- #1 Stonehearth
97% matchMostly Positive75% of 12,970 reviews2018
Dev: Radiant EntertainmentPub: (none)
Windows · Mac
Median: 14.1 hrsMean: 38.7 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Pioneer a living world full of warmth, heroism, and mystery. Help a small group of settlers build a home for themselves in a forgotten land. Establish a food supply, build shelter, defend your people, monitor their moods, and find a way to grow and expand, facing challenges at every step.
Why similar: Colony Sim 46.1% ★, Building 16.2%, Sandbox 12.4%, Survival 6.7%, Strategy 6.1%
Why You'll Like It: It shares the charming voxel aesthetic and focuses heavily on managing a colony of settlers to build and defend their town.
- #2 Colony Survival
96% matchVery Positive92% of 8,816 reviews2017
Dev: Pipliz
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 9.6 hrsMean: 28.2 hrs≥1hr: 87%
Colony Survival is a unique first-person strategy game developed by a two-man team. Build your own colony in a voxel world. Command guards, farmers, miners and other colonists. Defend your colony against the horde of monsters that attacks every night!
Why similar: Colony Sim 42.9% ★, Building 14.6%, Sandbox 9.6%, Survival 8.4%, Multiplayer 5.2%
Why You'll Like It: This game combines voxel-based world building with tower defense mechanics, closely mirroring the core loop of Castle Story.
- #3 Going Medieval
95% matchVery Positive89% of 20,287 reviews2026
Dev: Foxy VoxelPub: Mythwright
Windows
Median: 7.9 hrsMean: 30.8 hrs≥1hr: 82%
Build and manage your own castle settlement in a land reclaimed by wilderness. With detailed management, survival strategy, and a moddable sandbox world, Going Medieval challenges you to build the mightiest colony this side of the apocalypse.
Why similar: Colony Sim 45% ★, Sandbox 16.1%, Voxel 10% ★, Survival 9.7%, Strategy 8.9%
Why You'll Like It: This colony sim offers deep vertical building mechanics and medieval survival, allowing for complex castle construction.
- #4 Medieval Engineers
96% matchMixed52% of 7,282 reviews2015
Dev: Keen Software House
Windows
Median: 2.1 hrsMean: 16.8 hrs≥1hr: 64%
Medieval Engineers is a sandbox game about engineering, construction and the maintenance of architectural works and mechanical equipment using medieval technology. Players build castles; construct mechanical devices and underground mining. There is an entire planet to explore!
Why similar: Building 33%, Sandbox 22.6%, Open World 7.8%, Survival 7.7%, Multiplayer 7.7%
Why You'll Like It: It features advanced physics-based structural building and destruction, perfect for players who enjoy the engineering aspect of Castle Story.
- #5 Craft The World
94% matchVery Positive88% of 16,818 reviews2014
Dev: Dekovir EntertainmentPub: Dekovir Ltd
Windows · Mac
Median: 7.2 hrsMean: 38.5 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Craft The World is a unique sandbox strategy game, the mix of Dungeon Keeper, Terraria and Dwarf Fortress. Explore a random generated world populated by dangerous creatures, build a dwarf fortress, gather resources, and craft all the items, weapons, and armor you need.
Why similar: Colony Sim 39.2% ★, Building 18.2%, Sandbox 14.1%, Crafting 7.2%, Survival 6.2%
Why You'll Like It: It blends dwarf-led colony management with voxel mining and building, providing a similar sense of scale and progression.
- #6 Cataclismo
93% matchVery Positive89% of 4,077 reviews2025
Dev: Digital SunPub: Hooded Horse
Windows
Median: 4.1 hrsMean: 8.6 hrs≥1hr: 77%
Design and build fortresses brick by brick to stand against endless hordes of Horrors in this real-time strategy game with resource management, siege defense, and exploration. Lead from the ramparts, push back the darkness, and hold fast against the creatures of the Mist.
Why similar: Colony Sim 41.9% ★, Building 18.8%, Tower Defense 11%, Survival 9.1%, RTS 8.4%
Why You'll Like It: A focus on brick-by-brick castle building and defensive strategy makes this a spiritual successor to the tower defense elements of Castle Story.
