Games Like Thrive

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: Science 44.9%, Sandbox 28%, Simulation 16.5%, Education 8.3%, Management 2.1%

Why You'll Like It: This is the closest experience to Thrive, focusing on the raw mechanics of natural selection and genetic mutation in a sandbox environment.

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

Why similar: Science 29.8%, Artificial Intelligence 14%, Sandbox 13.8%, Nature 12%, Education 11.6%

Why You'll Like It: This game allows you to design your own flora and fauna and watch how they interact and evolve within a self-sustaining ecosystem.

Explore real digital life in The Bibites! Play god by guiding your bibites on their evolutionary journey or engineer your own. Analyze their Neural Network brains and genetic information as they adapt to their environments. Save your favorites and test their strength in Challenge Mode!

Why similar: Science 26.8%, Education 16.3%, Artificial Intelligence 15.4%, Sandbox 12.6%, Nature 10.4%

Why You'll Like It: It features a deep artificial life simulation where creatures evolve their own neural networks and behaviors based on environmental pressures.

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: Science 34.9%, Sandbox 14.8%, Education 13.2%, Nature 12%, Procedural Generation 11.2%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a highly detailed evolutionary sandbox where you can manipulate genetics and observe the long-term effects on your custom species.

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: Science 28.4%, Artificial Intelligence 15.1%, Sandbox 14.1%, Nature 13%, Procedural Generation 11.7%

Why You'll Like It: This title uses physics-based movement and neural networks to simulate the evolution of creatures in a deep-sea environment.

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: Science 25.5%, Education 13.9%, Sandbox 12.3%, Nature 12.1%, Artificial Intelligence 10.1%

Why You'll Like It: A unique artificial life simulator where you must manage the genetics of your species to help them survive in a pixelated, evolving world.

Niche - a genetics survival game is a turn-based strategy game combined with simulation and roguelike elements. Shape your own species of animals based on real genetics. Keep your species alive against all odds, such as predators, climate change and spreading sickness.

Why similar: Education 25.9%, Nature 19.6%, Sandbox 19.1%, Procedural Generation 13.3%, Simulation 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: It combines turn-based strategy with complex genetics, forcing you to manage breeding and traits to ensure your species' survival.

To survive, you must guide your species through a constantly changing world. Compete with strange creatures for food and territory, and find your niche through careful evolutionary choices. The real question is not if you can survive, but for how long.

Why similar: Science 32.8%, Sandbox 17.1%, Nature 16%, Character Customization 14.3%, Simulation 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: A survival-evolution game that shares the core loop of customizing your creature to survive in a procedurally generated world.

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 38%, Simulation 25.7%, Nature 23.3%, Casual 7.1%, Family Friendly 3.1%

Why You'll Like It: A relaxing nature simulation where you manage the evolution and balance of an ecosystem by discovering new species and traits.

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: Science 52.4%, Sandbox 25.3%, Simulation 12.4%, Family Friendly 5.8%, Casual 4.2%

Why You'll Like It: The classic evolution sandbox that inspired the genre, allowing players to guide a species from a cell to a space-faring civilization.

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: Science 31.9%, Sandbox 15.1%, Nature 13.4%, Procedural Generation 12.5%, Education 11.5%

Why You'll Like It: A newer sandbox simulation that focuses on the development of life on a planetary scale.

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: Science 46.6%, Nature 24.2%, Survival 15.4%, Simulation 13.3%, Singleplayer 0.5%

Why You'll Like It: This game provides a third-person perspective on the evolutionary journey of early hominids, focusing on adaptation and survival.

Create & destroy on an unimaginable scale with a realistic physics-based space simulator. Explore the beauty of our universe and the fragility of our planet. Use science to bend the laws of gravity, collide planets, boil away oceans, fire epic space lasers, and customize your universe.

Why similar: Science 33.7%, Education 23.4%, Sandbox 20.6%, Simulation 10.4%, Realistic 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: While focused on space, it shares the scientific, simulation-heavy DNA of Thrive by allowing you to manipulate the conditions that allow life to exist.

The epic story of evolution, technology, humanity, and dinosaurs is yours to tap.

Why similar: Science 60.7%, Education 14.9%, Simulation 13.8%, Sandbox 6.3%, Casual 3.6%

Why You'll Like It: An idle game that provides a comprehensive, educational look at the history of life on Earth through the lens of evolution.

Build a civilization of real people, working together to advance society and stop a meteor, all without destroying the ecosystem in the process.

