- #1 Dwarf Fortress
97% 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 30.8% ★, Base Building 18.4%, Building 14%, Management 13.7%, Simulation 5.9%
Why You'll Like It: The definitive dwarven colony simulator that offers unparalleled depth in mining, management, and simulation.
- #2 RimWorld
96% 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 38.7% ★, Base Building 22.3%, Management 11.7%, Building 9%, Procedural Generation 7.4%
Why You'll Like It: A premier colony management game that focuses on survival, base building, and complex character interactions.
- #3 Clanfolk
96% matchVery Positive92% of 3,737 reviews2022
Dev: MinMax Games Ltd.Pub: Hooded Horse
Windows
Median: 3.8 hrsMean: 17.3 hrs≥1hr: 68%
Clanfolk is a colony sim set in the Scottish Highlands. Harness your environment to survive - fish, gather, hunt, and farm as you prepare for the winter. Build an inn, trade with other clans, have children and marry them off - live life and prosper across the generations.
Why similar: Colony Sim 41.9% ★, Crafting 20.9%, Building 19.4%, Simulation 8.7%, RPG 7.3%
Why You'll Like It: A survival-focused colony sim that emphasizes resource management and adaptation to harsh environments.
- #4 Oxygen Not Included
95% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 138,890 reviews2019
Dev: Klei Entertainment
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 8.9 hrsMean: 67.7 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Oxygen Not Included is a space-colony simulation game. Deep inside an alien space rock your industrious crew will need to master science, overcome strange new lifeforms, and harness incredible space tech to survive, and possibly, thrive.
Why similar: Colony Sim 39% ★, Base Building 22.2%, Resource Management 12.8%, Building 10.2%, Management 7.7%
Why You'll Like It: Shares the vertical mining and complex automation mechanics that make managing a subterranean base challenging.
- #5 Songs of Syx
94% 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 33.4% ★, Base Building 17.8%, Economy 16.5%, Building 13.7%, Fantasy 6%
Why You'll Like It: Features large-scale colony management with deep simulation of economy and population logistics.
- #6 Factory Town
94% matchVery Positive91% of 4,419 reviews2021
Dev: Erik Asmussen
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 14.1 hrs≥1hr: 76%
Build, automate, and optimize a giant factory on 3D terrain using conveyor belts, trains, chutes, pipes, and airships. Sell your goods to nearby villages to expand their borders, increase happiness, and unlock even better technology!
Why similar: Automation 18.9%, Colony Sim 17.9% ★, Base Building 13.3%, Resource Management 9.9%, Crafting 9.4%
Why You'll Like It: Focuses on logistics and automation in a sandbox environment, perfect for players who enjoy the production aspect of Hammerting.
- #7 Captain of Industry
92% matchVery Positive91% of 10,408 reviews2022
Dev: MaFi Games
Windows
Median: 9.7 hrsMean: 80.7 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Build an industrial empire on a remote island. Mine resources, reshape terrain with excavators, grow food, construct factories, lay train tracks, and trade with the outside world. Research 100+ technologies to advance from basic metal smelting all the way to nuclear power and space flight.
Why similar: Automation 22.2%, Base Building 14.8%, Resource Management 12.1%, Economy 10.5%, Colony Sim 10.2% ★
Why You'll Like It: Offers deep automation and complex resource management for building massive production chains.
- #8 Craft The World
93% 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 41.9% ★, Crafting 19.8%, Building 19.1%, Resource Management 5.8%, Strategy 4.6%
Why You'll Like It: A side-scrolling dwarven colony sim that mirrors the mining, crafting, and building loop of the seed game.
- #9 Going Medieval
90% 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 25.6% ★, Base Building 15.2%, Economy 14.9%, Management 11.2%, Crafting 10.6%
Why You'll Like It: Provides vertical base building and colony management in a historical setting with deep structural mechanics.
