Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality
24 games like Surviving Mars (2026)
Every game below overlaps with Surviving Mars 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: Planetbase, which both open world, survival, science fiction and strategy.
- Surviving Mars is tagged Colony Sim, City Builder, Strategy, Survival, Space, Base-Building, Mars, Simulation 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.
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
Planetbase
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 14 player tags including Colony Sim, City Builder and Base-Building; released around the same time (2015).
Guide a group of space settlers trying to establish a base on a remote planet. Grow food, collect energy, mine resources, survive disasters and build a self-sufficient colony in a harsh and unforgiving environment.
Planetbase at a glance Released 2015 Studio Madruga Works Player sentiment 80% positive of 10,438 Price $7.49 Colony SimCity BuilderBase-BuildingSpaceStrategySurvivalSimulationSci-fi
- 2
Oxygen Not Included
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 12 player tags including Colony Sim, Base-Building and Survival; released around the same time (2019).
Oxygen Not Included is a space-colony simulation game. Deep inside an alien space rock your industrious crew will need to master science, overcome strange new lifeforms, and harness incredible space tech to survive, and possibly, thrive.
Oxygen Not Included at a glance Released 2019 Studio Klei Entertainment Player sentiment 97% positive of 143,589 Price $24.99 Colony SimBase-BuildingSurvivalResource ManagementBuildingManagementSimulationSandbox
- 3
Dyson Sphere Program
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction and strategy; shares 12 player tags including Space, Base-Building and Building; released around the same time (2021).
Build the most efficient intergalactic factory in space simulation strategy game Dyson Sphere Program! Harness the power of stars, collect resources, plan and design production lines and develop your interstellar factory from a small space workshop to a galaxy-wide industrial empire.
Dyson Sphere Program at a glance Released 2021 Studio Youthcat Studio Player sentiment 97% positive of 91,586 Price $19.99 SpaceBase-BuildingBuildingResource ManagementSimulationSci-fiManagementSandbox
- 4
Kingdoms and Castles
Why it matched: both open world, survival and strategy; shares 12 player tags including City Builder, Colony Sim and Strategy; released around the same time (2017).
Kingdoms and Castles is a city-building simulation game about growing a kingdom from a tiny hamlet to a sprawling city and imposing castle. Make trade agreements, alliance, and war with neighboring AI controlled kingdoms. Each villager and resource is individually simulated.
Kingdoms and Castles at a glance Released 2017 Studio Lion Shield, LLC Player sentiment 94% positive of 31,404 Price $19.99 City BuilderColony SimStrategyBuildingSimulationSandboxResource ManagementBase-Building
- 5
Anno 2205
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction and strategy; shares 12 player tags including City Builder, Strategy and Simulation; released around the same time (2015).
In Anno 2205™, you join humankind‘s next step into the future with the promise to build a better tomorrow. You conquer Earth, establishing rich, bustling cities and grand industrial complexes, but to secure the prosperity of your people, you must travel into space.
Anno 2205 at a glance Released 2015 Studio Blue Byte Player sentiment 70% positive of 6,335 Price $39.99 City BuilderStrategySimulationFuturisticSci-fiSpaceResource ManagementManagement
- 6
Jurassic World Evolution 2
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 10 player tags including Building, Simulation and Management; released around the same time (2021).
Jurassic World Evolution 2 is the much-anticipated sequel to Frontier’s highly successful Jurassic World Evolution. This bold new era in the Jurassic World Evolution game franchise builds upon the ground-breaking and immersive 2018 management simulation.
Jurassic World Evolution 2 at a glance Released 2021 Studio Frontier Developments Player sentiment 90% positive of 47,023 Price $59.99 BuildingSimulationManagementSandboxStrategyCity BuilderResource ManagementSci-fi
- 7
Jurassic World Evolution
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 10 player tags including Building, Simulation and Management; released around the same time (2018).
Place yourself at the heart of the Jurassic franchise and build your own Jurassic World. Bioengineer dinosaurs that think, feel and react intelligently to the world around them and face threats posed by espionage, breakouts and devastating tropical storms in an uncertain world where life always finds a way.
Jurassic World Evolution at a glance Released 2018 Studio Frontier Developments Player sentiment 87% positive of 55,272 Price $44.99 BuildingSimulationManagementStrategySandboxCity BuilderSci-fiResource Management
- 8
Against the Storm
Why it matched: both open world, survival and strategy; shares 12 player tags including Strategy, City Builder and Simulation.
