Games like Dwarf Fortress on Steam
For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free games like Dwarf Fortress are available at the bottom of the page.
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United Penguin Kingdom
A city-building game where you build a penguin settlement and satisfy the various needs of your penguins while dealing with seals and killer whales. Enjoy the growth of your settlement, become the king, and lead the United Penguin Kingdom.
TFM: The First Men
An open-world colony sim based on stories of the first men. Infinite possibilities await your very own Adam and Eve as they embark on a generation-spanning adventure. How will you shape their future?
Against the Storm
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.
Judgment: Apocalypse Survival Simulation
Build, scavenge, craft, and perform occult rituals to survive in a demon-infested, post-apocalyptic colony simulation. Will you survive Judgment day?
Settlements Rising
Settlements Rising is a medieval city building and colony management game. It offers a lively colony experience with simulated villagers, dozens of professions and resources, natural disasters, and raids, while providing full control over the colony through trade, production chains and datas.
Oxygen
Oxygen is a survival city builder. Build your city around the Oxygen Center and ensure your people's survival in a post-apocalyptic future, threatened by crack explosions, deadly winds, droughts and frosts. Lead your people and more importantly keep the Oxygen Center running!
Kingdoms and Castles
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.
Founders' Fortune
A fantasy village builder focusing on creative building, colonist psychology and base defense. Handle resources, farming, production, tools, diplomacy, families, trading, defense, and research, as well as the wishes, expectations, thoughts, and equipment of every villager.
Norland
Lead your noble family in this medieval colony sim, facing off against class conflict, religious struggle, and political treachery. Tend to your people’s needs, uncover the lost knowledge of a fallen empire, and engage in nefarious plots against your enemies.
Clanfolk
Clanfolk is a colony sim set in the Scottish Highlands. Harness your environment to survive - fish, gather, hunt, and farm as you prepare for the winter. Build an inn, trade with other clans, have children and marry them off - live life and prosper across the generations.
Patron
Patron is a survival city builder with a unique social dynamics system. Gather and produce resources, build your fledgling village into a prosperous city and navigate the intricate social tensions before they reach boiling point.
Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic
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.
Empires of the Undergrowth
Command swarms of warriors at an unprecedented scale of warfare in this blend of RTS and base-building. Lead ant colonies against the many fearsome threats of the insect world, while building intricate nests, developing pheromone-based tactics, and evolving to meet growing dangers.
Space Haven
Embark on a space voyage with your ragtag crew of civilians in search of a new home. Build spaceships tile by tile, create optimal gas conditions, manage the needs and moods of their crew, encounter other space-faring groups, and explore the universe in this spaceship colony simulation.
Ancient Cities
Ancient Cities is a realistic, survival city builder in an immersive procedural environment. Lead the fate of your tribe through ancient times!
Endzone 2
Endzone 2 is a post-apocalyptic survival colony builder, where you embark to secure humanity's survival after a cataclysmic disaster. Discover and repopulate the last habitable grounds, while the survival of your people hinges on your wits, foresight, and resilience in a harsh and unforgiving world.
Endzone - A World Apart
Endzone is a post-apocalyptic survival city builder, where you start a new civilization with a group of people after an ecological disaster. Build them a new home and ensure their survival in a shattered world, threatened by constant radiation, toxic rain, sandstorms and droughts.
Life is Feudal: Forest Village
LiF:Forest Village is a city builder with survival aspects in a realistic harsh medieval world. Shape, build and expand your settlement, grow various food to prevent your villagers from avitaminosis and starvation. Possess them for additional micromanagement or simply to wander around.
Planetbase
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.
Roman Triumph: Survival City Builder
At the northern fringes of the empire, a new Roman city is born! Manage and grow your city, please the gods, and survive against barbarians and mythological threats to achieve Roman Triumph!
Going Medieval
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.
Foundation
Foundation is a grid-less, laidback medieval city-building game with a focus on organic development, monument construction and resource management.
RimWorld
A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more.Most played games like Dwarf Fortress on Steam
Take a look at the top games like Dwarf Fortress that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of April 26th 2025.
