Payday 2 is a horde-based first-person shooter game where players must complete a heist to achieve a reward. Sounds easy? Players must meet this goal while staving off more enemies than they can safely shake a police baton at!
The game found success among players interested in fast-paced and action-packed games. A loyal community of gamers quickly formed, and after almost a decade of release, they are still playing this game.
To keep the fun fresh, Payday 2 developers, Overkill, constantly release DLC containing new weapons, equipment, and missions. There are also seasonal events that continue to give players new activities.
Even though the game has a growing mountain of content, Payday 2 fans may want to try new games similar to the one they love.
The following list describes our top five favorite games like Payday 2. These titles will welcome fans with the familiar excitement of rushing headlong into a swarm.
What Makes Payday 2’s Playstyle Fun and Entertaining
Payday 2 has impressive longevity. For over a decade, it has retained a massive player base of 36k players per day, based on Steam Charts numbers.
The gameplay of Payday 2 is chaotic fun; if a player decides to go guns blazing, they are up for a challenge as massive hordes of enemies of different types will rush the players’ positions. Some enemies use a stealthy approach, using sniper rifles or tasers to stun. Heavy enemies like the bulldozer take a more direct approach. The diversity of opposition challenges players to constantly grow their skills. They must find new weapons and develop new methods to deal with enemies.
Players can enjoy the game on different difficulty settings that not only make the game more challenging but also open new gameplay options. Moreover, as a thief in Payday 2, gamers have to adapt and strategize to finish a heist.
Players can set their own goals, such as beating Payday 2 with a stealth build and subtle approach. This is one of our favorites, as players after this goal will spend hours figuring out how to complete the perfect stealth run. It feels like starring in Ocean’s 11!
Alternatively, you can go in guns blazing with a loud Leech build in Payday 2 or a more intense melee build.
Why Payday 2 is Still an Amazing Game after Several Years
The game’s extreme success is partly due to the developers’ extreme dedication to keeping the adventure alive. They are constantly creating and developing new content. Payday 2 currently has over 70 DLC packs filled with new material for players to enjoy. With a game full of thousands of hours of content mixed with several playstyle options, it is no wonder Overkill managed to build such a loyal community welcoming new players every day. This loyal community has also created numerous great mods for Payday 2 you can play with for free.
Beyond the great Payday 2 builds mentioned above, there’s enough content to be creative and find something that works just for you and your friends. The options on how to build your character and how to complete each heist are nearly limitless.
Overkill is not the only developer to have succeeded with this formula. We’re happy to say, other companies understand what makes a great game like Payday 2 succeed!
Related Article: How to Play and Make the Most of Payday 2’s VR Mode
Five Games Similar to Payday 2 to Play in 2023
For this list, we focus on action-packed, horde first-person shooter games with developers that constantly develop content and events for these games.
1. Left 4 Dead 2
Two wrongs don’t make a right, but three rights make a left? Naming conventions aside, Left 4 Dead 2 is a riotous good time.
It’s a zombie apocalypse game wherein players must team up to survive through different settings, such as swamps, cities, and carnivals. Don’t let the festive decor fool you–it’s no walk in the park. Players must fend off hungry zombies at every turn!
This title is a co-op PvE and PvP first-person shooter set after a zombie outbreak. Players must traverse through the hazards of an entire level to complete a match. The game’s objective is to reach the final level and extract (evacuate) at the end. Players must grab assault rifles, shotguns, sub-machine guns, snipers, melee weapons, and other unique tools to survive.
Classic zombies are not the only monsters that haunt the steps of our players. Consider the Hunter, a fiend who will mount and cling to a player to deal progressive damage. There’s also the Boomer to populate your nightmares. The Boomer will puke on a player, creating an odious stench that attracts a zombie horde. Talk about adding insult to injury! And don’t forget boss enemies, such as the Tank or the Witch, who can put a player down in seconds.
Why Gamers Still Love Left 4 Dead 2
Left 4 Dead 2 has a bizarre and fantastic ambiance with a great soundtrack that syncs well with the level and circumstances. If a Hunter is nearby, the tone and music will change to give sound clues to the players that an enemy of this kind is close.
