Games Like Niche - a genetics survival game

Build the ultimate cat army through tactical breeding and send them into deep, challenging turn-based adventures. Draft abilities, collect items, and manipulate genetics across generations in this roguelike tactics game from the creators of The Binding of Isaac and The End is Nigh.

Why similar: Turn-Based Strategy 70.3%, RPG 15.2%, Funny 14.5%

Why You'll Like It: It features deep genetic inheritance mechanics and turn-based tactical combat that directly mirror the core loop of Niche.

Play with evolution! Species: ALRE is a scientifically-grounded, emergent simulation of natural selection. Creatures evolve and speciate in response to in-game mutation and selection forces, allowing you to experience and tinker with evolution in real-time.

Why similar: Sandbox 46.1%, Simulation 20.9%, Education 15.5%, Relaxing 8.8%, Strategy 4.9%

Why You'll Like It: This is a pure evolutionary simulator that allows you to observe how genetic mutations affect the survival of creatures in a sandbox environment.

The Sapling is a simulation game where you design your own plants, animals, algae and fungi, and put them in a world together. Or you turn on random mutations, and see what evolution does to your ecosystem!

Why similar: Nature 24%, Sandbox 21.9%, Education 20.6%, Procedural Generation 13.6%, Relaxing 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a creative approach to life simulation where you design organisms and watch them evolve and interact within a self-sustaining ecosystem.

Seed, Breed, Create. From single cell organisms to complex ecosystems. Evolve every part of your own unique aquarium / terrarium by applying scientifically accurate principles of natural and artificial selection, in Creatura - ultimate Virtual Evolution Vivarium Simulator.

Why similar: Nature 22.2%, Education 21.7%, Sandbox 21.5%, Procedural Generation 13.4%, Simulation 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: A highly detailed life simulation game that focuses on the evolution and genetics of plants and animals in a customizable environment.

Predators lurk, food is scarce, you must adapt - or go extinct. Evolve your species to survive and dominate as you explore the campaign or go head-to-head with the skill-based matchmaker.

Why similar: Turn-Based Strategy 32%, Board Game 25.4%, Education 21.9%, Survival 9.6%, Strategy 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: This digital adaptation focuses heavily on the strategic application of genetic traits to help species adapt to changing food sources and predator threats.

An evolution simulation game. Take control of your species in the environment and edit your species as a whole. Compete with other evolving species for resources on an alien planet.

Why similar: Education 26.3%, Nature 19.6%, Sandbox 19%, Procedural Generation 12.9%, Simulation 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: An ambitious open-source project that simulates the evolution of life from a single cell into complex multicellular organisms.

Create virtual lifeforms whose development is shaped by a deep simulation of evolution. Guide them as they fight, mate, and adapt to the environment you have built. All the creatures in the trailer evolved on their own in the game!

Why similar: Nature 23.6%, Sandbox 20.2%, Resource Management 16.6%, Procedural Generation 13.8%, Simulation 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: It allows you to build and manage a living world where creatures evolve physically and behaviorally based on their environment.

DEAD IN VINLAND is a survival/management game, mixed with RPG and adventure elements, about a Viking family trying their best to survive on a mysterious island.

Why similar: Turn-Based 30.4%, Survival 17.9%, RPG 12.8%, Resource Management 11%, Adventure 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: It shares the intense survival-management focus of Niche, requiring you to balance the needs and traits of a small group of survivors.

Live the life of a wild wolf in a realistic ecological simulation set in Yellowstone National Park.

Why similar: Nature 24.3%, Education 21.6%, Survival 16.7%, Family Friendly 9.6%, RPG 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: This game offers a realistic animal survival experience where managing your pack's health, genetics, and territory is paramount.

Equilinox is a relaxing nature simulation game in which you can create and nurture your own ecosystems. Shape the world to your liking, cultivate and raise hundreds of different species, and evolve your wildlife to unlock more exotic plants and animals.

Why similar: Sandbox 31.7%, Nature 25.8%, Relaxing 16.7%, Simulation 16.1%, Family Friendly 4.9%

Why You'll Like It: A relaxing nature simulation that focuses on creating and maintaining a balanced ecosystem through genetic discovery and evolution.

A 3D pet simulation where you raise your own personal hive of mutating dogs, physically simulated all the way down to their guts! Wobbledogs is a casual and chill sandbox for players of all ages who want to care for their very own virtual pets in a surprising, unique, and stress-free environment.

Why similar: Sandbox 36.2%, Family Friendly 18.2%, Funny 16.2%, Procedural Generation 12.6%, Simulation 12.3%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a quirky but robust genetic breeding system where you manage the physical evolution of dogs through generations.

