Sifu is a martial arts action game many fans had highly anticipated since it was first revealed and became an often discussed game before its release and after, whether it be for its satisfying gameplay loop, unique aging mechanics, intense difficulty, movie references, or problematic elements.

If you enjoy Sifu and are looking for a similar game to play, or if you'd rather play something else instead of Sifu due to the previously mentioned various factors, there are plenty of other games to try from a variety of genres that all have some similarities to Sloclap's martial arts action title.

Updated on March 27, 2024, by Jouanna Bondakji: There are many roguelike games out there, but Sifu does things differently with its martial arts gameplay and aging mechanic. Though there isn't really any game exactly like it, there are those that come close, whether it's in combat, themes, or something else entirely. We've added even more entries that you should try if you liked Sifu.

16 Ghost Of Tsushima

Though Sifu focuses on Chinese martial arts and Ghost of Tsushima is all about being a Samurai in feudal Japan, if you want combat that's as true-to-form as Sifu's, Ghost of Tsushima does a great job with its swordplay and concept of honor. Besides your katana, your quick thinking is your weapon in fights.

Different stances are effective against different enemies, and it's your decision whether to face opponents head-on or be more sneaky and take them out with stealth. Outside of combat, the game completely immerses you in its setting and themes. So if you want to know what it was like to be a samurai, Ghost of Tsushima can help with that.

15 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, samurais are the enemy to your shinobi character as he seeks vengeance against them for taking his lord away. It's often compared to Souls games thanks in part to its difficulty, so if you want something as difficult as Sifu, Sekiro can probably fill that space for you.

Stealth is sometimes an option, but for the most part, you'll have to hone your parrying skills to successfully take down enemies. There are a variety of tools and abilities at your disposal as well, but the challenge is always there as you encounter all kinds of opponents and test out different methods to defeat them.

14 Judgment

If you prefer Sifu's modern setting instead of going back too far into the past, Judgment features a kick-ass detective in modern-day Japan who's got just as much brawn as he does brains. While the game doesn't necessarily focus on combat, as there's an intricate story you have to get through to keep going, the plot is so full of intrigue and mystery that it's actually one of the best things about the game.

You have two fighting styles to switch between in Judgment, along with a host of unlockable abilities and special cinematic EX Actions that work wonders against enemies. Plus, there's even some parkour baked into the gameplay, and who doesn't like parkour?

13 Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Launched in 2023, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is an action RPG from the creators of the Nioh series. The best way to describe Wo Long is it is a challenging Souls-like that features the RPG mechanics of Nioh and the deflection/parry-based system of Sekiro.

Wo Long is a fantasy Wuxia-like martial arts game based during the fall of the Han Dynasty. It features Chinese weapons-based martial arts combat like wushu and the fantasy and magic elements seen in classic Wuxia movies and novels. Fans of Sifu will enjoy the challenging gameplay of Wo Long's fighting system, with many struggling to get past the first boss. However, when the gameplay clicks, deflecting attacks and landing counterattacks make for one of the most satisfying martial arts systems in gaming.

12 Jet Li's Rise To Honor

A PS2 exclusive, if there's ever an action game that deserves a sequel or a remaster, it would be Jet Li's Rise to Honor. However, for those that don't mind dusting off their old PS2 to play it, Rise to Honor holds up surprisingly well thanks to its motion capture and fluid animations. Like Sifu, Rise to Honor is a love letter to the Kung Fu action movie genre. The game opens with the familiar but classic on-foot chase sequence trope that Hong Kong action films love to include.

Fans of Hong Kong movies and the legendary Jet Li will be pleased to know that he provides voice work and motion capture for the lead protagonist. Even though it is a single-player game, Rise to Honor harks back to the classic side-scrolling beat-em-ups like Streets of Rage and Double Dragon with its enemy types.

11 Xuan-Yuan Sword 7

The Xuan-Yuan Sword games are the longest-running Chinese-developed RPG series. They are considered a sister series to the Sword & Fairy games - also developed by Taiwanese studio Softstar Entertainment. Like Sword & Fairy, Xuan-Yuan 7 is a fantasy-based martial arts game with Chinese mythology at the center of its historical setting. The combat is less flashy than its sister series, but its fluidity and focus on Chinese martial arts styles make it a good fit for fans of Sifu.

As an action RPG, it's reminiscent of The Witcher 2 in terms of its hub-based wildland areas and towns, but the combat is more responsive and satisfying like The Witcher 3. Despite being a PS4/Xbox One title, Xuan-Yuan Sword 7 is a stunning game with beautiful animations and art design. It's a title that deserves more recognition than it's getting.

10 Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition

A spiritual successor to the True Crime series, Sleeping Dogs is an open-world action adventure where players explore Hong Kong as undercover cop Wei Shen while he deals with the conflicts arising from the triads. Like other open-world titles, Sleeping Dogs offers plenty of activities outside the main story, such as street racing, karaoke, fight clubs, and more.

