Games Like War for the Overworld

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 46.3% ★, Villain Protagonist 18.3% ★, Strategy 10.4%, Base Building 8%, RTS 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: As the direct inspiration for the genre, this classic remains the gold standard for dungeon management and dark, villainous gameplay.

At last, the Dungeon Lord has successfully united the forces of evil and established his dark empire. Time for the next step in his most diabolical quest: expansion!

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 25.1% ★, God Game 17.5% ★, Base Building 16.3%, RTS 11.5%, Management 11.2%

Why You'll Like It: It perfectly captures the spirit of the genre by combining underground base management with overworld RTS missions and a humorous narrative.

The Absolute Evil and its trusted *cough* servant, the Dark Elf Thalya, return in Dungeons 4 after the events of its fabulous predecessor to bring about their triumph over the forces of good once more.

Why similar: City Builder 20.2%, RTS 18.9%, Level Editor 18.1%, Sandbox 16%, Simulation 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: This modern entry offers the most polished experience in the series, balancing complex dungeon building with large-scale real-time strategy combat.

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: Villain Protagonist 35% ★, Base Building 25.6%, Management 12.9%, Sandbox 7.7%, Simulation 7%

Why You'll Like It: This game brings the villain-protagonist theme to a spy-fi setting, focusing on base construction and managing a global criminal empire.

The Dungeon Lord is back – and this time he’s serious! In Dungeons 2, fulfil the Dungeon Lord’s insatiable quest for vengeance by recruiting fearsome new monsters from all corners of the underworld in order to undertake his evil bidding.

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 23.7% ★, Dungeon Crawler 16.3%, Management 14.6%, RTS 11.5%, Strategy 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: This title bridges the gap between classic dungeon management and modern RTS mechanics with a distinct villainous charm.

KeeperRL is a retro dungeon simulator with roguelike and RPG elements. Take the role of an evil keeper and build a formidable dungeon. Recruit sinister minions, equip and train them to explore the world and fight the forces of good.

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 24.5% ★, Underground 17.5% ★, Base Building 15.4%, Old School 12%, Sandbox 11.1%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a deeper, more roguelike approach to dungeon management, emphasizing procedural generation and high-stakes tactical combat.

Dwelvers is a unique real-time strategy Dungeon Keeper-like with resource management, logistics, battles, magic spells, trading, crimes against humanity, labyrinths, and so much more. Are you able to eradicate the pesky humans once and for all? Of course you are. The Dark Mother wills it.

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 23.5% ★, Base Building 15.8%, Underground 15.3% ★, God Game 12.4% ★, Management 11.6%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses heavily on the logistics of underground construction and managing complex supply chains for your dungeon minions.

Everybody wants to rule the world! Achieve global power with EVIL GENIUS, the one and only complete world domination simulator. All the everyday tasks of the deliciously wicked mastermind are available to experience and master from building your ultra-secret base to developing spectacular super-weapons to carry out your nefarious master...

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 35.5% ★, Base Building 27.6%, Management 7.4%, RTS 6.1%, Strategy 5.8%

Why You'll Like It: The original base-building classic that defined the villain-protagonist genre with its iconic humor and lair-design mechanics.

Machiavillain is an evil mansion management and strategy game, inspired by Dungeon Keeper, Prison Architect and all the horror movie clichés! Build your own manor, raise your monsters, set up your traps, and exterminate your victims. But to gain reputation you'll have to slay by the horror movie rules!

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 32.8% ★, Base Building 18.8%, Management 14.1%, Simulation 10.8%, Sandbox 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: A unique take on the genre where you manage a monster-filled mansion, focusing on base building and dark, comedic resource management.

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: Villain Protagonist 21.7% ★, God Game 16.9% ★, Base Building 14%, Colony Sim 11.6% ★, City Builder 9.9%

Why You'll Like It: A god-game that lets you act as a malevolent force, focusing on creating chaos and manipulating the lives of your subjects.

Dungeon Warfare is a challenging tower defense strategy game where you become a dungeon lord to defend your dungeons with deadliest of traps and insidious contraptions against greedy adventurers and wanna-be heroes.

