Games like Commander Keen
If Commander Keen is your kind of game, the closest matches are The Disney Afternoon Collection, Thunder Hoop Collection (QUByte Classics) and Biolab Wars — picked from the ranked list below. Reviewers single out its charming narrative and humor, clever level design and innovative for its time. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.
Get personalized picks →Commander Keen is a classic side-scrolling platformer series originally released in 1990, developed by id Software. The game follows a kid genius on a mission to save the galaxy from alien threats. Players navigate through challenging levels featuring collectibles, responsive controls, and level-completion challenges in a sci-fi setting. Reviewers highlight the charming narrative and humor, clever level design, and satisfying challenges that made the series innovative for its time. Players describe the experience as nostalgic and retro, appreciating the old-school action gameplay. The collection includes Episode 1: Marooned on Mars, Episode 2: The Earth Explodes, and Episode 3: Keen Must Die! The game is priced at $4.99 USD, runs playable on Steam Deck, and holds a 93% positive rating from 1061 Steam reviews. It's a challenging solo experience with medium-length gameplay sessions.
About Commander Keen: Commander Keen: Invasion of the Vorticons: Episode 1: Marooned on Mars (Dec. 14th 1990) Episode 2: The Earth Explodes (1991) Episode 3: Keen Must Die! (1991) Commander Keen's very first adventure, and the debut of id's groundbreaking side-scrolling technology.
Players who liked Commander Keen also play
Steam players who put hours into Commander Keen also tend to own these titles — a signal called collaborative filtering. imho.run cross-references millions of library ownership patterns to surface games whose real audiences overlap, regardless of whether their genre tags match.
The Disney Afternoon Collection
WHY THIS
Shares a retro mood with Commander Keen.
Top pick for Commander Keen fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Starring a cast of beloved Disney characters, The Disney Afternoon Collection takes you back to a golden era of gaming and afternoons filled with adventure. All six classic games feature new and improved visuals and include filtering options that replicate a retro look and feel.
Thunder Hoop Collection (QUByte Classics)
WHY THIS
Second-strongest match for Commander Keen fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Run, shoot, and destroy hordes of mutants in the definitive Thunder Hoop collection. Take on Professor Genbreak’s bio-monsters in two explosive retro platformers, for an authentic ’90s arcade experience!
Biolab Wars
WHY THIS
Shares a retro mood with Commander Keen.
Third-strongest match for Commander Keen fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Inspired by the 8-bit games and by the movies from the 80's, your goal is to blow things up, defeat aliens and fight bizarre bosses in this platformer 2D with classic mechanics.
Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit
WHY THIS
Shares a retro mood with Commander Keen.
Ranked #4 for Commander Keen fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
The Angry Video Game Nerd is back in 8-bits! Battle through frantic platforming levels, defeat classic AVGN bosses, and save all of gaming, or test your skills in Endless Challenge mode!
Freedom Planet 2
WHY THIS
Shares a nostalgic mood with Commander Keen.
Ranked #5 for Commander Keen fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
The fast paced platforming of Freedom Planet returns! Become a full-time cartoon heroine and use abilities and items suited to your play style to explore the world of Avalice and defend its animal citizens!
Super Dangerous Dungeons
WHY THIS
Shares a retro mood with Commander Keen.
Ranked #6 for Commander Keen fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Guide Timmy the treasure hunter through dangerous dungeons in search of the legendary treasure!
Pixel Ripped 1995
WHY THIS
Shares a nostalgic mood with Commander Keen.
Ranked #7 for Commander Keen fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Pixel Ripped is back with a brand new nostalgia-fueled virtual reality game-within-a-game, this time in 1995! Help our hero Dot face challenging throwbacks to all your favorite 16-bit and 32-bit classics while surviving the struggles of a typical nine-year-old kid.
Berserk Boy
WHY THIS
Shares a retro mood with Commander Keen.
Ranked #8 for Commander Keen fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
BERSERK BOY is a high speed action packed Platformer, with Metroidvania elements. Packed with vibrant and stylish pixel art. Go Berserk! as you change into different forms and use the power of Lightning, Fire, Ice, Air, and Earth to save the planet!
Cheaper alternatives
Games in the same vein priced at least 40% below Commander Keen at current Steam store prices.
