Since its release in 2017, Cuphead has captured the hearts of many and enraged even the calmest individuals. And it’s hard to blame them because many couldn’t believe how harsh this colorful world can be. Who would expect a 2D Dark Souls clone hiding behind this beautiful art style? It’s one of the most challenging and unique-looking games in recent memory, gathering a wide community of fans and praise from critics.

Appetite grows with eating, as they say, so a Delicious Last Course DLC released this year switched everyone’s attention to this run & gun masterpiece. With the addition of new levels, bosses to fight, and some new mechanics, you could once again lose track of starting over.

Cuphead aims to make your life a living hell – and we love it for that! Therefore, we’ve prepared a list of the best games like Cuphead worth checking. Trust us; you’ll go through a lot of lives playing them. Not to mention, you can get them off RoyalCDKeys for competitive prices!

• Developer: Team Cherry
• Release Date: February 24, 2017
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Metascore: 87

If a unique art style is what drew you to Cuphead in the first place, then Hollow Knight surpasses it. Or at least it’s a close second, depending on your taste. Cuphead fans praise the game for its retro cartoonish graphics, while Hollow Knight opts for a more modern approach.

They’re quite different from each other but share many similarities, though. It’s a Metroidvania title with intense action, challenging boss fights, beautiful visuals, and a difficulty level that Cuphead players will immediately recognize. 

However, the underground world of Hallownest feels bleak and cold compared to Cuphead’s fantasy world. I wouldn't call it depressing, though. Imagine if Tim Burton became a game developer instead of a movie director. That’s the kind of Hollow Knight vibe. 

The story is compelling and rich, built with branching paths and leaving you with the choice of how you go about discovering it. It’s our first choice when looking for games similar to Cuphead, and not without reason. The number of challenging enemies and the density of secrets hidden within the Hallownest makes every moment spent in Hollow Knight worthwhile. 

Hollow Knight Steam Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• Highly detailed and modern hand-drawn graphics.
• Acrobatic, action-packed combat and powerful enemies.
• Bleak and dark Metroidvania world, full of secrets and hidden passages.
• Engaging, non-linear storyline with plenty of choices to make along the way.

• Developer: Yacht Club Games
• Release Date: June 26, 2014
• Platforms: PC
• Metascore: 85

For gamers born in the 90s or earlier, Shovel Knight is a nostalgic trip to the past. If you played the classic 8-bit NES games and want to experience that unique feeling again, you just found it. The atmosphere, gameplay, tone, and sound give that unique vibe of sitting on a carpet with eyes glued to a CRT TV with a retro controller in your hands.

You can clearly see developers took inspiration from retro productions here. That’s definitely a strong selling point for all Cuphead fans out there. It also shows the events in a distorted mirror since players control a heroic knight armed with the legendary… Shovel Blade. Our knight sets on a journey to exterminate the evil sorceress and save his beloved. 

The developers took inspiration from such classics as Mega Man, Castlevania, and Dark Souls. Thus, the gameplay combines classic 2D platformer, action-adventure game, and cRPG. It’s not as difficult as Cuphead, but it’ll trick you often with a false sense of security. The enemies and traps will surprise you out of nowhere, so prepare to repeat the same level over and over.

Many games nowadays refer to the 8-bit era, but only a few have a unique touch of their own. Shovel Knight is one of them, despite being a bit shorter than Cuphead. A great game with a strong personality and the only one where you can bounce on obstacles and enemies' heads with a shovel. 

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove Steam Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.  

Key Features

• A tribute to 8-bit platformers with plenty of original mechanics.
• Explore various locations: forests, strongholds, glaciers, and many more.
• You can use the environment to your advantage.
• Co-op mode.

• Developer: Team Meat
• Release Date: November 30, 2010
• Platforms: PC
• Metascore: 87

When you thought a knight with a shovel is absurd enough, then you haven’t seen Super Meat Boy. This game breaks the fourth wall constantly, showing the old-school jump & run gameplay at its finest. It’s one of those games you’ll learn to love and hate simultaneously but ultimately walk away satisfied.

You’ll take control of the titular Super Meat Boy, a small anthropomorphic, animated, and constantly bleeding piece of meat. Our hero embarks on a dangerous journey to rescue his lover, kidnapped by the ruthless crime genius Dr. Fetus. Walking in the shoes of such an unusual character, you’ll visit several unique locations: a sawmill, a salt factory, and even hell itself.

It’s a highly dynamic and challenging platformer that will satisfy all genre enthusiasts. Our hero bounces off walls and thus climbs to great heights. There are more than a hundred unique levels for a single player, tricky puzzles, numerous traps, and many arcade challenges where you have to face powerful bosses. Sounds familiar? 