1. 7 Days to Die
Similarity 50% 7 Days to Die is an open-world game that is a unique combination of first-person shooter, survival horror, tower defense, and role-playing games. Play the definitive zombie survival sandbox RPG that came first. Navezgane awaits! 7 Days to Die is a survival, zombies and multiplayer game developed by The Fun Pimps and published by The Fun Pimps Entertainment LLC. Released on July 25th 2024 has received 366,841 reviews of which 325,023 were positive and 41,818 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played game like Dwarf Fortress, thanks to its 22,963 peak concurrent players over the last day.
8.8
325,023
41,818
22,963
players
2. RimWorld
Similarity 74% A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more. RimWorld is a colony sim, base-building and survival game developed and published by Ludeon Studios. Released on October 17th 2018 has received 207,748 reviews of which 203,531 were positive and 4,217 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.7 out of 10. While seeing 20,601 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among games like Dwarf Fortress based on player count.
9.7
203,531
4,217
20,601
players
3. Factorio
Similarity 67% 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 is a automation, base-building and resource management game developed and published by Wube Software LTD.. Released on August 14th 2020 has received 212,987 reviews of which 206,579 were positive and 6,408 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. While seeing 17,099 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among games like Dwarf Fortress based on player count.
9.6
206,579
6,408
17,099
players
4. Satisfactory
Similarity 52% 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 is a base-building, automation and open world game developed by Coffee Stain Studios and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. Released on September 10th 2024 has received 229,040 reviews of which 222,475 were positive and 6,565 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. With 17,034 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played games like Dwarf Fortress.
9.6
222,475
6,565
17,034
players
5. Oxygen Not Included
Similarity 66% 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 is a colony sim, base-building and survival game developed and published by Klei Entertainment. Released on July 30th 2019 has received 127,429 reviews of which 123,288 were positive and 4,141 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. With 5,344 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played games like Dwarf Fortress.
9.5
123,288
4,141
5,344
players
6. Kenshi
Similarity 62% A free-roaming squad based RPG. Focusing on open-ended sandbox gameplay features rather than a linear story. Be a trader, a thief, a rebel, a warlord, an adventurer, a farmer, a slave, or just food for the cannibals. Train your men up from puny victims to master warriors. Kenshi is a open world, sandbox and rpg game developed and published by Lo-Fi Games. Released on December 06th 2018 has received 95,672 reviews of which 91,353 were positive and 4,319 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. With 3,706 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played games like Dwarf Fortress.
9.4
91,353
4,319
3,706
players
7. X4: Foundations
Similarity 53% Thrilling space battles meet deep strategy. X4 invites you to explore, fight, trade, and build an empire in a dynamic, fully simulated space sandbox, where every decision shapes your journey. Now featuring the 2025 flight model overhaul. X4: Foundations is a space sim, simulation and sandbox game developed and published by Egosoft. Released on November 30th 2018 has received 23,455 reviews of which 18,628 were positive and 4,827 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. With 3,359 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played games like Dwarf Fortress.
7.8
18,628
4,827
3,359
players
8. Planet Zoo
Similarity 52% Build a world for wildlife in Planet Zoo. From the developers of Planet Coaster and Zoo Tycoon comes the ultimate zoo sim. Construct detailed habitats, manage your zoo, and meet authentic living animals who think, feel and explore the world you create around them. Planet Zoo is a management, simulation and building game developed and published by Frontier Developments. Released on November 05th 2019 has received 86,771 reviews of which 79,042 were positive and 7,729 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. With 3,277 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played games like Dwarf Fortress.
9.0
79,042
7,729
3,277
players
9. Timberborn
Similarity 64% Humans are long gone. In a world struck by droughts and toxic waste, will your lumberpunk beavers do any better? A city-building game featuring ingenious animals, vertical architecture, water physics, and terraforming. Contains high amounts of wood. Timberborn is a city builder, voxel and colony sim game developed and published by Mechanistry. Released on September 15th 2021 has received 30,487 reviews of which 29,108 were positive and 1,379 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. With 2,961 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played games like Dwarf Fortress.
9.3
29,108
1,379
2,961
players
10. Transport Fever 2
Similarity 53% The classic transport simulation genre has a new gold standard with Transport Fever 2. Discover a whole new world by navigating transport routes through land, water and air. May progress and prosperity find their way! Transport Fever 2 is a simulation, strategy and management game developed by Urban Games and published by Good Shepherd Entertainment. Released on December 11th 2019 has received 27,053 reviews of which 24,440 were positive and 2,613 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. With 2,703 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played games like Dwarf Fortress.