- #10 Mountaincore
91% matchMixed66% of 253 reviews2025
Dev: Rocket Jump Technology
Windows · Mac · Linux
Settle an untamed wilderness with the might of Dwarven engineering and thoughtful planning! Design and build your colony towards fame and fortune in a deeply-simulated fantasy world. Chill out in peaceful mode with a bustling settlement, or fight for survival against monsters and invasions!
Why similar: Colony Sim 29.5% ★, Base Building 15.5%, Management 12.4%, Building 11.5%, Crafting 11.5%
Why You'll Like It: A dedicated dwarven colony simulator that places a heavy emphasis on management and survival.
- #11 Timberborn
89% 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 29.5% ★, Automation 22%, Base Building 15.4%, Building 12.4%, Management 11.9%
Why You'll Like It: Focuses on vertical building and water management, offering a unique twist on the colony-sim genre.
- #12 Odd Realm
91% matchVery Positive85% of 992 reviews2024
Dev: Unknown Origin Games Inc
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 1.6 hrsMean: 6.9 hrs≥1hr: 56%
Forge a new kingdom in a land recovering from the Fracture. Which of the surviving races will you lead to rebuild, explore, and conquer the unknown? The dwindling yet immortal Ancients? The bold and resourceful Humans? The life stealing Ardyn? Or the secretive Gwdir who shape living groves?
Why similar: Colony Sim 31.8% ★, Base Building 18%, Management 12.5%, Crafting 11.3%, Procedural Generation 10.1%
Why You'll Like It: A voxel-based colony sim that emphasizes mining, exploration, and survival in a procedurally generated world.
- #13 Autonauts
89% matchVery Positive90% of 4,915 reviews2019
Dev: DenkiPub: Curve Games
Windows
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 14.0 hrs≥1hr: 86%
In Autonauts you must build, create, and automate. Start by establishing a colony, crafting bots and teaching them via Scratch-style programming to build an ever evolving autonomous paradise of agriculture, industry and enlightenment.
Why similar: Automation 27%, Colony Sim 20.9% ★, Base Building 13.8%, Crafting 8.8%, Resource Management 7.4%
Why You'll Like It: Introduces programming-based automation to colony management, allowing for highly efficient resource gathering.
- #14 Stonedeep
88% matchMixed46% of 104 reviews2021
Dev: Direfang
Windows
Stonedeep is an 2.5D underground city builder. Dwarfs gather resources, build and fend off monsters. Colonies can specialize in culture, production, military and trading. At start, dwarfs need drinks and rest. With a higher civilization level, they will increase their needs.
Why similar: Colony Sim 23.5% ★, Base Building 15.2%, Resource Management 10.4%, Automation 10.3%, Building 9.9%
Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the core loop of mining and colony survival with a classic management feel.
- #15 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 38.7% ★, Base Building 16.4%, Building 10.2%, Management 6.8%, Economy 6.6%
Why You'll Like It: A colony sim that emphasizes building, simulation, and managing the needs of your settlers.
- #16 Anvil Saga
86% matchMostly Positive71% of 1,787 reviews2023
Dev: Pirozhok StudioPub: HeroCraft PC
Windows
Median: 3.8 hrsMean: 7.7 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Anvil Saga is a management sim with RPG elements where you take control of a blacksmith shop amidst the Hundred Years' War. Each decision you make impacts the story and gameplay.
Why similar: Colony Sim 20.1% ★, Base Building 14.2%, Management 12.4%, Economy 12%, Crafting 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: Focuses on blacksmithing management and crafting, mirroring the production-heavy gameplay of the seed game.
- #17 Stranded: Alien Dawn
84% matchVery Positive85% of 10,890 reviews2023
Dev: Haemimont GamesPub: Paradox Interactive
Windows
Median: 7.0 hrsMean: 24.2 hrs≥1hr: 87%
Brave a new world in Stranded: Alien Dawn, a planet survival sim placing the fate of a small marooned group in your hands. Forge your story through compelling and immersive strategic gameplay as you make vital decisions to protect your survivors.
