Space Marine 2 nails a very specific power fantasy: you are a genetically engineered super-soldier wading through waves of Tyranids, and the game never lets you forget it. Brutal melee executions, heavy weapons, and a relentless sense of scale turn every mission into a one-sided massacre that still somehow feels tense. It brought Warhammer 40,000 to a wider audience than ever, and the cooperative Operations mode gave it real staying power.
If you have finished mowing down hordes as a Space Marine and want more of that mix of brutal combat, co-op missions, and overwhelming enemy waves, these 15 games deliver it from different angles. Some share the Warhammer universe directly, some lean into different combat styles, and some trade genetically engineered soldiers for other kinds of power fantasy. All are worth your time in 2026.
Quick Comparison: Top 5 Picks
| # | Game | Style | Price | Platforms |
| 1 | Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Anniversary Edition | Direct predecessor | $19.99 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| 2 | Gears 5 | Third-person cover shooter | $29.99 | PC, Xbox |
| 3 | Helldivers 2 | Co-op alien warfare | $39.99 | PC, PlayStation |
| 4 | Warhammer 40,000: Darktide | Co-op horde shooter | $39.99 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| 5 | DOOM Eternal | Power fantasy shooter | $39.99 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
1. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Anniversary Edition
Why it’s similar
This is the direct predecessor, sharing the same Ultramarines storyline, heavy melee combat, and brutal execution animations that Space Marine 2 builds on.
What makes it unique
It is more compact and focused than the sequel, with a tighter single-player campaign that still holds up as one of the better Warhammer 40,000 action games.
Key features
- Direct predecessor storyline
- Heavy melee combat and executions
- Third-person action against Orks and Chaos
- Budget-friendly price point
Price: $19.99 Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Where to Buy
Available on Steam.
2. Gears 5
Why it’s similar
Gears 5 shares Space Marine 2’s heavy, weighty third-person shooting and cinematic action against massive enemies in a war-torn sci-fi setting.
What makes it unique
Its cover-based combat system is more methodical, rewarding careful positioning and the iconic chainsaw bayonet melee over Space Marine 2’s more aggressive charge-in style.
Key features
- Cover-based tactical shooting
- Iconic chainsaw melee combat
- Cinematic campaign and co-op
- Large-scale enemy encounters
Price: $29.99 Platforms: PC, Xbox
Where to Buy
Available on Steam.
3. Helldivers 2
Why it’s similar
Helldivers 2 shares Space Marine 2’s fantasy of fighting overwhelming alien hordes as part of a squad, with chaotic, high-stakes co-op missions.
What makes it unique
Its tone is darkly comedic and unforgiving. Friendly fire and unpredictable stratagem drops make every mission feel like organized chaos rather than a clean power fantasy.
Key features
- Chaotic squad-based combat
- Stratagem-based loadouts
- Dark satirical tone
- Cooperative mission structure
Price: $39.99 Platforms: PC, PlayStation
Where to Buy
Available on Steam.
4. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Why it’s similar
Darktide shares Space Marine 2’s Warhammer universe and brutal atmosphere, sending four-player squads through hordes of enemies in a grim, decaying hive city.
What makes it unique
Its melee-focused combat and talent tree system reward specialization, with regular new class releases keeping the co-op grind fresh long after launch.
Key features
- Melee-focused co-op combat
- Class-based talent trees
- Grim, atmospheric setting
- Regular new class releases
Price: $39.99 Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Where to Buy
Available on Steam.
5. DOOM Eternal
Why it’s similar
DOOM Eternal shares Space Marine 2’s relentless combat against massive enemy forces, rewarding aggression and constant movement over cautious play.
What makes it unique
Its resource-management combat loop, where you must chainsaw, glory kill, and flame enemies to stay stocked on ammo and health, turns every fight into a fast-paced puzzle.
Key features
- Fast, aggressive combat loop
- Resource management through kills
- Heavy weapon variety
- Relentless enemy waves
Price: $39.99 Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
6. Remnant 2
Why it’s similar
Remnant 2 shares Space Marine 2’s mix of third-person combat and difficult enemy encounters, with co-op play letting squads tackle its toughest bosses together.
What makes it unique
It blends soulslike difficulty with third-person shooting, and its procedurally shifting worlds mean no two runs unfold quite the same way.
Key features
- Soulslike difficulty with guns
- Procedurally varied worlds
- Deep build and archetype customization
- Challenging boss encounters
Price: $49.99 Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
7. Destiny 2
Why it’s similar
Destiny 2 shares Space Marine 2’s sci-fi shooting and cooperative missions, letting you build out abilities and gear while fighting through alien threats.
What makes it unique
Its progression systems and gear farming give it a much longer-term structure than Space Marine 2’s mission-based campaign, built around chasing loot over many sessions.
Key features
- Sci-fi looter shooter progression
- Class-based abilities and builds
- Cooperative and PvP modes
- Long-running live-service story
Price: Free to play Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Where to Buy
Free to play on Steam.
8. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
Why it’s similar
Boltgun shares Space Marine 2’s universe and heavy weapon fantasy, throwing you against Chaos forces and demons with an arsenal of iconic 40K guns.
What makes it unique
It trades modern third-person action for old-school boomer-shooter gameplay, with pixelated visuals and fast, run-and-gun combat reminiscent of classic 90s shooters.
Key features
- Old-school boomer shooter gameplay
- Warhammer 40,000 weapons and demons
- Fast, run-and-gun combat
- Retro pixel art style
Price: $19.99 Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Where to Buy
Available on Steam.
9. Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Why it’s similar
Aliens: Fireteam Elite shares Space Marine 2’s squad-based battles against overwhelming alien swarms, with classes and upgrades driving cooperative missions.
What makes it unique
The Alien movie license gives it a distinct horror-tinged atmosphere, with swarming Xenomorphs replacing Tyranids for a tenser, more claustrophobic feel.
Key features
- Three-player cooperative missions
- Class-based loadouts and perks
- Alien movie universe setting
- Swarming enemy encounters
Price: $39.99 Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Where to Buy
Available on Steam.
10. Lost Planet 2
Why it’s similar
Lost Planet 2 shares Space Marine 2’s third-person action against giant creatures, with team-based combat and massive boss encounters driving its campaign.
What makes it unique
Its ice-planet setting and enormous mechanical boss fights give it a distinct scale, with a cooperative structure built around tackling creatures far larger than any single soldier.
Key features
- Third-person action against giant creatures
- Team-based cooperative campaign
- Massive boss encounters
- Mech suit combat sections
Price: $19.99 Platforms: PC
Where to Buy
Available on Steam.
11. Outriders
Why it’s similar
Outriders shares Space Marine 2’s third-person shooter foundation, adding RPG-style powers and loot progression on top of aggressive combat.
What makes it unique
It leans into aggressive, close-range playstyles that reward getting into the fight rather than hiding behind cover, giving combat a faster, more reckless rhythm.
Key features
- Aggressive, ability-focused combat
- Class-based build customization
- Story-driven campaign
- Cooperative endgame content
Price: $59.99 Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
12. Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Why it’s similar
Mass Effect shares Space Marine 2’s sci-fi universe and squad-based combat, with story-driven missions and character progression carrying the campaign.
What makes it unique
The storytelling is tighter and more character-driven, with companion relationships and consequences carrying across three full remastered games.
Key features
- Three full games remastered in one collection
- Deep companion relationships
- Choice-driven branching story
- Iconic sci-fi universe
Price: $59.99 Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
13. Titanfall 2
Why it’s similar
Titanfall 2 shares Space Marine 2’s fantasy of overwhelming firepower, letting you pair fast infantry combat with the raw power of a giant mech Titan.
What makes it unique
Its fluid, wall-running movement and tightly designed campaign set it apart, blending fast-paced pilot combat with heavier mech battles in the same game.
Key features
- Fluid wall-running movement
- Titan mech combat
- Tight, well-regarded campaign
- Fast-paced multiplayer
Price: $19.99 Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
14. Earth Defense Force 6
Why it’s similar
Earth Defense Force 6 shares Space Marine 2’s love of fighting endless waves of enemies at overwhelming scale, with giant insects and aliens replacing Tyranids.
What makes it unique
Its over-the-top weapon arsenal and famously chaotic, low-budget charm create a distinct co-op experience built purely around escalating absurdity.
Key features
- Massive battles against endless enemies
- Over-the-top weapon variety
- Cooperative multiplayer
- Charmingly chaotic B-movie tone
Price: $49.99 Platforms: PC, PlayStation
Where to Buy
Available on Steam.
15. World War Z: Aftermath
Why it’s similar
World War Z: Aftermath shares Space Marine 2’s fantasy of mowing down overwhelming enemy swarms, with hordes of zombies replacing Tyranids as the endless threat.
What makes it unique
From the same developer, Saber Interactive, it uses a similar swarm-rendering technology to create massive, wave-like zombie hordes that flow like a single organism.
Key features
- Massive zombie swarm technology
- Cooperative survival missions
- Same developer as Space Marine 2
- Class-based loadouts
Price: $29.99 Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Where to Buy
Available on Steam.
Full Comparison Table
| # | Game | Style | Price | Platforms |
| 1 | Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Anniversary Edition | Direct predecessor | $19.99 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| 2 | Gears 5 | Cover shooter | $29.99 | PC, Xbox |
| 3 | Helldivers 2 | Co-op alien warfare | $39.99 | PC, PlayStation |
| 4 | Warhammer 40,000: Darktide | Co-op horde shooter | $39.99 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| 5 | DOOM Eternal | Power fantasy shooter | $39.99 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| 6 | Remnant 2 | Soulslike shooter | $49.99 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| 7 | Destiny 2 | Looter shooter | Free to play | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| 8 | Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun | Boomer shooter | $19.99 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| 9 | Aliens: Fireteam Elite | Co-op horror shooter | $39.99 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| 10 | Lost Planet 2 | Boss-focused co-op | $19.99 | PC |
| 11 | Outriders | Ability shooter | $59.99 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| 12 | Mass Effect Legendary Edition | Sci-fi story RPG | $59.99 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| 13 | Titanfall 2 | Mech action shooter | $19.99 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| 14 | Earth Defense Force 6 | Co-op horde shooter | $49.99 | PC, PlayStation |
| 15 | World War Z: Aftermath | Zombie swarm shooter | $29.99 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
Conclusion
If it was the Warhammer universe that hooked you, start with the original Space Marine, Darktide, and Boltgun. They keep you in the same grim setting with very different combat styles.
If overwhelming enemy waves are what you crave, Helldivers 2, Earth Defense Force 6, and World War Z: Aftermath deliver that same escalating chaos. And if the heavy, cinematic combat mattered most, Gears 5 and DOOM Eternal bring their own takes on power-fantasy shooting. Any of these 15 will keep your war against overwhelming odds going well into 2026.
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