6 Games Like Gravity Rush [Recommendations]

There aren’t enough open-world superpower games out there. Not like Gravity Rush, anyway. It’s one of the reasons Gravity Rush made a splash when it first came out. It’s such a simple concept: your only ability is to turn gravity on or off, and then fling yourself in the proper direction. Gravity Rush managed to make such a multifaceted use of this single mechanic; whether it was for combat, exploration, or puzzle solving. It’s so satisfying to fling yourself into the air without a care in the world.

Maybe there aren’t many games that are exactly like Gravity Rush, but there are some choices out there if you’re just hankering for more super power action. Or maybe if you just want the sensation of flight again. Or maybe you just like having a strong female protagonist. Regardless as to why you fell in love with Gravity Rush, we have some recommendations for you to play while you’re winding down from the hype of Gravity Rush 2!


Similar Games to Gravity Rush

1. Super Mario Galaxy

  • System: Wii
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Developer: Nintendo EAD Tokyo
  • Release Date: November 12th, 2007

It’s the same old story. Mario was enjoying a peaceful day until Bowser shows up to destroy the Mushroom Kingdom and claim Princess Peach for himself. This time? He’s transformed his castle into a space ship and just rips Peach’s castle right from where it stands! Mario will have to get some help from Rosalina, the caretaker of a floating observatory in the midst of space, to help him follow Bowser into the depths of the universe so he can stop his crazy schemes yet again.

Chances are you’ve at least heard of Mario Galaxy. It remains one of the highest rated games of all time, with a whopping 97 score on Metacritc. Part of that comes down to its extremely creative use of gravity. While Gravity Rush puts you in direct control of where you can shift gravity, Mario Galaxy leaves you to the whim of its alternating force of nature. You’ll constantly be bending around curves in its various planetoids, get flung into the air, and soar through space at blistering speeds; all this while completing tricky and jaw-dropping platforming feats. If you’ve sat on playing this masterpiece for so long, maybe now’s the time to give it a shot. Gravity Rush has already got you prepped!

Super Mario Galaxy (Wi)i Trailer GDC trailer:


2. Infamous: Second Son

  • System: Playstation 4
  • Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
  • Developer: Sucker Punch Productions
  • Release Date: March 21st, 2014

While most believed the Conduits to have died out seven years ago, as it turns out, some survived. This is an issue, as Conduits have the ability to use special, strange abilities that are effectively superpowers. As a result, the government assembles a specialty group it calls the D.U.P. to track down the remaining Conduits, kill them, and keep them from overthrowing the natural order of the world. A young man named Delsin Rowe happens to have a very special power: the ability to absorb the powers of other Conduits. He’ll have to decide whether he wants to help maintain the order of the world, or use his powers for his own selfish needs.

Perhaps Infamous and Gravity Rush have nothing in common on the surface. Gravity Rush is more of a fantasy story with a great deal of world-building, while Infamous seems to have a more grounded, realistic tale that’s more tantamount to a comic book story. However, both games are focused around throwing the player into an open world with special powers that they alone have control over. They’re about living out power fantasy about being an abnormal person thrown into a normal society. Gravity Rush actually has a lot to owe to the Infamous series, and they can be seen almost as the same type of game made through different cultural lenses.

Infamous Second Son – E3 Trailer (PS4) |E3 2013:


3. Bayonetta

  • System: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii U, PC
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Developer: Platinum Games
  • Release Date: January 5th, 2010

Long ago, 2 factions kept the balance of the planet in order: Lumen Sages, who maintained light, and Umbra Witches, who held the power of darkness. But that was in the past. They’ve all disappeared since then… except for one special Umbra Witch. This is Bayonetta, a witch who’s reawakened 500 years later and doesn’t have a clue what’s going on. All she knows is that she holds one the Eyes of the World in her possession, which allows her to manipulate time. Bayonetta sets off on a journey to find the other Eye of the World and figure out what happened in her mysterious past.

The summary above sounds much more serious than what’s actually presented to us in Bayonetta. All you need to know is one thing: you’re a witch, and you’re hunting down angels in the most fabulous way possible. It’s hard to find female main characters in games that command such presence, but Bayonetta does so in a way that makes her entirely unforgettable. Both games enjoy having super-powered ladies at the center of the action, but while Gravity Rush’s is more methodically paced, centered around getting to the big hits, Bayonetta’s is more frenzied. Every set piece feels like it could be the climax of a lesser action game, but Bayonetta is never satisfied by leaving it at just one. Platinum Games is often referred to as the king of action games, so check out Bayonetta to see where they gained that title.

Bayonetta – PC Launch Trailer:



Any Games Like Gravity Rush ?

