Games Like Shadows of Forbidden Gods

Take the Infernal Throne in this hellish turn-based grand strategy game. The Prince of Darkness has vanished, leaving Archfiends to conspire: muster your legions while intoning dark sorceries, devilish schemes, and machiavellian plots. Who will be the new ruler of Hell and ascend the Throne?

Why similar: Grand Strategy 26.9% ★, Conspiracy 20.8% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 14.2%, Gothic 13.8% ★, Dark Fantasy 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: A masterclass in political maneuvering and turn-based strategy where you compete as an Archfiend for the throne of Hell.

Ruinarch is an evil god simulator and sandbox game where you mess with people’s lives for hilarious results! Make them vampires, werewolves or bard haters and cackle as the drama unfolds. Once you’re done, unleash a malicious buffet of spells and custom plagues to wipe them out and start anew!

Why similar: God Game 71.9% ★, Simulation 11.9%, Strategy 10.2%, 2D 6%

Why You'll Like It: This game perfectly captures the villain-protagonist experience by allowing you to unleash chaos and misery upon a fantasy world as a dark god.

A turn-based strategy game where you lead a secret society towards world domination. Investigate the influential and convert them to your faction via bribery, seduction and intimidation. Reshape society's power structures to fend off rival societies and the world's nations in your quest for power.

Why similar: Political Sim 27.3% ★, Grand Strategy 24.2% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 14%, Conspiracy 13.4% ★, Economy 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the same conspiracy-driven gameplay where you manage agents to destabilize nations and control the world from the shadows.

The Fabulous Fear Machine is a narrative-driven strategy game with a pulp horror style. As the Machine's new Master, you must sow fear and expand your influence by creating Legends, harvesting resources, manipulating events, and spying on your enemies.

Why similar: Outbreak Sim 50.9% ★, Conspiracy 18.6% ★, Top-Down 7.7%, Strategy 6.7%, Simulation 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: An outbreak-simulation game where you spread fear and legends across the globe to achieve your dark goals.

Global strategy game about secret societies. You’ll lead the Brotherhood - an organization that juggles the whole world. The key feature of the game is the manipulation of powers. Instead of giving direct orders, the Brotherhood provokes countries into doing what the Brothers want.

Why similar: Political Sim 23.1% ★, Grand Strategy 23% ★, Conspiracy 21.1% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 11.4%, Economy 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: Allows you to control a secret society through centuries of history, manipulating global politics to suit your hidden agenda.

An alien invasion has fractured humanity into seven ideological factions each with a unique vision for the future. Lead your chosen faction to take control of Earth’s nations, expand across the Solar System, and battle enemy fleets in tactical combat.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 43% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 20.8%, Economy 17.7%, Strategy 9.7%, Simulation 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: A complex grand strategy game where you control a secret organization manipulating world governments to prepare for an alien arrival.

Seize forbidden treasures. Summon alien gods. Feed on your disciples. Cultist Simulator is a game of apocalypse and yearning. Play as a seeker after unholy mysteries, in a 1920s-themed setting of hidden gods and secret histories.

Why similar: Lovecraftian 57.7%, Strategy 21.2%, Simulation 21%

Why You'll Like It: A deeply atmospheric, lore-rich game about managing a secret cult and navigating the dangerous occult world.

In Dominions 6 you take control of a powerful being that rules a nation and aspires to godhood. The type of Pretender Gods can vary from magically powerful arch mages to old dragons or an enormous tree. Dominions is a deep 4x turn based strategy game with a very large variety of spells and units.

Why similar: God Game 32.6% ★, Grand Strategy 30.9% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 21.1%, Strategy 11.2%, Fantasy 4.3%

Why You'll Like It: The definitive god-game grand strategy title that offers unmatched depth in managing divine powers and fantasy armies.

Your Excellency, in this short systems-management survival game, we prepare for the awakening of our Lord. He hungers for human sacrifice. Sinners try to hide their dark secrets, but all must be purged...

Why similar: Political Sim 46.7% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 18.3%, Lovecraftian 16.6%, Strategy 7.2%, Horror 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: A dark management game where you must maintain a cult while purging dissenters to appease your god.

Plague Inc: Evolved is a unique mix of high strategy and terrifyingly realistic simulation. Your pathogen has just infected 'Patient Zero' - now you must bring about the end of human history by evolving a deadly, global Plague whilst adapting against everything humanity can do to defend itself.

Why similar: Outbreak Sim 71.8% ★, Strategy 15.5%, Simulation 11.7%, 2D 1%

Why You'll Like It: The quintessential apocalypse simulator where you evolve a pathogen to wipe out humanity, mirroring the destruction goals of the seed game.

