Games Like Hobo: Tough Life

Nobody – The Turnaround is a life simulator set in a parallel world that echoes modern society. Manage your time and resources carefully, strive to find a way through difficult times, and overcome the predicament you find yourself in.

Why similar: Survival 29.5%, Open World 20.6%, Sandbox 16.3%, Realistic 15.5%, Simulation 9.8%

Why You'll Like It: A deep life-simulation game that captures the struggle of surviving in a modern city while working your way up from nothing.

Bum Simulator is a sandbox game bursting with inappropriate humor and memorable characters. You live on the streets of Bumsville. Do you have what it takes to adapt, survive and become an urban legend?

Why similar: Survival 17.8%, Open World 16.3%, Base Building 13%, Simulation 9.8%, Sandbox 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: A sandbox simulation that shares the same thematic focus on urban survival and the eccentricities of life on the streets.

CHANGE is an award nominated homeless survival experience set in a randomly created city with rogue-like elements. Explore, survive, earn perks, find items & kindness to develop your character & escape to a new life. Over 7 years of development & over 200 updates so far!

Why similar: Open World 28.2%, Survival 24.8%, Dialogue Heavy 20.5%, RPG 14.8%, Story Rich 11.7%

Why You'll Like It: A roguelite survival game that directly explores the challenges of living on the streets with a focus on time management and survival.

In This War Of Mine you do not play as an elite soldier, rather a group of civilians trying to survive in a besieged city; struggling with lack of food, medicine and constant danger from snipers and hostile scavengers. The game provides an experience of war seen from an entirely new angle.

Why similar: Survival 45.9%, Base Building 18.3%, Crafting 13.4%, Realistic 6.8%, Atmospheric 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: A somber, atmospheric survival game that forces you to make difficult moral choices while scavenging for supplies in a war-torn city.

In Home Behind, you take on the role of a refugee cast out from your homeland by a band of rebels. Your home and the peace you enjoyed has been destroyed, and your family has disappeared. Can you survive the struggle, famine, and sickness to make it to the safety of Europe?

Why similar: Survival 53.2%, RPG 23%, Simulation 11.1%, Adventure 10.8%, Atmospheric 1.8%

Why You'll Like It: A side-scrolling survival RPG that follows a refugee's journey, emphasizing resource management and the constant threat of starvation.

Experience the struggle which a homeless man goes through in a humorous manner. Primitive elements of contemporary life that we take for granted, such as staying warm, well-nourished, and hygienic, will become an issue.

Why similar: Base Building 36.4%, Survival 32.5%, Simulation 11.1%, Realistic 10.2%, Atmospheric 5.3%

Why You'll Like It: A management and survival game where you lead a group of homeless people, focusing on their needs and social hierarchy.

Become the best thief. Gather intel, steal things and sell them to buy hi-tech equipment. Do everything that a real thief does.

Why similar: Heist 26.2% ★, Open World 16.8%, Co-op 12.7%, Simulation 10.7%, First-Person 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: Provides a first-person urban simulation experience where you must carefully plan and execute heists to survive and progress.

Have you ever considered creating your own crime empire, without the legal and moral consequences? SIMULATE IT! Crawl into the dark alleys of the street business in this OG drug-dealing game, and make a fortune! A co-op sequel – DDS2 – is out NOW

Why similar: Open World 21%, Simulation 19.5%, Crafting 17.2%, Co-op 8.4%, Sandbox 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the gritty, illicit side of urban survival and the constant risk of being caught while trying to make a living.

Hunt, survive, build and lead in the harsh Middle Ages: Create your own Medieval Dynasty and ensure its long-lasting prosperity or die trying! Play alone or team up with friends to enjoy the ultimate medieval experience.

Why similar: Crafting 15.5%, Survival 13.5%, Base Building 13.3%, Open World 11.8%, Co-op 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: Combines survival and base-building mechanics with a focus on long-term development and managing the needs of a growing community.

Project Zomboid is the ultimate in zombie survival. Alone or in MP: you loot, build, craft, fight, farm and fish in a struggle to survive. A hardcore RPG skillset, a vast map, massively customisable sandbox and a cute tutorial raccoon await the unwary. So how will you die? All it takes is a bite..

Why similar: Survival 30.1%, Open World 19.1%, Multiplayer 10.9%, Sandbox 10.6%, Crafting 9%

Why You'll Like It: Offers an incredibly deep and punishing survival experience where scavenging for basic necessities is the key to staying alive.