- #7 Forts
94% matchVery Positive92% of 24,366 reviews2017
Dev: EarthWork Games
Windows
Median: 6.3 hrsMean: 23.4 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Unleash your creativity and strategic prowess in Forts, the exhilarating physics-based RTS! Design, construct, and customize imposing fortresses, bristling with devastating firepower, and blast your opponent’s buildings to rubble!
Why similar: Building 38%, Sandbox 26.5%, Strategy 16.9%, Multiplayer 15%, Indie 2.2%
Why You'll Like It: This game emphasizes physics-based base building and destruction, capturing the satisfaction of designing structures that must withstand attacks.
- #8 Timberborn
90% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 38,007 reviews2026
Dev: Mechanistry
Windows · Mac
Median: 9.8 hrsMean: 40.3 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Humans are long gone. In a world struck by droughts and toxic waste, will your lumberpunk beavers do any better? A sandbox city-building game featuring ingenious animals, vertical architecture, water physics, and terraforming. Contains high amounts of wood.
Why similar: Colony Sim 42.3% ★, Building 18%, Sandbox 14.3%, Voxel 9.1% ★, Survival 7.9%
Why You'll Like It: It introduces unique vertical building and water management mechanics within a colony simulation setting.
- #9 Kingdoms and Castles
91% matchVery Positive93% of 30,837 reviews2017
Dev: Lion Shield, LLC
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 6.1 hrsMean: 16.0 hrs≥1hr: 88%
Kingdoms and Castles is a city-building simulation game about growing a kingdom from a tiny hamlet to a sprawling city and imposing castle. Make trade agreements, alliance, and war with neighboring AI controlled kingdoms. Each villager and resource is individually simulated.
Why similar: Colony Sim 52.9% ★, Building 17.3%, Sandbox 10.4%, Strategy 9.2%, Survival 3.9%
Why You'll Like It: This city builder focuses on medieval castle construction and defending your territory against dragons and vikings.
- #10 Gnomoria
92% matchMostly Positive75% of 3,532 reviews2016
Dev: Robotronic Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.9 hrsMean: 18.3 hrs≥1hr: 82%
Gnomoria is a sandbox village management game where you help lead a small group of gnomes, who have set out on their own, to thrive into a bustling kingdom! Anything you see can be broken down and rebuilt elsewhere.
Why similar: Colony Sim 45.3% ★, Sandbox 16.2%, Building 14%, Strategy 8%, Survival 6.5%
Why You'll Like It: A classic colony sim that focuses on building, crafting, and defending a base with a population of gnomes.
- #11 Besiege
91% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 52,104 reviews2020
Dev: Spiderling Studios
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.4 hrsMean: 19.1 hrs≥1hr: 71%
Besiege is a physics building game about constructing medieval machines to annihilate armies, obliterate castles and overcome challenging obstacles. Conquer the campaign or skirmish with friends in Multiplayer!
Why similar: Building 38.2%, Sandbox 30.7%, Strategy 14.5%, Multiplayer 12.7%, Simulation 3.9%
Why You'll Like It: While more focused on machines, its physics-based construction and destruction mechanics are a perfect match for fans of Castle Story's building system.
- #12 Foundation
87% matchVery Positive86% of 23,481 reviews2025
Dev: Polymorph Games
Windows
Median: 11.0 hrsMean: 26.3 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Foundation is a grid-less, laidback medieval city-building game with a focus on organic development, monument construction and resource management.
Why similar: Colony Sim 29.3% ★, Building 20.3%, Sandbox 17.4%, Strategy 12.8%, Survival 5.8%
Why You'll Like It: It offers a gridless, organic building experience that allows for beautiful and complex medieval settlement design.
- #13 FortressCraft Evolved!
89% matchMostly Positive72% of 3,055 reviews2015
Dev: ProjectorGamesPub: Digital Tribe
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.2 hrsMean: 13.6 hrs≥1hr: 72%
FortressCraft Evolved is a unique blend of Voxel Landscapes, Tower Defense, Crafting, Logistics, Exploration, Combat and Assembly lines. Players begin by crash-landing on a strange alien world, left with only a small handful of starting machines.
Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 29.9% ★, Building 17.2%, Sandbox 14.7%, Crafting 7.1%, Survival 7.1%
Why You'll Like It: It provides a massive voxel sandbox with a heavy focus on automation, base building, and defense.
- #14 First Feudal
89% matchMostly Positive76% of 627 reviews2021
Dev: Harpoon Games
Windows
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 11.6 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Become a real medieval feudal lord: start with a small village and build it up into an enormous impenetrable castle. You will have to repel enemy raids: hide behind thick walls, lure your enemies into strategically placed traps, and even lead your loyal peasants into battle.
Why similar: Colony Sim 44.7% ★, Building 19.3%, Sandbox 11.8%, Strategy 7.5%, Crafting 7%
Why You'll Like It: A medieval colony sim that tasks you with building a base from scratch while managing the needs of your villagers.
- #15 Rise to Ruins
88% matchVery Positive88% of 7,737 reviews2019
Dev: Raymond DoerrPub: SixtyGig Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.7 hrsMean: 16.4 hrs≥1hr: 83%
A brutal godlike village sim that melds the god game, management, and tower defense genres! Fight off hoards of monsters at night, and expand your village in the day time. Inspired by games like Black and White, Rimworld, and Dwarf Fortress but not quite like any of them.
Why similar: Colony Sim 55.6% ★, Tower Defense 15.1%, Survival 9%, Strategy 9%, Sandbox 8.3%
Why You'll Like It: It blends god-game elements with tower defense and colony management in a challenging survival environment.
- #16 Dwarf Fortress
86% matchVery Positive95% of 30,806 reviews2022
Dev: Bay 12 GamesPub: Kitfox Games
Windows · Linux
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 38.4 hrs≥1hr: 78%
Build a fortress and try to help your dwarves survive against a deeply generated world. Keep your dwarves happy, grow their community and beware of digging too deeply. The deepest, most intricate simulation of a world that's ever been created.
Why similar: Colony Sim 42.5% ★, Building 19.7%, Sandbox 15.6%, Survival 9.2%, Strategy 8.5%
Why You'll Like It: The deep simulation and complex building mechanics serve as the foundation for almost every game in this genre.
- #17 Founders' Fortune
86% matchVery Positive80% of 2,168 reviews2020
Dev: Dionic Software
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.6 hrsMean: 9.9 hrs≥1hr: 57%
A fantasy village builder focusing on creative building, colonist psychology and base defense. Handle resources, farming, production, tools, diplomacy, families, trading, defense, and research, as well as the wishes, expectations, thoughts, and equipment of every villager.
Why similar: Colony Sim 56.8% ★, Building 15.2%, Sandbox 10.1%, Strategy 6.4%, Survival 6.1%
Why You'll Like It: A friendly colony sim that emphasizes building, resource management, and the individual needs of your settlers.
- #18 RimWorld
85% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 236,346 reviews2018
Dev: Ludeon Studios
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 59.1 hrsMean: 259.4 hrs≥1hr: 92%
A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more.
Why similar: Colony Sim 51.2% ★, Sandbox 12.7%, Building 12.1%, Survival 9.7%, Strategy 7%
Why You'll Like It: While less voxel-focused, it is the gold standard for colony management, survival, and base building depth.
- #19 Hydroneer
84% matchVery Positive86% of 27,097 reviews2020
Dev: Foulball Hangover
Windows
Median: 7.1 hrsMean: 22.3 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Hydroneer is a mining and base building sandbox. Dig for gold and other resources to turn a profit and enhance your mining operation. Build a base of operations, forge weapons, go fishing, and dig deep!
Why similar: Building 27.5%, Sandbox 24.5%, Multiplayer 10.4%, Co-op 9.8%, Open World 9.1%
Why You'll Like It: This physics-based voxel game focuses on mining and building, capturing the tactile feel of manipulating a voxel world.
- #20 Kubifaktorium
84% matchVery Positive81% of 786 reviews2021
Dev: Neomateria Games GmbH
Windows · Linux
Median: 2.3 hrsMean: 6.7 hrs≥1hr: 62%
Build, manage and grow a thriving colony in Kubifaktorium. The game features different biomes to explore, plenty of resources to exploit, complex machinery to build and interesting production chains to master.
