Top 11 Games Like RimWorld You Need To Play

If you’re like me, you fell in love with RimWorld for the totally awesome indie game it is, where you get to manage a group of survivors stranded on an alien planet. You have to build up your colony and gather resources while dealing with all sorts of crazy challenges like deadly diseases, brutal weather, and even alien monsters.

However, RimWorld is old news now. I don’t mean that in a bad way, but, you know, it’s to the point where we’ve squeezed every cent of our money’s worth out of the game and then some! So, if you’re a fan of RimWorld but want to try something new, where do you go? Right here! This article will take you through a long list of games that you can play once you’ve had your fill of RimWorld. First off, we have:

You just know some games are going to be fun right from the moment you read their names, and this is one of those! Evil Genius is a real-time strategy game where players take on the role of a supervillain trying to take over the world. Similar to RimWorld, you’re gonna be building up your base, recruiting minions, and fending off enemy attacks while executing your own nefarious plans (Muahahaha).

In my playthrough, I found one of the major differences between the two games is that RimWorld focuses more on survival and storytelling, while Evil Genius is more about building and managing your evil empire. I don’t know about you, but I absolutely loved the deviance from fighting to survive and focusing more on growing!

In Evil Genius, you can design and customize your lair, research new technologies, and launch a variety of schemes to further your goals. Oh, and when I tell you it has a strong emphasis on humor and satire, poking fun at classic spy-fi and superhero tropes, I mean it. This game had me laughing so hard that I got side stitches, and this was on multiple occasions!

Evil Genius was originally released in 2004 and is still available on PC from Steam and GOG (where it has stellar reviews, by the way).

Factorio is a wild and wacky game where you play as a space explorer tasked with building automated factories on an alien planet. It’s like playing SimCity on steroids, with a dash of Minecraft and a pinch of Civilization. And just like with any good recipe, the end result is highly addictive and will keep you coming back for more.

I’m telling you when I played this game, I actually felt like a mad scientist with an endless supply of Legos, and the only limit was my imagination (and my ability to optimize my factory!). You’ll start with basic resources and work your way up the production chain, unlocking new technologies and dealing with challenges like resource management, automation, and fighting off alien creatures.

In comparison to RimWorld, you’ll find that Factorio puts a lot of emphasis on getting as much control over your factory as possible so that you can optimize it. RimWorld, at least for me, was about having control taken away! The game puts you through an interesting story, which isn’t really the case in Factorio.

Factorio is also known for its depth and complexity, which will keep you engaged for hours (or days, or weeks…). Also, the game is available EVERYWHERE (Switch, Mac, Windows, even Linux), and with a vibrant modding community, you’ll never run out of new content and ways to customize your experience. So if you’re looking for a game that’s equal parts challenging, rewarding, and hilarious, give Factorio a try!

This is a major throwback for me, playing medieval-themed games from the 90s on the old family computer! Don’t get me wrong, Going Medieval isn’t an old game by any means, but it does take you back to those days in the best of ways.

You’re dropped into the Middle Ages, which means you have medieval technologies that you can use to make things. These include blacksmithing, farming, and of course, brewing! There isn’t a civilization on Earth if it doesn’t have a thriving brewing system. Once you have your colony, you’ll find out pretty quickly that you have to fight off raiders and disease. Oh, and it’s not just any disease, it’s the Black Death. Scary stuff, for sure, but also fun!

Right, so how does it compare to RimWorld? People say, and I agree, that it’s quite similar to RimWorld in its gameplay, style, and overall mechanics. That’s to say that whether you’re coming from one game or the other, you’ll feel right at home while still getting to experience a whole new, unique game. If you want to get started today, you can play Going Medieval on Windows and Linux (sorry, Mac and console fans, you’re gonna have to find a different game on this list).

Alright, it’s time for me to talk about my favorite prison game (that’s a thing we all have, right?) Prison Architect! It’s the game where you get to be the warden that oppresses the prisoners… Okay, maybe not exactly that, but you do get to be the warden of a maximum security prison that you yourself build! For a lot of us, me included, that’s fun enough, but this game takes it a step further, and let me tell you how.