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 74.6% ★, Strategy 11.7%, Fantasy 10.7%, Singleplayer 3%

Why You'll Like It: It distills the dungeon defense aspect into a challenging tower-defense experience that rewards clever trap placement.

A brutal godlike village sim that melds the god game, management, and tower defense genres! Fight off hoards of monsters at night, and expand your village in the day time. Inspired by games like Black and White, Rimworld, and Dwarf Fortress but not quite like any of them.

Why similar: Colony Sim 22.5% ★, City Builder 19.4%, God Game 18.9% ★, Base Building 17.2%, Sandbox 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: This game blends colony simulation with intense tower defense, requiring constant vigilance to protect your base from waves of enemies.

Start your own cult in a land of false prophets, venturing out into diverse and mysterious regions to build a loyal community of woodland Followers and spread your Word to become the one true cult.

Why similar: Base Building 36.7%, Dungeon Crawler 26.9%, Colony Sim 21.8% ★, Funny 5%, Fantasy 4.4%

Why You'll Like It: While it features action-roguelike elements, the core base management and dark, cult-leader aesthetic resonate strongly with fans of evil-themed strategy.

Deep in the underworld of Ardania, a threat of the most evil nature grows and multiplies with an appetite for destruction that is unsurpassed. Summoned from the depths of the Bottomless Pit, the (once) mighty Báal-Abaddon has been torn from his throne of skulls and imprisoned in an earthly body of less-than-imposing stature (he's an Imp,...

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 50.8% ★, Strategy 38.2%, Fantasy 11.1%

Why You'll Like It: A direct dungeon management RTS that captures the feeling of playing as a villainous creature trying to conquer the world.

Overlord II, sequel to the critically acclaimed cult hit, sees the return of the chaotic Minions and their new Dark Master. Bigger, badder and more beautifully destructive, Overlord 2 has a Glorious Empire to smash, a massive Netherworld to revive, Minion mounts to mobilize, a trio of mistresses to woo, War Machines to crush opposition...

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 62.9% ★, Comedy 9.4%, Fantasy 8.9%, Funny 7.6%, RTS 5.1%

Why You'll Like It: This action-strategy hybrid allows you to command a horde of minions to wreak havoc, perfectly capturing the feeling of being an evil overlord.

Build your own dungeon and attract heroes from all over the realm! Grow your business by exploiting every facet of your visitors' dungeon exploration experience. Will you be able to keep your evil dungeon business going?

Why similar: Dungeon Crawler 20.1%, God Game 19.1% ★, Management 16.8%, City Builder 14%, Sandbox 13.7%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the management and economic side of running a dungeon, emphasizing the business of being a villain.

Prepare to be tempted, mesmerized and thrilled, become the Overlord, how corrupt you become depends on how you handle any given situation. Your actions impact the game world. With incredible power at your disposal and a team of evil minded minions to do your evil bidding, how will you resist the temptation to be incredibly despotic?

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 50.1% ★, RTS 23.2%, Comedy 8%, Funny 7.4%, Fantasy 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: The original game that established the satisfying minion-commanding mechanics and dark fantasy tone of the series.

Hell Architect is a game about building and managing your own hell. You take on a role of a hell manager and are tasked with developing the underworld in a way that would make Lucifer himself fall off his chair.

Why similar: Dark Comedy 18.1%, God Game 15.2% ★, Base Building 13.9%, Colony Sim 12% ★, City Builder 11.3%

Why You'll Like It: A construction and management game set in hell that focuses on dark humor and the efficient design of torture-filled facilities.

Harness your Demigod powers to lead a group from rags to riches in this 3D Fantasy Kingdom Management Sim with RPG elements. Command from the sky or take control in 3rd Person to BUILD, BATTLE, and RULE. Navigate a world of interesting Nobles, earn their respect, and decide their Fates.

Why similar: Base Building 20.6%, Colony Sim 18.7% ★, City Builder 16.6%, Sandbox 16.3%, Management 14.4%

Why You'll Like It: A god-game that combines deep base management with moral dilemmas, allowing you to shape the fate of your subjects as you see fit.