Why similar: Colony Sim 46.3% ★, Building 20.9%, Sandbox 8.9%, Crafting 7.8%, Voxel 7.2% ★
Why You'll Like It: A voxel-based automation and colony sim that focuses on building efficient supply chains and structures.
- #21 TerraTech
83% matchVery Positive91% of 24,455 reviews2018
Dev: Payload StudiosPub: Mythwright
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 8.2 hrsMean: 33.0 hrs≥1hr: 90%
TerraTech is an open-world, sandbox adventure game, where you design and build your own creations through a mix of crafting, combat and discovery. Design vehicles from a huge library of blocks. Scavenge, craft and buy new parts to survive and become the ultimate planetary prospector.
Why similar: Building 25.1%, Open World Survival Craft 25% ★, Sandbox 17.5%, Multiplayer 6.7%, Open World 6.6%
Why You'll Like It: It features modular building and physics-based combat, allowing you to design your own vehicles and bases.
- #22 Dig or Die
82% matchVery Positive90% of 4,268 reviews2018
Dev: Gaddy Games
Windows
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 12.3 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Crash land on a hostile planet where you'll have to build the strongest defenses if you wish to live to escape from it. But be warned... this planet is merciless. Build strong, and smart; else physics may flood or destroy your only hopes of survival.
Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 30% ★, Sandbox 17.3%, Survival 11.2%, Building 10%, Crafting 7.5%
Why You'll Like It: This game combines survival and base building with a heavy focus on defending against waves of enemies.
- #23 The Colonists
82% matchVery Positive86% of 1,205 reviews2018
Dev: CodebyfirePub: Mode 7
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 13.0 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Build a new home for your team of robots as they begin a new life for themselves on a distant planet where they can fulfil their ultimate dream: to be human.
Why similar: Colony Sim 44.2% ★, Building 20.1%, Sandbox 12.4%, Survival 8%, Strategy 6.5%
Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on building a settlement and managing complex production chains using cute robots.
- #24 Becastled
77% matchVery Positive82% of 5,494 reviews2025
Dev: Mana Potion Studios
Windows
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 6.8 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Build a castle by day and defend it by night. Becastled blends cozy city-building with challenging tower defense strategy. Lead the Sun Kingdom’s last stand against the Moon Beasts and end the ancient conflict between light and darkness!
Why similar: Colony Sim 43.3% ★, Building 22.8%, Strategy 15%, RTS 9.8%, Survival 4.5%
- #25 Embark
81% matchMixed61% of 386 reviews2019
Dev: Overly Complicated Games
Windows
Inspired by the deep simulation of Dwarf Fortress, the open world survival of Minecraft, and the social interactions of The Sims. Embark is a colony management game with a focus on complex simulation in a huge living 3D world.
Why similar: Colony Sim 54.4% ★, Building 12.1%, Sandbox 9.9%, Strategy 7.1%, Survival 5.9%
Why You'll Like It: A deep colony simulation that features voxel-based terrain and complex building mechanics.
- #26 Scrap Mechanic
79% matchVery Positive92% of 117,049 reviews2016
Dev: Axolot Games
Windows
Median: 11.1 hrsMean: 57.3 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Enter the creative paradise of Scrap Mechanic! Build fantastic machines, go on adventures with your friends and defend against waves of evil Farmbots in this imaginative multiplayer survival sandbox. With Scrap Mechanic’s powerful creation tools you can engineer your own adventures!
Why similar: Building 30.8%, Sandbox 20.8%, Survival 12.1%, Crafting 9.6%, Multiplayer 9.3%
Why You'll Like It: It offers a creative sandbox with physics-based building and engineering, perfect for those who love to construct complex machines.
- #27 Life is Feudal: Forest Village
81% matchMixed66% of 5,984 reviews2017
Dev: MindillusionPub: Bitbox Ltd.
Windows
Median: 2.5 hrsMean: 30.8 hrs≥1hr: 63%
LiF:Forest Village is a city builder with survival aspects in a realistic harsh medieval world. Shape, build and expand your settlement, grow various food to prevent your villagers from avitaminosis and starvation. Possess them for additional micromanagement or simply to wander around.
