Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality
24 games like Sanctum (2026)
Every game below overlaps with Sanctum on things players said about it rather than on our opinion of what feels alike. Each entry shows what it matched on, so you can throw out the ones matching on the part you did not care about.
The short version
- Closest match: Sanctum 2, which made by the same studio, Coffee Stain Studios.
- Sanctum is tagged Tower Defense, FPS, Strategy, Co-op, Action, Indie, Sci-fi, Multiplayer by Steam players. Those tags are what the matching runs on.
- 24 games qualify, each with at least fifty player reviews behind its sentiment figure.
- 5 are free to download, so you can test the resemblance yourself at no cost.
- 2 are from the same studio: Sanctum 2, Satisfactory.
How these were matched
Steam tags carry the most weight, because players apply them and they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Souls-like, Atmospheric and Cozy exist as tags and as nothing else, which is exactly the vocabulary this question needs. Formal genres count for less, themes and a shared studio for more.
Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are thrown out before matching. Nearly everything is tagged Singleplayer, so matching on it is matching on nothing. That cutoff is computed from the catalogue rather than fixed, so it moves as the catalogue grows.
All 24, closest first
- 1
Sanctum 2
Why it matched: made by the same studio, Coffee Stain Studios; both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 12 player tags including Tower Defense, FPS and Strategy; released around the same time (2013).
Sanctum 2 is the sequel to the world’s first Tower Defense/FPS hybrid game. Pick from four unique character classes and embark on a mission to protect the oxygen-producing Cores from hordes of deadly aliens who are threatened by their existence.
Sanctum 2 at a glance Released 2013 Studio Coffee Stain Studios Player sentiment 90% positive of 14,389 Price $14.99 Tower DefenseFPSStrategySci-fiIndieOnline Co-OpFirst-PersonShooter
- 2
SCP: Secret Laboratory
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction, strategy and difficult; shares 9 player tags including First-Person, Shooter and Online Co-Op.
Deep within a secure underground facility, a sudden containment breach allows many of the secured anomalies to escape from their chambers. Assist the Foundation in re-securing the facility, help the Insurgency in their goal to capture it, or wreak havoc as an SCP in a frantic bid to escape.
SCP: Secret Laboratory at a glance Released 2017 Studio Northwood Studios Player sentiment 91% positive of 234,020 Price Free First-PersonShooterOnline Co-OpFPSSurvivalSci-fiStrategyDifficult
- 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 9 player tags including FPS, Shooter and First-Person; released around the same time (2012).
Pushing the boundaries of what fans have come to expect from the record-setting entertainment franchise, Call of Duty®: Black Ops II propels players into a near future Cold War
Call of Duty: Black Ops II at a glance Released 2012 Studio Treyarch Player sentiment 86% positive of 49,344 Price $39.99 FPSShooterFirst-PersonOnline Co-OpFuturisticSurvivalTacticalGreat Soundtrack
- 4
Dungeon of the ENDLESS
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction, strategy and difficult; shares 7 player tags including Strategy, Tower Defense and Indie; released around the same time (2014).
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...
Dungeon of the ENDLESS at a glance Released 2014 Studio AMPLITUDE Studios Player sentiment 85% positive of 14,040 Price $11.99 StrategyTower DefenseIndieSci-fiDifficultSurvivalGreat Soundtrack
- 5
Bloons TD 6
Why it matched: both survival, strategy, relaxing and difficult; shares 7 player tags including Tower Defense, Strategy and Online Co-Op.
The Bloons are back and better than ever! Get ready for a massive 3D tower defense game designed to give you hours and hours of the best strategy gaming available.
Bloons TD 6 at a glance Released 2018 Studio Ninja Kiwi Player sentiment 97% positive of 394,354 Price $13.99 Tower DefenseStrategyOnline Co-OpCasualGreat SoundtrackDifficultSurvival
- 6
FTL: Faster Than Light
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction, strategy and difficult; shares 6 player tags including Strategy, Sci-fi and Indie; released around the same time (2012).
This "spaceship simulation roguelike-like" allows you to take your ship and crew on an adventure through a randomly generated galaxy filled with glory and bitter defeat.
FTL: Faster Than Light at a glance Released 2012 Studio Subset Games Player sentiment 95% positive of 78,616 Price $9.99 StrategySci-fiIndieDifficultTacticalSurvival
- 7
Alien: Isolation
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and difficult; shares 8 player tags including Sci-fi, First-Person and Female Protagonist; released around the same time (2014).
Discover the true meaning of fear in Alien: Isolation, a survival horror set in an atmosphere of constant dread and mortal danger.
Alien: Isolation at a glance Released 2014 Studio Creative Assembly Player sentiment 93% positive of 66,658 Price $11.99 Sci-fiFirst-PersonFemale ProtagonistSurvivalDifficultGreat SoundtrackFPSShooter
- 8
100% Orange Juice
Why it matched: both survival, strategy, relaxing and difficult; shares 6 player tags including Strategy, Indie and Casual; released around the same time (2014).