Plunge into the open-world survival simulation set in the extreme conditions of the uncharted Amazon jungle. Use real-life survival techniques to craft, hunt, fight, and gather resources, set a makeshift shelter, or raise a fortress. Survive alone or team up with your friends and challenge the jungle together.

Why similar: Survival 20.9%, Multiplayer 11.9%, Open World 11.7%, Base Building 11%, Online Co-Op 10.4%

Why You'll Like It: A hardcore survival experience that forces you to manage your physical and mental health in an unforgiving wilderness.

A free-roaming squad based RPG. Focusing on open-ended sandbox gameplay features rather than a linear story. Be a trader, a thief, a rebel, a warlord, an adventurer, a farmer, a slave, or just food for the cannibals. Train your men up from puny victims to master warriors.

Why similar: Base Building 21%, Survival 18.9%, Open World 17.6%, Crafting 15.9%, Sandbox 13%

Why You'll Like It: A brutal sandbox RPG where you start as a nobody and must survive in a harsh, unforgiving world through scavenging and grit.

Get a taste of prison life! Become a prison guard and deal with dangerous convicts. Prison management, lots of daily activities. Will you become the best guard in history? Or maybe you'll turn into the worst scumbag this Prison has ever seen?

Why similar: Open World 17.4%, Dialogue Heavy 16%, Sandbox 13.5%, RPG 11.5%, Realistic 11.3%

Why You'll Like It: Offers a unique simulation perspective on life within a confined, high-stakes urban environment.

THE LONG DARK is a thoughtful, exploration-survival experience that challenges solo players to think for themselves as they explore an expansive frozen wilderness in the aftermath of a geomagnetic disaster. There are no zombies -- only you, the cold, and all the threats Mother Nature can muster.

Why similar: Survival 37.5%, Open World 22.8%, Crafting 11.1%, Sandbox 7.6%, First-Person 7%

Why You'll Like It: The definitive cold-weather survival game that perfectly captures the desperate need for warmth and food in a hostile environment.

The door to your robber’s career is waiting! Just crowbar the lock off and force your way through the threshold. Learn skills, collect tools and become a master of the thieving trade!

Why similar: Heist 30.9% ★, Open World 19.9%, First-Person 10%, Simulation 9.9%, Co-op 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: Refines the stealth and urban crime mechanics of the first game with more complex environments to navigate.

What turns a drug dealer into a drug lord? Find out in DDS2, a first-person co-op sim set in a dynamic open world. Make contacts, cook drugs, and manage your cartel on Isla Sombra, where power is the only law.

Why similar: Open World 17.2%, Crafting 12.8%, Multiplayer 11.1%, Sandbox 10.8%, Co-op 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: Expands on the urban crime simulation mechanics of the original with a larger open world to explore.

Welcome to SCUM, a ruthless open-world survival game where deep character customization defines the prisoner you become. Loot, craft, hunt, build, and fight to outlast a hostile island where every choice can change your fate. Stay alive. Stay dangerous. Become harder to kill.

Why similar: Survival 22.1%, Open World 20.4%, Crafting 14.9%, Online Co-Op 12%, Sandbox 11.6%

Why You'll Like It: A highly detailed survival game that features complex metabolism and crafting systems in an open-world setting.

Frostpunk is the first society survival game. As the ruler of the last city on Earth, it is your duty to manage both its citizens and infrastructure. What decisions will you make to ensure your society's survival? What will you do when pushed to breaking point? Who will you become in the process?

Why similar: Survival 61.2%, Base Building 27.8%, Simulation 6.6%, Atmospheric 4.4%

Why You'll Like It: A society survival game that emphasizes the struggle against extreme cold and the difficult decisions required to keep your people alive.

My Summer Car is the ultimate car owning, building, fixing, tuning, maintenance AND permadeath life survival simulator. You start the game with hundreds of loose parts and assemble both car and engine.

Why similar: Open World 26.7%, Survival 23.5%, Realistic 13%, Sandbox 9.7%, Simulation 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: A hardcore, realistic simulation that captures the grind of daily survival and maintenance in a challenging setting.

This is a multiplayer cooperative open world construction survival sandbox game, where you and your friends must find supplies and build shelters in this world. You have to keep an eye on your character's needs state at all times, a bad state is likely to lead to death.

Why similar: Survival 25.6%, Open World 19.9%, Crafting 13.1%, Multiplayer 10.8%, Co-op 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: A survival game with a heavy emphasis on crafting and base-building to protect yourself from the environment.

HumanitZ is an isometric, open-world sandbox survival game set in a world ended by a zombie outbreak. Survive alone or with friends by scavenging, crafting, building, and fighting to last as long as ‘humanly’ possible. You can’t change the past, but you can fight for the future of humanity.