Why similar: Base Building 23.1%, Colony Sim 23% ★, Crafting 12.1%, Inventory Management 10.3%, Management 8.8%
Why You'll Like It: A 3D survival colony sim with robust base building and resource management mechanics.
- #18 Mercury Fallen
85% matchMostly Positive79% of 307 reviews2023
Dev: Nitrous ButterflyPub: indie.io
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 5.3 hrs≥1hr: 87%
A sci-fi colony management sim with a focus on exploration, expansion, and survival. Rebuild your underground facility, manage colonists and robots, and uncover the mysteries of an alien world light-years from Earth. Dig deep, expand across the surface, and shape your new home.
Why similar: Colony Sim 21.7% ★, Mining 19.3% ★, Base Building 12.8%, Management 9.9%, Building 9.6%
Why You'll Like It: Features sci-fi colony management with a strong focus on exploration, mining, and base expansion.
- #19 Necesse
81% matchVery Positive93% of 26,780 reviews2025
Dev: Fair Games ApS
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 5.8 hrsMean: 14.6 hrs≥1hr: 79%
Build, quest, and conquer across an infinite procedurally generated world. Play alone or with friends as you establish a settlement and explore deep dungeons, fight monsters and bosses, mine rare ores, craft magical equipment, recruit specialists for your colony, and more!
Why similar: Automation 25.7%, Crafting 22.1%, Base Building 21.5%, Building 18.6%, RPG 6.6%
Why You'll Like It: Combines colony management with top-down exploration, mining, and combat in a persistent 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 20.1% ★, Automation 17.4%, Economy 11%, Base Building 9.9%, Building 8.9%
Why You'll Like It: A colony sim that emphasizes automation and crafting, providing a satisfying progression loop.
- #21 First Feudal
83% 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 26.1% ★, Base Building 15.1%, Resource Management 11.3%, Building 11.1%, Crafting 10.5%
Why You'll Like It: A colony management game with a strong focus on base building and resource gathering.
- #22 Blacksmith Master
80% matchVery Positive84% of 2,485 reviews2025
Dev: Untitled StudioPub: Hooded Horse
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 6.1 hrsMean: 12.4 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Manage your own medieval smithy in Blacksmith Master and supervise the entire process from mining ores and gems to designing and selling finished products. Forge everything from weapons and armor to tools and cooking utensils to fund your craft and become the Blacksmith Master.
Why similar: Colony Sim 25.4% ★, Base Building 15.4%, Economy 14.1%, Building 11.5%, Resource Management 11.4%
Why You'll Like It: A management game centered on crafting and production chains in a medieval setting.
- #23 Noble Fates
82% 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 32.7% ★, Base Building 18.2%, Management 12.4%, Building 12.3%, Procedural Generation 9%
Why You'll Like It: Blends colony management with RPG-style decision-making and character-driven narratives.
- #24 Aven Colony
82% matchMostly Positive72% of 2,731 reviews2017
Dev: Mothership Entertainment LLCPub: Team17 Digital Ltd
Windows
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 8.2 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Build a new home for humanity in Aven Colony. Discover Aven Prime - an alien planet of deserts, tundras, and wetlands light years from earth. Build your colonies into massive, sprawling cities whilst dealing with the challenges faced when settling on a new world.
Why similar: Colony Sim 56.3% ★, Base Building 17.8%, Strategy 8.7%, Simulation 7.6%, Resource Management 4.7%
Why You'll Like It: A city-builder that incorporates colony management and survival elements on an alien planet.
- #25 Mind Over Magic
78% matchVery Positive87% of 4,302 reviews2025
Dev: SparkypantsPub: Klei Publishing
Windows
Median: 4.8 hrsMean: 20.8 hrs≥1hr: 79%
Mind Over Magic is a colony sim set at the site of a cursed magic school. Build and optimize your own magical academy, train powerful Mages, and master mighty relics in order to battle through the Underschool, a mysterious underground dungeon that holds the key to liberation from a deadly curse.
