RimWorld, a popular colony simulation game, has captivated players with its deep strategy, storytelling potential, and focus on survival. Managing colonists, facing random events, and making tough decisions are all hallmarks of this engaging experience. If you enjoy RimWorld’s blend of base-building, management, and emergent storytelling, here are five games that deliver a similar thrill.
List of Games Like RimWorld
Here are five games that offer colony management, strategic gameplay, and unpredictable narratives akin to RimWorld:
- Dwarf Fortress
- Oxygen Not Included
- Surviving Mars
- Frostpunk
- Banished
1. Dwarf Fortress
Dwarf Fortress is the granddaddy of colony management games, offering unmatched complexity and depth. You guide a group of dwarves as they establish and manage an underground fortress. The game features intricate systems for resource management, construction, and social interaction, all while dealing with random, often catastrophic, events. While its ASCII graphics can be challenging for newcomers, its depth and emergent storytelling make it a must-play for fans of RimWorld.
- Developer: Bay 12 Games
- Available on: PC (Windows, macOS, Linux)
2. Oxygen Not Included
Oxygen Not Included takes colony management to space, challenging players to manage a group of duplicants on an asteroid. You’ll manage resources, maintain oxygen levels, and ensure survival in a hostile environment. Its detailed simulation of systems like temperature, gases, and water flow offers a unique twist on the RimWorld formula. The charming art style and deep mechanics make it an excellent choice for fans of strategy and survival.
- Developer: Klei Entertainment
- Available on: PC (Windows, macOS, Linux)
3. Surviving Mars
In Surviving Mars, players establish and manage a colony on the Red Planet. The game emphasizes resource management and planning, as you must ensure colonists’ survival in a harsh environment. It features a similar narrative-driven Games Like RimWorld experience to RimWorld, with unexpected events and challenges to overcome. The sci-fi setting and focus on Mars colonization give it a unique identity.
- Developer: Haemimont Games
- Available on: PC (Windows, macOS, Linux), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
4. Frostpunk
Frostpunk is a city-building survival game set in a frozen apocalypse. You play as the leader of the last city on Earth, tasked with managing resources and making difficult moral decisions to ensure survival. While it focuses more on city-building than individual colonists, its emphasis on tough choices and emergent challenges mirrors RimWorld’s intense decision-making gameplay.
- Developer: 11 bit studios
- Available on: PC (Windows, macOS), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
5. Banished
Banished is a medieval city-building game where you manage a small group of settlers starting a new life. Like RimWorld, the focus is on survival, resource management, and overcoming challenges. The game’s minimalist approach and emphasis on efficiency make it a great choice for players who enjoy RimWorld’s colony-building elements without the sci-fi twist.
- Developer: Shining Rock Software
- Available on: PC (Windows)
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of RimWorld’s colony management, emergent storytelling, and survival challenges, these games offer diverse and engaging alternatives. Each brings its own unique mechanics and themes, ensuring plenty of options to satisfy your strategic and storytelling cravings.