RIVE similar games & best alternatives

RIVE - Trailer
RIVE - rive_1.avif
RIVE - rive_2.avif
RIVE - rive_3.avif
RIVE - rive_4.avif
RIVE - rive_5.avif
RIVE - rive_6.avif

RIVE

PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Wii U, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch • 2016

Should you play it?

This 360-degree shooter/platformer hybrid lets you choreograph a ‘dance of destruction’ in insanely spectacular battles and set-pieces. RIVE feels like the explosive games of yore, pumping megapixels in true 21st century style.

What works

  • Polished gameplay and controls
  • Challenging but fair difficulty
  • Unique blend of twin-stick shooter and platformer
  • Humorous and engaging dialogue
  • Good value for price

Things to keep in mind

  • High difficulty spikes may frustrate some
  • Limited story depth
  • Minimal character customization
  • Some repetition in levels
  • No multiplayer or cooperative modes

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • Hell is Other Demons

  • GALAK-Z

  • Summum Aeterna

  • Sine Mora

  • Savant - Ascent REMIX

  • Revita

Less competitive

Games that feels like RIVE but with less competition against others

  • Dark Light

  • Zombotron

  • The Mummy Demastered

  • BLADECHIMERA

  • Akimbot

  • DOOMBLADE

More relaxing

Games that feels like RIVE but with a more relaxing feel

  • Syder Arcade

  • Azure Striker Gunvolt 2

  • Azure Striker Gunvolt

  • NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound

  • Seraph

  • TEMBO THE BADASS ELEPHANT

Choose your own criteria ->

Similarity map

How to compare these games

Compare nearby games

Each card is a nearby game on the similarity map, compared with RIVE. Swipe sideways to move between games. Titles already listed in What to play next are left out.

  • Cover and title: open that game’s page.
  • What works / keep in mind: the same highlights as the desktop comparison panel.
  • Bars: the main motivational differences versus this game.
How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • 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 to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

Swipe to compare nearby games with RIVE. These titles are not in What to play next.

RIVE: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Status, Story, Fantasy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Violence. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation, Fellowship.

Last update: 21/08/2026