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EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5 similar games & best alternatives

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5

PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4 • 2019

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Quick resume

Stand and fight for humanity. This arcade shooter takes place in the year 2022, as the Earth Defense Force fends off an all-out attack by unknown life forms. Become an EDF soldier, battle against endless hordes of immense enemies, and restore peace to the earth.

Global score

94/100

Genres

Action, Shooter

Similar games

    Pros

    • Fun and chaotic co-op gameplay
    • Varied classes and extensive weapon upgrades
    • High replay value with many missions
    • Over-the-top b-movie style charm
    • No third-party account required

    Cons

    • Dated graphics and animations
    • Some grind required for progression
    • Story is cheesy and nonsensical
    • Vehicle controls can be clunky
    • Solo play can feel overwhelming

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Violence, Cooperation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Exploration.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

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

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • 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.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players can choose from four distinct classes with unique playstyles and freely select weapons and strategies per mission."

    • Competence
      4

      "The game requires skillful use of different classes and weapons, strategic planning for missions, and mastering mechanics like dodging and positioning."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is primarily on cooperative play and personal progression rather than direct competition or leaderboards."

    • Continuation
      4

      "High replay value with over 100 missions, weapon and armor upgrades, and difficulty scaling encourages long-term engagement."

    • Cooperation
      5

      "Strong emphasis on multiplayer co-op with teamwork required to succeed on harder difficulties; split-screen and online co-op supported."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Customization of loadouts and weapon upgrades allow some creative approaches, though missions are fixed and structured."

    • Domination
      -2

      "Interactions emphasize shared team play and mutual support rather than exerting control or superiority over others."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players enjoy escaping into a chaotic, over-the-top sci-fi world with absurd weapons and enemies, providing stress relief and fun."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and intrinsic interest, with no external obligations or pressures noted."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players experiment with different classes, weapons, and strategies to overcome varied enemy types and mission challenges."

    • Exploration
      1

      "Missions are fixed and not procedurally generated, but players explore diverse large maps with destructible environments."

    • Expression
      2

      "Some character and weapon customization including color options, though mostly standardized presentation."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Strongly rooted in imaginative sci-fi B-movie style with giant insects, aliens, mechs, and exaggerated scenarios."

    • Fellowship
      4

      "Community and social play are important, with shared experiences, cooperative achievements, and group camaraderie."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop skills in combat tactics and weapon mastery, and progress by upgrading weapons and armor."

    • Health
      -4

      "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related mechanics."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires active focus and continuous engagement during missions; not suited for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy
      2

      "Some social interaction and camaraderie in co-op, but limited evidence of deep emotional or close personal relationships."

    • Leadership
      1

      "Some strategic coordination in co-op, but no strong emphasis on formal leadership roles or authority."

    • Progression
      5

      "Strong progression system with weapon upgrades, armor acquisition, and unlocking new gear driving player advancement."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "Gameplay balances chaotic action with moments of flow and catharsis, though some missions can be tense and challenging."

    • Sensation
      4

      "High sensory stimulation with explosive visuals, ragdoll physics, and intense sound design."

    • Status
      -3

      "Focus is on cooperative play and personal enjoyment rather than social recognition or popularity."

    • Story
      1

      "Story is cheesy and campy, serving mostly as a humorous backdrop rather than deep narrative immersion."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Requires tactical planning, loadout selection, and situational awareness to succeed, especially in co-op and harder difficulties."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Players experience excitement and tension from overwhelming enemy hordes and challenging missions."

    • Value
      4

      "Offers extensive content, replayability, and fun gameplay, considered worth the price especially on sale."

    • Violence
      5

      "Core gameplay revolves around combat, destruction, and explosive violence against alien enemies."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must manage threats and survive overwhelming enemy forces, requiring strategic defense and resource use."

    Last update: 29/04/2026