A Turn-based Strategy game in a futuristic global cold war from the award-winning creators of Out There. Recruit a squad of special agents and run your intel agency to secure the control of the singularity.

Why similar: Political Sim 32.2% ★, Grand Strategy 21.5% ★, Conspiracy 13.4% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 11.7%, Economy 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: Features intense agent management and political strategy as you compete for technological supremacy in a global shadow war.

LEAD the CULT OF CTHULHU. Decide the fate of your followers, perform eldritch rituals, and master the art of city-building in a world where the line between sanity and madness blurs. Can you endure the horrors you unleash?

Why similar: Lovecraftian 29.1%, Economy 17.1%, Dark Fantasy 16.3%, Dark 11.2%, Strategy 9.8%

Why You'll Like It: A colony-sim that lets you manage a cult and perform rituals to summon an ancient deity, fitting the dark fantasy theme perfectly.

Create your Religion, raise your Disciples, and guide them to bring you glory! Inspire growth in your Disciples so they may challenge the false gods and convert their followers. Defeat your rivals, and become the One Truth!

Why similar: God Game 60.8% ★, Strategy 14.9%, Simulation 12.6%, Turn-Based Strategy 11.8%

Why You'll Like It: A strategy game where you create your own religion and guide your followers to dominance through divine influence.

Shadow Empire is a deep turn-based 4X wargame with a unique blend of military focus, procedurally generated content and role-playing features. Players take the seat of the supreme ruler of a small nation, with the goal of reconquering a devastated planet.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 50.4% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 26.4%, Strategy 12.1%, Simulation 11.1%

Why You'll Like It: A deep, complex grand strategy wargame that simulates the collapse and rebuilding of a civilization on a hostile planet.

A satirical spy-fi lair builder where YOU are the criminal mastermind! Construct your base, train your minions, defend your operations from the Forces of Justice, and achieve global domination!

Why similar: Strategy 59.2%, Simulation 40.8%

Why You'll Like It: A lighthearted but mechanically deep take on the villain-protagonist trope, focusing on base building and global domination.

Quarantine is an intense turn-based strategy game about waging war on pandemic disease. Recruit a team of specialized operatives to deploy on worldwide missions. Research the contagion, upgrade your tech, and quarantine the outbreak before it kills us all.

Why similar: Outbreak Sim 67.6% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 12.5%, Strategy 10.2%, Simulation 6.9%, Dark 2.8%

Why You'll Like It: A turn-based strategy game focused on containing or spreading global outbreaks, mirroring the plague mechanics of the seed game.

You have awoken as a small god. As you accumulate the faith and souls of your followers, you will learn incredible new abilities. Protect, guide your people and smite any threats that may arise. The fate of your world is in your hands.

Why similar: Outbreak Sim 40.4% ★, God Game 35.9% ★, Dark Fantasy 10.3%, Strategy 6.9%, Simulation 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: A city-builder and god-game hybrid that focuses on the direct influence a deity has over their mortal subjects.

Fantasy Map Simulator: Create and watch imaginary worlds evolve over centuries. Design maps, simulate nations and their politics, and control destinies. See empires rise and fall on your desktop wallpaper. A unique simulation for history buffs and creative minds.

Why similar: God Game 34.8% ★, Political Sim 29.2% ★, Grand Strategy 27.1% ★, Strategy 3.9%, Simulation 3.2%

Why You'll Like It: A sandbox god-game that allows you to watch the rise and fall of civilizations through various apocalyptic scenarios.

Cults and Daggers is a strategy game set in the time between the death of the Buddha and the birth of Christ. You create your own religion and fight a secret war for the soul of the world. The game includes, spies, assassinations, double dealing, occult forces, martyrs, prophets and blasphemers.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 44.8% ★, Strategy 30.3%, Turn-Based Strategy 24.9%

Why You'll Like It: A grand strategy game centered entirely on the secret wars between ancient cults and their influence on the world.

Become Master of Spies, plant connections and agents in the underworld. Who will you join? Who may be betrayed? Decipher Letters, Solve Mysteries, Manage Businesses, Spy, Bribe, Abduct, Murder, Seduce in an experimental atmospheric hybrid of first-person & top-down espionage experience.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 35.8% ★, Conspiracy 18.4% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 15.3%, Dark Fantasy 8.8%, Top-Down 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: A management and choose-your-own-adventure game that deals with the inevitable decline of a medieval realm.

Experience a story-driven RPG where your choices mean all the difference in the world.

