Best Games Like Dwarf Fortress Top City Building & Survival Games like Dwarf Fortress

Dwarf Fortress is described as 'Single-player fantasy simulator. You can control a dwarven outpost or an adventurer in a randomly generated, persistent world. The world is procedurally generated with distinct civilizations spanning centuries of detailed history, multitude of towns, bodies' and is a popular city building game in the games category. There are more than 25 games similar to Dwarf Fortress for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Steam, Mac, Linux and Wine apps. The best Dwarf Fortress alternative is RimWorld. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Veloren or eSoclife. Other Dwarf Fortress like games are Gnomoria, Stonehearth, Oxygen Not Included and Banished.

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Alternatives list

  1. RimWorld icon

    RimWorld

     36 likes
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    RimWorld follows three survivors from a crashed space liner as they build a colony on a frontier world at the rim of known space. Inspired by the space western vibe of Firefly, the deep simulation of Dwarf Fortress, and the epic scale of Dune and Warhammer 40,000.

    23 RimWorld alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Steam
    RimWorld screenshot 1
     
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    10
    171
    Comments about RimWorld as an Alternative to Dwarf Fortress
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    4

    Nowhere near as difficult of a learning curve, but has a lot of the same mechanics, with added futuristic sci-fi events. Can micromanage and prioritize down to a tee, main gripe with it is there's UP/DOWN to the world, so you can't build towers or bases deep underground

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Rimworld is just a perfect game. There's a lot of complexity, yet it's still way more accessible than DF. It's hard to say how good this game is with just words unless it's a full 4 hours speach, so I'll just say I could marry this game.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Just awesome world, better graphics and "personally" in the characters. Super game.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 10 comments
    Dwarf Fortress Icon
    RimWorld icon

    • Almost everyone thinks RimWorld is a great Dwarf Fortress alternative.

    • RimWorld is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Dwarf Fortress.

    • RimWorld is the most popular commercial alternative to Dwarf Fortress.

    • RimWorld is Paid and ProprietaryDwarf Fortress is Free and Proprietary
  2. Gnomoria icon

    Gnomoria

     19 likes
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    Gnomoria is a sandbox village management game where you help lead a small group of gnomes, who have set out on their own, to thrive into a bustling kingdom!.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Steam
    Gnomoria screenshot 1
     
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    5
    69
    Comments about Gnomoria as an Alternative to Dwarf Fortress
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    3

    Gnomoria is basically dwarf fortress with better graphics.You have to grow food,make an army to defend yourself,and make a home for your gnomes.However this game lacks some features that dwarf fortress has and this game can become quite boring after awhile.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    While I prefer Rimworld as a Dwarf Fortress alternative, this is closer to DF. The world, the gnomes, the z-levels, all these make Gnomoria one of the best Dwarf Fortress clones. However, it's not being updated anymore, and it kinda feels like a less complex version of DF, but with better graphics and UI

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    It is the best alternative - but that said it has only about 30% of the depth and breadth of DF. And DF is getting deeper and broader every few months whereas Gnomoria development stopped almost 4 years ago. There is a fan reboot of Gnomoria called ingnomia that is still being worked on however at the time of writing this it is still very fa short of playable in for anything more than an hour or two. Dwarf Fortress is unique. All the other games here are very (VERY) much simpler.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 5 comments
    Dwarf Fortress Icon
    Gnomoria icon

    • Most users think Gnomoria is a great Dwarf Fortress alternative.

    • Gnomoria is Paid and ProprietaryDwarf Fortress is Free and Proprietary
  4. Veloren icon

    Veloren

     48 likes
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    Veloren is a multiplayer voxel RPG written in Rust. It is inspired by games such as Cube World, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Dwarf Fortress and Minecraft.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Veloren screenshot 1
     

    • Veloren is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Dwarf Fortress.

    • Veloren is Free and Open SourceDwarf Fortress is Free and Proprietary
  5. Stonehearth icon

    Stonehearth

     8 likes
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    Stonehearth is a game of exploration and survival in an epic fantasy setting. Build your town, care for your hearthlings, and defend against marauding invaders.

    46 Stonehearth alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Wine
    • Steam
    Stonehearth screenshot 1
     
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    29
  6. Oxygen Not Included icon

    Oxygen Not Included

     5 likes
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    Oxygen Not Included is a space-colony simulation game. Manage your colonists and help them dig, build and maintain a subterranean asteroid base. You'll need water, warmth, food, and oxygen to keep them alive, and even more than that to keep them happy.