Why similar: Survival 18.8%, Base Building 17.6%, Open World 15.5%, Crafting 12.4%, Sandbox 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: An open-world survival game that focuses on scavenging and base-building in a post-apocalyptic setting.

Raft™ throws you and your friends into an epic oceanic adventure! Alone or together, players battle to survive a perilous voyage across a vast sea! Gather debris, scavenge reefs and build your own floating home, but be wary of the man-eating sharks!

Why similar: Survival 24.5%, Multiplayer 12.6%, Co-op 12.2%, Base Building 11.7%, Crafting 11.4%

Why You'll Like It: A unique survival experience that centers on scavenging resources from the ocean to build and maintain a mobile base.

The dead have risen and civilization has fallen. Now it's up to you to gather survivors, scavenge for resources and build a community in a post-apocalyptic world – a world where you define what it means to survive in this ultimate zombie survival simulation.

Why similar: Survival 23.1%, Base Building 21.1%, Open World 19.2%, Multiplayer 9.6%, Co-op 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on base-building and community management in a world where resources are scarce and danger is constant.

Congratulations. The October labor lottery is complete. Your name was pulled. For immediate placement, report to the Ministry of Admission at Grestin Border Checkpoint. An apartment will be provided for you and your family in East Grestin. Expect a Class-8 dwelling.

Why similar: Simulation 48.3%, Story Rich 29.5%, Atmospheric 16.3%, Adventure 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: A dystopian document-thriller that highlights the crushing weight of poverty and the moral dilemmas of survival.

Subsistence is a sandbox, first person, solo or co-op, PvE open-world survival game. Struggle through changing seasons to build a base, develop technology and gear-up in the hostile environment. Defend yourself from wildlife, the elements and AI hunters (who also build bases in the world).

Why similar: Survival 24%, Crafting 15.7%, Open World 15.7%, Base Building 13.7%, Multiplayer 11.2%

Why You'll Like It: A challenging open-world survival game that emphasizes crafting and building to withstand the elements.

Don’t Starve is an uncompromising wilderness survival game full of science and magic. Enter a strange and unexplored world full of strange creatures, dangers, and surprises. Gather resources to craft items and structures that match your survival style.

Why similar: Survival 43.5%, Crafting 19.1%, Sandbox 13.3%, Open World 11.3%, Multiplayer 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: A stylized survival game that emphasizes constant scavenging and preparation to survive the changing seasons.

You’re out of jail, but the debt isn’t gone. Sneak, steal, and break into houses solo or in 4-player co-op. Use lockpicks, sleeping gas, and brute force to complete jobs, outsmart security, and make enough money before time runs out. Will you pay back what you owe, or lose everything?

Why similar: Heist 34.9% ★, Multiplayer 17.5%, Online Co-Op 17.3%, First-Person 8.4%, Simulation 8%

Welcome to Keplerth! Try to survive on a hostile alien planet in this 2D sandbox RPG, where you can choose to live alone or fight side by side with your friends in the online multiplayer mode. Survive, build, farm, fight, and explore your way to victory in this open-world adventure!

Why similar: Survival 22.4%, Open World 20.2%, Sandbox 16.1%, Base Building 10.7%, Multiplayer 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: A sandbox survival game that emphasizes exploration and crafting in a procedurally generated world.

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: Base Building 31.7%, Survival 24.9%, Open World 13.7%, Sandbox 13.5%, Story Rich 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: A colony management sim that focuses on the brutal reality of surviving against the elements and external threats.

VEIN is a post-apocalyptic survival multiplayer sandbox game. Gather supplies to survive, explore abandoned buildings, defend your home, and rebuild society, whether alone or with friends.

Why similar: Survival 19.3%, Base Building 17.3%, Open World 17.1%, Crafting 9.5%, Co-op 9.4%

The Wild Eight is an intense survival action-adventure set in the frozen wilderness of Alaska. Team up with friends in online co-op or go solo, explore the mysterious land, craft weapons and fight to live another day.

Why similar: Survival 27.6%, Open World 15%, Multiplayer 11.3%, Crafting 11%, Co-op 10.9%

Why You'll Like It: A survival game set in the frozen wilderness that requires careful resource management and cooperation to survive.

First-person homeless crime sandbox. Steal, drink, hallucinate and crush rival bums in chaotic online co-op.

Why similar: Survival 18.5%, Open World 16.6%, Co-op 15.3%, Multiplayer 12.9%, First-Person 8.6%

Homeless Simulator is a homeless person simulator. Homeless persons are those who find themselves living on the streets because of family conflicts, somebody’s fraud, loss of the job or health problems. They are those who need help.