Songs of Syx is a fantasy city-builder with vast battles simulating thousands of citizens and soldiers. Start off as a small village and build, scheme, and fight your way towards a mighty empire. The mechanics are deep and true to life, where tiny events can spiral into the collapse of kingdoms.

Why similar: Base Building 22.4%, Colony Sim 21.3% ★, City Builder 20.2%, Sandbox 17.9%, Simulation 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: This large-scale colony sim captures the epic feeling of building a massive underground empire with thousands of inhabitants.

Craft The World is a unique sandbox strategy game, the mix of Dungeon Keeper, Terraria and Dwarf Fortress. Explore a random generated world populated by dangerous creatures, build a dwarf fortress, gather resources, and craft all the items, weapons, and armor you need.

Why similar: Colony Sim 34% ★, Sandbox 30%, City Builder 12.5%, God Game 9.8% ★, Simulation 5.3%

Why You'll Like It: Features underground building and resource gathering with a charming aesthetic that appeals to fans of sandbox management games.

Recruit adventurers and monsters to create your own RRG-style town!

Why similar: Colony Sim 28% ★, City Builder 25.1%, Loot 13.3%, Simulation 13%, Strategy 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: A more lighthearted management game that flips the script by having you build a town to support the heroes who visit your dungeon.

Dungeon Overseer is a colony simulator with a focus on base building and resource management. Become the Overseer by building a unique dungeon layout, constructing your lair, upgrading and expanding, questing, crafting, researching, recruiting, defending your base, and raiding.

Why similar: Base Building 20.3%, Colony Sim 17.5% ★, City Builder 15%, God Game 14.4% ★, Management 10.5%

Why You'll Like It: This game emphasizes the economy and expansion of your dungeon lair, focusing on resource gathering and base growth.

How evil can you get? Discover how corruptible you are in Overlord, the twisted fantasy action adventure where you can be evil (or really evil). In the game's seriously warped fantasy world, players will become the Overlord and get first-hand experience of how absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 59.4% ★, RTS 11.3%, Comedy 8.9%, Fantasy 7.9%, Funny 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: Expands on the original Overlord experience with additional dark fantasy content and challenging new environments.

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 26.5%, Colony Sim 23.3% ★, Management 14.3%, Sandbox 14.2%, City Builder 10.7%

Why You'll Like It: The gold standard for emergent base management, offering deep simulation mechanics that allow for dark, story-driven gameplay.

Dungeon of the ENDLESS™ is a Rogue-Like Dungeon-Defense game, in which the player and their team of heroes must protect the generator of their crashed ship while exploring an ever-expanding dungeon, all while facing waves of monsters and special events as they try to find their way out...

Why similar: Dungeon Crawler 73.3%, Strategy 24.7%, Singleplayer 2%

Why You'll Like It: A strategic blend of base defense and exploration that forces you to manage resources under constant pressure.

Project Highrise is a skyscraper construction and management sim...

Why similar: Management 43.7%, Simulation 18.3%, Sandbox 16.1%, Strategy 9.6%, City Builder 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: While not fantasy-themed, it offers the same satisfying vertical base management and logistical planning found in dungeon builders.

Become a dungeon lord to defend your dungeons with the deadliest of traps and insidious contraptions against greedy adventurers and wannabe heroes.

Why similar: Strategy 100%

Why You'll Like It: Refines the trap-based dungeon defense mechanics of the original with more variety and deeper strategic options.

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

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 29.4% ★, God Game 22% ★, Base Building 15.3%, Old School 14.8%, Management 7.4%

A dungeon in danger ! Build, manage, and defend your tower in the satirical heroic fantasy universe of Dungeon of Naheulbeuk. From a shaky establishment to an infamous lair!

Why similar: Base Building 24.4%, Management 22.3%, Sandbox 19.6%, Simulation 9.1%, Funny 7.3%

Build your own dungeon and attract heroes from all over the realm in this free version of Dungeon Tycoon. Grow your business by exploiting every facet of your visitors' dungeon exploration experience. Will you be able to keep your evil dungeon business going?