100% Orange Juice is a digital multiplayer board game populated by developer Orange Juice's all-star cast. Characters from Flying Red Barrel, QP Shooting, Suguri and Sora come together with all-new characters to duke it out... with dice.
100% Orange Juice at a glance Released 2014 Studio Orange_Juice Player sentiment 91% positive of 30,159 Price $6.99 StrategyIndieCasualGreat SoundtrackFemale ProtagonistDifficult
- 9
Natural Selection 2
Why it matched: both science fiction and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Strategy, FPS and Sci-fi; released around the same time (2012).
A fast paced multiplayer shooter that pits aliens against humans in a strategic and action-packed struggle for survival!
Natural Selection 2 at a glance Released 2012 Studio Unknown Worlds Entertainment Player sentiment 85% positive of 13,363 Price $4.99 StrategyFPSSci-fiIndieShooterTacticalFirst-PersonFuturistic
- 10
Who's Your Daddy?!
Why it matched: both survival, strategy, relaxing and difficult; shares 7 player tags including First-Person, Online Co-Op and Strategy.
Who's Your Daddy is a casual multiplayer game featuring a clueless father attempting to prevent his infant son from certain death. Play with up to 7 of your friends, and test your parenting skills in a competitive setup with wacky physics and over 67 potentially ominous household items.
Who's Your Daddy?! at a glance Released 2016 Studio Evil Tortilla Games Player sentiment 80% positive of 31,936 Price $9.99 First-PersonOnline Co-OpStrategyCasualIndieDifficultSurvival
- 11
Polarity
Why it matched: both science fiction, strategy and difficult; shares 8 player tags including First-Person, Indie and Strategy.
Polarity takes it to the next level, demanding all of your wits and reflexes. Full-featured local co-op campaign.
Polarity at a glance Released 2016 Studio Bluebutton Games Player sentiment 79% positive of 4,668 Price $12.99 First-PersonIndieStrategySci-fiFPSGreat SoundtrackShooterDifficult
- 12
Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition
Why it matched: both survival, strategy and relaxing; shares 7 player tags including Tower Defense, Strategy and Casual; released around the same time (2009).
Zombies are invading your home, and the only defense is your arsenal of plants! Armed with an alien nursery-worth of zombie-zapping plants like peashooters and cherry bombs, you'll need to think fast and plant faster to stop dozens of types of zombies dead in their tracks.
Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition at a glance Released 2009 Studio PopCap Games, Inc. Player sentiment 98% positive of 155,468 Price $4.99 Tower DefenseStrategyCasualGreat SoundtrackSurvivalIndieTactical
- 13
PAYDAY The Heist
Why it matched: both strategy and difficult; shares 9 player tags including FPS, Online Co-Op and Shooter; released around the same time (2011).
Take on the role of a hardened career criminal executing intense, dynamic heists in constant pursuit of the next “big score”
PAYDAY The Heist at a glance Released 2011 Studio OVERKILL - a Starbreeze Studio. Player sentiment 93% positive of 40,968 Price $9.99 FPSOnline Co-OpShooterFirst-PersonGreat SoundtrackDifficultTacticalStrategy
- 14
SpaceChem
Why it matched: both science fiction, strategy, relaxing and difficult; shares 6 player tags including Difficult, Indie and Sci-fi; released around the same time (2011).
Zachtronics is back with an ambitious new design-based puzzle game. Take on the role of a Reactor Engineer working for SpaceChem, the leading chemical synthesizer for frontier colonies. Construct elaborate factories to transform raw materials into valuable chemical products!
SpaceChem at a glance Released 2011 Studio Zachtronics Player sentiment 92% positive of 5,085 Price $9.99 DifficultIndieSci-fiGreat SoundtrackCasualStrategy
- 15
HELLDIVERS Dive Harder Edition
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction, strategy and difficult; shares 6 player tags including Online Co-Op, Sci-fi and Shooter; released around the same time (2015).
HELLDIVERS™ is a hardcore, cooperative, twin stick shooter. As part of the elite unit called the HELLDIVERS, players must work together to protect SUPER EARTH and defeat the enemies of mankind in an intense intergalactic war.
HELLDIVERS Dive Harder Edition at a glance Released 2015 Studio Arrowhead Game Studios Player sentiment 90% positive of 33,376 Price $19.99 Online Co-OpSci-fiShooterDifficultStrategySurvival
- 16
Mitos.is: The Game
Why it matched: both survival, strategy, relaxing and difficult; shares 6 player tags including Strategy, Survival and Casual; released around the same time (2015).
Step into the microscopic world of Mitos.is! Eat or be eaten—become the ultimate cell in a highly addictive multiplayer game. Diverse modes, daily tournaments, guilds, and gear await! The BEST game of 2015 is back!
Mitos.is: The Game at a glance Released 2015 Studio Freakinware Studios Player sentiment 81% positive of 12,054 Price Free StrategySurvivalCasualOnline Co-OpIndieDifficult
- 17
MechWarrior Online Solaris 7
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including Shooter, Sci-fi and FPS; released around the same time (2015).