4. Rodea: The Sky Soldier

  • System: Wii, 3DS, Wii U
  • Publisher: Kadokawa Shoten (Japan), NIS America (US)
  • Developer: Prope (Wii), Kadokawa Games (3DS & Wii U)
  • Release Date: November 10th, 2015

It’s been a millennium since Rodea last fought for the Garuda kingdom. This is because, as much as he wished to protect Princess Celica, she instead thinks it in her nation’s best interest to send him away with the Key of Time to an isolated desert so that the Naga Empire won’t get their clutches on it. Being a robot, he shuts down with the intent of never being revived. However, that changed once Ion discovered Rodea and decided to fixed him back up. Now, the two work together to fight off the reinvigorated Naga Empire which is once again attacking the Garuda kingdom.

You’ll notice that there are three systems listed for Rodea: The Sky Soldier. This may seem counter-intuitive, but you’re gonna want to go ahead and ignore the 3DS and Wii U versions of the game. Really, the real game is the original Wii version, which only comes with purchasing the Wii U version. This is because the game was originally designed with the Wii controller in mind in order to take advantage of the freedom motion allows the player to point directly at where to go next. The result is a fast-paced action game where you’ll be frantically flinging Rodea from point to point, soaring through the sky with each flick of the controller. A must-play for anyone who enjoyed Gravity Rush’s aerial movement options.

Rodea The Sky Soldier Trailer:


5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

  • System: Wii U, Switch
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Developer: Nintendo EPD
  • Release Date: March 3rd, 2017

Link wakes up and emerges from a capsule hidden away inside a cave. He has no idea where he is, and no memories of the past. The only person around is a strange old man who somehow keeps popping up at points of interest all across the plateau he’s stranded on. Link wants to leave, but doesn’t have the stamina or means to descend from said plateau. He and the old man reach an agreement: the old man will give him his paraglider in exchange for finding him four mysterious treasures found in some shrines strewn about the plateau. But this old man seems to know more than he’s letting on about the state Link is in…

You’ve heard of Breath of the Wild. It’s been getting rave reviews and might be considered the defining game of the decade. The total openness of the world and how it allows the player to tackle the story and progression at their own pace has been delighting critics, diehard fans of the franchise, and even casual fans as well. But Breath of the Wild’s real claim to fame is how it uses vertical space. Many games have a tendency to limit what they can and can’t do in the world to flat plains, with most buildings and the landscape being used to conceal what is effectively a flat plain. But Breath of the Wild has no qualms about letting the player get lost in its world. This is actually very similar to how Gravity Rush allows its players to move in full 3D to explore the world with their gravity powers, making sure you’re checking the world from every angle. You owe it to yourself to check out Breath of the Wild if you enjoyed this aspect of Gravity Rush.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Official Game Trailer – Nintendo E3 2016:


6. Saints Row IV: GAT Out of Hell

  • System: PC, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
  • Publisher: Deep Silver
  • Developer: Volition, High Voltage Software
  • Release Date: January 20th, 2015

The Saints are taking a well-deserved break after the events of Saints Row IV. They manage to dig up an old Oujia Board, apparently owned by the famed Aleister Crowley himself. Naturally, they play around with it, but unfortunately for them, they accidentally summon Satan! Now Satan has captured The Boss. His goal: to wed his only daughter to him. Which makes sense, considering The Boss also happens to be the president of the United States!

While Gravity Rush builds a more plausible, grounded fantasy world, Saints Row is pure insanity from the get go. Expanding on the superpower mechanics from the original Saints Row IV, Gat out of Hell introduces a flight system by allowing the player to sprout wings, fly around the city, and summon demons to fight for them. It’s all about causing the absolute most amount of chaos and wreaking havoc without a shred of guilt. For those who loved flying around in Gravity Rush without being constrained to a serious story, Gat Out of Hell will be exactly what you’re looking for!

Saints Row IV: Gat Out of Hell – Launch Trailer:


Final Thoughts

Gravity Rush can be a difficult game to easily pin down. Since it blends so many concepts and genres into one, it can be tricky to point out exactly what makes it so special. But maybe that’s part of its charm: it does so many different things well that it ends up being its own unique game! Did we miss anything, though? Anything you might recommend? Please let us know in the comments below!

Gravity-Rush-game-300x383 6 Games Like Gravity Rush [Recommendations]

Writer

Author: Matt Knodle

I come from Indiana, where I grew up near a video rental shop that proudly stated “The widest selection of anime in the state”, setting me on a course to enjoy as much anime as possible. I’ve devoted myself to over-analyzing various sports anime and video games probably more than they were ever intended. I currently co-host a weekly sports anime fan podcast called KoshienCast with my good friend, Matt.

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