If you’re a fan of Dwarf Fortress, a complex and challenging construction management simulation game, you may find yourself craving more games that offer a similar experience.
Luckily, there are plenty of titles out there that will scratch that itch for meticulous base-building and strategic decision-making.
In this article, we’ll explore 20 games that share the same core elements as Dwarf Fortress, offering you hours of immersive gameplay and endless possibilities.
RimWorld
One of the most popular games in the genre is RimWorld. This sci-fi colony simulator puts you in charge of a group of survivors stranded on a distant planet. Your goal is to guide them through the challenges of building a thriving community while fending off hostile wildlife and managing limited resources.
In RimWorld, you start with a small group of survivors who have crash-landed on an unknown planet. Each survivor has their own unique skills, traits, and backstories, which adds depth and complexity to the gameplay. As the player, you must carefully assign tasks and manage the colony’s resources to ensure their survival.
The planet in RimWorld is procedurally generated, meaning that each playthrough offers a different experience. The terrain, weather patterns, and wildlife are all randomly generated, creating a dynamic and unpredictable environment. This adds a layer of excitement and challenge to the game, as you never know what obstacles or opportunities await you.
As you progress in RimWorld, you will encounter various challenges and obstacles that test your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. From dealing with food shortages and diseases to defending against raids and natural disasters, there is never a dull moment in this game. The sense of satisfaction you get from successfully overcoming these challenges and watching your colony thrive is incredibly rewarding.
RimWorld is a captivating and immersive sci-fi colony simulator that offers a unique and dynamic experience for fans of construction management sims.
Gnomoria
Gnomoria is another title that will appeal to Dwarf Fortress enthusiasts. In this game, you start with a small group of gnomes and must help them establish a prosperous underground civilization.
You’ll be responsible for resource management, crafting, and defending against various threats. Gnomoria’s tile-based graphics and intricate systems make it a worthy alternative for those seeking a similar level of complexity.
Stonehearth
If you prefer a more visually charming experience, Stonehearth might be the game for you. Set in a fantasy world, this construction management sim allows you to guide a group of settlers in creating a thriving town.
You’ll need to manage resources, assign tasks, and protect your villagers from attacks. With its adorable graphics and intuitive interface, Stonehearth offers a welcoming entry point for players new to the genre.
Unfortunately the game was abandoned by the developers but is kept alive by the modding community.
Banished
Banished takes a different approach by focusing on survival and resource management in a realistic setting. Set in a medieval world, you’ll need to carefully balance the needs of your population with available resources.
Building homes, farms, and production facilities will be crucial to the survival of your settlers.
Banished’s challenging gameplay and atmospheric visuals make it a standout choice for fans of city-building and management sims.
Prison Architect
For those interested in a unique twist on construction management, Prison Architect offers a compelling experience. In this game, you’ll take on the role of a prison designer and manager.
You’ll be responsible for constructing cells, facilities, and managing the needs of your inmates. Balancing security with prisoner well-being and rehabilitation is key to success in Prison Architect.
With its deep simulation and strategic gameplay, it’s a game that will keep you engaged for hours on end.
Oxygen Not Included
If you enjoy the complexity and challenge of Dwarf Fortress, but crave a futuristic sci-fi setting, Oxygen Not Included is a must-play.
Developed by the creators of Don’t Starve, this game tasks you with managing a colony of space-faring survivors on an inhospitable asteroid.
You’ll need to provide them with oxygen, food, and water while expanding your base and researching new technologies.
Oxygen Not Included’s intricate systems and charming art style make it a captivating choice for construction management enthusiasts.
Towns
Towns is a quirky and charming construction management sim where you control a group of settlers who carve out a new village from the wilderness. Similar to Dwarf Fortress, you’ll need to manage resources, assign jobs, and defend against monsters.
One unique aspect of Towns is the ability to directly control individual citizens, giving you a more hands-on approach to managing your settlement.
Whether you’re a fan of the genre or new to construction management sims, Towns offers an enjoyable and accessible experience.
Factorio
Factorio takes construction management to a different level by introducing automation and industrialization. In this game, you’ll start with limited resources and must build a sprawling factory complex to research and produce advanced technologies.
Balancing resource extraction, transportation, and defense against hostile creatures will be crucial to your success. With its addictive gameplay and complex logistics, Factorio will keep you engrossed for countless hours.
Tropico Series
If you enjoy the management aspect of Dwarf Fortress but crave a tropical setting with a political twist, the Tropico series is worth exploring. In these games, you’ll play as “El Presidente,” the ruler of a Caribbean island nation.
You’ll need to balance the needs of your population, manage the economy, and navigate political challenges.
With its humorous tone, deep simulation mechanics, and engaging campaign mode, the Tropico series is a delightful diversion for fans of construction management games.
Anno Series
For those seeking a more visually impressive construction management experience, the Anno series offers stunning graphics and intricate gameplay.
Set in various historical periods, these games task you with building and managing cities and colonies. Trade, diplomacy, and exploration play a key role in your success, making for a rich and immersive gameplay experience. With its attention to detail and beautiful visuals, the Anno series is a standout choice for fans of construction management sims.
KeeperRL
Taking inspiration from both Dwarf Fortress and Dungeon Keeper, KeeperRL combines base building with roguelike mechanics.