Why similar: Dungeon Crawler 22.6%, God Game 17.7% ★, Management 16.9%, Base Building 16.4%, Sandbox 13.8%

Dungeons: The Dark Lord is the sequel to Dungeons, the game where the more evil you are, the better! There are a slew of exciting new features, including four-player multiplayer in four modes!

Why similar: Simulation 59.4%, Strategy 40.6%

Why You'll Like It: An expansion-turned-standalone that adds significant depth and new mechanics to the early Dungeons experience.

Command swarms of warriors at an unprecedented scale of warfare in this blend of RTS and base-building. Lead ant colonies against the many fearsome threats of the insect world, while building intricate nests, developing pheromone-based tactics, and evolving to meet growing dangers.

Why similar: Base Building 21.3%, Colony Sim 17.4% ★, City Builder 16.5%, Management 16.1%, Sandbox 16%

Hell Architect is a hell colony sim. Build and manage your hell. Take care of the sinners with funny cartoon-style tortures, fill their needs, develop buildings, gather resources, grow your population. Prologue is a free standalone version of the game 'Hell Architect'.

Why similar: Dark Comedy 16%, Base Building 14.9%, Dungeon Crawler 14.7%, Colony Sim 13.4% ★, City Builder 12.5%

Gold makes God. Embrace city-building chaos around a monster-filled dungeon where danger & profit go hand in hand. Assign heroes quests, evolve powerful pets and expand your influence one gold coin at a time. Recruit, defend, explore — all in pursuit of Glory and Gold!

Why similar: God Game 16.2% ★, Management 15%, Base Building 14.3%, Colony Sim 12% ★, City Builder 10.7%

Build a fortress and try to help your dwarves survive against a deeply generated world. Keep your dwarves happy, grow their community and beware of digging too deeply. The deepest, most intricate simulation of a world that's ever been created.

Why similar: Base Building 21.2%, Colony Sim 18% ★, City Builder 16.3%, Management 16.2%, Sandbox 16.2%

Assume the role of a mighty (and mighty evil) Dungeon Lord and create your own diabolical demesnes underground. 10 different classes of heroes dare to enter your dungeon where 15 different monsters lurk in the dark.

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 45.3% ★, Strategy 22.8%, Management 17.8%, Fantasy 7.1%, Simulation 7%

Build a civilization that will stand the test of time in the largest space-based strategy game ever! Choose from dozens of unique races and make a name for yourself across the galaxy through diplomacy, espionage, technological advances, and more.

Why similar: Sandbox 79%, Strategy 21%

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: Colony Sim 20.2% ★, Base Building 19%, Sandbox 18.2%, Management 16.2%, City Builder 15.2%

Build your dungeon & protect it with a labyrinth of dark corridors, a web of deadly traps, an arsenal of powerful spells, and an army of bloodthirsty demons

Why similar: God Game 56.9% ★, Villain Protagonist 30.3% ★, Strategy 10.6%, Singleplayer 2.1%

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: Villain Protagonist 58.8% ★, Management 33.3%, Strategy 7.9%

Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect.

Why similar: Base Building 20.8%, Colony Sim 17.3% ★, Sandbox 16.3%, Management 15.5%, City Builder 14.2%

Mars has been colonized, and Earth's corporate titans fight to dominate this new market. Competition is fierce in this fast-paced economic RTS from Civilization IV Lead Designer, Soren Johnson.

Why similar: Colony Sim 22.1% ★, Base Building 21.4%, City Builder 20%, Management 18.9%, Simulation 9.6%

Forge a new kingdom in a land recovering from the Fracture. Which of the surviving races will you lead to rebuild, explore, and conquer the unknown? The dwindling yet immortal Ancients? The bold and resourceful Humans? The life stealing Ardyn? Or the secretive Gwdir who shape living groves?

Why similar: Base Building 19.1%, God Game 18.4% ★, Colony Sim 17.2% ★, Management 13.6%, City Builder 11%

Gnomoria is a sandbox village management game where you help lead a small group of gnomes, who have set out on their own, to thrive into a bustling kingdom! Anything you see can be broken down and rebuilt elsewhere.