Super Meat Boy Steam Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• A successful tribute to old jump & run games.
• Hilarious hero and storyline.
• Over a hundred unique levels with increasing difficulty.
• Great for speedrunning.

• Developer: Moon Studios
• Release Date: March 11, 2015
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Metascore: 88

Beautiful and deadly at the same time. Ori and the Blind Forest fooled many with its beautiful art, giving the impression of a simple platformer perfect for a Sunday morning. The game seems easy and relaxing in the early stages, but the difficulty rises considerably after completing the prologue.

However, the harsh difficulty comes mainly from the platforming aspect rather than the enemies alone. Speaking of platforming, it’s quite a challenge, even for genre enthusiasts. The game is often demanding, requiring perfect coordination and sharp senses. Thus, it’s definitely worth mentioning on our list.

Besides only jumping and running, Ori will unlock more abilities upon progression. He’ll be able to fling himself from unique spots, grapple onto moss, dig through sand or jump out of the water like a dolphin. Chaining all these in one sequence is a sight to behold and gives a fantastic sense of satisfaction.

You’ll also meet different enemies along the way, and boss fights can be pretty demanding. Ori has a few combat abilities at his disposal, but you’ll have to figure out which one is best at the moment. Therefore, you need to switch your attacks depending on the enemies you’re taking on. 

Ori and the Blind Forest is an excellent alternative to Cuphead, especially if you’re familiar with Rayman and Metroid franchises. You’ll often find yourself fighting towering enemies and solving challenging puzzles in Ori’s journey to find the cure for the diseased island. Also, the stunning visuals and fully orchestrated original score serve as a cherry on top, creating a unique experience.

Ori and the Blind Forest - Definitive Edition Steam Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• Visuals that stand out among other games on this list.
• A demanding Metroidvania experience.
• Challenging puzzles and platforming sequences.
• Storyline that’ll make you shed a tear or two.

• Developer: Dodge Roll
• Release Date: April 5, 2016
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia
• Metascore: 84

Since our list aims to bring you high-difficulty games, it wouldn’t be complete without roguelike dungeon crawler. Enter the Gungeon represents the bullet hell genre, meaning the entire screen is often almost completely filled with enemy bullets. So, like in Cuphead, you’ll have to dodge every projectile thrown at you regularly.

The game's plot is simple and remains only an excuse to start an adventure. You’ll take on the role of a hero searching for a legendary weapon that can change the past. Your investigation leads to a journey to a distant planet. On the spot, he wants to explore the Gungeon, a mysterious and ancient temple full of numerous dangers and surprises.

Your task is to explore successive levels of the temple. You’ll encounter multiple opponents and bosses, as well as various stores and friendly characters, helping you on your adventure. The Gungeon is divided into separate rooms where you’ll have to exterminate every living thing to progress. Naturally, the difficulty increases as you progress.

Like in Cuphead, there are several projectile weapons to choose from, and quick reflexes are your best defensive tool. Enter the Gungeon is one of your best picks if you're looking for similar shooter gameplay.

Enter the Gungeon Steam Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• A successful mix of roguelike with bullet hell genre.
• Great replayability potential thanks to randomly generated rooms.
• Single and multiplayer modes.
• Over 300 weapons.

• Developer: Nicalls
• Release Date: November 4, 2014
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4/Vita, Xbox One, Wii U, 3DS, iPhone/iPad
• Metascore: 86

Another roguelike on our list and not an ordinary one. The Binding of Isaac started as a flash-based game but got so much recognition that developers decided to release it as a separate game. The most intriguing thing about this game is its story, which depicts a biblical Isaac in a distorted mirror. After finding out he will be sacrificed, he escapes to a monster-filled basement, fearing for his life. 

Despite the game touching on more serious topics than Cuphead, the gameplay is quite hilarious. You’re running through procedurally generated rooms of your mother’s basement fighting weird enemies and facing occasional bosses. 

Each playthrough is slightly different, which helps to keep things fresh each time you play. Every room has different exits, so you don’t have to worry about repetitiveness and boredom. Various items and power-ups are spread throughout the basement, making the tricky sections easier and more rewarding.

Instead of a sidescroller, you’ll see things from a top-down perspective. It’s also quite distinctive from the traditional animation style in Cuphead. However, simple characters fit here perfectly, maintaining the unique atmosphere. Oh, this title has perma-death. You’ll have to start over with the newly laid-out dungeon every time you die. Thus, learning how to deal with enemies and bosses is more important than planning a route.

The Binding of Isaac + Wrath of the Lamb Steam Key is available on RoyalCDKeys. 

Key Features

• The remake of one of the best roguelike games.
• Biblical Isaac showed in a distorted mirror.
• Procedurally generated, monster-filled dungeons of Isaac’s mother’s basement.
• Perma-death.