Why similar: Colony Sim 59.6% ★, Building 12.7%, Strategy 8.1%, Survival 6.7%, Sandbox 4.5%
Why You'll Like It: A realistic medieval colony sim that requires careful planning of buildings and resources to survive.
- #28 Songs of Syx
78% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 7,777 reviews2020
Dev: Gamatron AB
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 14.9 hrsMean: 41.2 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Songs of Syx is a fantasy city-builder with vast battles simulating thousands of citizens and soldiers. Start off as a small village and build, scheme, and fight your way towards a mighty empire. The mechanics are deep and true to life, where tiny events can spiral into the collapse of kingdoms.
Why similar: Colony Sim 43.2% ★, Building 18%, Sandbox 14.8%, Strategy 8.2%, Survival 7.9%
Why You'll Like It: It supports massive scale colony simulation with complex building and management systems.
- #29 Eco
79% matchVery Positive81% of 13,777 reviews2018
Dev: Strange Loop Games
Windows
Median: 16.8 hrsMean: 88.2 hrs≥1hr: 88%
Build a civilization of real people, working together to advance society and stop a meteor, all without destroying the ecosystem in the process.
Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 28.5% ★, Building 22.3%, Sandbox 17.5%, Survival 8.1%, Multiplayer 7.4%
Why You'll Like It: This voxel-based game focuses on collaborative building and survival, where structural engineering plays a key role.
- #30 Lord of Dwarves
80% matchMostly Positive79% of 75 reviews2020
Dev: Stellar Sage Games
Windows · Linux
Gather resources, craft weapons, and build a castle. Then defend your castle against monsters who will try to siege, sap, and smash their way in. All in a procedurally generated 3D block world that allows for extensive crafting and total construction and destruction of the terrain.
Why similar: Colony Sim 33.7% ★, Building 17%, Strategy 15.6%, Sandbox 13.4%, Survival 7.4%
Why You'll Like It: It focuses on building and managing a dwarf colony with a strong emphasis on strategy and defense.
- #31 Noble Fates
78% matchVery Positive83% of 1,455 reviews2021
Dev: Xobermon, LLC
Windows
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 12.5 hrs≥1hr: 72%
Harness your Demigod powers to lead a group from rags to riches in this 3D Fantasy Kingdom Management Sim with RPG elements. Command from the sky or take control in 3rd Person to BUILD, BATTLE, and RULE. Navigate a world of interesting Nobles, earn their respect, and decide their Fates.
Why similar: Colony Sim 47.7% ★, Building 18.2%, Sandbox 16.9%, Strategy 8.6%, Survival 7%
Why You'll Like It: This colony sim allows you to lead your people and build a kingdom with a focus on leadership and structural expansion.
- #32 Kingdom Two Crowns
77% matchVery Positive90% of 37,612 reviews2018
Dev: Stumpy🐙SquidPub: Raw Fury
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 6.5 hrsMean: 18.6 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Gather coins, build defenses and reclaim your fallen Kingdom. Explore and uncover secrets, unlock new technologies and protect your crown versus waves of Greed monsters that come at night. Kingdom is a solo or co-op micro-strategy and tower defense game set in an atmospheric pixel world.
Why similar: Colony Sim 36.2% ★, Building 19.2%, Tower Defense 14.9%, Survival 8%, Strategy 7.6%
- #33 Castle Craft
75% matchVery Positive87% of 359 reviews2025
Dev: Twin EarthPub: Astra Logical
Windows
Will your castle survive the relentless onslaught, or collapse under pressure? Build, manage resources, and outsmart your foes in a world where everything can be destroyed. Use strategy and creativity to turn the chaos into your greatest advantage!
Why similar: Building 22.2%, Sandbox 17.7%, Voxel 17.7% ★, Survival 16.9%, Tower Defense 12.7%
- #34 Mindustry
76% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 25,660 reviews2019
Dev: AnukenDev
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.9 hrsMean: 26.9 hrs≥1hr: 76%
An open-ended factory management game with RTS and tower defense elements.