Why similar: Science 31.9%, Education 19.1%, Sandbox 17.8%, Nature 16.3%, Simulation 9%

Why You'll Like It: A simulation game where players must balance their technological advancement with the health of a fragile, interconnected ecosystem.

Care for a miniature ecosystem in a strange world, exert limited influence to encourage the growth of different fungi and bugs and try to maintain the balance of life.

Why similar: Nature 38.8%, Simulation 29.6%, Sandbox 22.7%, Management 4.7%, 2D 4%

Why You'll Like It: A minimalist simulation where you manage the growth and evolution of fungi and insects within a closed ecosystem.

A toy ecosystem with fully simulated genetics and evolution. Will you tinker with DNA or sit back, relax, and see if life finds a way?

Why similar: Science 32.8%, Education 22.4%, Sandbox 16.2%, Nature 14.8%, Simulation 5.8%

Why You'll Like It: This game lets you set the environmental parameters and watch how your creatures adapt and evolve over generations.

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: Sandbox 40.6%, Artificial Intelligence 24.1%, Simulation 15.7%, Procedural Generation 15.1%, Management 4.6%

Why You'll Like It: A sandbox god game that allows you to watch the rise, fall, and evolution of civilizations and creatures over vast timescales.

Gridworld is an artificial life and evolution simulator. Watch creatures evolve through natural selection as they learn to find food, avoid danger, and compete with other creatures for survival.

Why similar: Science 25.7%, Artificial Intelligence 14.1%, Sandbox 11.8%, Education 11.1%, Procedural Generation 10.8%

Why You'll Like It: A simple but effective simulation that explores the emergence of complex behavior from basic artificial life rules.

You are a nomadic slugcat, both predator and prey in a broken ecosystem. Grab your spear and brave the industrial wastes, hunting enough food to survive, but be wary— other, bigger creatures have the same plan... and slugcats look delicious.

Why similar: Survival 53.2%, Simulation 29.2%, 2D 16.7%, Singleplayer 0.9%

Why You'll Like It: While more action-oriented, it features one of the most sophisticated AI-driven ecosystem simulations in gaming.

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: Science 48%, Education 26.7%, Simulation 21.3%, Casual 4%

Why You'll Like It: An educational simulation that tasks you with building a balanced ecosystem and observing the interactions between different species.

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

Why similar: Science 29.7%, Nature 18.5%, Education 18.5%, Simulation 8.9%, Survival 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: A highly realistic animal simulation that focuses on the survival and social dynamics of wolves in a natural environment.

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: Science 46.8%, Sandbox 24.6%, Procedural Generation 12.8%, Simulation 7%, Management 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: A management-focused simulation where you control a colony of insects, focusing on resource gathering and biological expansion.

Explore the Solar System. Mine and drop asteroids. Colonize and terraform. Lead the space race and compete with other corporations on your way to profit. Watch the expansion of human race over the centuries.

Why similar: Science 40.8%, Sandbox 18.5%, Education 14.5%, Simulation 9.5%, Realistic 8.1%

Build your own global colonies on distant worlds. Manage energy and resource supplies and produce goods for space trade. Form economic and diplomatic alliances or take over competing corporations. Conduct research to protect your colonists from disasters and avoid a climate crisis.

Why similar: Science 41.5%, Nature 22.8%, Sandbox 19.9%, Top-Down 6.1%, Management 5.2%

Why You'll Like It: A planetary management game that challenges you to maintain a balance between industrial growth and ecological stability.

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: Science 23.1%, Education 15.1%, Sandbox 12.4%, Artificial Intelligence 11.9%, Nature 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: A god-game simulation where you guide animals through their daily lives and help them adapt to environmental changes.

Be the Universe in this epic, award-winning reality simulation game - featuring thousands of playable characters, endless exploration, an extraordinary soundtrack and narration from Alan Watts.

Why similar: Sandbox 38.5%, Simulation 28.7%, Procedural Generation 17.8%, Casual 10%, Family Friendly 4.7%

Why You'll Like It: A philosophical simulation that allows you to inhabit and understand the life cycles of everything from microbes to galaxies.

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 50.9%, Simulation 25.3%, Survival 23.1%, Singleplayer 0.7%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the survival and maternal instincts of animals in the wild, emphasizing the harsh realities of nature.

The world's first science-based photorealistic interactive 3D planetarium that models the entire Universe, using procedural generation for uncharted areas.

Why similar: Science 31.8%, Sandbox 18.4%, Education 18.1%, Procedural Generation 11.1%, Realistic 7%

Physics sandbox game that uses a graphics card as a supercomputer. Change the laws of physics, design mechanisms, create A-Life worlds and inhabit them with living beings, experiment with evolution and AI.