MechWarrior Online™ Legends is a tactical, 'Mech-based online shooter set in the vast BattleTech Universe. Assume the role of an elite MechWarrior, piloting powerful BattleMechs, fighting for supremacy over the Inner Sphere.
MechWarrior Online Solaris 7 at a glance Released 2015 Studio Piranha Games Inc. Player sentiment 80% positive of 12,817 Price Free ShooterSci-fiFPSStrategyFirst-PersonTacticalSurvival
- 18
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS
Why it matched: both survival, strategy and difficult; shares 8 player tags including Survival, Shooter and FPS.
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, the high-stakes winner-take-all shooter that started the Battle Royale craze, is free-to-play! Drop into diverse maps, loot unique weapons and supplies, and survive in an ever-shrinking zone where every turn could be your last.
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS at a glance Released 2017 Studio PUBG Corporation Player sentiment 61% positive of 2,748,446 Price Free SurvivalShooterFPSOnline Co-OpTacticalFirst-PersonStrategyDifficult
- 19
Aliens vs. Predator
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including FPS, Sci-fi and Shooter; released around the same time (2010).
Survive, hunt and prey in the deadly jungles and swamps in distinctly new and thrilling first person gameplay.
Aliens vs. Predator at a glance Released 2010 Studio Rebellion Player sentiment 91% positive of 21,551 Price $1.49 FPSSci-fiShooterFirst-PersonSurvivalOnline Co-OpStrategy
- 20
Satisfactory
Why it matched: made by the same studio, Coffee Stain Studios; both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 5 player tags including Survival, First-Person and Strategy.
Satisfactory is a first-person open-world factory building game with a dash of exploration and combat. Play alone or with friends, explore an alien planet, create multi-story factories, and enter conveyor belt heaven!
Satisfactory at a glance Released 2024 Studio Coffee Stain Studios Player sentiment 97% positive of 278,668 Price $39.99 SurvivalFirst-PersonStrategySci-fiIndie
- 21
FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S: HELP WANTED
Why it matched: both survival, strategy, relaxing and difficult; shares 6 player tags including First-Person, Survival and Casual.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted is a collection of classic and original mini-games set in the Five Nights universe. Experience the horror in flat (non-VR) mode or VR. Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are supported. A VR Headset is NOT required to play.
FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S: HELP WANTED at a glance Released 2019 Studio Steel Wool Studios Player sentiment 96% positive of 13,118 Price $29.99 First-PersonSurvivalCasualDifficultIndieStrategy
- 22
Crysis
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including FPS, Shooter and Sci-fi; released around the same time (2007).
The classic first person shooter from Crytek is back with the action-packed gameplay, sandbox world, and thrilling epic battles you loved the first time around – now with remastered graphics optimized for a new generation of hardware.
Crysis at a glance Released 2007 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 77% positive of 17,705 Price $10.49 FPSShooterSci-fiFuturisticTacticalFirst-PersonSurvival
- 23
BRINK
Why it matched: both science fiction, strategy and relaxing; shares 7 player tags including FPS, Shooter and First-Person; released around the same time (2011).
You decide the combat role you want to assume in the world of Brink as you fight to save yourself and mankind’s last refuge!
BRINK at a glance Released 2011 Studio Splash Damage Player sentiment 63% positive of 8,159 Price Free FPSShooterFirst-PersonOnline Co-OpSci-fiTacticalCasual
- 24
Kingdom Rush - Tower Defense
Why it matched: both strategy, relaxing and difficult; shares 6 player tags including Tower Defense, Strategy and Tactical; released around the same time (2014).
Get ready for an epic journey to defend your kingdom against hordes of orcs, trolls, evil wizards and other nasty fiends using a vast arsenal of towers and spells at your command!Fight on forests, mountains and wastelands, customizing your defensive strategy with different tower upgrades and specializations!
Kingdom Rush - Tower Defense at a glance Released 2014 Studio Ironhide Game Studio Player sentiment 97% positive of 17,136 Price $9.99 Tower DefenseStrategyTacticalCasualIndieDifficult
Common questions
What game is most like Sanctum?
Sanctum 2, on the evidence we have. It made by the same studio, Coffee Stain Studios. That is a statement about overlap, not a promise you will like it as much: two games can share every tag and still feel different to play.
How is "similar to Sanctum" decided?
By overlap on the tags Steam players applied to each game, the formal genres, the themes both sit in, and whether the same studio made them. Tags carry the most weight because players write them, so they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are ignored: matching on "Singleplayer" is matching on nothing. Every entry below shows exactly what it matched on.
Are these ranked by quality?
No. They are ordered by how much they overlap with Sanctum. Where two games overlap equally, the better received one goes first, but that only moves a game a place or two. Each entry shows its own player sentiment so you can weigh that separately.
What else did the makers of Sanctum do?
Sanctum 2, Satisfactory are also from Coffee Stain Studios, and appear in the list below for that reason as well as on tag overlap.
Do you get paid for these recommendations?
No. The order is computed from tag and genre overlap and nothing else. No placement here can be bought, and a game appearing high on this page is a statement about resemblance rather than an endorsement.