POSTAL 2
WHY THIS
Priced ~80% under Commander Keen on Steam right now. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Live a week in the life of "The POSTAL Dude"; a hapless everyman just trying to check off some chores. Buying milk, returning an overdue library book, getting Gary Coleman's autograph, what could possibly go wrong?
Blood and Bacon
WHY THIS
Priced ~80% under Commander Keen on Steam right now. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
This Co-op Shooter , has Day and Night levels, multiple maps, players will take on 25 enemy types and numerous bosses, like Gargantuan Monsters and Minibosses every 10 days as you explore, shoot and run for your life against the onslaught of porcine monstrosities.
STAR WARS™ Republic Commando™
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under Commander Keen on Steam right now. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
You are the leader of an elite squad of Republic Commandos, your mission is to infiltrate, dominate, and ultimately, annihilate the enemy. Your squad will follow your orders and your lead, working together as a team - instinctively, intelligently, instantly. You are their leader. They are your weapon.
STAR WARS™ Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy™
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under Commander Keen on Steam right now. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Forge your weapon and follow the path of the Jedi Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is the latest installment of the highly acclaimed Jedi Knight series. Take on the role of a new student eager to learn the ways of the Force from Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.
Shower With Your Dad Simulator 2015: Do You Still Shower With Your Dad
WHY THIS
Priced ~80% under Commander Keen on Steam right now. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
"Shower With Your Dad Simulator 2015: Do You Still Shower With Your Dad?" is a fast paced shower-simulation where you shower with your 8-bit dad.It's good, clean fun!
Bit Blaster XL
WHY THIS
Priced ~80% under Commander Keen on Steam right now. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Bit Blaster XL is a fast-paced, retro arcade shoot 'em up (shmup) inspired by the classic quarter-munchers of the ‘80s. Easy to pick up, hard to put down, boost, dodge, shoot, and chase high scores in this addictive, old-school action game!
STAR WARS™ Battlefront (Classic, 2004)
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under Commander Keen on Steam right now. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Fight the greatest battles in the STAR WARS universe any way you want to. The choice is yours.
Kill It With Fire
WHY THIS
Priced ~48% under Commander Keen on Steam right now. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Kill It With Fire is a first-person action game about hunting spiders and causing collateral damage.
Free alternatives
Free-to-play games that recommended players of this title also tend to enjoy.
ENA: Dream BBQ
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.
Experience surreal environments and inexplicable characters as ENA in a new wild world.
Grimm's Hollow
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.
A spooky, freeware RPG where you search the afterlife for your brother. Reap ghosts with your scythe, explore haunted caves, and eat ghostly treats on your journey through death.
The Expendabros
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
The Expendabros have assembled and set their sights on the forces of ruthless arms dealer Conrad Stonebanks in the forests of Eastern Europe.
Star Fetchers
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
The introduction to a wild ride with gangsters and deep state conspiracy theories
Coloring Pixels
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.
A relaxing coloring by numbers game. Enjoy completing a variety of images with differing themes, complexity, and sizes.
Eternal Senia
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Thoughts and expectations ARPG
There Is No Game: Jam Edition 2015
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.
A little game that’s not a game, winner of an old game jam that nobody’s ever heard of. So DON'T INSTALL IT!
Disfigure
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Disfigure is a grim-dark action rogue-like where you battle relentless hordes of monsters lurking in the shadows. Unlock powerful weapons, craft god-like builds with hundreds of upgrades, slay colossal bosses, and push your limits in intense 20–30 minute survival runs!
Narrow it down
Head-to-head comparisons
More from id Software
Other recommendable Steam games by id Software, ranked by review count so the studio's hits land first.
DOOM Eternal
WHY THIS
Another title from id Software, the studio behind Commander Keen. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Hell’s armies have invaded Earth. Become the Slayer in an epic single-player campaign to conquer demons across dimensions and stop the final destruction of humanity. The only thing they fear... is you.
DOOM
WHY THIS
Another title from id Software, the studio behind Commander Keen. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Now includes all three premium DLC packs (Unto the Evil, Hell Followed, and Bloodfall), maps, modes, and weapons, as well as all feature updates including Arcade Mode, Photo Mode, and the latest Update 6.66, which brings further multiplayer improvements as well as revamps multiplayer progression.