Why similar: Survival 26.4%, Open World 20.6%, Sandbox 15.3%, Simulation 15.2%, First-Person 11.4%

Hard Times is an extreme urban survival game where you have to put yourself into the shoes of a homeless man, taking on all the challenges that daily survival places in the great metropolis of indifference.

Why similar: Simulation 27.5%, Survival 23.8%, Crafting 16.5%, Sandbox 15.3%, Action 11.9%

You have experienced the sudden loss of your wealth, which has compelled you to abandon your previous life and begin anew. By venturing into the game world, you can construct settlements and forge alliances with other players, ensuring that you will always have exciting challenges to undertake.

Why similar: Survival 14.9%, Base Building 14.5%, Open World 12.8%, Crafting 12.2%, Sandbox 9.5%

MISERY is a 1–10 player co-op survival game set in a nuclear disaster zone. Here, every day is a struggle: search radioactive ruins for resources, build your bunker, craft weapons, and explore a weird, procedurally-generated world with your friends. Beware of anomalies, monsters, and armed bandits.

Why similar: Survival 19.3%, Base Building 16.1%, Open World 14.6%, Online Co-Op 12.4%, Crafting 12.2%

Scavenge abandoned ruins, craft gear from scrap and salvaged materials, and fight the environment itself as hunger, exposure, and exhaustion push you to your limits. There are no second chances—only adaptation or death.

Why similar: Base Building 19.1%, Survival 18.3%, Open World 16%, Crafting 15.1%, Multiplayer 6.2%

Take over the duties of a border guard inspector in a communist country of the 80's. Smuggling, corruption and forgery are the order of the day here. Be vigilant and earn the respect of your superiors.

Why similar: Open World 28.4%, Survival 19.6%, Realistic 14.6%, First-Person 12%, Simulation 9.4%

Make a living for yourself in a city full of opportunity while you meet a variety of locals, explore unique locations, and work your way to the top in this open-world life simulator.

Why similar: Survival 20%, Open World 20%, Sandbox 14.9%, RPG 9.6%, Realistic 7.9%

Shrunk again, but the world is much larger. In this open-world, single-player or co-op survival adventure, craft weapons and armor, build your base, and traverse the playground on your buggy. But something else is out there—and it hasn’t forgotten you.

Why similar: Survival 19.4%, Base Building 16.2%, Open World 12.3%, Crafting 9.9%, Co-op 9.6%

Next Day is a multi-player SURVIVAL game with elements of RPG, in an imaginary country in Eastern Europe. Carry out an array of tasks, learn skills, and develop your character. Have shootouts with opponents and earn a reputation.

Why similar: Survival 31%, Open World 23.1%, Multiplayer 12.7%, Crafting 10.9%, Co-op 7.6%

The world is a vast, beautiful and dangerous place – especially when you have been shrunk to the size of an ant. Can you thrive alongside the hordes of giant insects, fighting to survive the perils of the backyard?

Why similar: Survival 22.6%, Base Building 17.3%, Multiplayer 11.2%, Co-op 11.2%, Crafting 10.8%

Experience the struggle which a homeless man goes through in a humorous manner. Primitive elements of contemporary life that we take for granted, such as staying warm, well-nourished, and hygienic, will become an issue.

Why similar: Base Building 42.9%, Survival 36.8%, Simulation 12.9%, 3D 7.4%

KeepUp Survival is an open-world base-building and exploration game set in a natural, abandoned world. Build, gather, survive, and shape your own story on a mysterious island.

Why similar: Survival 15.1%, Base Building 15%, Open World 13.5%, Crafting 11.4%, Co-op 9.8%

Homeless Simulator 2 is a homeless person simulator. Homeless persons are those who find themselves living on the streets because of family conflicts, somebody’s fraud, loss of the job or health problems. They are those who need help.

Why similar: Survival 26.5%, Open World 21%, Sandbox 14.3%, Simulation 13.1%, First-Person 9%

Survive in a living post-apocalyptic city. Scavenge, craft, and build to stay alive, while earning trust or sparking conflict with the NPCs and factions who shape your fate.

Why similar: Base Building 20.8%, Survival 20.2%, Open World 18.4%, Crafting 16.8%, Sandbox 13%

Crushed — is an Singleplayer and Multiplayer First-Person Survival Sandbox in an Open World! Challenge the wild and be ready to survive in harsh conditions. Explore the world, get resources, cook food, build a house, farm, hunt, and enjoy nature.