Why similar: Colony Sim 25.7% ★, Sandbox 22.5%, City Builder 21.8%, Simulation 8.2%, Strategy 5.7%

A once thriving network of space stations and planets have been left lifeless, redundant scars of the apocalypse. Into this age of darkness comes light. You will lead the way in rebuilding the network of space stations to a standard accepted by the individual alien races, attracting them to harness their expertise and research new...

Why similar: Base Building 15.1%, Management 13.1%, God Game 11.8% ★, Colony Sim 11.6% ★, City Builder 10.9%

A byte-sized Dungeon Keeping roguelike: dig out your lair, populate it with monsters and protect the Wratch from heroes come for easy prestige.

Why similar: Base Building 24.8%, Underground 22.6% ★, Colony Sim 20.5% ★, Dungeon Crawler 13.8%, Simulation 7.5%

Forge invincible defenses with lethal traps and devious machines, and crush relentless waves of adventurers in the ultimate tower defense showdown!

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 30.5% ★, Simulation 25.6%, Strategy 18.1%, Level Editor 17.3%, Fantasy 5.8%

Become a villain in this retro-inspired board game. Draft terrain tiles, recruit monsters, build your dungeon, and become the OVERBOSS!

Why similar: Base Building 54.2%, City Builder 16.4%, Simulation 13.3%, Strategy 9.7%, Fantasy 5.2%

Legend of Keepers is the perfect mix between Dungeon Defender and Roguelite. You have been hired as a dungeon manager by the Dungeons Company. Your job is simple: protect their dungeons!

Why similar: Villain Protagonist 42.7% ★, Dungeon Crawler 27.2%, Management 18%, Strategy 5.8%, Fantasy 5.3%

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: Base Building 21.3%, Colony Sim 17.5% ★, City Builder 16.6%, Management 16.1%, Sandbox 15.7%

Pioneer a living world full of warmth, heroism, and mystery. Help a small group of settlers build a home for themselves in a forgotten land. Establish a food supply, build shelter, defend your people, monitor their moods, and find a way to grow and expand, facing challenges at every step.

Why similar: Colony Sim 30.2% ★, City Builder 26.4%, Sandbox 19.9%, God Game 6% ★, Simulation 5.3%

Develop a prestigious university of mages. Build rooms, train your students, fight orcs, slay the bureaucrats, manage your budget... a director's life is not a quiet one.

Why similar: Base Building 30.3%, Colony Sim 25.9% ★, Management 22.3%, Simulation 10.4%, Funny 5.1%

Conquer and destroy the dirty Humans by sending swarms of bugs to crush their home worlds. Evolve your Buggos into stronger, faster, more murderous creatures that can rip the Human defenses to shreds! No one can stop your evolutionary powers. You are the evil Buggo Hivemind!!!

Why similar: Base Building 25.2%, Colony Sim 16.3% ★, City Builder 14.8%, RTS 12.3%, Management 11%

Lead your hive to victory in 'Buggos', an RTS Auto Battler! Customize your swarm with 120+ evolutions and conquer humanity. Strategy meets bug chaos!

Why similar: Base Building 19.6%, City Builder 15.2%, Villain Protagonist 14.8% ★, Management 14.6%, RTS 11.9%

Lairchitect is a reverse dungeon crawler! Build your own lair and protect your precious soul core from heroes that try to raid your dungeon. Distracting heroes and using the right minions to defeat them is key in winning the game.

Why similar: Base Building 34.1%, Dungeon Crawler 22.2%, Management 13.7%, Strategy 12.7%, Simulation 12.1%

Run an adventurers shop – a serious business in a fantasy environment. Stock your store with dangerous weapons, fancy hats, sturdy armour and magical potions.

Why similar: Management 51.2%, Simulation 30.7%, Sandbox 11.6%, Fantasy 3.6%, Funny 2.1%

In the world of Majesty, you are the ruler of the Kingdom. Your rule is not absolute, however, as you face subjects that are independent and stubborn. They will need a great deal of persuasion before they carry out your wishes...

Why similar: RTS 38.7%, Base Building 26%, Strategy 17.8%, Fantasy 9.8%, Simulation 6.5%