CounterAttack: Uprising similar games & best alternatives

CounterAttack: Uprising

PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac, Xbox One • 2019

Should you play it?

CounterAttack: Uprising is a side scrolling space shooter (shmup). Team up or fight solo, 1 - 4 player local or up to 8 players online coop, unlock upgrades, use powerful ultimate abilities, enhance your ship the way you want, and save the Earth from annihilation.

What works
  • Extensive ship and weapon customization
  • Strong cooperative multiplayer up to 8 players
  • Challenging and rewarding gameplay
  • Multiple branching paths and game modes
  • Active developer support and updates
Things to keep in mind
  • Steep difficulty curve can be frustrating
  • Some ui and control quirks
  • Occasional bugs and synchronization issues in multiplayer
  • Limited narrative depth
  • Small online player base

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Beat Hazard 3

  • DARIUSBURST Chronicle Saviours

  • Colt Canyon

  • Jets'n'Guns 2

  • Gatekeeper

  • Wee Tanks!

  • Super Animal Royale

  • Geometry Wars™ 3: Dimensions Evolved

  • 30XX
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Beat Hazard 3

  • Madballs in Babo:Invasion

  • Muffin Knight
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Continuation

    Star Traders: Frontiers
  • Cooperation

    Charlie Murder
  • Creativity

    Ring Runner: Flight of the Sages

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • 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 for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

CounterAttack: Uprising: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. 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, Status, Violence.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players can customize their spaceship, choose weapons, and select difficulty levels, allowing control over gameplay experience."

    Capsule for Chicken Invaders 5 Chicken Invaders 5

    "Players can customize ships with hundreds of attachments and choose different routes and difficulty levels, showing high player control over gameplay."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "The game is challenging, requiring skillful dodging, aiming, and timing; players receive feedback through repeated attempts and upgrades."

    Capsule for The Hong Kong Massacre The Hong Kong Massacre

    "Game is challenging with skill-based shooting and dodging, and players improve through unlocking and experimenting with upgrades."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    2

    "Multiplayer includes co-op horde mode with leaderboards and challenges, but competition is less emphasized than cooperative play."

    Capsule for Mass Effect™ 3 N7 Digital Deluxe Edition (2012) Mass Effect™ 3 N7 Digital Deluxe Edition (2012)

    "Includes online multiplayer with leaderboards and co-op, but competition is less emphasized than cooperative and personal progression."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    5

    "Highly addictive with long play sessions, extensive replayability, and ongoing content updates encouraging habitual play."

    Capsule for Star Traders: Frontiers Star Traders: Frontiers

    "Highly addictive with long play sessions, replayability through upgrades, multiple modes, and ongoing developer support."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on local and online co-op multiplayer for up to four players, with cooperative gameplay being a core feature."

    Capsule for Charlie Murder Charlie Murder

    "Strong emphasis on local and online co-op multiplayer for up to 8 players, with shared lives and team support mechanics."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    5

    "Extensive ship customization with hundreds of weapons and abilities enables creative and unique builds."

    Capsule for Ring Runner: Flight of the Sages Ring Runner: Flight of the Sages

    "Extensive ship and weapon customization with over 600 attachments and a level editor allowing player-created content."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -3

    "Multiplayer focuses on cooperative play with shared objectives rather than dominance or power over others."

    Capsule for MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies (Neptunia) MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies (Neptunia)

    "Multiplayer focuses on cooperative play and shared lives rather than dominance or power over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game for immersive bullet hell action and exploration, escaping real life stress."

    Capsule for Archvale Archvale

    "Players use the game for stress relief and immersive bullet hell action, escaping real life through engaging gameplay."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and challenge, with no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and challenge, with no indication of obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    5

    "Encourages trying new builds, experimenting with weapon and ability combinations, and adjusting upgrade probabilities."