Why similar: Sandbox 30.1%, Artificial Intelligence 23.7%, Education 22.5%, Simulation 20.1%, 2D 3.3%

Shape breathtaking worlds in Terra Firma 2, a vast simulation where your creations evolve through the forces of nature. Sculpt the land, then watch as weather, erosion, and life itself transform your world into a dynamic, living ecosystem- right down to every plant and creature.

Why similar: Science 33%, Sandbox 24.2%, Nature 18.1%, Simulation 12.8%, Family Friendly 5%

Terraform a lifeless rock into a lush and habitable world. Build trucks, trains, and sprawling factories on an enormous hexagonal planet. Grow its population to millions. Enjoy a dynamic simulation of atmosphere, temperature, water, and forests.

Why similar: Sandbox 34.1%, Procedural Generation 23.7%, Simulation 17.8%, Hex Grid 16.1% ★, Management 8.2%

Jump straight into managing your own planets as you guide a civilization through the ages. Build the ultimate empire in The Universim, a new breed of God Game in development by Crytivo.

Why similar: Sandbox 35.8%, Procedural Generation 23.6%, Survival 13.5%, Simulation 12.9%, Management 8%

Create your own prehistoric civilization and lead your tribe in a world you shape. Start with nothing, build towns and industry, and advance through thousands of years of technological breakthroughs in this intimate yet expansive colony sim.

Why similar: Sandbox 39.6%, Survival 19.9%, Simulation 19.4%, Management 12.6%, 3D 8%

Make Mars your own! Take control of the world’s most sophisticated AI (AMI) and terraform the surface of the Red Planet for a city-building experience on a planetary scale. Transform this barren world into a lush paradise and explore the surface for any ancient secrets that may be waiting.

Why similar: Science 48.4%, Sandbox 22.7%, Simulation 12.2%, Survival 9.2%, Management 7.4%

A relaxing evolution simulation where AI-driven block creatures move in unexpected ways. There are no complex ecosystems—just pure movement learning through a physics engine. Watch as these creatures scurry, stumble, and evolve in their own unique, unpredictable ways.

Why similar: Science 31.4%, Artificial Intelligence 18.4%, Sandbox 16.6%, Procedural Generation 10%, Nature 9%

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: Science 36.7%, Nature 18%, Sandbox 17.6%, Simulation 10.7%, Survival 8.7%

A fictional universe sandbox/exploration game. 🪐☄️✨ Shape your own solar system by terraforming planets. Find new species and make beautiful ecosystems . . . or breed destruction with volcanos, lightning storms and wildfires!

Why similar: Sandbox 40.8%, Simulation 22.3%, Nature 19.1%, Family Friendly 9.4%, 3D 8.4%

Command a settlement of ancient humans, guide them through the ages in their struggle for survival. Hunt, gather, craft tools, fight, research new techs and face the challenges the environment will throw at you.

Why similar: Sandbox 37%, Survival 32.9%, Simulation 27.1%, Management 2.5%, Singleplayer 0.4%

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: Simulation 57.6%, Sandbox 15.7%, Realistic 10.2%, Casual 7.3%, Survival 5.3%

Collect, raise and breed an army of beetles to rise up and lay claim to the abandoned lot! The game features a complex genetics simulation and real-time tactics missions with a full campaign.

Why similar: Science 33.4%, Education 15.1%, Nature 14.4%, Procedural Generation 13.1%, Character Customization 11.1%

Play as Animals, Live in Nature! Multiple game modes include Realistic Lifecycles, Survival, Sandbox, Fantasy and Exploration. Unique gameplay for each species! Currently featuring Monarch Butterfly, Praying Mantis, Jumping Spider and other iconic creatures. Mammals, Birds, Reptiles coming soon!

Why similar: Science 27.6%, Education 15.9%, Nature 13.9%, Procedural Generation 12.5%, Sandbox 12.5%

Evolution is a real time simulation of the evolutionary process. Creatures have DNA that defines their structure, traits, how they see the world around them, and how they react to it. Each creature is unique, most die quickly, some die a little slower, and others survive (some just like rocks, they usually die too).

Why similar: Simulation 100%

Satellite Command is a realistic, relaxing astrophysics simulator. Complete contracts with real data, launch and take control of ever more powerful Satellites, research advanced technology and build your Space Agency!