In this game, you play as an evil overlord who must construct your underground lair, recruit minions, and defend against heroes who dare to challenge your rule.
With its pixel art graphics and deep gameplay mechanics, KeeperRL offers a fresh take on the construction management genre.
Aside from constructing and expanding your dungeon, you can also explore the world, raid other settlements, and research powerful spells to aid your conquest.
The game’s procedurally generated maps and challenging AI opponents ensure that no two playthroughs are the same, keeping you engaged for countless hours.
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead
If you prefer a post-apocalyptic setting, then Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead is the game for you. Here, you must survive in a world overrun by zombies, mutants, and other threats.
Construction management plays a vital role in this game as you build fortifications, create weapons and vehicles, and establish safe havens for yourself and fellow survivors.
What sets Cataclysm apart is the game’s incredible depth and complexity. You can scavenge for resources, craft items, hunt for food, and even develop your skills in various fields.
The open-world nature of the game allows for emergent gameplay and endless possibilities, making each playthrough a unique experience.
UnReal World
For those seeking a more realistic and historically inspired construction management sim, UnReal World is the perfect choice. Set in ancient Finland, this game challenges you to survive and thrive in a harsh and unforgiving wilderness.
You’ll have to build shelter, hunt for food, and craft tools to endure the long winter months.
What makes UnReal World truly special is its attention to realism. The game’s detailed survival mechanics, realistic weather patterns, and complex AI interactions create a truly immersive experience.
Whether you choose to live as a nomadic hunter or establish a permanent settlement, UnReal World will test your survival skills like no other game in the genre.
Colony Survival
Colony Survival is a first-person construction management game that differs from Dwarf Fortress in terms of perspective but offers a similar level of depth and complexity. In this game, you must establish and grow a colony while defending against hordes of zombies that come out at night.
Aside from constructing buildings and managing resources, you’ll also have to recruit and assign different types of colonists to various tasks.
From farmers to soldiers, each colonist plays a crucial role in the success of your colony. With its multiplayer support, you can even collaborate with friends to build the ultimate empire.
Starship Theory
If you’re a fan of sci-fi and space exploration, Starship Theory will scratch that itch. In this game, you’ll take command of a spaceship and navigate through the vastness of space while managing resources, constructing modules, and defending against hostile encounters.
Starship Theory offers a unique blend of construction management and real-time strategy elements. Each decision you make, from ship layout to resource allocation, has a direct impact on the survival of your crew.
The game’s sandbox nature allows for exploration and experimentation, making it an excellent choice for players who enjoy strategic thinking and immersive space simulations.
Castle Story
Castle Story combines construction management with real-time strategy in a charming and visually stunning voxel-based world. Set on a floating island, you must command a group of “Bricktrons” as they gather resources, build fortifications, and fend off hordes of hostile creatures.
What sets Castle Story apart is its focus on physics-based construction. You can shape the terrain, create intricate structures, and devise elaborate defensive strategies to protect your Bricktrons.
The game’s dynamic day-night cycle and weather system add an extra layer of challenge and immersion, making every moment in Castle Story feel truly dynamic and exciting.
King under the Mountain
King under the Mountain is a fantasy colony simulation game that shares similarities with Dwarf Fortress. In this game, you’ll embark on a journey to establish a prosperous underground kingdom while managing resources, crafting items, and defending against underground creatures.
With its detailed graphics and robust simulation mechanics, King under the Mountain offers deep gameplay and an immersive experience. You’ll have to design and construct various rooms for your dwarves, manage their needs and desires, and explore the depths of the world in search of valuable resources.
What makes King under the Mountain unique is its focus on the relationships between your dwarves. Each dwarf has their own personality, skills, and aspirations, creating a dynamic and living world that reacts to your decisions and actions.
Stationeers
Stationeers is a hardcore construction and management game set in space. In this game, you’ll be tasked with building and maintaining a space station in the hostile environment of outer space.
With its realistic physics simulation and complex systems, Stationeers offers a challenging and rewarding experience for players who enjoy a high degree of realism. From oxygen management to power distribution, every aspect of your space station needs careful attention and planning.
Stationeers also allows for multiplayer cooperation, meaning you can work together with friends to tackle the daunting task of building and managing a functioning space station. The game’s modding support further extends its replayability, ensuring that each playthrough is unique.
Starmancer
Starmancer is an upcoming construction management sim set in space, promising to deliver a rich and immersive experience. In this game, you’ll assume the role of an AI tasked with managing a colony aboard a space station.
Starmancer offers a unique blend of construction management, resource gathering, and exploration. As you expand your colony and uncover the mysteries of the universe, you’ll have to manage resources, deal with unexpected events, and respond to the needs and desires of your colonists.
With its beautiful pixel art graphics and deep gameplay mechanics, Starmancer aims to captivate players with its intricate systems and engaging storytelling. Keep an eye out for this highly anticipated game, as it promises to be a worthy addition to the construction management genre.
Conclusion
Now that you have a list of 20 similar games to Dwarf Fortress, you can dive into these captivating worlds and experience the thrill of construction management sims from different perspectives.
Whether you prefer the gritty realism of surviving in a post-apocalyptic wasteland or the fantastical allure of building an underground kingdom, there’s a game on this list that will surely satisfy your craving for strategic gameplay and creative construction.
So gather your resources, gather your wits, and embark on a journey into the world of construction management sims that awaits you.
