Gunlocked similar games & best alternatives

Gunlocked

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch • 2022

Should you play it?

A twin stick shooter without the twin stick, Gunlocked is a sci-fi action roguelike about careful positioning and upgrade selection. Manage unique targeting systems across multiple weapons and upgrades, as you battle legions of alien ships, and then do it all over again!

What works
  • Addictive and engaging gameplay
  • Unique weapon synergies and builds
  • Retro pixel art and chiptune soundtrack
  • Frequent updates and developer support
  • Good value for price
Things to keep in mind
  • Limited content and levels currently
  • Some weapons and builds feel unbalanced
  • Visual clutter can reduce clarity
  • Lack of multiplayer or social features
  • Some rng elements can frustrate players

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Soulstone Survivors: Prologue

  • BYTEPATH

  • Tyrant's Realm

  • Nomad Survival

  • Wedding Witch

  • Halls of Torment

  • Neon Sundown

  • Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot

  • Demon Hunt
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • BYTEPATH

  • Neon Sundown

  • Dark Bestiary
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Progression

    Demon Hunt
  • Autonomy

    Deathstate: Abyssal Edition
  • Competence

    Ship of Fools

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).

Gunlocked: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Story, Exploration, Leadership.

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 control character movement and ability usage freely, but shooting is automatic and aimed by the game, allowing personal tactical positioning and decision-making."

    Capsule for Deathstate: Abyssal Edition Deathstate: Abyssal Edition

    "Players control ship movement freely and make strategic choices on weapon and passive upgrades, but shooting is automatic, emphasizing positioning and decision making."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "The game requires skillful coordination, timing, and mastery of mechanics to overcome challenging bosses and enemy waves."

    Capsule for Ship of Fools Ship of Fools

    "Game requires skillful movement, positioning, and strategic build choices to survive waves and bosses, with challenging difficulty and feedback."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -2

    "No leaderboards or ranked modes mentioned; gameplay focuses on personal improvement and self-set goals rather than direct competition."

    Capsule for Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost

    "No mention of ranked modes or leaderboards; gameplay focuses on personal runs and self-improvement rather than direct competition."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Players report addictive gameplay with repeated runs and desire to unlock all achievements, indicating habitual play."

    Capsule for Simmiland Simmiland

    "Players report addictive gameplay and repeated runs, with a desire to experiment with builds and unlock content, encouraging habitual play."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Game is single-player focused with no cooperative multiplayer elements described."

    Capsule for Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree

    "Game is single-player focused with no cooperative or multiplayer elements described."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players experiment with different upgrade and weapon combinations to create unique builds."

    Capsule for Sword Rogue Sword Rogue

    "Players experiment with unique weapon combinations, synergies, and build strategies, though within a defined upgrade system."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of player dominance or power over others; interactions are individual and balanced."

    Capsule for Keeper's Toll Keeper's Toll

    "No evidence of player dominance or power over others; interactions are individual and self-directed."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game as a challenging distraction with immersive retro aesthetics and intense gameplay, providing escape from real life."

    Capsule for A Night In Berlin A Night In Berlin

    "Players use the game as a fun distraction with retro aesthetics and engaging gameplay to escape real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, with no indication of obligation or pressure."

    Capsule for Assassin's Creed® Unity Assassin's Creed® Unity

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, with no indication of obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Encourages trying new builds, weapons, and strategies; experimentation is core to gameplay."

    Capsule for Warframe Warframe

    "Game encourages trying different pilots, weapons, and synergies, with randomized upgrades promoting experimentation."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    -1

    "Gameplay mostly occurs in known arena maps with limited new area discovery, but some variety in modes."

    Capsule for SYNTHETIK: Arena SYNTHETIK: Arena

    "Limited number of zones and levels, but players explore different builds and weapon synergies rather than new areas."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Customization of ships and stations allows some self-expression, though cosmetic options are limited."

    Capsule for Executive Assault 2 Executive Assault 2

    "Some cosmetic options like ship color customization exist, allowing modest self-expression."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Set in a sci-fi universe with space combat and fictional factions, providing an imaginative experience."

    Capsule for Star Wolves 3: Civil War Star Wolves 3: Civil War

    "Set in a sci-fi space setting with imaginative weapons and enemies, providing a fictional, fantastical experience."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community gameplay elements; experience is solitary."

    Capsule for Black Myth: Wukong Black Myth: Wukong

    "No social or community gameplay elements; experience is solitary."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players learn weapon mechanics, build strategies, and improve skills through repeated runs and experimentation."

    Capsule for DRACOMATON DRACOMATON

    "Players learn weapon interactions, positioning, and build optimization, showing clear skill development and mastery."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "The game is a sedentary, traditional video game with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for Super Cyborg Super Cyborg

    "Game is a sedentary video game with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires active attention and continuous movement; not suitable for passive or background play."

    Capsule for Bloodshed Bloodshed

    "Requires active attention and continuous movement; not designed for passive or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship building described."

    Capsule for Windlands Windlands

    "No social or emotional relationship building described."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; purely individual gameplay."

    Capsule for Slay the Spire Slay the Spire

    "No leadership or group management roles; purely individual gameplay."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on accumulating upgrades, crafting, unlocking weapons, and meta progression."

    Capsule for Demon Hunt Demon Hunt

    "Strong emphasis on accumulating weapons, upgrades, and unlocks through runs, with meta-progression and build development."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    1

    "Some players find it relaxing and satisfying, but the game also involves tension and challenge."

    Capsule for Dungeon Warfare Dungeon Warfare

    "Some players find it fun and satisfying, but the game can be hectic and challenging, creating tension as well."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable pixel art visuals and chiptune soundtrack provide sensory stimulation and retro charm."

    Capsule for Rex Rocket Rex Rocket

    "Retro pixel art, chiptune soundtrack, and visual effects provide stimulating sensory experience."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "No social recognition or ranking systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."

    Capsule for Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition

    "No social recognition or ranking systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    -3

    "Minimal narrative or plot; focus is on gameplay loop rather than story immersion."

    Capsule for Outpath: First Journey Outpath: First Journey

    "Minimal narrative or plot; focus is on gameplay loops rather than story immersion."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Requires planning weapon synergies, positioning, and resource management to succeed."

    Capsule for Vampire Hunters Vampire Hunters

    "Requires planning weapon synergies, positioning, and build choices to overcome challenges effectively."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Challenging gameplay and boss fights create suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Wee Tanks! Wee Tanks!

    "Challenging enemies, bosses, and hectic gameplay create suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players perceive good value for money with engaging gameplay and frequent updates."

    Capsule for Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot

    "Players perceive good value for money with engaging gameplay and frequent updates at a low price."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Core gameplay involves shooting enemies and destruction in a sci-fi combat setting."

    Capsule for Starr Mazer: DSP Starr Mazer: DSP

    "Gameplay involves combat, shooting enemies, and destruction in a sci-fi setting."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Core gameplay revolves around avoiding damage, managing stamina, and surviving waves of enemies and bosses."

    Capsule for Power Fantasy Power Fantasy

    "Core gameplay revolves around avoiding damage, managing threats, and surviving waves and bosses."

Come talk about it on Discord!

Last update: 01/06/2026