by theygamesPayday 3 offers players a superb co-op experience with a blend of stealth, shooter combat, and meta progression. It’s no secret that Payday 3 had a rough launch, and some players are a little apprehensive about diving in. Many enjoy what’s available, but if you want more, what do you choose? Payday 3 is unique in that there are not many games like it. Still, we can at least recommend other titles based on what Payday 3 does best. Here are 8 of the best games like Payday 3.
Related: How to get Gold and Sharke Blue Keycard in Payday 3
8 best games like Payday 3
These titles are in no particular order but offer solid co-op experiences and share similarities with Payday 3. Even if they aren’t strictly ‘heist’ games, you’ll find a lot to enjoy here.
Payday 2
I know recommending Payday 2 is low-hanging fruit, but if you’re new to the series with Payday 3, you owe it to yourself to try the prequel. Payday 2 plays quite differently from its predecessor. The tone is more light-hearted, and Payday 2 is propped up by almost a decade’s worth of DLC.
Payday 2 is quite mechanically different from Payday 3. You’ll notice less freedom for stealth plays and small things like limits on how many civilians you can tie up change how you approach heists. Ten years of DLC give the game an almost overwhelming amount of content to sift through. If you can’t get enough of robbing banks in Payday 3, you can do it all again and more in Payday 2.
Deep Rock Galactic
You may be wondering what a game about Dwarves in space has to do with bank heists, but hear me out. Deep Rock Galactic is one of the best co-op first-person shooters available, with a community known for how wholesome it is.
Deep Rock Galactic tasks players with tackling a host of dangerous mining operations. Each Dwarf has unique skills, and everyone plays a pivotal role in a mission’s success. Completing missions rewards players with skill points to customize their Dwarves and money to upgrade equipment. There are cosmetics galore and a gameplay loop that feels just as rewarding 100 hours in as it did when you first started.
World War Z
If the wave-based shooter and skill tree aspects entice you to play Payday 3, you’ll find much to love in World War Z.
While not heists per se, World War Z has a selection of highly replayable story missions with unique characters and special abilities. As you’ve probably guessed by the title, World War Z trades police for Zombies. Combat feels surprisingly tight, and on the larger maps, there’s a scary number of enemies to deal with.
Surviving against waves of zombies alongside your buddies is co-op gaming at its finest. Between missions, you can tinker with your skill trees and cosmetics, and although content is released at a snail’s pace, there’s a lot to enjoy in World War Z.
Destiny 2
I feel like I’m about to walk off the map with this recommendation, but if you have a couple of friends to play with, Destiny 2 has enough similarities that make it worth mentioning.
Destiny 2 is a first-person shooter with some of the most sublime combat in the industry. There’s an obscene amount of content, and if you can dive in with a fireteam, you can lose thousands of hours to the title.
There’s story content to enjoy with friends and even mini-replayable missions in the form of Strikes. Sure, there’s no stealth, and we’ve traded the police for aliens, but Destiny 2 could be for you if you love rewarding co-op. The base game is free, so you lose nothing by trying it out.
Killing Floor 2
I’m trying my best to stop this list from being flooded with Zombie games, but they are just too good if you’re after co-op games.
Killing Floor 2 is one of the oldest games on this list, but it is widely regarded as one of the best wave-based horde shooters around. The gunplay feels tight, and your combat prowess will be tested as you’re assaulted by hordes of ZEDs.
Like any good co-op shooter, Killing Floor 2 has a perk system, and there’s something for every play style. Naturally, Stealth takes a backseat, as ZEDs will come for you no matter how silent you are. If you’re up for a furious co-op shooter with your friends, this is an easy recommendation.
Borderlands 3
Again, we’re deviating from heists and replayable content with this title, but just like Payday 3, this game is a blast with friends and is a great first-person shooter.
In Borderlands 3, you play as one of several Vault Hunters, each with multiple skill trees that dramatically alter gameplay. While there’s no stealth to speak of, the whole point of Borderlands games is the grind for loot. The game is fine alone but is unforgettable with friends.
Unlike most titles on this list, Borderlands 3 doesn’t take itself seriously. There are plenty of ‘laugh out loud’ moments and mountains of content to play through. There are also ‘Takedown’ missions that are highly replayable and are home to the best guns in the game if your team is strong enough.
Grand Theft Auto V
The barrier for entry may be quite high for Grand Theft Auto V in 2023, but it offers everything an upcoming heister could ever want.
Aside from the enormous single-player campaign, GTA lets you join the criminal world in GTA: Online. There’s an ocean of content, including heists, and the best part is you can do it with your friends.
Grand Theft Auto V is mechanically very different from Payday 3. But if the modern world setting and occupation drew you to the latter, it’s worth a shot.
Hood: Outlaws and Legends
I debated adding this game to the list, as it comes with a few major caveats. Still, if you want to dive into a challenging stealth game with friends, Hood: Outlaws and Legends may be worthwhile.
Hood’s PvE mode is similar to Payday’s heists in many ways. Your team with vastly different abilities breaks into a castle to steal treasure and try to escape alive.
Combat is punishing, and stealth is king, which makes encounters tense. And then there’s the sheriff, a terrifying foe who never stays down for long and makes short work of ‘heroes’ who step out of line.
The caveat I mentioned earlier is the game is on life support, and Steam player numbers are bleak. This game was released for free on PlayStation Plus. If you have access to that, it’s worth downloading, but I can’t recommend it at full price.
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