A dark fantasy city builder where you must rebuild civilization in the face of apocalyptic rains. As the Queen’s Viceroy, lead humans, beavers, lizards, foxes, and harpies to reclaim the wilderness and secure a future for civilization's last survivors.
Against the Storm at a glance Released 2023 Studio Eremite Games Player sentiment 94% positive of 37,338 Price $8.99 StrategyCity BuilderSimulationBase-BuildingColony SimManagementBuildingResource Management
- 9
Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic
Why it matched: both open world, survival and strategy; shares 12 player tags including Strategy, Simulation and City Builder.
Build a soviet republic from an impoverished country into a rich industrial superpower in a city builder with intricate production chains and a fully simulated global economy. Manage the lives of your citizens from education to work and party loyalty to criminal activity.
Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic at a glance Released 2024 Studio 3Division Player sentiment 91% positive of 27,164 Price $9.99 StrategySimulationCity BuilderBase-BuildingManagementBuildingSandboxSurvival
- 10
Dwarf Fortress
Why it matched: both open world, survival and strategy; shares 11 player tags including Colony Sim, Strategy and Simulation; released around the same time (2022).
Build a fortress and try to help your dwarves survive against a deeply generated world. Keep your dwarves happy, grow their community and beware of digging too deeply. The deepest, most intricate simulation of a world that's ever been created.
Dwarf Fortress at a glance Released 2022 Studio Bay 12 Games Player sentiment 95% positive of 31,446 Price $29.99 Colony SimStrategySimulationBase-BuildingCity BuilderSandboxManagementBuilding
- 11
IXION
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 11 player tags including Space, City Builder and Strategy; released around the same time (2022).
IXION is an unrelenting, city-building odyssey across the stars. As Administrator of the Tiqqun, DOLOS’ prototype space station, you are tasked with balancing preservation and exploration as you manage infrastructure, resources and crew. Can you keep the flame of humanity alight in the cold dark?
IXION at a glance Released 2022 Studio Bulwark Studios Player sentiment 79% positive of 17,614 Price $10.49 SpaceCity BuilderStrategySurvivalResource ManagementColony SimBase-BuildingBuilding
- 12
Foundation
Why it matched: both open world, survival and strategy; shares 11 player tags including City Builder, Simulation and Strategy.
Foundation is a grid-less, laidback medieval city-building game with a focus on organic development, monument construction and resource management.
Foundation at a glance Released 2025 Studio Polymorph Games Player sentiment 87% positive of 24,163 Price $23.44 City BuilderSimulationStrategySandboxResource ManagementManagementBuildingBase-Building
- 13
Manor Lords
Why it matched: both open world, survival and strategy; shares 11 player tags including Strategy, City Builder and Simulation.
Manor Lords is a medieval strategy game featuring in-depth city building, large-scale tactical battles, and complex economic and social simulations. Rule your lands as a medieval lord – the seasons pass, the weather changes, and cities rise and fall.
Manor Lords at a glance Released 2024 Studio Slavic Magic Player sentiment 84% positive of 90,905 Price $25.99 StrategyCity BuilderSimulationBase-BuildingManagementBuildingResource ManagementSandbox
- 14
Factorio
Why it matched: both open world, survival and strategy; shares 10 player tags including Base-Building, Resource Management and Sandbox; released around the same time (2016).
Factorio is a game about building and creating automated factories to produce items of increasing complexity, within an infinite 2D world. Use your imagination to design your factory, combine simple elements into ingenious structures, and finally protect it from the creatures who don't really like you.
Factorio at a glance Released 2016 Studio Wube software Player sentiment 98% positive of 233,978 Price $35.00 Base-BuildingResource ManagementSandboxStrategySurvivalManagementBuildingModdable
- 15
Empyrion - Galactic Survival
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 8 player tags including Simulation, Space and Survival; released around the same time (2020).
Build and explore in a true space sandbox survival adventure. Construct mighty capital vessels, sprawling planetary settlements, and vast space stations in your galactic journey to discover the mysteries of Empyrion!
Empyrion - Galactic Survival at a glance Released 2020 Studio Eleon Game Studios Player sentiment 78% positive of 34,399 Price $19.99 SimulationSpaceSurvivalBuildingSpace SimSandboxSci-fiStrategy
- 16
Frostpunk
Why it matched: both survival and strategy; shares 11 player tags including City Builder, Survival and Resource Management; released around the same time (2018).