Polygons eating polygons eating polygons. An evolution sandbox where the genetics really are simulated. Seed a world, walk away, and come back to species neither of us designed. Watch populations boom, bust and go extinct. Best left on a second monitor.

Why similar: Education 20.8%, Nature 17.9%, Sandbox 16.8%, Procedural Generation 11.2%, Resource Management 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: This game lets you manipulate the environment to force specific evolutionary paths for the creatures living within it.

Preserve is a relaxing puzzle nature-building game in which you flourish a vibrant ecosystem by cleverly placing plants and animals to create a perfect symbiosis to your liking.

Why similar: Turn-Based Strategy 22.9%, Board Game 15.5%, Nature 14.7%, Sandbox 11.6%, Puzzle 10.7%

Why You'll Like It: A nature-themed puzzle game that focuses on building and maintaining balanced biomes through strategic placement.

Survive your evolution in Neogene Africa starting 10 million years ago. Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is a third-person open world survival game where you Explore, Expand, and Evolve to advance your clan to the next generation in the exciting new adventure from Panache Digital Games.

Why similar: Nature 26.7%, Survival 25.1%, Exploration 13%, Adventure 11.1%, RPG 9.9%

Why You'll Like It: A third-person survival game that tasks you with guiding a lineage of primates through millions of years of evolutionary development.

Terra Nil is an intricate environmental strategy game about transforming a barren wasteland into a thriving, balanced ecosystem. Bring life back to a lifeless world by purifying soil, cleaning oceans, planting trees, and reintroducing wildlife, then leave without a trace.

Why similar: Nature 23.9%, Turn-Based Strategy 21.4%, Puzzle 12.9%, Procedural Generation 10.6%, Relaxing 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: While more focused on restoration, it shares the nature-centric, puzzle-like approach to rebuilding ecosystems found in Niche.

Build your biome! With an empty biodome as your canvas, add plants and animals from three different ecosystems. Observe interactions like hunting, blooming, and even decomposing! Will your biodome last for decades, or will it experience a total ecosystem collapse? You’re in control!

Why similar: Education 54%, Simulation 29.1%, Strategy 17%

Why You'll Like It: It is a science-based simulation that challenges you to build a stable ecosystem by balancing the needs of various species.

Become a cat! In this cozy life sim RPG, you'll lead your colony into the mysterious Wildwood. Hunt prey, harvest herbs, collect magical treasures, & defend your new home from intruders. Build a thriving town to recruit new cats. Get to know the residents, fall in love, & raise a litter of kittens!

Why similar: Nature 43.4%, Family Friendly 22.9%, RPG 19.1%, Simulation 14.6%

Why You'll Like It: This life simulation game includes breeding and genetic inheritance mechanics as you manage the survival and social structure of a cat colony.

Protect the environment, and save it from harm! Give commands to the animals, observe their rituals and help them survive. Face different disasters, react to human presence and help the animal kingdom flourish in this unique, environmental experience!

Why similar: Education 22.9%, Nature 17.4%, Sandbox 16.7%, Procedural Generation 9.7%, Relaxing 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on the survival of wild animals, requiring you to manage their needs and behaviors in a naturalistic setting.

Growth is a cozy, hexagonal-grid based soft-strategy game. Explore and populate a procedurally generated world by utilizing unique abilities of animals. Growth blends the beauty of cozy exploration with challenging navigation around obstacles.

Why similar: Puzzle 24.6%, Nature 14.3%, Strategy 12.9%, Relaxing 12.7%, Procedural Generation 11.8%

Why You'll Like It: A strategy game about expanding nature across a map, sharing the theme of environmental growth and management.

Manipulate climate, add plants and evolve creatures in this planet and life sandbox simulation game. From cells to civilizations, spread life throughout the whole planet. Or just enjoy watching your creation burn!

Why similar: Education 19.8%, Nature 16.4%, Sandbox 14.3%, Procedural Generation 10.2%, Resource Management 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: A god-game simulation that tasks you with fostering life on a planetary scale through environmental manipulation.

Build a mobile village and travel with your tribe toward the center of the world, called The Eye. This roguelike turn-based resource-management game is made of procedural situations, natural events, skill-trees and hard choices. Ready to move?

Why similar: Turn-Based Strategy 29%, Sandbox 14.3%, Board Game 11.3%, Survival 11.3%, Resource Management 11.1%

Why You'll Like It: A turn-based strategy game about managing a nomadic tribe's survival against environmental pressures and resource scarcity.

Multicellular will take you back in time, to the dawn of life. Build your multicellular organism and combat hunger, the environment, darkness and other organisms. Everything in this new world can kill you, will you be able to survive?

