The high-octane, psychedelic, neon, and ultraviolent Hotline Miami games are the perfect example of indie games done right and made with passion. It's fast, exciting, and all presented with a unique style not present in Triple-A games.
The series filled a unique hole for many gamers, but with the likelihood of a new entry being extremely low, fans will be looking for something new to get their fix of stylized mass destruction. Here are some similar games that you should play.
Updated March 26, 2023, by Branden Lizardi: Even today, this game's influence can be found in all sorts of new and upcoming games. Since then, more indie games like Hotline Miami have been released. With new and exciting experiences now on the market, we would be remiss not to add these noteworthy titles to this list. So that's precisely what we've done.
13 Superhot
Superhot is a hyper-kinetic first-person shooter with a unique twist: everything within the game grinds to a halt the moment you stop moving.
This immediately lends it a level of strategy not typically seen in the shooter genre, as trickier enemy encounters will have you pausing to weigh up your options. The game might sport a minimalistic art style but don't let that fool you into thinking it doesn't pack a punch in the gameplay department.
12 Ape Out
Ape Out is another violent and stylish game played from a top-down perspective. Released in 2019 by Devolver Digital for PC and Nintendo Switch, it sees players taking control of a gorilla trying to escape captivity.
The game has both stealth and beat 'em up elements, as you are strong enough to one-shot most enemies but still quite vulnerable to sustained gunfire. It's most notable for its jazz-inspired soundtrack and the way the music seems to complement every single attack and action made throughout the playthrough.
11 12 Is Better Than 6
12 Is Better Than 6 is Hotline Miami’s distant cousin set in the Wild West in 1873. Like Hotline Miami, the game features a top-down perspective in which you must clear levels of all enemy presence.
Where the games differentiate themselves most is in their aesthetic. Hotline Miami features a bright and colorful '80s-inspired aesthetic, complete with pixel art. 12 Is Better Than 6 instead features a hand-drawn graphic style and a more simplistic color palette. If you wished you could play Hotline Miami as a cowboy, this one is for you.
10 Lakeview Valley
Lakeview Valley is a game that’s similar to Stardew Valley in many aspects yet includes the ability to murder other villagers brutally.
Lakeview Valley gives you a choice to become a respected and upstanding member of the community or to give in to murderous urges. If you’re a fan of Hotline Miami, you know all too well how fun it is to act on an insatiable bloodlust.
9 Manhunt
Manhunt is a title that many are familiar with, even outside of gaming. When the game was first released, it started a large moral panic, as many violent games did in the industry's earlier days.
Manhunt has you take control of a death row convict tasked with violently torturing and murdering others to make a snuff film. Manhunt has a much more realistic and gritty feel than Hotline Miami, but if you are a fan of extreme violence, you can't give it a miss.
8 The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a roguelike in which you traverse through procedurally generated dungeons, fighting grotesque abominations.
The game operates in a fashion similar to the original Legend of Zelda games and twin-stick shooters. As you progress through the dungeons, you will find items and powerups that will either aid you or put you at a detriment. If you like the frenzied mayhem of the Hotline Miami games, then you should definitely try this one.
7 Payday 2
Payday 2 is a co-op looter shooter that has you take on the roles of criminals to carry out several heists. During the loudest moments, Payday 2 has you fighting hordes of cops and rival criminals, filling the streets with bodies.
The game can be tense and action-packed within seconds, just like Hotline Miami. Payday 2 even has DLC that crosses over with Hotline Miami, which allows you to play as Jacket during your heists. Payday 2 is a great game for those who want to bring Hotline Miami's characters into a contemporary and crime-filled setting.
6 Katana Zero
Katana Zero is a neo-noir action platformer published by Devolver Digital, which also published the Hotline Miami games. Katana Zero is a style of game that looks like it's from the SNES era, and it takes place in a colorful and despondent setting.
Similar to Hotline Miami, the game features instadeath, meaning it’s all too easy for you to pull off a great combo before dying instantly. Katana Zero is great if you loved the challenge of the Hotline Miami series.
5 Project Downfall
Project Downfall is what the Hotline Miami games would look like if they were designed as an FPS. Project Downfall is an early access title on Steam that is very identical to the Hotline Miami series.
Like Hotline Miami, score and combos of enemy kills have a heavy emphasis placed on them. It also has a similar static effect on its visuals, making it look like it is being played on an old TV. Project Downfall has a demo you can try, so you have nothing to lose by giving it a go.
4 Doom Eternal
Doom Eternal combines two of a Hotline Miami fan’s favorite things in one: speed and violence. Doom Eternal is an extremely fast-paced FPS with some of the most over-the-top and graphic violence in gaming.
Both Doom 2016 and Eternal use a mechanic called Glory Kill, in which you can execute enemies in an exceptionally brutal, gory, and sometimes comical way. As a Hotline Miami fan, you most likely appreciate the importance of a good soundtrack, and Doom Eternal has you covered.
3 Ruiner
Ruiner shares more than just the top-down perspective of Hotline Miami, but with a 3D graphical style. It's full of violent, fast-paced action centered around going on an offensive against criminal organizations. You even have a head covering, though it's more 'daft punk' than 'chicken mask.'
Set in a cyberpunk dystopia of sorts, you're guided by a hacker as you go on a quest to assassinate the leader of an immoral business conglomerate. This is interrupted by the news that your brother has been kidnapped, prompting a long and narratively complex mission to save him. The intense gameplay format and narrative complexity are reminiscent of Hotline Miami, making this a fantastic sci-fi alternative.
2 Gunpoint
Gunpoint is an indie title that often has intense moments and opportunities for comical ultraviolence, but it takes a different approach to the Hotline Miami games. The Hotline Miami games, for the most part, require you to be loud and quick with little time to think about your strategy.
On the other hand, Gunpoint places a focus on stealth and non-violence and requires you to take moments to plan your strategy ahead of time. Gunpoint is a great game to play at a different pace to Hotline Miami, and if you get bored of the stealth, you can always keep punching a guard until the game begs you to stop.
1 My Friend Pedro
My Friend Pedro takes the same killing and ultraviolence principles of the Hotline Miami series and cranks it up. Another game published by Devolver Digital, My Friend Pedro has you going on an action-fueled killing spree at the behest of a talking banana.
The game allows you to slow down time and perform acrobatics while shooting everything that moves. By using objects such as frying pans that can be kicked into the air and shot at to cause bullets to ricochet and eliminate enemies, you can make for some creative kills. Like Hotline Miami, combos and the score is a big mechanic in My Friend Pedro. If you want a game that’s somehow faster-paced than the Hotline Miami games, you can’t go wrong with this one.