Left 4 Dead 2 also offers a PvP mode. In this mode, a team of players can play as zombies, while a human team tries to escape. It’s enough to make one want to write “Mmm, brains!” in the chat log. The small team, coop objective-based play should be familiar to fans looking for another game like Payday 2.
This 2009 game is action-packed with engaging gameplay that still holds up to today’s standard. It still holds a massive player base, so if you want to jump into this game, you will have no issues finding a match and a great community. There is no better zombie multiplayer game to recommend–in short, you can’t go wrong with Left 4 Dead 2!
The spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead 2 was released much more recently (Back 4 Blood), yet most players still find L4D2 to be the superior game, despite the improved graphics and more complex reward system.
Related Article: How to Check the Back 4 Blood Server Status
Why Left 4 Dead 2 is a game like Payday 2
- First-Person shooter
- Fast-Paced game
- Horde based shooter
- Tons of weapons
- Multiplayer co-op
- Special enemy types
- Matches get divided into several levels
- Similar gunplay
2. Killing Floor 2
If you are looking for an old-school game that provides intense combat for a team of friends, look no further than Killing Floor 2. It is a six-player co-op game with intense combat and a terrifying ambiance. In this game, players must fight against hordes of some of the most sinister monsters ever devised: the Zeds.
What Makes Killing Floor 2 Special and a Change of Pace
The setting is a post-apocalyptic Europe where civilians are trying to survive, governments have collapsed, and the military is non-existent.
The game revolves around players having to survive waves of different types of monsters that get progressively more difficult to defeat every round. At the end of the match, a boss spawns that players must slay to complete the mission. Players can increase or decrease the difficulty of a match, giving players better rewards and XP.
The game’s objective is to kill as many Zeds as possible to earn in-game currency to upgrade and buy new weapons between rounds. Doing this is essential as Zeds will be more aggressive and unique, and more challenging variants will spawn.
This game can be terrifying and gory. This ambiance, mixed with the brutal combat mechanics, makes it feel like a twin brother of Doom Eternal.
Why Killing Floor 2 is a Great Choice for Payday 2 Fans
The game offers many different characters with varied abilities and a massive armory with customizable weapons, gear, throwables, and more. All of this is needed to defend against the countless enemies who relentlessly try to take you down! The large armory and customizability are definitely reminiscent of Payday 2.
In recent developments, Killing Floor 2 has added a new twelve-player versus survival game mode where players can control the Zeds to try to kill the others. The game maintains a decent player base with updates from the developers every once in a while. A fair amount of entertaining DLCs are available for those diving into this game in 2023. Just like Payday 2, this game also received a lot of support after its launch. Moreover, it continues to be a fun and entertaining game.
Overall, Killing Floor 2 is a highly consistent game that is entertaining to play solo, with friends, or with random players.
Why Killing Floor 2 is a Game like Payday 2 You Will Want to Play
- First-Person shooter
- Fast-Paced game
- Horde based shooter
- Upgrades and customization
- Multiplayer co-op
- Skill system
- Varied armory of weapons
3. Hotline Miami
Hotline Miami is a top-down, fast-paced action game with brutal combat, tons of gore, and punishing gunplay.
Even though Hotline Miami is a top-down action game, this title is one of the best action games in the industry that will have your heart pounding every minute. Hotline Miami does everything right to make you feel like a badass assassin. It wows the player with an astonishing soundtrack matching the level and action, manifold weaponry that provides a perfect weapon for every scenario, masks with unique abilities to adapt to different playstyles, and more.
In this game, the player dies in one hit, meaning that trial and error are essential to learning how to beat a level. If the makers of Groundhog Day needed therapy, they would have produced an experience like this.
The game’s objective is to eradicate enemies and complete tasks such as reaching an escape point or assassinating a particular NPC. Players must prepare by learning enemies’ patterns, attacks, and numbers. Precision and speed play a massive role in this game, as enemies punish the player at every corner for any small mistake.
Hotline Miami has an Interesting History and Even a Collab with Payday 2
Hotline Miami also features a fascinating alternative history. The setting is a more violent version of Miami, Florida, in 1989. The 80s were the decade that slasher films came to dominate the horror genre, so the choice makes thematic sense.