Why similar: Building 21.7%, Tower Defense 20.6%, Sandbox 17.3%, Strategy 13.8%, Multiplayer 7.9%
- #35 Sengoku Voxel Castle With Zundamon
74% matchVery Positive95% of 112 reviews2024
Dev: KC Project
Windows
Build castles on voxel terrain based on real Japanese geographic data, and defeat over 1,000 samurai and ninja enemies. Shape the terrain freely using blocks. The game features over 100 technologies and buildings inspired by medieval Japanese history.
Why similar: Colony Sim 41.4% ★, Sandbox 16.4%, Tower Defense 12.3%, Voxel 10.5% ★, Strategy 9.8%
- #36 8-Bit Hordes
76% matchVery Positive81% of 533 reviews2016
Dev: Petroglyph
Windows
Median: 3.0 hrsMean: 5.9 hrs≥1hr: 77%
From the team that brought you 8-Bit Armies comes a new fantasy RTS as fast-paced and friendly as the original! 8-BIT HORDES is a colorful strategy-arcade game that is easy to learn for players of all skill levels. Collect resources, build up and defend your base, amass your army of orcs or humans and ultimately crush your opponents!
Why similar: Strategy 36.6%, RTS 21.8%, Building 13.8%, Voxel 9.7% ★, Multiplayer 9.3%
- #37 Stronghold HD (2012)
75% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 10,246 reviews2013
Dev: Firefly Studios
Windows
Median: 3.0 hrsMean: 18.4 hrs≥1hr: 81%
The original castle sim, Stronghold HD allows you to design, build and destroy historical castles. Engage in medieval warfare against the AI in one of two single player campaigns or online with up to 8 players.
Why similar: Colony Sim 39.1% ★, Building 18%, Sandbox 14.2%, Tower Defense 10.1%, RTS 7.5%
- #38 ASTRONEER
72% matchVery Positive92% of 136,711 reviews2019
Dev: System Era Softworks
Windows
Median: 11.7 hrsMean: 44.1 hrs≥1hr: 87%
Interact with strange new worlds in a unique and tactile way, molding the environment itself as if it were clay in your hands. Build your base, master resource management, automate your production lines, and more as you unravel the mysteries of the universe, alone or with friends.
Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 31.1% ★, Building 14.4%, Sandbox 13.5%, Survival 11.1%, Multiplayer 8.8%
- #39 CastleStorm
73% matchVery Positive89% of 1,616 reviews2013
Dev: Zen Studios
Windows
Median: 3.1 hrsMean: 5.3 hrs≥1hr: 80%
Welcome to the world of CastleStorm, a super genre mashup of 2D physics destruction mashed with tower defense brawler! CastleStorm was born out of the fond childhood memory of building and destroying LEGO castles.
Why similar: Tower Defense 36.7%, Strategy 24.8%, Co-op 11.3%, Multiplayer 9.8%, RTS 8.7%
- #40 Demon Castle Story
70% matchMostly Positive78% of 142 reviews2026
Dev: Kairosoft Co.,Ltd
Windows
Demon Castle Building Dungeon Management Simulation
Why similar: Colony Sim 54.3% ★, Strategy 16.8%, Tower Defense 14.2%, Building 8.1%, Simulation 4.1%
- #41 Castle Constructor
71% matchVery Positive81% of 73 reviews2024
Dev: Sisyphean Games
Windows
Build and defend using a modular system of castle blocks. Fend off enemies who will climb over and break through your defenses. Collect new blocks and research techs to improve their strengths. From lowly soldiers to powerful siege weapons; defeat them all as you strive to protect your kingdom.
Why similar: Building 42.1%, Tower Defense 33.1%, Strategy 22.4%, Singleplayer 1.8%, Casual 0.5%
- #42 Planetbase
73% matchMostly Positive80% of 10,262 reviews2015
Dev: Madruga Works
Windows · Mac
Median: 8.2 hrsMean: 26.2 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Guide a group of space settlers trying to establish a base on a remote planet. Grow food, collect energy, mine resources, survive disasters and build a self-sufficient colony in a harsh and unforgiving environment.