Frostpunk is the first society survival game. As the ruler of the last city on Earth, it is your duty to manage both its citizens and infrastructure. What decisions will you make to ensure your society's survival? What will you do when pushed to breaking point? Who will you become in the process?
Frostpunk at a glance Released 2018 Studio 11 Bit Studios Player sentiment 93% positive of 137,121 Price $29.99 City BuilderSurvivalResource ManagementStrategyColony SimBuildingBase-BuildingSimulation
- 17
Satisfactory
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 8 player tags including Base-Building, Building and Resource Management.
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 Base-BuildingBuildingResource ManagementSandboxSurvivalSimulationStrategySci-fi
- 18
Dawn of Man
Why it matched: both open world, survival and strategy; shares 9 player tags including City Builder, Colony Sim and Survival; released around the same time (2019).
Command a settlement of ancient humans, guide them through the ages in their struggle for survival. Hunt, gather, craft tools, fight, research new techs and face the challenges the environment will throw at you.
Dawn of Man at a glance Released 2019 Studio Madruga Works Player sentiment 87% positive of 17,830 Price $12.49 City BuilderColony SimSurvivalStrategySimulationSandboxRTSResource Management
- 19
Going Medieval
Why it matched: both survival and strategy; shares 11 player tags including City Builder, Colony Sim and Strategy.
Build and manage your own castle settlement in a land reclaimed by wilderness. With detailed management, survival strategy, and a moddable sandbox world, Going Medieval challenges you to build the mightiest colony this side of the apocalypse.
Going Medieval at a glance Released 2026 Studio Foxy Voxel Player sentiment 89% positive of 21,362 Price $22.49 City BuilderColony SimStrategyModdableSandboxSimulationManagementSurvival
- 20
Stronghold Crusader 2
Why it matched: both open world, survival and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Strategy, City Builder and RTS; released around the same time (2014).
Stronghold Crusader 2 is the long awaited sequel to the original castle sim. After 12 years Stronghold returns to the desert with a new 3D engine and powerful Havok Physics. Crusader 2 recaptures the original game’s addictive, fast-paced gameplay and authentic castle simulation.
Stronghold Crusader 2 at a glance Released 2014 Studio Firefly Studios Player sentiment 72% positive of 18,080 Price $3.99 StrategyCity BuilderRTSSimulationBuildingResource ManagementSandboxSurvival
- 21
Hardspace: Shipbreaker
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Space, Sci-fi and Simulation; released around the same time (2022).
Equipped with cutting-edge salvaging tech, carve & slice spaceships to recover valuable materials. Upgrade your gear to take on more lucrative contracts and pay your billion credits debt to LYNX Corp!
Hardspace: Shipbreaker at a glance Released 2022 Studio Blackbird Interactive Player sentiment 89% positive of 22,334 Price $34.99 SpaceSci-fiSimulationSandboxSpace SimStrategyFuturisticBuilding
- 22
Anno 2070
Why it matched: both science fiction and strategy; shares 11 player tags including Strategy, City Builder and Simulation.
Build your society of the future, colonize islands, and create sprawling megacities with multitudes of buildings, vehicles, and resources to manage.
Anno 2070 at a glance Released 2011 Studio Blue Byte Player sentiment 60% positive of 12,703 Price $19.99 StrategyCity BuilderSimulationFuturisticRTSResource ManagementManagementSci-fi
- 23
The Riftbreaker
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and strategy; shares 8 player tags including Base-Building, Survival and Strategy; released around the same time (2021).
The Riftbreaker is a solo or Co-op base-building, survival game with Action-RPG elements for up to 4 players. Hack & slash countless hordes of enemies. Build up your base, craft powerful weapons and research new inventions to survive.
The Riftbreaker at a glance Released 2021 Studio EXOR Studios Player sentiment 90% positive of 24,729 Price $8.99 Base-BuildingSurvivalStrategyResource ManagementSci-fiBuildingSandboxSimulation
- 24
Prison Architect
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 10 player tags including Simulation, Building and Sandbox; published by the same company; released around the same time (2015).
Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect.
Prison Architect at a glance Released 2015 Studio Introversion Software Player sentiment 89% positive of 73,744 Price $5.99 SimulationBuildingSandboxBase-BuildingColony SimStrategyManagementCity Builder
Common questions
What game is most like Surviving Mars?
Planetbase, on the evidence we have. It both open world, survival, science fiction and strategy. 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 Surviving Mars" 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 Surviving Mars. 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.
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.