Sleeping Dogs also had two DLC expansions, the martial arts film-inspired Year Of The Snake - a throwback to the classic Enter the Dragon - and the supernatural horror-themed Nightmare In North Point. The DLC and the base game feature enough content to satisfy Hong Kong movie - and Sifu - fans with its nods to Chow Yun Fat classics like Hard Boiled and Donnie Yen's Flashpoint.

9 Fist Of The North Star: Lost Paradise

Fist Of The North Star: Lost Paradise is based on the Fist Of The North Star manga and anime series and centers around Kenshiro and his use of the fictional martial art of Hokuto Shinken, which targets pressure points and makes people explode into a bloody mess.

Of course, since Lost Paradise is by the same studio that makes the Yakuza series and even uses the same engine. As a result, there are Yakuza-like features besides combat, including but not limited to mini-games like bartending, racing, and several retro games from Sega. Whether you're a Yakuza fan or enjoy solid anime-based games, Lost Paradise is a game that deserves your attention.

8 Legend Of Tianding

One of the most overlooked games of 2021, The Legend Of Tianding, is a stylish beat 'em-up where players play as the noble Taiwanese folk hero Liao Tianding in early 20th century Taiwan, who, like Robin Hood, steals from the rich and gives to the poor.

While Tianding has weapons of his own, including a tanto knife, a waist sash, and kung fu prowess, he can also steal various weapons from enemies, all with different move sets. Tianding can also equip magic talismans to adjust and further enhance his abilities. For those who love the beat-em-up genre with martial arts action, The Legend of Tianding is an excellent pick.

7 Dragon Quest 5: Hand Of The Heavenly Bride

While the fifth entry in the mainline Dragon Quest series doesn't feature martial arts, it does feature a protagonist who ages throughout the game. Dragon Quest 5 does this by being split into several sections, with the main character as a child, a young adult, and a father.

Hand Of The Heavenly Bride is also the first Dragon Quest game where you can recruit monsters to your party- a feature four years before Pokemon was released. However, the game didn't receive an international release until the 2008 Nintendo DS remake. The game also has a mobile port available on Android and iOS.

6 Naraka: Bladepoint

Naraka: Bladepoint is a martial arts action battle royale limited to 60 players instead of the usually expected 100. There are ten heroes players can choose to play as, all with unique abilities.

Although each character is different and not just a playable skin, although there are several cosmetic skins, they can pick up and use any weapon they find, including various types of melee and ranged weapons. It might be different from other games in the genre, but there's a reason it's one of the fastest-selling Chinese PC games of all time.

5 Sword And Fairy 7

The Sword and Fairy series, also known as Chinese Paladin, started in 1995, although most of its entries were not released outside China and Taiwan. However, the ninth installment in the series, Sword and Fairy 7, was the first to receive a worldwide launch. Luckily, you don't need to play the other titles in the series to play it.

Instead of the turn-based mechanics of its predecessors, Sword & Fairy 7 is an action RPG that adopts real-time third-person combat comparable to the Devil May Cry series and classic Wuxia martial arts moves. The action is fluid and easy to pick up and is an excellent recommendation for fans of fast-paced, narratively-driven RPGs.

4 Ultra Age

Ultra Age may not involve aging or hand-to-hand combat, but it features swordsmanship, something several martial arts center around or include. Ultra Age sees the titular protagonist, Age, containing the planet after the environment has been ruined and humanity has split into two factions.

As Age fends off against mutants and mechanical monstrosities that roam the area, he is equipped with various consumable swords built for different situations. It's an often overlooked title, but those familiar with series like Devil May Cry and Nier will likely enjoy Ultra Age despite it being a shorter game than its contemporaries.

3 Tokyo Jungle

Tokyo Jungle takes place in 2027 in post-apocalyptic Tokyo after humans have perished and animals have taken over. There are various animals to play with, including several breeds of dogs, cats, lions, deer, chimpanzees, and even prehistoric creatures like dinosaurs and smilodons, each with a different lifespan. Of course, as every player character is an animal, marking territory is an essential staple of gameplay.

Unfortunately, Tokyo Jungle is only available digitally on PlayStation 3 unless you can track down a copy of Best Of PlayStation Network Volume 1 or a physical copy of the game.

2 Tekken 7

With Sifu often being compared to fighting games, at least one had to be mentioned. Tekken 7 follows directly after Tekken 6 and adds several new gameplay features. This includes special attacks called Rage Arts. Rage Arts are techniques that can only be used with a full Rage meter.

Power Crushes can absorb the opponent's hits so that you can continue your attacks and Screw Hits. Screw Hits allow you to perform longer combos after knocking the opponent down after launching them.

1 Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise

If playing Sifu or just playing video games, in general, has inspired you to get more exercise, look no further than Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise. It may not have the same variety as Ring Fit Adventure, but it's an acceptable substitute for something cheaper that doesn't require an extra peripheral.

Although Fitness Boxing 2 is rhythm-based in its exercise routines, it may test the patience of individuals not fond of modern pop music. However, it may pack a punch for those who don't mind a pop-filled soundtrack while exercising. Progress can also be transferred from the first game.