Why similar: Science 34.8%, Education 21.7%, Sandbox 16.7%, Simulation 8.8%, Family Friendly 4.4%

A 2D ecosystem and survival simulation where you can manage the ecology of an evolving island or survive on it as a human, facing realistic survival mechanics and a deep character progression system.

Why similar: Simulation 50.5%, Survival 32.2%, Top-Down 11.5%, 2D 5.2%, Singleplayer 0.5%

Dive into an alien world, and evolve a creature of your design to be the top of the food chain. Precisely guide your creature to attack smaller prey and avoid predators with motion controls. Fully customize your creature’s body parts and abilities, unlocking more as you grow.

Why similar: Casual 100%

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: Simulation 32.9%, Procedural Generation 30.3%, Nature 23.6%, Casual 8.8%, 2D 4%

The Fermi Paradox is a choice-driven sci-fi narrative strategy game in which your decisions in one corner of the galaxy can upend entire civilizations in another. Guide species through millennia and help them explore the vastness of space, make contact and, perhaps, create harmony.

Why similar: Procedural Generation 62.8%, Simulation 24.1%, 2D 12.4%, Singleplayer 0.8%

You land on a frozen planet in a tiny rocket with a robot inside. Harvest and combine materials to discover new ones. Use visual programming to make the robot do the tiresome work for you. Slowly build a gang of self-sustaining robot workers and watch them terraform the planet.

Why similar: Education 48.2%, Sandbox 33.5%, Simulation 11.2%, 2D 4.6%, Casual 2.1%

Biotope will be the most detailed and realistic aquarium simulator on the market. Biotope makes it possible to create complex aquarist ecosystems and simulate realistic life cycles of plants and fish.

Why similar: Science 28.9%, Education 22.9%, Sandbox 17.6%, Simulation 9.9%, Realistic 9.1%

Take part in a space program. Design spacecrafts and send them off to explore the vast expanses of space. Experience the real scale of the Solar system and the size of its celestial bodies.

Why similar: Science 38%, Education 20.1%, Sandbox 18.1%, Simulation 8.4%, Realistic 7.7%

Raise and train a troupe of cuddly virtual life creatures that live on a Space Station. Because they have neural network brains, Norns can be taught right from wrong, but because they also have their own, individual personalities, they may not always do what you want.

Why similar: Science 32.6%, Artificial Intelligence 18.9%, Sandbox 14.5%, Nature 13.1%, Simulation 7.6%

A colony-building game combined with grand strategy elements. Play as a tribal leader, guiding your people from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age. Survive, multiply, and compete for territory among ancient nations.

Why similar: Sandbox 56.3%, Simulation 18.9%, Management 14.9%, 3D 9.3%, Singleplayer 0.5%

Galimulator is a galactic empire simulation and sandbox game. See how Empires rise and fall, and how the people in them climb through the ranks to bring prestige to their Dynasty. Then throw in an invasion of self replicating Smatter monsters if you want to spice things up.

Why similar: Simulation 56.6%, Sandbox 43.4%

Contribute to the colonization of the universe. Get and process resources, develop your technologies. Achieve complete automation and build a portal to include another planet in the chain of worlds.

Why similar: Sandbox 36.6%, Procedural Generation 29.5%, Simulation 21.2%, Realistic 8.3%, 3D 4.2%

Deep in uncharted space, your expedition took a challenging turn when your ship crash-landed. Master complex simulations to keep your outspoken explorers alive, face unpredictable challenges, and figure out a way back home.

Why similar: Science 30.9%, Procedural Generation 28.1%, Simulation 17.6%, Survival 12.4%, Management 6%

Be a plant. Manage water and sunlight for photosynthesis. Grow branches into the sky and roots into the earth. Become the tallest, most efficient tree, a snaking vine with many shoots, or just a nice bush.

Why similar: Sandbox 35.8%, Simulation 30.1%, Casual 11.8%, Management 9.8%, Family Friendly 7.5%

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: Sandbox 34.9%, Nature 32.9%, Simulation 15.4%, Management 11.3%, 2D 5.2%

APICO is a laid-back beekeeping sim game about breeding, collecting, & conserving bees! Set in a series of lush environments, APICO uniquely combines resource gathering, biology, and beekeeping minigames, taking ideas from a mix of real-life and fantasy apiculture & floriculture.

Why similar: Education 27.5%, Sandbox 20.7%, Nature 19.9%, Simulation 9.1%, Management 5.9%

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: Sandbox 34.7%, Survival 30.6%, Simulation 17.2%, Management 10.6%, 2D 6.2%