    Capsule for Entropy Survivors Entropy Survivors

    "Encourages trying new builds and weapon combinations with a vast upgrade system and multiple gameplay styles."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Branching paths, hidden secrets, and multiple endings encourage discovery within short levels."

    Capsule for Half Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy Half Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy

    "Multiple branching paths and hidden levels encourage discovery within the game."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    4

    "Players customize ships, fleets, and weapons extensively, expressing personal style and preferences."

    Capsule for Star Valor Star Valor

    "Customization of ships and weapons allows players to express their playstyle and preferences."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Fictional space shooter setting with imaginative bosses and ships, though grounded in arcade-style gameplay rather than deep narrative."

    Capsule for Beat Hazard 2 Beat Hazard 2

    "Fictional space shooter setting with imaginative weapons and scenarios, though grounded in classic arcade style."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    4

    "Active multiplayer community and cooperative gameplay foster a sense of belonging."

    Capsule for Nuclear Option Nuclear Option

    "Active multiplayer community and cooperative gameplay foster a sense of belonging and shared experience."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    5

    "Players develop skills, unlock abilities, and improve their character and strategies over time."

    Capsule for GemCraft - Chasing Shadows GemCraft - Chasing Shadows

    "Players learn and improve skills, unlock upgrades, and develop strategies over time."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

    Capsule for Foundation Foundation

    "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during gameplay."

    Capsule for Quake 4 Quake 4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during gameplay."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    2

    "Social interactions occur mainly in multiplayer co-op, but emotional sharing or close relationships are limited."

    Capsule for Ravenswatch Ravenswatch

    "Social interactions occur mainly in multiplayer co-op, but emotional closeness is limited."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -2

    "No strong leadership roles; cooperative play emphasizes shared effort"

    Capsule for Red Faction®: Armageddon™ Red Faction®: Armageddon™

    "Cooperative play emphasizes shared effort rather than explicit leadership roles."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong progression through unlocking weapon attachments, leveling up, and acquiring items and upgrades."

    Capsule for SURV1V3 SURV1V3

    "Strong progression through unlocking and equipping hundreds of attachments and upgrades."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Players find flow and catharsis in gameplay, though some tension exists due to difficulty spikes."

    Capsule for Project Lazarus Project Lazarus

    "While challenging, some players find flow and catharsis in gameplay; others note frustration at difficulty spikes."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    4

    "Colorful visuals, sound effects, and fast-paced action provide strong sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Shooty Skies Shooty Skies

    "Colorful visuals, fast-paced action, and dynamic sound effects provide strong sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    1

    "Leaderboards and multiplayer provide some recognition, but social status is not a major focus."

    Capsule for Rival Stars Horse Racing: Desktop Edition Rival Stars Horse Racing: Desktop Edition

    "Leaderboards and multiplayer provide some recognition, but social status is not a primary focus."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    1

    "Simple narrative with minimal plot; gameplay is the main focus."

    Capsule for Pepper Grinder Pepper Grinder

    "Basic narrative with minimal emphasis; gameplay and customization are the main draws."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Players plan builds, gear loadouts, and combat tactics to overcome enemies and bosses."

    Capsule for Halls of Torment: Prelude Halls of Torment: Prelude

    "Players plan loadouts and tactics to overcome challenging enemies and bosses."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Fast-paced action and bullet-hell elements create suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Syder Arcade Syder Arcade

    "Fast-paced action and bullet hell elements create suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    5

    "Players report high value for time and money with extensive content and ongoing updates."

    Capsule for Garden Paws Garden Paws

    "Players report high value for money due to extensive content, replayability, and ongoing updates."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Gameplay centers on combat, shooting enemies, and destruction."

    Capsule for METAL SLUG 3 METAL SLUG 3

    "Gameplay centers on combat, shooting enemies, and destruction."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Players must avoid death and manage limited extra lives to progress through levels."

    Capsule for INCISION INCISION

    "Players must avoid death and manage limited lives to progress through difficult levels."

Come talk about it on Discord!

Last update: 01/06/2026