Why similar: Colony Sim 22.6% ★, Base Building 12.2%, Economy 11.6%, Building 10.5%, Management 9.9%
Why You'll Like It: A management game with a focus on building and simulation within a magical academy setting.
- #26 Automation Empire
81% matchMixed66% of 2,635 reviews2019
Dev: DOG HOGGLER
Windows
Median: 8.0 hrsMean: 19.5 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Build and manage a massive industrial network of factories, mines, and farms. Employ a fleet of trains, trucks, and robotic drones. In the age of automation, efficiency is survival!
Why similar: Automation 21.9%, Base Building 14.5%, Mining 11.3% ★, Economy 10.3%, Building 8.8%
Why You'll Like It: Focuses on large-scale automation and logistics, perfect for players who want to optimize their resource flow.
- #27 Astro Colony
79% 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 22.8% ★, Automation 21%, Base Building 17.8%, Resource Management 11%, Building 9.2%
Why You'll Like It: A space-themed colony sim that emphasizes automation and building in a zero-gravity environment.
- #28 Little Big Workshop
79% matchVery Positive84% of 3,350 reviews2019
Dev: Mirage Game StudiosPub: HandyGames
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 8.1 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Manage your workers, stations, machines and create awesome stuff as your little big workshop grows into your dream factory!
Why similar: Automation 17.2%, Management 14%, Economy 13.1%, Building 12.5%, Resource Management 12%
Why You'll Like It: A management game centered on production and logistics within a miniature factory setting.
- #29 Surviving Ceres
78% matchVery Positive87% of 137 reviews2025
Dev: Ryan SaundersPub: One Man Media
Windows
Explore a handcrafted survival game with an emphasis on crafting and base building. Export manufactured goods to earn funding, manage colonists, defend against hostile aliens, and work towards terraforming Ceres from a frozen ball of ice to a tropical paradise.
Why similar: Colony Sim 28.4% ★, Base Building 15.6%, Crafting 14.2%, Building 13.4%, Management 11%
Why You'll Like It: A survival-focused colony management game that requires careful resource allocation.
- #30 Microtopia
77% matchVery Positive88% of 903 reviews2025
Dev: Cordyceps CollectivePub: Goblinz Publishing
Windows
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 9.2 hrs≥1hr: 74%
Become the hive mind of a robot ant colony in Microtopia! Use pheromone trails to create, automate and optimize supply chains for your ants to follow. Collect resources, produce goods, feed your queen, grow your colony and fly out to expand the species!
Why similar: Colony Sim 21.3% ★, Automation 17.3%, Base Building 11.7%, Resource Management 9.5%, Crafting 9%
- #31 Orebound
76% matchMostly Positive78% of 849 reviews2024
Dev: Emberforge
Windows
Median: 4.1 hrsMean: 10.9 hrs≥1hr: 80%
Orebound is a voxel, factory, automation game set in a first person open-world. The King has tasked you to locate the elusive Emberstone. Go forth and use your Dwarven prowess and knowledge to mine, craft and automate through anything standing in your way - Build up or dig down! How far will you go?
Why similar: Mining 21.5% ★, Automation 18.9%, Base Building 12.4%, Crafting 10.7%, Resource Management 10.3%
- #32 Illuminaria
77% matchVery Positive83% of 76 reviews2022
Dev: Selva Interactive
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.0 hrsMean: 3.9 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Command a swarm of intelligent robots in their quest to save the world. Mine resources, manage, and defend multiple bases. Go on expeditions, fight in auto-battles, research new technologies, and create your army of golems to bring back the light.
Why similar: Mining 17.7% ★, Colony Sim 14.1% ★, Automation 13.1%, Base Building 12.6%, Resource Management 8.9%
- #33 GeoDepths
76% matchVery Positive87% of 298 reviews2023
Dev: A Little More Games
Windows
Pilot your drill deep below the surface of a remote planet, to mine ore to refine into resources, which will be used in drill upgrades and construction of your homebase. Upgrades will allow you to drill deeper to find more types of ores. Explore caves to uncover mysteries and secrets.
