Has-Been Heroes similar games & best alternatives

Has-Been Heroes

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Xbox One • 2017

Should you play it?

Has-Been Heroes is a challenging, lane-based roguelike game of strategy and action, featuring a band of heroes on a quest to escort the King's twin princesses to school!

What works
  • Deep and unique tactical combat
  • High replayability with many unlockables
  • Challenging but fair difficulty curve
  • Engaging fantasy theme and art style
  • Strategic map navigation and resource management
Things to keep in mind
  • Steep learning curve with poor tutorial
  • Lack of in-game explanations and tooltips
  • Limited enemy variety and character customization
  • Long run times can be frustrating
  • Some rng elements can feel punishing

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Convoy

  • Shortest Trip to Earth

  • Abalon: Roguelike Tactics CCG

  • Inkshade

  • FTL: Faster Than Light

  • Miasma Chronicles

  • Nowhere Prophet

  • EMPTY SHELL

  • They Are Billions

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Abalon: Roguelike Tactics CCG

  • Inkshade

  • Arcanium: Rise of Akhan

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Competence

    Darwin Project

  • Growth

    Monster Train 2

  • Progression

    TDS - Tower Defense Strategy

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).

Has-Been Heroes: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Leadership. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation, Expression.

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 have freedom to choose cards, paths, and tactics each turn, enabling control over actions and decisions."

    Capsule for Fights in Tight Spaces (Prologue) Fights in Tight Spaces (Prologue)

    "Players have freedom to plan routes, choose spells, items, and hero lane positioning strategically."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    5

    "High skill ceiling with complex combat mechanics, timing, tracking, and strategic resource management."

    Capsule for Darwin Project Darwin Project

    "High skill ceiling with complex tactical combat requiring planning, timing, and resource management."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on personal progression and overcoming game challenges rather than competing against other players."

    Capsule for Lost Ruins Lost Ruins

    "Focus is on individual progression and overcoming game challenges rather than competing against others."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Strong desire to keep playing due to addictive gameplay loop, replayability, and challenge despite short campaign length."

    Capsule for Dungeon Peplum Dungeon Peplum

    "Strong desire to keep playing due to unlockables, progression, and challenging gameplay."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -4

    "Single player experience focused on managing own party; no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

    Capsule for DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake

    "Single player experience focusing on managing own party; no multiplayer cooperation."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players experiment with item combinations and strategies; some customization of playstyle"

    Capsule for TowerClimb TowerClimb

    "Players experiment with item and spell combinations and hero lane arrangements for optimal strategies."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control over other players; gameplay is individual and self-directed."

    Capsule for Rogue Tower Rogue Tower

    "No evidence of exerting control over other players; gameplay is solo and self-directed."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "Provides immersive tactical gameplay that can serve as a distraction and stress relief from real life."

    Capsule for Door Kickers Door Kickers

    "Provides immersive distraction through challenging tactical gameplay and fantasy setting."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, not obligation."

    Capsule for Warframe Warframe

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, not obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Players frequently try new spell combos, tactics, and builds, encouraged by diverse unlockables and procedural levels."

    Capsule for STRIKEVOID STRIKEVOID

    "Encouraged to try new builds, spells, and strategies with each run due to random unlocks and procedural generation."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Open world map exploration with random encounters and side missions encourages discovery."

    Capsule for Expeditions: Rome Expeditions: Rome

    "Map exploration with unknown nodes and randomized events encourages discovery."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -2

    "Limited character customization; mostly fixed character appearances and preset aesthetics."

    Capsule for LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 5-7 LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 5-7

    "Limited character customization; mostly fixed hero appearances and preset aesthetics."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Strong dark fantasy theme with undead, demons, and mythical elements in story and art."

    Capsule for Death Crown Death Crown

    "Strong fantasy theme with undead enemies, magic spells, and heroic archetypes."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "Single player game with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    Capsule for Close To The Sun Close To The Sun

    "Single player game with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    5

    "Players learn complex mechanics, improve skills, and unlock new content over time."

    Capsule for Monster Train 2 Monster Train 2

    "Players learn complex mechanics, improve skills, and unlock new content over many hours."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Typical sedentary gaming experience with no physical activity elements."

    Capsule for Assassin's Creed® Odyssey Assassin's Creed® Odyssey

    "Typical sedentary gaming experience with no physical activity elements."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires continuous attention and focus due to challenging combat and navigation."

    Capsule for Sublevel Zero Redux Sublevel Zero Redux

    "Requires constant attention and active decision-making during combat and map navigation."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship building; purely individual gameplay."

    Capsule for SUPERHOT SUPERHOT

    "No social or emotional relationship building; purely individual gameplay."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    3

    "Players manage and lead a team of characters strategically, though no multiplayer leadership roles."

    Capsule for Phantom Brave PC Phantom Brave PC

    "Players manage and direct a team of heroes strategically, though no leadership over other players."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong progression through unlocking characters, upgrades, and map rewards; meaningful advancement."

    Capsule for TDS - Tower Defense Strategy TDS - Tower Defense Strategy

    "Strong progression through unlocking items, spells, heroes, and longer maps after each victory."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -3

    "Gameplay is tense and challenging, requiring focus and careful planning rather than relaxation."

    Capsule for 7,62 High Calibre 7,62 High Calibre

    "Gameplay is tense and challenging, requiring focus and careful planning."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Visuals and sound effects are pleasant but not intense; moderate sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Dead Man's Draw Dead Man's Draw

    "Visuals and sound effects are engaging but not overwhelming; moderate sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "Achievements and unlocks are personal; no social recognition or leaderboards."

    Capsule for Wicked Seed Wicked Seed

    "Achievements and unlocks are personal; no social recognition or leaderboards."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    1

    "Minimal narrative with lighthearted themes; story is secondary to gameplay and atmosphere."

    Capsule for Windswept Windswept

    "Minimal narrative with lighthearted fantasy theme; story is secondary to gameplay."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "Deep tactical combat requiring planning, resource management, and problem solving."

    Capsule for Brutal Orchestra Brutal Orchestra

    "Deep strategic combat and map navigation requiring planning, resource management, and problem solving."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Tense combat situations and risk of unit loss create suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Blitzkrieg Anthology Blitzkrieg Anthology

    "Tense combat and risk of failure create suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "High replay value and rich content provide good return on investment."

    Capsule for Fading Afternoon Fading Afternoon

    "High replay value and content unlocks provide good return on investment."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat involves destruction of enemies and use of undead armies, with typical fantasy violence."

    Capsule for Undead Horde 2: Necropolis Undead Horde 2: Necropolis

    "Combat involves attacking and defeating undead enemies; moderate fantasy violence."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Players must avoid death and manage resources like stamina and health to progress."

    Capsule for Devil Slayer - Raksasi Devil Slayer - Raksasi

    "Players must avoid defeat by managing health, stamina, and resources carefully."

Last update: 01/06/2026