Why similar: Colony Sim 58% ★, Building 10.3%, Survival 9.7%, Strategy 9%, Sandbox 5.4%
- #43 The Universim
70% matchVery Positive80% of 10,483 reviews2024
Dev: Crytivo
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 7.3 hrsMean: 33.9 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Jump straight into managing your own planets as you guide a civilization through the ages. Build the ultimate empire in The Universim, a new breed of God Game in development by Crytivo.
Why similar: Colony Sim 46.1% ★, Building 19%, Sandbox 15.3%, Survival 8.2%, Strategy 6.1%
- #44 Thronefall
68% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 22,563 reviews2024
Dev: GrizzlyGamesPub: Mythwright
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.9 hrsMean: 8.4 hrs≥1hr: 83%
A minimalist game about building and defending your little kingdom.
Why similar: Tower Defense 37.9%, Building 32.9%, Strategy 26.3%, Indie 1.6%, Singleplayer 1.2%
- #45 Planet Explorers
73% matchMixed62% of 6,817 reviews2016
Dev: Pathea Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 12.8 hrs≥1hr: 73%
Planet Explorers is an open world sandbox adventure RPG game set on a distant planet. The game uses a new OpenCL calculated voxel system to allow players to change the terrain in any way, create new objects such as weapons, vehicles, objects, and do it anywhere.
Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 33% ★, Sandbox 20%, Building 12.8%, Survival 7.8%, Open World 7.3%
- #46 Timber and Stone
74% matchMixed49% of 863 reviews2015
Dev: Games by Robert, LLC
Windows
Median: 2.4 hrsMean: 12.7 hrs≥1hr: 71%
Timber and Stone is a procedural city building game set in a medieval fantasy world. With over one-hundred resources to gather and craft, Timber and Stone has the feel of a real time strategy game, but with much more depth and complexity.
Why similar: Sandbox 31.1%, Survival 28.1%, Strategy 24.3%, Crafting 11.5%, Indie 4.3%
- #47 8-Bit Armies
71% matchVery Positive82% of 2,459 reviews2016
Dev: Petroglyph
Windows
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 7.8 hrs≥1hr: 84%
8-Bit Armies is a retro Real-Time Strategy game. With a colorful, blocky voxel art style, 8-Bit Armies is Petroglyph's most fast-paced, friendly, and accessible RTS game to date. Featuring a campaign of 25 single-player missions, 12 co-op missions, multiplayer and skirmish modes.
Why similar: Strategy 36.3%, RTS 21.8%, Multiplayer 11.9%, Voxel 11.9% ★, Co-op 7.5%
- #48 Guardians of the Sanctree
68% matchMostly Positive76% of 368 reviews2024
Dev: HuCang Studio
Windows
You and allies, avian inhabitants of Sanctree City, build structures and production lines on the tree, crafting weapons to fend off subterranean insects. Defense is just the start—dig deeper, destroy nests, fortify new defenses against escalating threats for an impregnable stronghold.
Why similar: Colony Sim 32% ★, Open World Survival Craft 16.9% ★, Building 14.4%, Sandbox 11.7%, Tower Defense 9.4%
- #49 Blockscape
72% matchMixed46% of 898 reviews2014
Dev: ioneo
Windows
Median: 1.0 hrsMean: 8.5 hrs≥1hr: 49%
The ultimate block building game.
Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 39.1% ★, Sandbox 17.8%, Building 13.4%, Survival 6.6%, Crafting 5.4%
- #50 LEGO® Worlds
69% matchMostly Positive78% of 15,565 reviews2017
Dev: TT GamesPub: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Windows
Median: 2.6 hrsMean: 13.5 hrs≥1hr: 71%
Experience a galaxy of Worlds made entirely from LEGO bricks. EXPLORE gigantic landscapes, DISCOVER countless surprises, and CREATE anything you can imagine by building with LEGO bricks.
Why similar: Building 36.4%, Sandbox 28.5%, Open World 12.1%, Multiplayer 11.8%, Co-op 4.2%
- #51 Stronghold: Definitive Edition
66% matchVery Positive86% of 9,888 reviews2023
Dev: Firefly Studios
Windows
Median: 4.1 hrsMean: 10.2 hrs≥1hr: 79%
Greetings sire! Your stronghold awaits you. Build a castle economy, besiege unforgettable villains and return to the 'castle sim' that started it all. Experience this classic RTS with upgraded visuals, modernised gameplay, Steam multiplayer and a new campaign.
