prospect for resources and other riches on an abandoned alien world ravaged by a deadly storm, inhabited by monsters and other ambitious Prospectors.
The Cycle: Frontier at a glance Released 2022 Studio YAGER Player sentiment 64% positive of 45,267 Price Not listed SurvivalShooterFirst-PersonFPSSci-fiAliensOnline Co-Op
- 18
Alien Swarm
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 6 player tags including Online Co-Op, Aliens and Shooter; released around the same time (2010).
Co-operative multiplayer game and complete code base available for free.
Alien Swarm at a glance Released 2010 Studio Valve Player sentiment 95% positive of 21,612 Price Free Online Co-OpAliensShooterSci-fiSurvivalStrategy
- 19
HELLDIVERS Dive Harder Edition
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 6 player tags including Online Co-Op, Sci-fi and Shooter; released around the same time (2015).
HELLDIVERS™ is a hardcore, cooperative, twin stick shooter. As part of the elite unit called the HELLDIVERS, players must work together to protect SUPER EARTH and defeat the enemies of mankind in an intense intergalactic war.
HELLDIVERS Dive Harder Edition at a glance Released 2015 Studio Arrowhead Game Studios Player sentiment 90% positive of 33,376 Price $19.99 Online Co-OpSci-fiShooterFunnyStrategySurvival
- 20
Polarity
Why it matched: both science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including First-Person, Indie and Strategy; released around the same time (2016).
Polarity takes it to the next level, demanding all of your wits and reflexes. Full-featured local co-op campaign.
Polarity at a glance Released 2016 Studio Bluebutton Games Player sentiment 79% positive of 4,668 Price $12.99 First-PersonIndieStrategySci-fiFPSGreat SoundtrackShooter
- 21
The Ship: Murder Party
Why it matched: both survival and strategy; shares 8 player tags including Indie, First-Person and RPG.
The Ship is a murder mystery multiplayer.
The Ship: Murder Party at a glance Released 2006 Studio Outerlight Ltd. Player sentiment 86% positive of 5,950 Price $9.99 IndieFirst-PersonRPGFunnySurvivalFPSShooterStrategy
- 22
Fortified
Why it matched: both science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including Tower Defense, Indie and Strategy; released around the same time (2016).
Fortified is an explosive strategy shooter where players will defend the Earth against a menacing Martian invasion in the 1950s. Play as one-of-four pulp inspired heroes as they fight swarms of terrifying robots with an arsenal of Cold War era weapons and experimental technology.
Fortified at a glance Released 2016 Studio Siege Camp Player sentiment 75% positive of 1,738 Price $14.99 Tower DefenseIndieStrategyAliensSci-fiShooterOnline Co-Op
- 23
Orcs Must Die! Unchained
Why it matched: both survival and strategy; shares 7 player tags including Tower Defense, Strategy and Survival; released around the same time (2017).
Orcs Must Die! Unchained takes the award-winning Orcs Must Die! action tower defense game to a whole new level with team-based gameplay! Bust skulls with your best pals in PvE co-op Survival, or put your teamwork to the real test in Sabotage Mode!
Orcs Must Die! Unchained at a glance Released 2017 Studio Robot Entertainment Player sentiment 69% positive of 6,107 Price Not listed Tower DefenseStrategySurvivalRPGFunnyOnline Co-OpFPS
- 24
STAR WARS Republic Commando
Why it matched: both science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including FPS, Sci-fi and Shooter; released around the same time (2009).
You are the leader of an elite squad of Republic Commandos, your mission is to infiltrate, dominate, and ultimately, annihilate the enemy. Your squad will follow your orders and your lead, working together as a team - instinctively, intelligently, instantly. You are their leader. They are your weapon.
STAR WARS Republic Commando at a glance Released 2009 Studio LucasArts Player sentiment 96% positive of 17,143 Price $9.99 FPSSci-fiShooterFirst-PersonGreat SoundtrackStrategyFuturistic
Common questions
What game is most like Sanctum 2?
Sanctum, on the evidence we have. It made by the same studio, Coffee Stain Studios. 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 Sanctum 2" 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 Sanctum 2. 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.
What else did the makers of Sanctum 2 do?
Sanctum, Satisfactory are also from Coffee Stain Studios, and appear in the list below for that reason as well as on tag overlap.
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.