Why similar: Survival 17.7%, Open World 15.7%, Base Building 14.3%, Crafting 11.9%, Sandbox 9.8%

It's ten years since the infection started. Long-established settlements are collapsing, one by one, for unknown reasons. Survivors are running to the hills to escape, hoping for safety in remote places. As another refugee, you're here to carve out a new life for yourself - by any means necessary.

Why similar: Dialogue Heavy 24.9%, Base Building 17.7%, Open World 13.6%, Survival 12%, Crafting 9.6%

Become a crew member of an Interdimensional Express Train! Discover a new world full of mysterious creatures, enemies and places. Upgrade and customize your train, gather new materials and build better weapons. Play solo or online сo-op with up to 4 people.

Why similar: Base Building 14.5%, Survival 14.4%, Open World 11.5%, Co-op 10.6%, Crafting 10.5%

Pohinki Simulator is a survival game set in a polish neighbourhood, where you need to explore the open world in search for trash in order to survive and gain power. Build structures, experiment with found items, and become the most powerful bum alive!

Why similar: Base Building 23.8%, Survival 21.8%, Sandbox 15.5%, Open World 13.8%, First-Person 7.7%

Camping Simulator lets you experience what camp means by preparing your backpack wisely for challenging conditions of nature. You can play all the experiences with up to 8 friends in multiplayer mode or single player mode.

Why similar: Survival 20%, Crafting 15.4%, Co-op 13.4%, Sandbox 12.8%, Base Building 8.6%

Mr. Prepper is about being prepared. You know something is wrong. The risk of a nuclear war is in the air and you need to get ready for what's coming.

Why similar: Survival 27.3%, Base Building 26.9%, Crafting 17.8%, Simulation 7.6%, Realistic 6.6%

Old Market Simulator is a 1-4 player co-op game where you manage your market by ordering goods, growing produce, raising animals, fishing, and crafting items in your workshop, while hiring employees and expanding your business.

Why similar: Online Co-Op 28.4%, Co-op 17.5%, Multiplayer 17%, Simulation 14%, First-Person 11.6%

Rome has fallen! Rebuild civilization in this action-adventure survival game for 1-8 players. Fight hordes of the walking dead, build settlements, restore the Roman gods... or kick back and farm with friends.

Why similar: Survival 19.4%, Base Building 18.1%, Crafting 17.5%, Open World 13.1%, Online Co-Op 10.8%

Starting from a homeless person who wakes up at a bus station. All you have is a penny in your pocket and some cash in your bank account. Go out into the city and work hard to earn your first money. The streets will be your home.

Why similar: RPG 34.2%, Crafting 21%, First-Person 15.8%, Adventure 12.5%, 3D 8.8%

Embark on an unpredictable survival journey in Start Over. Solo, co-op, online, explore diverse landscapes, craft through 4 tech tiers, encounter wildlife, and trade or raid for resources. Choose your path, defend against waves, and shape your destiny in a dynamic world. Are you ready to Start Over?

Why similar: Base Building 17.4%, Survival 15.9%, Crafting 12.9%, Sandbox 9.9%, Open World 9.7%

A thrilling story-driven action RPG, with a rich open world, set in 15th century Medieval Europe. Experience the ultimate medieval adventure - through the eyes of young Henry - as you embark on a journey of epic proportions.

Why similar: Open World 32.8%, Realistic 15.7%, RPG 15.4%, First-Person 11.9%, Story Rich 10.8%

Winter Survival is a story-driven survival game where trauma turns reality into a reflection of your breaking mind. Battle cold, hunger, hallucinations, and adapt to the wilderness as it adapts to you.

Why similar: Survival 21.5%, Base Building 21.2%, Open World 19%, Crafting 11.4%, Sandbox 8.9%

A living world full of surprises, secrets and danger awaits in The Survivalists, an adventure-filled survival sandbox set in The Escapists universe. Explore, build, craft and even train monkeys with up to three friends in a desperate bid to survive. Have you got what it takes to be a Survivalist?

Why similar: Survival 17.5%, Crafting 15%, Base Building 14.7%, Open World 11.8%, Online Co-Op 11.7%

Hardcore open-world survival where preparation is everything. Scavenge, craft, fortify during the day. When night falls, the infected hunt in numbers. Play solo or with friends in a brutal post-apocalyptic sandbox where survival is earned through smart decisions. How many Nights will you survive?

Why similar: Survival 20.4%, Sandbox 14%, Online Co-Op 12.5%, Multiplayer 12.1%, Co-op 11.9%