In Prison Architect, you’ll spend hours designing and building the perfect prison layout, hiring guards, and making sure your inmates don’t kill each other. You’ll get to experience the thrill of playing the role of the prison boss, which for me meant the anxiety of wondering if your inmates are plotting a riot (oh, those chickens are definitely up to something).

When I played it after RimWorld, I found that they both have a bunch of similarities. For one, you have to manage your group’s needs and trust me, they have a lot of needs. While in RimWorld, they need to not get eaten by giant space animals, prisoners in Prison Architect need food, sleep, and a place to pee. It’s like having a bunch of toddlers, except instead of crying, they’re stabbing each other with makeshift knives and rioting and burning the damn prison down, which took you so long to make.

Prison Architect is available to you regardless of which camp you belong to. As of now, you can get it on PlayStation, Android, Switch, Xbox, PC, and more!

So, Dwarf Fortress is a simulation game that’s a bit like RimWorld, but with a lot more complexity. In the game, you control a group of dwarves who are living in an underground fortress. Just like RimWorld, you need to take care of your dwarves’ needs and make sure they have enough resources to survive. But Dwarf Fortress takes it to another level. It’s got this crazy simulation engine that models everything from fluid dynamics to the personalities of the dwarves. It’s like having your own virtual world, except with more beard hair and fewer sunburns, of course.

Now, I gotta warn you, Dwarf Fortress has a steep learning curve, I found that out the hard way. It’s got these ASCII graphics that can look like gibberish at first, but some people find them charming in a retro kind of way. Plus, the game is free, which means thrifters and budget gamers like myself can try it out without risking our life savings! One thing I personally didn’t like as much (I might be murdered for this) was the graphics, and for that, there are mods and graphics packs that can help spruce things up a bit.

So, if you’re up for a challenge and you like the idea of running your own underground kingdom, then Dwarf Fortress might be the game for you. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself spending hours on end tinkering with levers and building underground waterfalls. You can get the game today on PC, including Linux and macOS.

You might or might not have heard of Dungeon Keeper. Well, I have to tell you straight off the bat that it’s awesome, and there’s no debate about that! Coming in from the late 90s, it’s a strategy game that’s a bit like RimWorld, but with an evil twist. In this game, you get to be the villainous overlord in charge of a dungeon full of minions. You must attract, train, and manage your minions to build your dungeon, dig tunnels, and defend against those pesky heroes who always want to ruin your evil plans!

Similar to RimWorld, your minions have their own personalities and needs that must be met to keep them happy and productive. You’ll need to manage your resources, including gold and mana, to keep your dungeon running smoothly. And best of all (this is an insider tip, so hush), you get to cackle maniacally as you order your minions around and lay out traps to defeat your enemies!

One thing that sets Dungeon Keeper apart from RimWorld is its focus on real-time strategy gameplay. You’ll need to keep a close eye on your dungeon and react quickly to events like enemy invasions or collapsing tunnels. It’s a challenging game that will keep you on your toes!

Dungeon Keeper was originally released for PC, which means you can still get it today on a variety of platforms like GOG and Origin. It’s a classic game that’s definitely worth checking out, especially if you’re a fan of evil overlords and diabolical schemes!

The name kind of gives the game away, right? But it does that in the best of ways, who doesn’t wanna craft their own freaking world? Do you want to be a godlike being who controls a tribe of dwarves? Of course, you do! Right then, you’ve got to try out Craft the World, a game that’s like RimWorld, but with a touch of magic and whimsy.

In Craft the World, you get to be the master of your dwarves’ destiny. You’ll need to keep them happy, healthy, and well-fed, which, let’s be real, is the same job description as a parent! You’ll assign tasks, build structures, and fend off monsters. It’s like babysitting but with axes and monsters.

As in RimWorld, base building and resource management are key to your success. But in Craft the World, you get to explore different biomes, uncover hidden treasures, and battle against terrifying beasts. Craft the World is available on different platforms, including PC, Mac, and mobile, so you can play it anywhere you like.