Why similar: Nature 19.3%, Sandbox 14.9%, Survival 13.9%, Resource Management 9.9%, Relaxing 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: A focused simulation that explores the transition of life into complex forms with an emphasis on survival and adaptation.

Lead nomadic families through the Stone Age in this turn-based 4X strategy game with in-depth characters, cultures, and ecosystems. Explore the wilderness, hunt megafauna, outsmart competitors in trade & autobattler combat. Discover fire, agriculture, politics... and survive to tell the tale.

Why similar: Turn-Based Strategy 25.2%, Nature 15.9%, Board Game 12.1%, Sandbox 12%, Survival 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: A 4X strategy game that incorporates nature and sandbox elements to simulate the development of a civilization.

From seed to a great tree! Survive the seasons, face crisis and mutate yourself into a tree able to achieve your final form! Grow flowers, mutate, adapt and evolve and finally bear fruits!

Why similar: Turn-Based Strategy 24.2%, Nature 17.4%, Sandbox 14.6%, Survival 10.6%, Procedural Generation 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: A unique management game that requires careful planning and turn-based tactics to help plants survive in a changing environment.

Now includes Jurassic, Flight, and Arctic Tundra! Adapt your species to survive where food is scarce and predators lurk at every turn. Easy to learn, but offering lots of strategic depth, Nature is a modular game system from the designer of the award-winning Evolution series.

Why similar: Turn-Based Strategy 25.4%, Board Game 22.1%, Nature 19.7%, Resource Management 11.1%, Relaxing 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: A strategy-focused board game experience that emphasizes the interplay between different natural elements.

As a powerful Lynx, you will make your way through vast open landscapes. In the harsh tundra, you will raise and strengthen your cubs by mastering your skills for hunting prey. Do everything you can to prepare your little ones for the vicious entities dwelling in the wilderness.

Why similar: Nature 35.3%, Survival 23.9%, Adventure 13.3%, Exploration 11.7%, Simulation 10.5%

Why You'll Like It: It captures the emotional weight of animal survival and parenting, emphasizing the struggle to keep offspring alive in a harsh wilderness.

EVERDAWN is a relaxing tile-based puzzle game where every placement shapes a living, evolving world. Stack scoring systems, combine biomes, unlock new and powerful Wonder tiles, and collect adorable Michis, little creatures that provide extra tiles.

Why similar: Turn-Based Strategy 25.3%, Board Game 17.2%, Puzzle 14.6%, Sandbox 9%, Relaxing 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: A puzzle-strategy game that focuses on environmental management and growth in a stylized, nature-themed world.

As the last mother fox on Earth, your cubs need all your care to survive in a merciless world that slowly destroys itself. You have to help them, teach them and save them. And you should never forget that extinction is forever – in the real world and in this 2023 BAFTA award winning experience.

Why similar: Nature 35.4%, Survival 23.7%, Adventure 15.1%, Exploration 11.6%, Simulation 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: A poignant survival game where you manage a mother fox and her cubs, focusing on the challenges of nature and environmental change.

The Animal Evolution Roguelite. Hunt, Flee, Scavenge and Thrive in a living ecosystem. Choose from 125+ Evolutions and Specialisations for unique creature combinations in every run. Adapt to survive the natural curve in order to beat carcinisation... or get Darwin'd trying!

Why similar: Nature 21.5%, Sandbox 15.4%, Survival 14.5%, Procedural Generation 13.5%, Roguelike 11%

Terraform Mars in this turn-based colony builder and resource management game with roguelike elements. Explore the planet, develop spectacular cities, spread life and turn the Red Planet into a green one!

Why similar: Turn-Based 19.8%, Turn-Based Strategy 19.5%, Board Game 14.2%, Survival 9.5%, Procedural Generation 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: A roguelike strategy game about managing the survival and development of a colony on a hostile planet.

Be the architect of your own universe with Spore, an exciting single-player adventure. From Single Cell to Galactic God, evolve your creature in a universe of your own creations.

Why similar: Sandbox 28.4%, Resource Management 15.7%, Funny 13.3%, Exploration 12%, Family Friendly 11.9%

Why You'll Like It: The classic evolution game that allows you to guide a species from a microscopic organism to a space-faring civilization.

Place yourself at the heart of the Jurassic franchise and build your own Jurassic World. Bioengineer dinosaurs that think, feel and react intelligently to the world around them and face threats posed by espionage, breakouts and devastating tropical storms in an uncertain world where life always finds a way.

