Hey there, fellow gamers! Surviving Mars is a fantastic city-building and management sim that puts us in charge of colonizing the Red Planet. This game has kept me engaged for hours on end, and I’m always on the lookout for similar games to scratch that strategy and simulation itch. That’s why I’ve put together this list of 15 incredible games that you should definitely check out if you love Surviving Mars as much as I do.
In this article, I’ll be giving you a brief overview of each game, comparing them to Surviving Mars, and discussing the unique features and challenges they offer. So, whether you’re a seasoned city-builder pro or a newcomer to the genre, you’re bound to find something in this list that piques your interest. Let’s dive in and explore these amazing games that will keep you hooked for hours!
Full list of games like Surviving Mars
Planetbase
If you’ve ever dreamt of building a space colony on other planets and moons, then Planetbase is the game for you. Developed by Madruga Works, it’s a city-building and management sim where you’re tasked with creating self-sufficient outposts in various harsh environments.
Similar to Surviving Mars, you’ll have to manage resources, create infrastructure, and ensure the survival of your colonists. However, Planetbase places a greater emphasis on the individual needs of your colonists, making their happiness and well-being crucial to your success.
With a variety of planets and moons to explore, each with its own unique challenges, Planetbase will keep you on your toes, ensuring you always have a new obstacle to overcome.
Aven Colony
Aven Colony takes city-building and management to an alien world, Aven Prime. Developed by Mothership Entertainment, you’ll be responsible for constructing and maintaining a prosperous colony while dealing with various challenges like alien lifeforms, extreme weather, and scarce resources.
While Aven Colony shares similarities with Surviving Mars in terms of resource management and infrastructure development, it introduces unique mechanics like dealing with alien ecosystems and seasonal changes, which adds a new layer of complexity to the gameplay.
As you progress, you’ll have to balance your colony’s growth with the need to explore and exploit the environment, making Aven Colony a truly engaging and immersive experience for strategy and simulation enthusiasts.
Stellaris
Stellaris, developed by Paradox Interactive, is a grand strategy game that combines elements of 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate) and real-time space exploration. You’ll have to manage an entire interstellar empire, as you discover new star systems, forge alliances, and wage wars.
While Stellaris might seem quite different from Surviving Mars due to its focus on empire management, it shares a similar depth of strategy and planning, as you’ll need to manage resources, research, and diplomacy to ensure your empire’s success.
With a vast, procedurally generated galaxy to explore and complex mechanics to master, Stellaris is an excellent choice for fans of Surviving Mars who want to expand their horizons and experience a truly epic scale of strategy and simulation.
Tropico
In Tropico, developed by Limbic Entertainment, you’ll put on your presidential sash and take control of a beautiful Caribbean island nation. The game challenges you to rule as a benevolent leader or ruthless dictator while managing your economy, politics, and infrastructure.
Unlike Surviving Mars, Tropico is set in a tropical paradise, but it still shares many gameplay mechanics, such as resource management, city planning, and balancing the needs of your citizens. The added element of political intrigue and decision-making sets Tropico apart and adds a fun twist to the genre.
With its engaging gameplay, humorous tone, and vibrant setting, Tropico is a fantastic alternative for fans of Surviving Mars who are looking for a fresh take on city-building and management sims.
Two Point Hospital
Two Point Hospital, developed by Two Point Studios, puts you in charge of managing and expanding a series of hospitals, while curing a range of bizarre and hilarious diseases. It’s a spiritual successor to the classic game Theme Hospital and retains its charm and humor.
Although Two Point Hospital has a different focus than Surviving Mars, being set in a medical environment, it still requires you to make strategic decisions, manage resources, and create efficient layouts for your hospitals, much like in Surviving Mars.
The quirky and humorous diseases, coupled with the need to balance your hospital’s efficiency and patient satisfaction, make Two Point Hospital a lighthearted yet challenging alternative for fans of Surviving Mars. If you’re looking for a game that combines strategy, simulation, and a healthy dose of laughter, Two Point Hospital is definitely worth a try.
RimWorld
RimWorld, developed by Ludeon Studios, is a sci-fi colony sim that drops you and a group of crash-landed survivors on a procedurally generated alien world. Your goal is to build a thriving colony while dealing with various challenges, such as harsh weather, hostile inhabitants, and scarce resources.
Although RimWorld has a different visual style and setting than Surviving Mars, it shares the need for careful resource management, base-building, and attending to the needs of your colonists. A unique feature of RimWorld is its AI-driven storytelling system, which creates unique events and challenges tailored to your gameplay.
With its deep and complex mechanics, emergent stories, and endless replayability, RimWorld is a fantastic choice for fans of Surviving Mars who want a fresh and engaging colony-building experience.
Factorio
Factorio, developed by Wube Software, is a unique and addictive blend of base-building, resource management, and automation. You’ll be stranded on an alien planet and tasked with creating a massive, fully automated factory while defending it from hostile creatures.
While Factorio differs from Surviving Mars in terms of gameplay focus (more on automation and less on colonist management), it shares the challenge of optimizing your base, managing resources, and planning for growth and expansion.
If you’re a fan of Surviving Mars who enjoys tinkering with complex systems, solving logistical challenges, and watching your creations come to life, Factorio is a must-play game that will provide countless hours of satisfaction.
Frostpunk
Frostpunk, developed by 11 bit studios, is a gritty city-building and survival game set in a frozen, post-apocalyptic world. As the leader of the last city on Earth, you’ll have to make tough decisions, manage scarce resources, and ensure the survival of your people in the face of extreme cold and dwindling hope.
