Karate Survivor similar games & best alternatives

Karate Survivor

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 • 2024

Should you play it?

Become a martial arts master in this survivor-like roguelite inspired by action movies of the ‘80s. Use your fists, feet, and the environment to fight off relentless thugs. Master powerful combos, enhance your skills, and remember: everything around you is a weapon!

What works
  • Unique combo-based combat system
  • Nostalgic 80s/90s martial arts theme
  • Addictive progression and unlocks
  • Creative use of environment in combat
  • Excellent value for price
Things to keep in mind
  • Limited content with only five levels
  • Some bugs and occasional hitbox issues
  • No multiplayer or social features
  • Unlock system can be grindy and rng dependent
  • Lack of deep customization or story

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Morbid Metal

  • Star of Providence

  • Twilight Survivors

  • Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood

  • RAD

  • Spiritfall

  • Keeper's Toll

  • Nordic Ashes: Survivors of Ragnarok

  • Morsels

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Morsels

  • ROGUE FLIGHT

  • Devil Spire

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Progression

    Demonic Mahjong

  • Value

    Suits: A Business RPG

  • Autonomy

    Until You Fall

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).

Karate Survivor: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Relaxation, Violence. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on 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 freely choose weapons, combos, and upgrades each run, allowing personal control over playstyle and progression."

    Capsule for Until You Fall Until You Fall

    "Players control movement freely and choose combos and upgrades, allowing personal strategy and decision-making."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Players develop skill learning maps, classes, and counter-strategies; gameplay involves skillful aiming, positioning, and teamwork."

    Capsule for Dino D-Day Dino D-Day

    "Players develop skill in timing combos, positioning, and managing cooldowns, with progression unlocking new moves and upgrades."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on personal progression and survival rather than direct competition or leaderboards."

    Capsule for Darkest Dungeon® Darkest Dungeon®

    "Focus is on personal progression and survival rather than direct competition or leaderboards."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Many players report addictive gameplay with frequent updates and a desire to keep playing to unlock content, despite some grind and repetitiveness."

    Capsule for AK-xolotl: Together AK-xolotl: Together

    "Many players report addictive gameplay and desire to keep playing to unlock moves and master combos."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Atomic Heart Atomic Heart

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

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Players creatively use environmental objects as weapons; weapon stats and tactical choices add to creative combat."

    Capsule for Condemned: Criminal Origins Condemned: Criminal Origins

    "Players create custom attack combos and use environmental objects creatively in combat."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "Interactions are balanced and roleplay-based without emphasis on exerting control or superiority over other players."

    Capsule for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

    "Interactions are balanced and focused on individual play without exerting control over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players enjoy the nostalgic 80s vibe, immersive soundtrack, and engaging fantasy combat as a form of stress relief and distraction."

    Capsule for Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues

    "Players enjoy nostalgic 80s/90s martial arts themes and immersive combat as a form of stress relief and fun."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and nostalgia, not out of obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Resident Evil 4 (2005) Resident Evil 4 (2005)

    "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and nostalgia, not out of obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "The combo system and character unlocks encourage players to experiment with different moves and strategies."

    Capsule for I Am The Hero I Am The Hero

    "Players experiment with different combos, move orders, and environmental interactions."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    2

    "Players explore different levels with unique challenges and discover synergies, though environments are limited."

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

    "Players explore different levels and unlock new areas and moves, though environments are limited."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Customization through skill trees and upgrades; no mention of avatar or cosmetic personalization."

    Capsule for The Darkest Tales — Into the Nightmare The Darkest Tales — Into the Nightmare

    "Some customization via move combos and upgrades, but no avatar personalization or cosmetic changes."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Strongly rooted in classic martial arts movie fantasy with characters inspired by iconic film stars and stylized combat."

    Capsule for Shaolin vs Wutang 2 Shaolin vs Wutang 2

    "Strong martial arts fantasy inspired by Jackie Chan movies and 80s/90s action films."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community gameplay elements; primarily solo experience."

    Capsule for DEADBOLT DEADBOLT

    "No social or community gameplay elements; primarily solo experience."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop skills, learn enemy patterns, and unlock new moves and upgrades."

    Capsule for Kung Fu Strike - The Warrior's Rise Kung Fu Strike - The Warrior's Rise

    "Players learn timing, combos, and strategies while unlocking new moves and upgrades."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Typical sedentary gameplay without physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for Freedom Planet Freedom Planet

    "Typical sedentary gameplay without physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires active player attention and aiming; not a background or idle game."

    Capsule for There's Poop In My Soup There's Poop In My Soup

    "Requires active attention to timing and positioning; not a background or idle game."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No close social interactions or relationship building."

    Capsule for Ghostrunner Ghostrunner

    "No close social interactions or relationship building."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; single-player focus."

    Capsule for Black Myth: Wukong Black Myth: Wukong

    "No leadership or group management roles; single-player focus."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong meta progression with character unlocks, relics, talents, and upgrades driving player advancement."

    Capsule for Demonic Mahjong Demonic Mahjong

    "Strong meta progression with unlocks, upgrades, and new moves driving player advancement."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Gameplay balances challenge and flow, providing satisfying combat and stress relief."

    Capsule for Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Classic Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Classic

    "Gameplay balances challenge and flow, providing satisfying and enjoyable combat experiences."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable pixel art visuals, sound effects, and 80s synth soundtrack provide sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Door Kickers: Action Squad Door Kickers: Action Squad

    "Appealing pixel art, animations, and 80s synth soundtrack provide sensory enjoyment."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or ranking systems present."

    Capsule for AMID EVIL AMID EVIL

    "No social recognition or ranking systems present."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Light narrative and lore present, but gameplay is mostly context-free and focused on strategy."

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

    "Light narrative inspired by martial arts films, but gameplay is mostly context-free survival."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Requires planning checkpoint placement, enemy combos, and timing to optimize runs and survive."

    Capsule for They Bleed Pixels They Bleed Pixels

    "Requires planning combos, positioning, and timing to optimize damage and survival."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Combat tension and boss fights provide moments of suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Wigmund Wigmund

    "Combat tension and boss fights provide moments of suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    5

    "Players overwhelmingly praise the game as excellent value for its low price and content."

    Capsule for Suits: A Business RPG Suits: A Business RPG

    "Players widely praise the game as excellent value for its low price and content."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Combat involves melee attacks, stunning, and killing enemies with weapons and environmental hazards."

    Capsule for City of Brass City of Brass

    "Combat involves melee attacks and environmental destruction against enemies."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Core gameplay centers on avoiding damage, managing health, and surviving waves of enemies."

    Capsule for Boneraiser Minions Boneraiser Minions

    "Core gameplay revolves around surviving waves of enemies and managing health and positioning."

Last update: 01/06/2026