Why similar: Sandbox 34.6%, Simulation 18.6%, Strategy 16%, Resource Management 15.4%, Survival 6.5%

Dorfromantik is a peaceful building strategy and puzzle game where you create a beautiful and ever-growing village landscape by placing tiles. Explore a variety of colorful biomes, discover and unlock new tiles and complete quests to fill your world with life!

Why similar: Turn-Based Strategy 21.9%, Board Game 15.7%, Puzzle 11.2%, Sandbox 10.6%, Resource Management 9.3%

Shape worlds with your godly titans. Make symbiotic ecosystems and inspire humanity with your creations. Their achievements unlock new possibilities. Make different planets for different human spirits, and fill the universe with life!

Why similar: Turn-Based 22.9%, Nature 15.7%, Puzzle 14.4%, Resource Management 13.1%, Sandbox 13.1%

In this strategic rogue-like you become a famous expedition leader in the 19th century. You form your own crew with the skills and personality to discover legendary treasures, while exploring randomized locations and stories on every new adventure.

Why similar: Turn-Based 32.3%, Turn-Based Strategy 26.2%, Adventure 8.6%, Roguelike 8.1%, RPG 8%

You have just arrived in a magical forest world with a hexagon board at its center, a mysterious creature nearby, and secrets lurking in the shadows. Why are you here, and what will you do next? A deceptively simple puzzle game, wrapped in a magical adventure.

Why similar: Puzzle 22.4%, Nature 20.4%, Family Friendly 13%, Relaxing 11.3%, Adventure 10.4%

Dinosaur survival management game. Lead your own pack of dinos and feed to grow bigger. Can you survive or will you become extinct?

Why similar: Survival 37.4%, Simulation 20.5%, Strategy 20%, Relaxing 18.2%, Singleplayer 3.9%

Manage your workers, stations, machines and create awesome stuff as your little big workshop grows into your dream factory!

Why similar: Resource Management 25%, Simulation 23.3%, Strategy 21%, Sandbox 20.5%, Funny 4.7%

It's time to Build a Zoo! Construct and decorate enclosures, buy and breed animals, hire zookeepers and vets... then try your hand at DNA splicing, and stitch together over 300,000 different types of animal. This can only go smoothly...

Why similar: Sandbox 35.9%, Resource Management 19.6%, Simulation 19%, Strategy 13.6%, Relaxing 8.5%

Curious Expedition 2 is a turn-based narrative roguelike set in a reimagined version of the late 19th century that uses procedural gameplay and story elements to create completely unique and epic adventures every time you play.

Why similar: Turn-Based 19.2%, Turn-Based Strategy 19.1%, Board Game 13.9%, Survival 7.9%, Procedural Generation 7.7%

Axes and Acres is a deep and engaging single-player strategy game designed to create exciting decisions every turn. The rules are easy to learn, but every turn can be played out in many different ways in order to farm, build and survive.

Why similar: Turn-Based 36.1%, Turn-Based Strategy 27.5%, Board Game 13.8%, Procedural Generation 12.6%, Strategy 10.1%

Type anything, generate a creature. Outwit, outlast and out-weird your enemies in a sandbox roguelike with deep simulation systems, wildly unpredictable auto-battler combat and endless procedurally generated chaos!

Why similar: Nature 20.7%, Sandbox 19.7%, Procedural Generation 14.7%, Roguelike 11.8%, Funny 9.7%

The Wandering Village is a city-building simulation game on the back of a giant, wandering creature. Build your settlement and form a symbiotic relationship with the colossus. Will you survive together in this hostile, yet beautiful post-apocalyptic world, contaminated by poisonous plants?

Why similar: Nature 18.8%, Resource Management 18.1%, Sandbox 14.8%, Survival 12.1%, Roguelike 9.2%

Vilmonic is an artificial life simulator and genetics and evolution sandbox game. Protect and breed unique pixel-art life forms where pixels and color have meaning. Craft tools and buildings and change the environment. Find ancient tech and fend off haywire zombitons. Craft Farm Breed Evolve!

Why similar: Education 28.6%, Nature 28.1%, Sandbox 22.3%, Procedural Generation 11.9%, Simulation 9%

Survive and evolve as an organism with this simulation game in which you will literally start as a single cell and manage and organize all its functions to a fully fledged system! Assemble, breathe, eat, fight threats, produce energy, grow, anything is possible!

Why similar: Sandbox 47.4%, Procedural Generation 20.4%, Strategy 14.6%, Simulation 10.3%, Resource Management 6.1%

You are a blacksmith in the world of the sword, magic and war, in which any blacksmith who knows how to make even the simplest swords is in demand. You start off as a poor unskilled blacksmith, but in time you will gain experience and improve to achieve wealth, fame and power, and change this world!