Frostpunk shares similarities with Surviving Mars in terms of resource management and infrastructure development, but it introduces a darker, more desperate atmosphere and moral choices that will test your leadership skills.
With its immersive world, challenging gameplay, and thought-provoking narrative, Frostpunk is an excellent choice for Surviving Mars fans who want a more intense and emotionally engaging experience.
Dawn of Man
Dawn of Man, developed by Madruga Works, takes you back to the roots of human civilization, as you guide a group of prehistoric settlers through various stages of human history. You’ll have to hunt, gather, farm, and build to ensure the survival and growth of your tribe.
While Dawn of Man has a different setting and time period than Surviving Mars, it shares the need for strategic planning, resource management, and infrastructure development. The game offers a unique perspective on the challenges faced by early humans, which sets it apart from other city-building sims.
If you’re a fan of Surviving Mars who’s curious about exploring humanity’s origins and guiding a society through the ages, Dawn of Man is a captivating and rewarding experience.
Ostriv
Ostriv, developed by Yevheniy Kuzmin, is a city-building game set in the 18th century. You’ll be responsible for constructing and managing a small town, developing its economy, and attending to the needs of your citizens as you strive to create a thriving community.
Though Ostriv takes place in a historical setting, it shares many gameplay elements with Surviving Mars, such as resource management, infrastructure development, and attending to the needs of your citizens. Ostriv’s focus on trade and diplomacy adds an extra layer of complexity to the gameplay, providing a fresh and engaging challenge for fans of Surviving Mars.
With its richly detailed world, deep economic simulation, and beautiful graphics, Ostriv is an excellent choice for those who enjoy city-building games and want to immerse themselves in a unique historical setting.
Banished
Banished, developed by Shining Rock Software, is a city-building strategy game that puts you in charge of a group of exiled travelers, who must start a new life in the wilderness. You’ll need to manage resources, build infrastructure, and ensure the survival of your settlers as they face harsh conditions and a changing environment.
Banished shares many similarities with Surviving Mars in terms of resource management, city planning, and balancing the needs of your citizens. However, Banished offers a more grounded, historical setting that focuses on the challenges faced by small, isolated communities.
With its beautiful visuals, immersive atmosphere, and challenging gameplay, Banished is a great choice for fans of Surviving Mars who want to experience a different setting and focus on the nitty-gritty of survival and community building.
Buoyancy
Buoyancy, developed by Devs on a Boat, is a city-building strategy game set in a flooded world, where you must construct and manage a floating city. You’ll need to gather resources, construct buildings, and ensure the survival of your citizens as you navigate the treacherous waters.
While Buoyancy offers a unique twist on the city-building genre with its floating cities, it still shares core gameplay elements with Surviving Mars, such as resource management and infrastructure development. The added challenge of managing a mobile city sets Buoyancy apart and offers a fresh experience for fans of the genre.
If you’re looking for a unique and engaging city-building game that combines elements of survival, exploration, and strategy, Buoyancy is a fantastic choice for fans of Surviving Mars.
SugarMill
SugarMill, developed by Aatlantis Code, is a city-building strategy game set in the Caribbean during the age of colonization. You’ll be tasked with managing and growing a small settlement, while dealing with the complexities of trade, production, and the needs of your citizens.
Although SugarMill has a different setting and time period than Surviving Mars, it shares many gameplay mechanics, such as resource management, infrastructure development, and balancing the needs of your citizens. The game’s focus on trade and production adds an extra layer of challenge for fans of the genre.
With its vibrant setting, deep economic simulation, and engaging gameplay, SugarMill is a fantastic option for fans of Surviving Mars who want to experience the challenges of building and managing a thriving colony in a historical context.
Surviving the Aftermath
Surviving the Aftermath, developed by Iceflake Studios, is a post-apocalyptic city-building and survival game where you must guide a group of survivors in rebuilding society after a global catastrophe. You’ll need to manage resources, construct buildings, and make tough decisions to ensure the survival of your people.
While the setting and premise are different from Surviving Mars, Surviving the Aftermath shares core gameplay elements, such as resource management, infrastructure development, and decision-making. The added challenge of dealing with a post-apocalyptic world sets the game apart and offers a fresh experience for fans of the genre.
If you’re a fan of Surviving Mars and want to test your city-building and survival skills in a challenging and immersive post-apocalyptic setting, Surviving the Aftermath is definitely worth a try.
Anno 2055
Anno 2055 (Anno 2205), developed by Blue Byte, is a futuristic city-building and economic simulation game that tasks you with managing and expanding a corporation on Earth and the Moon. You’ll need to develop advanced technologies, create efficient production chains, and maintain a thriving economy to ensure your corporation’s success.
Although Anno 2055 is set in a futuristic world, it shares many gameplay mechanics with Surviving Mars, such as resource management, infrastructure development, and attending to the needs of your citizens. Anno 2055’s focus on advanced technologies, space travel, and multi-region management adds an extra layer of challenge and depth for fans of the genre.
With its stunning graphics, immersive world, and engaging gameplay, Anno 2055 is an excellent choice for fans of Surviving Mars who want to explore a futuristic setting and experience the thrill of managing a powerful corporation on Earth and beyond.
These 15 amazing games are perfect for anyone who loves Surviving Mars and is looking for something similar or a fresh take on the city-building and management sim genre. From building space colonies and floating cities to managing hospitals and guiding humanity through the ages, there’s something for everyone on this list.
So, whether you’re in the mood for a light-hearted experience or a gritty survival challenge, these games are sure to scratch that strategy and simulation itch.