    8 Oxygen Not Included alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Steam
    Oxygen Not Included screenshot 1
     
  7. Banished icon

    Banished

     19 likes
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    In this city-building strategy game, you control a group of exiled travelers who decide to restart their lives in a new land. They have only the clothes on their backs and a cart filled with supplies from their homeland.

    46 Banished alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Wine
    • Steam
    Banished screenshot 1
     
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    2
    16
    Comments about Banished as an Alternative to Dwarf Fortress
    Guest
    Negative
    2

    Banished is much more of a city building game. It lacks the feature of micro managing individuals and even if it was implemented, you just end up with too many people after 2 years to even make that feasible.

    Basically, think of sim city, but with the difficulty of Dwarf Fortress (not exactly, but almost)

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Dwarf Fortress aims to simulate life to the point where it's more of a story than a game. Banished is very much "a game", and shares more in common with titles such as Civilization or Sim City.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Dwarf Fortress Icon
    Banished icon

    • Some users think Banished is a great Dwarf Fortress alternative, some don't.

    • Banished is Paid and ProprietaryDwarf Fortress is Free and Proprietary
  9. Clanfolk icon

    Clanfolk

     Like
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    Clanfolk is a challenging medieval colony sim that takes you to the Scottish Highlands and pits you against nature itself. Starting with an empty plot of land and only your closest family, you will learn to survive as you establish your hearth and home, watch over your...

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Steam
    Clanfolk screenshot 1
     
  10. Settlement Survival icon

    Settlement Survival

     1 like
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    In this city-building game, you will lead a group of survivors in their search for a new home. Manipulate the landscape, manage limited supplies, plant crops, hunt wildlife, gather resources, and develop trade routes to build a bustling and unique town.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Steam
    Settlement Survival screenshot 1
     
  11. Kingdoms and Castles icon

    Kingdoms and Castles

     2 likes
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    A medieval city building game where you construct castles to protect your peasants from a living and dangerous world.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Kingdoms and Castles screenshot 1
     
  12. Space Haven icon

    Space Haven

     1 like
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    Space Haven is a spaceship colony sim, where you manage resources and crew members in order to build and keep your spaceship. Then you'll be able to explore the universe with rewards and perils. Website: https://bugbyte.fi/spacehaven/.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Space Haven screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Space Haven as an Alternative to Dwarf Fortress
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    You don't directly give orders, you change the settings, choose priorities, etc. Pretty much Rimworld in space.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Dwarf Fortress Icon
    Space Haven icon
    • Space Haven is Paid and ProprietaryDwarf Fortress is Free and Proprietary
  13. Dungeon Keeper 2 icon

    Dungeon Keeper 2

     20 likes
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    Discover your evil side as you build your own underground kingdom. Carve out a living, breathing world and attract a host of devilish creatures to swell the ranks of your dark hoards. Form an alliance with the Horned Reaper and expand your empire in your quest to reach the...

    14 Dungeon Keeper 2 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Dungeon Keeper 2 screenshot 1
     
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    2
    12
    Comments about Dungeon Keeper 2 as an Alternative to Dwarf Fortress
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Dwarf Fortress is a simulator, Dungeon Keeper 2 is real time strategy

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    -1

    This game is a harsh reminder that cause a game was once great, that it will have a game just good or better as its predecessor.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Dwarf Fortress Icon
    Dungeon Keeper 2 icon

    • Some users think Dungeon Keeper 2 is a great Dwarf Fortress alternative, some don't.

    • Dungeon Keeper 2 is Paid and ProprietaryDwarf Fortress is Free and Proprietary
  14. Planetbase icon

    Planetbase

     5 likes
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    Guide a group of space settlers trying to establish an outpost on a remote planet. Grow food, collect energy, mine resources, manufacture bots, and build a fully self-sufficient colony.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Steam
    • Xbox
    Planetbase screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Planetbase as an Alternative to Dwarf Fortress
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    This is more of a city builder than a DF-like.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Dwarf Fortress Icon
    Planetbase icon

    • Some users think Planetbase is a great Dwarf Fortress alternative, some don't.

    • Planetbase is Paid and ProprietaryDwarf Fortress is Free and Proprietary
12 of 26 Dwarf Fortress alternatives