Why similar: Colony Sim 35.4% ★, Building 16.9%, Sandbox 13.5%, Strategy 9.2%, Tower Defense 8.9%
- #52 Factorio
66% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 227,071 reviews2020
Dev: Wube Software LTD.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 44.8 hrsMean: 188.9 hrs≥1hr: 95%
Factorio is a game about building and creating automated factories to produce items of increasing complexity, within an infinite 2D world. Use your imagination to design your factory, combine simple elements into ingenious structures, and finally protect it from the creatures who don't really like you.
Why similar: Sandbox 26.1%, Building 17.9%, Crafting 11.7%, Survival 10.6%, Strategy 10.5%
- #53 Creativerse
68% matchMostly Positive78% of 30,868 reviews2017
Dev: Playful Corp.
Windows
Median: 2.0 hrsMean: 15.5 hrs≥1hr: 63%
A sandbox adventure game as big as your imagination.
Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 23.1% ★, Building 18%, Sandbox 14.3%, Voxel 8.7% ★, Survival 8.4%
- #54 Cubic Castles
69% matchMostly Positive74% of 4,272 reviews2014
Dev: Cosmic Cow LLC
Windows
Median: 42 minMean: 9.7 hrs≥1hr: 44%
Your blocks, your castle, your world! Build anything you can dream up and explore with other players! Cubic Castles is a mini-MMO that combines the best of block-building and 3D platform action! Create fantastic parkour challenges, explore worlds made by other players, or even make friend!
Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 31.3% ★, Building 23.6%, Sandbox 15.7%, Multiplayer 7.6%, Open World 6.2%
- #55 AColony
67% matchVery Positive89% of 134 reviews2023
Dev: ZeroTris
Windows
A colony building game with an emphasis on unexpected events, online co-op, and managing a unique community. Build your colony, feed your colonists, research technologies, craft advanced weapons, explore the world, fight enemies and defend your property.
Why similar: Colony Sim 47.4% ★, Building 19%, Survival 9.9%, Crafting 7.1%, Strategy 6.7%
- #56 Voxel Turf
67% matchVery Positive88% of 575 reviews2017
Dev: L Twigger
Windows · Linux
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 13.3 hrs≥1hr: 68%
Voxel Turf is a block based urban sandbox. Build cities, blow up buildings, complete missions or fight for territory. Build a real estate empire, or perhaps just drive around and blow stuff up. Its your choice!
Why similar: Sandbox 29.9%, Voxel 16.1% ★, Strategy 15.2%, Building 15%, Open World 9.9%
- #57 Phoenix Hope
67% matchMixed61% of 170 reviews2021
Dev: Honorable Pixel
Windows
Phoenix Hope is a pixel art 2D real-time, side-view strategy game in which you must develop your colony during the day and repel waves of monsters at night.
Why similar: Colony Sim 41% ★, Building 15.7%, Tower Defense 10.7%, Strategy 10.5%, Survival 10%
- #58 Astro Colony
65% matchVery Positive82% of 2,509 reviews2022
Dev: Terad Games
Windows
Median: 4.7 hrsMean: 16.3 hrs≥1hr: 78%
Explore endless Universe and create the most efficient constellation of colonies. Build conveyor systems to automate production. Take care of Astronauts and their needs! Establish new colonies as part of intergalactic simulation.
Why similar: Colony Sim 42% ★, Building 17.3%, Sandbox 11.6%, Strategy 7.6%, Multiplayer 7%
- #59 Airborne Empire
63% matchVery Positive91% of 688 reviews2025
Dev: The Wandering Band LLCPub: Stray Fawn Publishing
Windows
Median: 2.1 hrsMean: 6.9 hrs≥1hr: 62%
Build your sky city while exploring a vast landscape in this Open World RPG City Builder. Combining the methodical construction and management of a city builder; the unique lift, balance, and propulsion needed for a flying city; and the compelling characters, dangers, and adventures of an RPG!
Why similar: Colony Sim 38.5% ★, Building 17.9%, Sandbox 13.6%, Tower Defense 7.6%, RTS 5.6%