Why similar: Mining 28.3% ★, Automation 18%, Base Building 15.7%, Resource Management 13.3%, Crafting 10.2%
- #34 Moose Miners
73% matchMixed68% of 514 reviews2024
Dev: Lingon Studios
Windows
Median: 13.7 hrsMean: 146.1 hrs≥1hr: 96%
Take control of a mining operation run by moose. They mine and sell the gems. You need to decide where to spend the profits. Hire more miners and upgrade their gear. Buy new rails and minecarts to get deeper into the mine. The deeper you get the more valuable gems you will find.
Why similar: Mining 19.8% ★, Colony Sim 15.5% ★, Automation 12.9%, Economy 10.4%, Base Building 8.7%
- #35 Incremental Town RPG
74% matchMixed60% of 96 reviews2024
Dev: Overaction Game Studio
Windows · Mac · Linux
Incremental Town RPG lets you build and manage a thriving village. Master resource management, develop a robust economy, and enjoy a relaxing experience as you equip your settlement to conquer new lands and challenges!
Why similar: Colony Sim 19.5% ★, Mining 16.4% ★, Automation 13.4%, Base Building 12.3%, Resource Management 9.2%
- #36 The Crust
72% matchMostly Positive77% of 3,397 reviews2024
Dev: VEOM StudioPub: Crytivo
Windows
Median: 7.0 hrsMean: 22.5 hrs≥1hr: 83%
Automate a lunar base as you become the savior of humanity exploring the future on the moon. Mine, craft, research, and trade resources with Earth in this gripping narrative basebuilder.
Why similar: Colony Sim 24.5% ★, Automation 20.6%, Base Building 15.8%, Resource Management 11%, Building 9%
- #37 Survival Vacancy
75% matchMixed64% of 88 reviews2021
Dev: Mind Leak
Windows · Mac · Linux
In a nuclear apocalypse, you have to use your engineering skills to save as many survivors as possible. Defending, mining, crafting, creating production lines, and building an underground city for the survivors is your goal in this 2d side-scrolling automation game.
Why similar: Colony Sim 19.3% ★, Automation 13.5%, Mining 11.6% ★, Inventory Management 10.1%, Base Building 9.5%
- #38 Island Idle RPG
74% matchMixed67% of 94 reviews2022
Dev: Overaction Game Studio
Windows · Mac · Linux
Lead the Balgairs - mercenaries creatures and experts in the art of hard working - manage the workforce, inputs, capital, other resources and help provide all the equipment and weaponry needed to defeat bosses in distant Dungeons
Why similar: Colony Sim 21.7% ★, Base Building 13.9%, Automation 13.8%, Resource Management 10.3%, Economy 9.9%
- #39 Dawn Apart
71% matchMostly Positive73% of 239 reviews2025
Dev: Industrial Technology and WitchcraftPub: Astra Logical
Windows
Dawn Apart is a space colony and factory sim with fully destructible environments. Mine, automate, and defend your settlers, or lead a rebellion against the very corporation pulling your strings…
Why similar: Colony Sim 31.6% ★, Automation 24.9%, Base Building 18.3%, Crafting 12.2%, Strategy 4.7%
- #40 Spellcaster University
72% matchVery Positive83% of 4,213 reviews2021
Dev: Sneaky Yak Studio
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 7.5 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Develop a prestigious university of mages. Build rooms, train your students, fight orcs, slay the bureaucrats, manage your budget... a director's life is not a quiet one.