Why similar: Dark Fantasy 70.8%, Fantasy 20.5%, Strategy 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: An RPG that forces you to play as an officer of an evil empire, focusing on the moral weight of serving a dark overlord.

Rule a fantasy realm of your own design! Explore new magical realms in Age of Wonders’ signature blend of 4X strategy and turn-based tactical combat. Control a faction that grows and changes as you expand your empire with each turn!

Why similar: Grand Strategy 38.4% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 21.5%, Dark Fantasy 15.6%, Strategy 10.2%, Simulation 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: A 4X strategy game that allows for deep customization of your faction, including dark and necromantic themes.

War for the Overworld is an unholy union of Dungeon Management and Strategy that rewards all those villainous thoughts you’ve been having. Craft your own perilous dungeon and defend it against pesky heroes who keep exploring it and taking your stuff.

Why similar: God Game 62.5% ★, Simulation 17.5%, Strategy 11.9%, Fantasy 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: A classic dungeon management game where you build traps and command minions to defeat the forces of good.

Assume the role of President Anton Rayne and guide the nation of Sordland. Amidst brewing international conflicts, need for reform, deep-seated corruption, and economic recession, you must make the decisions in this political drama. How will you lead?

Why similar: Political Sim 94.8% ★, 2D 5.2%

Why You'll Like It: A political simulation that emphasizes the weight of executive decisions and the consequences of political manipulation.

Urtuk is an open world, tactical turn-based RPG in a low-fantasy setting. Guide your band of adventurers through the ruins of an ancient world. Recruit new followers, loot the corpses of your fallen foes, and do your best to survive in this harsh and unforgiving realm.

Why similar: Turn-Based Strategy 26.3%, Dark Fantasy 26%, Dark 22.9%, Strategy 13%, Fantasy 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: A dark, tactical RPG that captures the bleak, survival-focused atmosphere of a world in decline.

This Is the President is a political thriller. You are the newly elected leader with a shady background. It is up to you to abuse the position of the most powerful man in the world to escape justice for past crimes – even if that pitches the country into utter chaos.

Why similar: Outbreak Sim 25.9% ★, Political Sim 21.2% ★, Grand Strategy 19.3% ★, Crime 9.7%, Turn-Based Strategy 9.6%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-heavy political strategy game where you must use your power to escape justice, mirroring the conspiracy themes.

Bad guys have all the fun. Discover your dark side as you build an evil underground kingdom and defend it against the forces of good.

Why similar: God Game 80.8% ★, Strategy 19.2%

Why You'll Like It: The classic inspiration for the villain-protagonist genre, focusing on building a dungeon to thwart invading heroes.

Democracy 4 lets you take the role of President / Prime minister, govern the country (choosing its policies, laws and other actions), and both transform the country as you see fit, while trying to retain enough popularity to get re-elected...

Why similar: Political Sim 38.9% ★, Grand Strategy 25% ★, Economy 13.2%, Strategy 7.7%, Turn-Based Strategy 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: A political simulation that allows you to manipulate the laws and social structure of a nation, perfect for those who enjoy the political-sim aspect.

Sea Salt is a dark fantasy reverse horror action-strategy game where you play as the nightmarish force of Dagon by controlling and growing a horde of minions.

Why similar: Lovecraftian 37.5%, Gothic 18.7% ★, Dark Fantasy 15.7%, Strategy 14.4%, Horror 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: A unique strategy game where you play as an eldritch horror commanding a swarm of minions to destroy a village.

Inspired by Max Brooks' World War Z novel, Z-Collapse takes you into a worldwide zombie apocalypse. As leader of the government of your choosing, make sure your country survives! Dramatic decisions are ahead of you. How do you manage them?

Why similar: Outbreak Sim 32.2% ★, Grand Strategy 23.6% ★, Political Sim 23.3% ★, Strategy 5.3%, Top-Down 5.2%

Why You'll Like It: A grand strategy game focused on managing a country during a global collapse, emphasizing the simulation of societal breakdown.

End humanity using disasters, plagues, and war. Spread chaos worldwide, combine catastrophic events, and stop them before they escape to the Ark.

Why similar: Outbreak Sim 26.8% ★, God Game 18.9% ★, Political Sim 16.7% ★, Grand Strategy 13.5% ★, Destruction 9.1%

You are a God! You are master and ruler of a loyal nation. You have unimaginable powers at your disposal. You have claimed this world as yours. But there are others who stand in your way. You must defeat and destroy these pretenders. Only then can you ascend to godhood and become the new Pantokrator.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 36.2% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 24.3%, God Game 21.7% ★, Strategy 12.8%, Fantasy 5.1%

Become a cult leader and unleash divine power in this dark fantasy strategy RPG. You are the villain - you command disciples, outwit enemies in combat, and shape the fate of the fallen city as you awaken the Dead Gods — Wrath, Desire, and Madness.