Getting stranded in video games is starting to become a bit of a pattern, should we be worried? Welcome to Banished, you’re in charge of a group of misfit settlers! It’s like RimWorld, but instead of being stranded in space, your settlers are stuck in a new world after being kicked out of their homeland. Talk about tough love!

Similar to RimWorld, Banished is all about strategy and planning. You’ll need to make tough choices, prioritize your resources, and keep your settlers thriving in the face of disasters like tornadoes, floods, and plagues. But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom. You can also enjoy some light-hearted moments, like watching your settlers play with fire and getting into arguments over who gets the last piece of bread!

Banished tasks you with managing your settlers’ needs like a pro. You’ll need to ensure they’re fed, housed, and happy while also keeping them safe from the elements and any wild critters that might want to gobble them up. Babysitting can describe this game too, in this case, it’s a bunch of rowdy, reckless pioneers who won’t listen to reason! The game is available on PC, Mac, and Linux, so you won’t miss out on it as long as you have a PC in your home.

There’s no telling if humans are ever going to colonize space, at least not in our lifetime, but why fret? You can have an entire colony right here on Space Colony! Okay, it’s probably not the same experience because some would argue that it’s even better!

If you want to play this game, you’re gonna need to be comfy with multitasking as you juggle building, managing resources, and keeping your colonists from losing their minds. How, you ask? Well, like any good babysitter as before, you’ll have to keep them fed, hydrated, and entertained while ensuring they don’t get attacked by any tentacled aliens.

Compared to RimWorld, Space Colony is similarly difficult. This means you’re gonna have to strategize, think fast, and be as efficient as possible. It’s all worth it, though, because, in the end, you (might) get to watch your space colonists get into hilarious arguments and fall in love with each other. Love in space? It really does transcend boundaries! So, get ready to launch your space adventure from the comfort of your own planet, as Space Colony is available on PC and Android.

Welcome to Oxygen Not Included, the game where you get to be the god-like overlord of a bunch of little gas-breathing dudes. It’s your job to build them a home that won’t kill them while making sure they have all the oxygen, food, and plumbing they need to survive. But watch out because space is dangerous, and your little minions will die a lot! So, be prepared to cry a little when things inevitably go wrong… Unless you’re a sociopath or something, in that case, you’ll be just fine.

Coming from RimWorld, you’ll be happy to know they kept a lot of the good stuff! Both games have very similar base building, resource management mechanics, procedural generation, and of course, difficulty (who doesn’t love a challenge?). What I loved about it was that, despite it seeming like it’s very similar to RimWorld, Oxygen Not Included puts enough of a unique spin on everything to make an entirely new, exceptionally amazing game!

Also, ONI devs had literally everyone in mind when they made this game because they ported it to as many platforms as they could! At the time of writing, it’s available on macOS, Linus, Windows, and even classic macOS. So, chances are, the nearest PC you grab can run this game today, and you can dive into the fun right away.

For our last entry, we have a game that deviates a fair bit from RimWorld while also maintaining some key similarities to remain in the genre, it’s Surviving the Aftermath! Like others in its genre, the focus is on the same gameplay where you have to care for and grow a colony, but this game puts its own spin on it, which I personally loved.

Comparing it to RimWorld right away, you’ll find that this game doesn’t focus too much on individuals in your colony, it looks at the entire town as a unit. This means you’re going to find a stronger focus on building your city, with survival being mixed into it and made a core element.

In my playthrough, I loved the way the game made me manage resources and strategize my planning, all while dealing with the post-apocalyptic world. It makes it that much more rewarding when your forward thinking is the reason your colony is surviving and, soon, thriving! If that all floats your boat, or in this case, holds up your tent, then you can get to playing it right away on your platform of choice: PlayStation, Switch, Xbox, and Windows.

That finishes our round-up of games like RimWorld, whew! I did not think there would be eleven other games out there that are so similar, but it turns out there might be even more than that. So, what do you think about this list? Is there something we missed? We’ll be looking forward to hearing from you, and until then, happy gaming!

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