DOOM: The Dark Ages
WHY THIS
Another title from id Software, the studio behind Commander Keen. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells an epic cinematic story worthy of the DOOM Slayer’s legend. Players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.
DOOM + DOOM II
WHY THIS
Shares a nostalgic mood with Commander Keen.
Another title from id Software, the studio behind Commander Keen. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Developed by id Software, and originally released in 1993 and 1994, the definitive, newly enhanced versions of DOOM + DOOM II are available as a combined product.
RAGE 2
WHY THIS
Another title from id Software, the studio behind Commander Keen. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
RAGE 2 brings together two studio powerhouses – Avalanche Studios, masters of open world insanity, and id Software, creators of the first-person shooter – to deliver a carnival of carnage where you can go anywhere, shoot anything, and explode everything.
Quake
WHY THIS
Shares a retro mood with Commander Keen.
Another title from id Software, the studio behind Commander Keen. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Developed by the award-winning id Software, Quake® is the ground-breaking, original dark fantasy first-person shooter that inspires today’s retro-style FPS games. With Quake (Enhanced), experience the authentic, updated, and visually enhanced version of the original.
RAGE
WHY THIS
Another title from id Software, the studio behind Commander Keen. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Powered by id’s revolutionary id Tech® 5 technology, RAGE is an intense first-person shooter with breakneck vehicle combat, an expansive world to explore, and jaw-dropping graphics!
DOOM 3
WHY THIS
Another title from id Software, the studio behind Commander Keen. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
A demonic invasion has overwhelmed the Union Aerospace Corporation's Mars research facility. As one of only a few survivors, you must fight your way to hell and back against a horde of demons in this award-winning horror/action FPS and reimagining of the original DOOM.
Plays great on Steam Deck
Valve-Verified or Playable picks from the similar pool — ready to go on Deck out of the box.
The Disney Afternoon Collection
WHY THIS
Shares a retro mood with Commander Keen.
Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Starring a cast of beloved Disney characters, The Disney Afternoon Collection takes you back to a golden era of gaming and afternoons filled with adventure. All six classic games feature new and improved visuals and include filtering options that replicate a retro look and feel.
Biolab Wars
WHY THIS
Shares a retro mood with Commander Keen.
Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
Inspired by the 8-bit games and by the movies from the 80's, your goal is to blow things up, defeat aliens and fight bizarre bosses in this platformer 2D with classic mechanics.
Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit
WHY THIS
Shares a retro mood with Commander Keen.
Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
The Angry Video Game Nerd is back in 8-bits! Battle through frantic platforming levels, defeat classic AVGN bosses, and save all of gaming, or test your skills in Endless Challenge mode!
Freedom Planet 2
WHY THIS
Shares a nostalgic mood with Commander Keen.
Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
The fast paced platforming of Freedom Planet returns! Become a full-time cartoon heroine and use abilities and items suited to your play style to explore the world of Avalice and defend its animal citizens!
Berserk Boy
WHY THIS
Shares a retro mood with Commander Keen.
Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action with Commander Keen.
BERSERK BOY is a high speed action packed Platformer, with Metroidvania elements. Packed with vibrant and stylish pixel art. Go Berserk! as you change into different forms and use the power of Lightning, Fire, Ice, Air, and Earth to save the planet!
Frequently asked about Commander Keen
- Does Commander Keen run on Steam Deck?
- Commander Keen is rated Playable on Steam Deck — it runs, but expect some manual adjustments (control remapping, text size, or graphics settings) for the best experience.
- How much does Commander Keen cost?
- Commander Keen is listed on Steam at 4.99 USD (current store price; Steam sales may reduce this temporarily).
- What games are most similar to Commander Keen?
- Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside Commander Keen are The Disney Afternoon Collection, Thunder Hoop Collection (QUByte Classics), Biolab Wars.
- Who developed Commander Keen?
- Commander Keen was developed by id Software.
imho.run ranks Steam game alternatives using a mix of collaborative filtering (ALS / iALS / EASE / LightGCN), content scoring over genres, categories, Steam tags, developers, and publishers, plus AI-extracted vibes mined from review text. The page above is generated in seed mode anchored on Commander Keen.
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