This game’s sequel continues this engaging story following the same game loop.
Hotline Miami has a fantastic story, a unique and excellent gunplay experience, and an engaging style–it won’t let you down!
Oh, and did we forget to mention that Hotline Miami and Payday 2 have collaborated? Yes, in Payday 2, there is a heist called Hotline Miami in honor of this game. Unfortunately, the games are not in the same universe. However, this is still a fantastic collaboration. That clink sound is a toast between two excellent titles!
Why Hotline Miami is Similar to Payday 2
- Constant Action
- Fast-Paced game
- Varied armory of weapons
- Players must prepare before starting a mission
- Set in a similar universe
- Collaboration between the two games
- Punishing gameplay
4. GTA V (Grand Theft Auto V)
Grand Theft Auto V is a first and third-person shooter with a single-player campaign and a multiplayer mode. Both modes have many activities, but the general theme is mayhem!
With an open-world setting, some may see this as being a bit different from Payday 2. Yet, we feel there are a number of similarities that make GTA V a great game for players who want other games like Payday 2. For instance, both feature numerous heist missions. They also have large armories, numerous ways to complete the same missions, and customizable builds. They are both hugely popular and offer multiplayer modes.
On singleplayer, players must complete an engaging story involving three main characters with different paths and endings. If you ever tire of the campaign, this game is a massive sandbox that players can freely explore. Do you want to go and steal a plane for the airport? Go ahead! Do you want to be a taxi driver? Suit yourself! GTA V is full of quirky options and playstyles.
This game shines in the online mode, where countless activities are available: heists, robberies, PvP matches, races, and more. Even after almost a decade, Rockstar Games keep releasing content, events, and DLC for this game. GTA V is a game that can be played for months of inexhaustible fun.
Grand Theft Auto V offers many interesting items players can interact with, notably weapons and vehicles. Use these to explore the city and fight AI enemies or other players in as many ways as possible. Grand Theft Auto V is undoubtedly one of the most successful video games in history, thanks to its variety and constant updates by its developers.
Why Grand Theft Auto V is a game like Payday 2
- GTA V can get played in first-person
- Fast-Paced game
- Tons of weapons
- Multiplayer co-op
- Similar gunplay
- Variety of activities to do
- Crime-based game
- Heists
5. Warhammer: Vermintide 2
Vermintide 2 is a visual masterpiece of a game. Take a moment to feast your eyes on the screenshot above–even a random moment like this is rich with small details.
Vermintide 2 is a fast-paced first-person action game where players must team up to complete tasks and survive. That should sound very familiar to Payday 2 players, despite the change in the game’s setting. Like the other games like Payday 2 on this list, players engage in combat against massive hordes of enemies. The enemies have enough variety to make interesting tactical challenges.
This game is action-packed with many weapons for players, from melee weapons to guns. There are even magical attacks–think what Voldemort might use as “pocket sand,” and you’ll have the gist.
This game also offers players a class system with passive and active abilities. Players progress in strength, earning XP and points by completing levels. As a result of continued development, there are many characters to choose from, which is why we created a comprehensive Vermintide 2 classes tier list to help new players decide which to play.
This title also features different types of enemies and bosses that have another type of challenge to the player based on their kind. Players can also salvage and craft items to fight the massive hordes of enemies. Vermintide 2 will please Payday 2 players as they have to gear up for the moment, strategize and team up to complete a mission successfully.
Why Vermintide 2 is a Game like Payday 2 You Should Check Out
- First-Person game
- Fast-Paced game
- Horde based shooter
- Tons of weapons
- Multiplayer co-op
- Special enemy types
- Skill and progression system
Related Article: Current Status of Vermintide 2 Cross-Platform Support
Conclusion
There are great games like Payday 2 on this list that we are confident you will enjoy and have tons of fun solo or with friends. Hopefully, you will find your next favorite game that you can play for countless hours.
What do you think of our recommendations? Do you have any other top picks for similar games to Payday 2? If so, let us and your fellow readers know in the comment section below.
Good Luck, and Have Fun!
