Natural Selection 2

A hybrid FPS/RTS where humans and aliens battle for evolution supremacy

gameCo-op Shootersshooterpuzzlereal time strategy

Visit Website

Alternatives

Savage 2: A Tortured SoulAI-suggested

Choose Savage 2: A Tortured Soul if…

you need matches with 50+ players
you want a free‑to‑play entry point
you prefer fantasy‑themed factions over sci‑fi
you need built‑in single‑player tutorial for solo learning

See details

EvolveAI-suggested

Choose Evolve if…

you need a match that ends in under 15 minutes
you want to play the monster role yourself
you have an Xbox 360 and a newer console and want them to
you prefer a small, fixed team size for consistent

See details

Heavy Gear IIAI-suggested

Choose Heavy Gear II if…

you need extensive Gear weapon and armor swaps
you want destructible environments that change the fight
you care about weather effects influencing combat
you like a built‑in mission editor for custom scenarios

See details

Sanctum 2AI-suggested

Choose Sanctum 2 if…

you need a 4‑player co‑op experience
you want cross‑platform play on consoles and PC
you prefer a story‑driven campaign with a single objective
you favor a dedicated build phase for tower placement
you want matches that stay under 30 minutes

See details

How to Decide

Natural Selection 2 is a hybrid FPS/RTS known for its asymmetric Marine‑vs‑Alien gameplay that attracts competitive shooter and strategy fans. The alternatives split into a few clear camps: Heavy Gear II leans into deep mech customization and destructible terrain for tactical mech combat; Savage 2 : A Tortured Soul is free‑to‑play and scales up to 62‑player massive online battles; Sanctum 2 offers cross‑platform co‑op tower‑defense FPS gameplay with a dedicated build phase.

When comparing these options, focus on (1) pricing model – Natural Selection 2 and Heavy Gear II require a one‑time purchase while Savage 2 is free; (2) maximum simultaneous players – 32 in Natural Selection 2 versus 62 in Savage 2 and 4 in Sanctum 2; (3) core genre emphasis – asymmetric FPS/RTS evolution in Natural Selection 2, mech‑centric action/strategy in Heavy Gear II, and tower‑defense + FPS co‑op in Sanctum 2; (4) platform reach – Natural Selection 2 is PC‑only whereas Sanctum 2 runs on PC, Mac, Linux and consoles, which can matter for cross‑play needs.

All Alternatives

Savage 2: A Tortured Soul

AI-suggested

Savage 2: A Tortured Soul builds upon the story from the original title, delivering intense multiplayer action where players can choose between the Legion of Man and the Beast Horde.

✦ Best for multiplayer strategy and action fans wanting free 62-player battles.

FreeProprietaryLinuxPCMacUp to 62 playersCommanding and combatLegion and Horde

Evolve

AI-suggested

Evolve pits four hunters against a single player‑controlled monster in intense 4v1 matches set on the hostile planet Shear.

✦ Best for competitive gamers who enjoy intense 4v1 asymmetrical shooter battles

Paid (One-time)ProprietaryPlayStation 4PCXbox 3604v1 GameplayClass‑Based HuntersEvolving Monster

“Hybrid FPS/RTS where players control humans or an evolving alien, directly mirroring Evolve's 4v1 hunter‑vs‑monster gameplay.”

Heavy Gear II

AI-suggested

Heavy Gear II drops players into a futuristic battlefield where they command and fight with powerful mechanized units. The game blends third‑person shooting with real‑time strategy, letting you both pilot a Gear and issue tactical orders to your squad.

✦ Best for mech fans seeking depth

Paid (One-time)ProprietaryLinuxPCMech CustomizationDestructible EnvironmentsMultiplayer Skirmishes

Sanctum 2

AI-suggested

Sanctum 2 combines tower‑building and wall construction with fast‑paced first‑person shooter combat. Players design defenses during a build phase, then jump into the action to protect the Core from relentless alien waves.

✦ Best for four-player co-op fans seeking tower-defense and fps hybrid action.

Paid (One-time)ProprietaryPlayStation 3LinuxPCTower-BuildingFPS-CombatCo-Op