Why similar: Simulation 38.1%, Resource Management 29%, Puzzle 17.4%, RPG 11.8%, Singleplayer 3.6%

Adapt your Species to survive and thrive in the Oceans depths in this turn-based strategy game based on the hit board game Oceans.

Why similar: Turn-Based Strategy 34%, Board Game 26.2%, Nature 16.1%, Survival 9.5%, Strategy 8%

Welcome to Automachef, a resource management puzzler where you design kitchens, program machinery and watch your genius come to life! It’s time to engineer tomorrow’s kitchen, today!

Why similar: Puzzle 29.3%, Simulation 27%, Resource Management 25.5%, Funny 12.9%, Strategy 3.8%

As an Engineer - crew member of one of the first Mars colonies - you are responsible for repairing and maintaining Mars Rovers. In this advanced simulator you will learn the internal details of various Mars Rovers and their components.

Why similar: Education 39.1%, Puzzle 16.3%, Relaxing 14.2%, Family Friendly 14.1%, Simulation 11%

The 3D online multiplayer game of social deduction and mischief, inspired by medieval politics and the Werewolf/Mafia (1986) genre. Gather 'round the tabletop, uniting allies of the realm with strategy to distinguish friend from foe.

Why similar: Board Game 38.5%, Survival 21.4%, Funny 14.7%, RPG 14.1%, Strategy 11.3%

NEO Scavenger is a game where you must survive in the wasteland long enough to figure out who you are. Each turn, you must decide where to go, how to scavenge for supplies, and how to deal with anything and anyone you encounter.

Why similar: Turn-Based 27.9%, Survival 20%, Turn-Based Strategy 10.8%, Procedural Generation 9.7%, Roguelike 9.4%

Turn-based fantasy gladiatorial game with monster breeding. Crossbreed various species to create monster hybrids for gladiatorial combat. Manipulate creatures’ traits with surgery, magic, and alchemy. Manage your enterprise, craft items and upgrade your base. Fight in the arena for gold and glory!

Why similar: Turn-Based 51.3%, Sandbox 26.7%, Simulation 9.2%, Strategy 9.1%, Singleplayer 3.8%

Step into a cozy management journey as a Keeper and bring life back to a world quietly waiting to be healed. Craft the perfect biome for dozens of wonderful animal species and use your ingenuity to restore your planet, one ecosystem at a time.

Why similar: Nature 38.3%, Resource Management 23.9%, Relaxing 11.8%, Exploration 7.6%, Strategy 7%

LIVE THE LIFE OF A WILD WOLF! As a two-year-old gray wolf in Yellowstone National Park, hunt elk and moose, find a mate, and then establish a territory and raise your pups.

Why similar: Education 26.1%, Nature 20.5%, Survival 14.8%, Family Friendly 10.9%, RPG 9.2%

Basement is a strategy game, where you start doing illegal business to fund the development of your dream video game. It won't be easy, so get ready to deal with other gangs, cops, crazy junkies, mysterious investor and even ghosts from the past.

Why similar: Sandbox 32.3%, Resource Management 31.9%, Strategy 16%, Simulation 14.6%, Singleplayer 5.3%

Shoppe Keep returns bigger and better than ever! Build your business empire and defend it from thieves. Explore the open-world in single-player or with up to 4 players online. Renovate and design your store, cook, fish, hunt for products, charm customers, evolve the town, and make your millions.

Why similar: Sandbox 36.4%, Funny 18.1%, Exploration 16.8%, RPG 15.9%, Strategy 12.8%

Ready to play some ball? Grab a team, suit up, and climb inside your human! Prep its thrusters, lower the all-terrain wheels, and spin up that flailing magnet-arm. It's time to play Regular Human Basketball!

Why similar: Funny 100%

In Reus, you control powerful giants to shape the planet to your will. You can create mountains, oceans, forests and more. Enrich your planet with plants, minerals and animal life. There is only one thing on the planet that you do not control: mankind, with all their virtues and and all their vices.

Why similar: Sandbox 25.7%, Strategy 18.4%, Puzzle 15.6%, Simulation 11.4%, Resource Management 10.6%

Breed budgies and discover hidden colour mutations in this realistic genetics simulator.

Why similar: Nature 58.6%, Simulation 33.5%, Singleplayer 8%

Sandwalkers is a roguelike turn-based exploration game. Build your team, traverse varied hostile environments, face countless dangers, and gain knowledge that will help you find and resurrect the Mother Tree Umama.

Why similar: Turn-Based Strategy 22.8%, Turn-Based 20.6%, Board Game 16.3%, Survival 12.2%, Procedural Generation 7.9%