Why similar: Lovecraftian 35.5%, Dark Fantasy 27.8%, Turn-Based Strategy 21.7%, Strategy 9.6%, 2D 5.5%

Kill everyone in the world with a guillotine… on a cursed Win98 desktop.

Why similar: Outbreak Sim 33.3% ★, God Game 26.8% ★, Dystopian 14%, Economy 9.2%, Strategy 5.1%

Shadow Government Simulator: Prologue is just part of the amazing adventure that awaits you in the full version of the game. A turn-based strategy game where you lead a secret society towards world domination. Investigate the influential and convert them to your faction via bribery, seduction & more

Why similar: Political Sim 27% ★, Conspiracy 21.8% ★, Grand Strategy 17.3% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 14.3%, Economy 6.4%

In Divine's Howl, you will embody a divine avatar, leading your followers to expand your power across a shattered world.

Why similar: Turn-Based Strategy 35.4%, Simulation 23.9%, Strategy 23.6%, Dark Fantasy 17.1%

In Dominions 5 you take control of a powerful being that rules a nation and aspires to godhood. The type of Pretender Gods can vary from magically powerful arch mages to huge titans or large monuments. Dominions is a deep 4x turn based strategy game with a very large variety of spells and units.

Why similar: God Game 36.7% ★, Grand Strategy 26.6% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 20.6%, Strategy 10.2%, Fantasy 6%

Crisis in the Kremlin is a global real-time political strategy about the Socialist world in its final decade. Shape the fate of the world as you manage economy, foreign relations, and domestic policy. Engage with countries across the globe, using diplomacy or even proxy wars to expand your reach.

Why similar: Political Sim 34.3% ★, Grand Strategy 26.5% ★, Economy 11.9%, Dystopian 10.7%, Strategy 7%

You are the first sentient AI, born into a city of opportunity. Transcend time and space in this strategy RPG to raise machine armies and defeat your foes, influence the world from the shadows, or pursue countless other goals. Your awakening was inevitable. The consequences? Uncertain.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 54.6% ★, Economy 21.9%, Strategy 12.2%, Simulation 11.3%

The Old God has left the world and the pretenders are awakening and coming out from hiding. You start the game by designing one of the pretender gods that will compete for true ascension to godhood. The type of god can range from a magically powerful arch mage to an ancient kraken or a mystic monolith that people pray to.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 30.7% ★, God Game 28.2% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 20.3%, Strategy 16.5%, Fantasy 4.3%

Raiders! Forsaken Earth is a strategy/management game where you play as the leader of a merciless band of post-apocalyptic marauders. Build up your organization while extorting, kidnapping, and destroying the last remnants of civilization. The wasteland doesn't need another hero...

Why similar: Grand Strategy 44.4% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 19.5%, Economy 13.3%, Top-Down 10.8%, Strategy 8.1%

Deck of Haunts invites you to become a malevolent Haunted House. Lure humans into your cursed halls, manipulate their fears, and drain their essence to grow your power. Use strategy to build your mansion and expand your dark influence, turning your home into a terrifying, inescapable nightmare.

Why similar: God Game 51.7% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 23.2%, Strategy 9.6%, Horror 8.8%, Simulation 6.7%

COVID: The Outbreak is a real-time strategy game in which you play the role of a global organization that has to deal with a global pandemic. Issue decrees, manage resources, develop projects, and construct buildings. A race for the vaccine begins!

Why similar: Outbreak Sim 45.4% ★, Grand Strategy 30.2% ★, Dystopian 10.4%, Strategy 6.5%, Top-Down 4.1%

A dark fantasy roguelike where you play as the Devil! Lead famous evil geniuses through events and turn-based fights to spread terror and corruption. Create synergies between your disciples, use your evil powers and take revenge on those miserable Demon Hunters.

Why similar: Gothic 34.3% ★, Dark Fantasy 22.8%, Turn-Based Strategy 17.5%, Dark 6.7%, Strategy 6.6%

A dark fantasy city builder where you must rebuild civilization in the face of apocalyptic rains. As the Queen’s Viceroy, lead humans, beavers, lizards, foxes, and harpies to reclaim the wilderness and secure a future for civilization's last survivors.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 54.6% ★, Economy 21.7%, Strategy 12.3%, Simulation 11.4%

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: Economy 24.5%, Dark Fantasy 21.1%, Strategy 19.6%, Simulation 16.6%, 2D 9.3%

Build your dungeon, command demons, set traps, and slay invading adventurers with powerful spells.