Why similar: Colony Sim 31% ★, Base Building 18.3%, Economy 16.8%, Management 13.1%, Resource Management 9.4%
- #41 Diggles: The Myth of Fenris
73% matchVery Positive89% of 643 reviews2020
Dev: Spieleentwicklungskombinat GmbHPub: SNEG
Windows
Median: 4.1 hrsMean: 8.2 hrs≥1hr: 85%
It`s impossible to refuse to help Odin when he asks to find his pet, Fenris, the hound of Hell. A mix of cinematic adventure and a colony building strategy that will take you deep down to the underground world of dwarfs.
Why similar: Mining 26.2% ★, Colony Sim 25.4% ★, Economy 10.4%, Management 8.8%, 2.5D 7.8%
- #42 Stonehearth
73% 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 52.3% ★, Building 18.1%, Crafting 9.5%, Strategy 6.3%, Simulation 4.7%
- #43 Embark
75% 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 44.6% ★, Base Building 19%, Building 9.7%, Crafting 8.9%, Management 6.5%
- #44 Settlement Survival
70% matchVery Positive86% of 7,842 reviews2022
Dev: Gleamer StudioPub: Team17
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 10.8 hrs≥1hr: 80%
In this city-building game, you will lead a group of survivors in their search for a new home. Manipulate the landscape, manage limited supplies, plant crops, hunt wildlife, gather resources, and develop trade routes to build a bustling and unique town.
Why similar: Colony Sim 30.8% ★, Building 14.8%, Management 12.7%, Base Building 10.7%, Economy 10.5%
- #45 Lords and Villeins
71% matchMostly Positive71% of 951 reviews2022
Dev: Honestly GamesPub: Fulqrum Publishing
Windows
Median: 1.2 hrsMean: 15.5 hrs≥1hr: 54%
Build a prosperous settlement in a unique simulation of a feudal economy - each family runs their shop, owns their goods, and trades with other villagers in a free market. You will manage the land, build houses, organise events, set taxes, and balance supply and demand while engaging in diplomacy!
Why similar: Colony Sim 31.7% ★, Economy 13.1%, Management 13%, Building 11.6%, Crafting 9.7%
- #46 Laysara: Summit Kingdom
67% matchVery Positive83% of 1,314 reviews2026
Dev: Quite OK GamesPub: Future Friends Games
Windows
Median: 2.1 hrsMean: 4.5 hrs≥1hr: 67%
Build and expand your very own settlements in high mountains! Carefully plan production chains and satisfy various needs of your three-caste society while dealing with mountain hazards such as weather breakdowns and avalanches. Are you skilled enough to make your town thrive?
Why similar: Colony Sim 22.1% ★, Automation 15.4%, Base Building 12.5%, Economy 10.6%, Resource Management 10.5%
- #47 Hydroneer
69% 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: Mining 28% ★, Automation 21.8%, Base Building 16.9%, Building 10.5%, Resource Management 9.8%
- #48 Builderment
70% matchMixed66% of 119 reviews2023
Dev: Builderment LLC
Windows · Mac
Builderment is a casual factory builder, where you are sent to far away planets to keep Earth going with fresh resources. Establish your base, then mine, build, transport, and ultimately design an automated operation that will save your home one shipment at a time!
Why similar: Automation 27%, Base Building 18.6%, Crafting 14%, Resource Management 13.1%, Building 11.3%
- #49 After the Collapse
70% matchMostly Positive78% of 209 reviews2022
Dev: Anarkis Gaming
Windows
ATC is a base building game set in a post-apocalyptic world featuring urban environments. Build a base across several layers with dozens of survivors. Fight other factions for the control of the remaining production centers and explore the world to find long forgotten resources and technologies.
Why similar: Colony Sim 31.7% ★, Base Building 18.3%, Management 12.5%, Crafting 9.9%, Procedural Generation 9.1%
- #50 Dungeon Overseer
71% matchMixed54% of 50 reviews2021
Dev: Ripknot
Windows
Dungeon Overseer is a colony simulator with a focus on base building and resource management. Become the Overseer by building a unique dungeon layout, constructing your lair, upgrading and expanding, questing, crafting, researching, recruiting, defending your base, and raiding.
Why similar: Colony Sim 26.9% ★, Base Building 15.8%, Economy 15.2%, Building 10.5%, Resource Management 10.2%
- #51 Grim Realms
68% matchMostly Positive80% of 425 reviews2024
Dev: Edym Pixels
Windows
A dark fantasy colony sim - will your colony end the Dread Storm and redeem mankind, or will they harness the dark powers for themselves? Guide your villagers as they struggle to stay alive in a world overrun by the undead.
Why similar: Colony Sim 28.9% ★, Base Building 16.1%, Crafting 13%, Economy 9.9%, Building 9.8%
- #52 Settlements Rising
67% matchVery Positive82% of 412 reviews2025
Dev: The Catalyst Crew
Windows
Settlements Rising is a medieval city building and colony management game. It offers a lively colony experience with simulated villagers, dozens of professions and resources, natural disasters, and raids, while providing full control over the colony through trade, production chains and datas.
Why similar: Colony Sim 29.3% ★, Base Building 11.9%, Resource Management 11.7%, Building 10.4%, Management 9.6%
- #53 Facteroids
69% matchVery Positive80% of 87 reviews2023
Dev: by Jan Zizka
Windows
Facteroids is a 3D factory building game about asteroid mining in space. Prospect, mine and manage your production lines in a variety of scenarios and procedurally generated worlds across the entire Solar system.
Why similar: Automation 19.8%, Mining 18.9% ★, Colony Sim 17.5% ★, Base Building 13.9%, Resource Management 10.5%
- #54 MineMogul
63% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 3,443 reviews2025
Dev: NoodleForge (Gvarados & Diomonder)Pub: NoodleForge
Windows
Median: 6.2 hrsMean: 12.2 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Design and build a factory deep underground in this physics-based automation sandbox. Mine resources, buy machines and master the chaos as you become the ultimate Mine Mogul!
Why similar: Mining 22.5% ★, Automation 20.9%, Base Building 11.7%, Building 10.6%, Crafting 9.4%
- #55 Good Company
68% matchMostly Positive74% of 1,764 reviews2022
Dev: Chasing Carrots
Windows
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 8.7 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Good Company is an in-depth management sim about building a trail-blazing tech corporation. Assemble complex production lines, manage employee logistics, and sell high-quality products on the market to become the best company in the whole county!
Why similar: Automation 19.6%, Economy 15%, Base Building 14.1%, Building 11.2%, Resource Management 11.1%
- #56 Microtopia: Prologue
66% matchVery Positive95% of 112 reviews2024
Dev: Cordyceps CollectivePub: Goblinz Publishing
Windows
Become the hive mind of a robot ant colony in this free version of Microtopia! Use pheromone trails to create, automate and optimize supply chains for your ants to follow. Collect resources, produce goods, feed your queen, grow your colony and fly out to expand the species!
Why similar: Colony Sim 22% ★, Automation 18.3%, Base Building 13%, Resource Management 9.9%, Crafting 9.8%
- #57 Cavern Adventurers
66% matchMixed66% of 119 reviews2025
Dev: Kairosoft Co.,Ltd
Windows
Build an underground network of caves in this fantasy-themed management sim.
Why similar: Colony Sim 46.2% ★, Mining 18% ★, Simulation 10.4%, Building 10%, Exploration 6.5%
- #58 MegaFactory Titan
67% matchMostly Positive78% of 140 reviews2022
Dev: Q Switched Productions, LLC
Windows · Mac · Linux
A factory-building game. Survive a harsh climate, strip mine an infinite world, and build a sprawling factory, then trade or go to war with Colonists, Governments, Pirates, Rebels, and more!
Why similar: Mining 19.6% ★, Automation 17.5%, Base Building 12%, Economy 10.4%, Building 10.2%
- #59 Lord of Dwarves
68% 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 18% ★, Automation 13.6%, Base Building 11.6%, Building 8.9%, Simulation 8.3%