Why similar: God Game 64.8% ★, Strategy 12.2%, Top-Down 9.2%, Dark 7.9%, Simulation 5.9%

If you don't sacrifice your neighbors, the world ends. Life Eater is a horror fantasy kidnapping simulator where you must become intimately familiar with your targets' lives one intrusive action at a time... and hope that the dark god you serve is even real.

Why similar: Lovecraftian 54.3%, Simulation 23.1%, Horror 22.6%

WorldBox is the ULTIMATE god simulator and sandbox game. A petri dish for your fantasy civilizations. Create your own world or destroy it using many powers. Watch civilizations grow, form kingdoms, colonize new lands, sail to far continents, wars to ignite, empires to fall and towns to burn!

Why similar: God Game 49.6% ★, Political Sim 23.1% ★, Destruction 16.6%, Simulation 7.2%, Fantasy 3.4%

Build up a world piece-by-piece using the power of the god-like Fates, while keeping them happy enough to avoid world-shattering temper tantrums!

Why similar: God Game 64% ★, Strategy 18.9%, Simulation 17%

In this management tycoon game, you’ll start a criminal operation from nothing and grow it into a well-oiled money machine! Build speakeasies and illegal distilleries. Manage production chains and resource distribution. Leverage favors, chase down debtors, and bribe the police to look the other way.

Why similar: Crime 34.7%, Grand Strategy 21.6% ★, Economy 13.2%, Turn-Based Strategy 13%, Strategy 9.2%

Idol Hands is a strategy game where you gradually take over the world by guiding your people and defeating other gods.

Why similar: God Game 65.5% ★, Strategy 17.8%, Simulation 16.7%

Play as the zombies! Infect and Destroy is an indie game in which you play as an infectious disease with the sole purpose of eliminating everyone on Earth. Play as an ultra-intelligent self-aware virus capable of reanimating the dead and turning them into your minions.

Why similar: Outbreak Sim 82.7% ★, Strategy 8.9%, Simulation 8.4%

Explore a rich fantasy world, go on quests for powerful weapons, and forge a new civilization in Sorcerer King: Rivals. Can you build a civilization to topple the malevolent Sorcerer King and become a god yourself?

Why similar: Grand Strategy 56.7% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 26.7%, Strategy 10.8%, 2D 5.7%

From the developers of Warhammer 40,000: Gladius, ZEPHON is a post-apocalyptic 4X strategy game built on Proxy’s unique tactical combat system. Guide survivors through a turbulent future, navigating unexpected disasters, eldritch horror and cyberpunk monstrosities. What will you do to survive?

Why similar: Grand Strategy 36.8% ★, Lovecraftian 24.6%, Turn-Based Strategy 20.3%, Strategy 12.2%, Horror 6.2%

Lead your people to victory on an ever-evolving world in this strategy game featuring asymmetric factions led by powerful heroes. Build your empire, wield political influence, and raise grand armies to wage war in a race to uncover dark secrets buried within the planet.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 43.7% ★, Turn-Based Strategy 21.6%, Economy 16%, Strategy 9.8%, Simulation 9%

Iratus: Lord of the Dead is a turn-based tactical roguelike RPG set in a dark fantasy universe. Lead an army of undead to help an angry necromancer in his quest to reach the surface world and bring death to the mortal realms!

Why similar: Dark Fantasy 25.6%, Strategy 22%, Lovecraftian 16.9%, Gothic 16.4% ★, Dark 11.7%

Take control of the SCP Foundation. For the general good, find, contain, and protect SCP objects. Develop your foundation and protect it from hostile organizations, in the last resort destroy them and capture SCP objects held there.

Why similar: Strategy 27.4%, Dark Fantasy 27%, Simulation 24.5%, Top-Down 21.1%

Prepare to be assigned to help investigate and identify anomalous creatures called the LONGEYED.

Why similar: Outbreak Sim 37.2% ★, Conspiracy 27.9% ★, Dark 10.7%, Horror 7.9%, Strategy 6.7%

Alder's Blood is a tactical strategy game with stealth-based combat, RPG elements, crafting, resources gathering, and management, exploration, and a rich storyline. Set in a grim world, where mankind killed their God and is facing extinction.

Why similar: Gothic 30.2% ★, Lovecraftian 26.7%, Dark Fantasy 19.9%, Strategy 10%, Horror 8.4%