8.9
24,440
2,613
2,703
players
Best deals on games like Dwarf Fortress on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of games like Dwarf Fortress available on Steam right now, updated on April 26th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted games like Dwarf Fortress.
1. Lords and Villeins
Similarity 63% Build a prosperous settlement in a unique simulation of a feudal economy - each family runs their shop, owns their goods, and trades with other villagers in a free market. You will manage the land, build houses, organise events, set taxes, and balance supply and demand while engaging in diplomacy! Lords and Villeins is a colony sim, strategy and city builder game developed by Honestly Games and published by Fulqrum Publishing. Released on November 10th 2022 has received 867 reviews of which 628 were positive and 239 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.0 out of 10. Featuring a massive 96% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for games like Dwarf Fortress.
7.0
628
239
-96%
27.50€
1.10€
2. Founders' Fortune
Similarity 76% A fantasy village builder focusing on creative building, colonist psychology and base defense. Handle resources, farming, production, tools, diplomacy, families, trading, defense, and research, as well as the wishes, expectations, thoughts, and equipment of every villager. Founders' Fortune is a colony sim, base-building and city builder game developed and published by Dionic Software. Released on December 18th 2020 has received 2,097 reviews of which 1,688 were positive and 409 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 95% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in games like Dwarf Fortress.
7.7
1,688
409
-95%
20.00€
1.00€
3. Autonauts vs Piratebots
Similarity 65% Create, automate and defend an impenetrable base. Assemble and command a Bot army to combat an entire Piratebot invasion. Build, program and battle your way through five different zones. Autonauts vs Piratebots is a simulation, strategy and automation game developed by Denki and published by Curve Games. Released on July 28th 2022 has received 480 reviews of which 380 were positive and 100 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 95% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in games like Dwarf Fortress.
7.5
380
100
-95%
20.00€
1.00€
4. Railway Empire
Similarity 50% In Railway Empire, you will create an elaborate and wide-ranging rail network, purchase over 40 different trains modelled in extraordinary detail, and buy or build railway stations, maintenance buildings, factories and tourist attractions to keep your travel network ahead of the competition. Railway Empire is a strategy, simulation and management game developed by Gaming Minds Studios and published by Kalypso Media. Released on January 26th 2018 has received 9,378 reviews of which 7,764 were positive and 1,614 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 93% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for games like Dwarf Fortress.
8.1
7,764
1,614
-93%
31.14€
2.18€
5. Stronghold Crusader 2
Similarity 57% 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 is a strategy, medieval and city builder game developed and published by FireFly Studios. Released on September 22nd 2014 has received 16,932 reviews of which 12,215 were positive and 4,717 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 93% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for games like Dwarf Fortress.
7.1
12,215
4,717
-93%
34.57€
2.42€
6. Pure Farming 2018
Similarity 50% Use the latest technology and state-of-the-art licensed machines to manage all aspects of modern farming. Travel between Europe, Asia, and both Americas to plant region-specific crops such as hemp, coffee beans, and olives. Farm your way thanks to three unique game modes tailored to both simulation veterans and newcomers to farming games. Pure Farming 2018 is a farming sim, simulation and open world game developed by Ice Flames and published by Techland Publishing. Released on March 13th 2018 has received 1,636 reviews of which 1,197 were positive and 439 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 93% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for games like Dwarf Fortress.
7.1
1,197
439
-93%
20.57€
1.44€
7. Cartel Tycoon
Similarity 70% Cartel Tycoon is a survival business sim inspired by the ‘80s and '90s narco trade. Expand and conquer, fight off rival thugs and evade the authorities. Earn people's loyalty and strive to overcome the doomed fate of a power-hungry drug lord. Cartel Tycoon is a top-down, rts and resource management game developed by Moon Moose and published by tinyBuild. Released on July 26th 2022 has received 3,518 reviews of which 2,687 were positive and 831 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.4 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 92% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for games like Dwarf Fortress.
7.4
2,687
831
-92%
29.75€
2.38€
8. Frostpunk
Similarity 64% 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 is a city builder, survival and resource management game developed and published by 11 bit studios. Released on April 24th 2018 has received 122,181 reviews of which 113,027 were positive and 9,154 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for games like Dwarf Fortress.
9.1
113,027
9,154
-91%
30.00€
2.70€
9. Siege Survival: Gloria Victis
Similarity 50% A medieval city under siege and a handful of civilians are all that keep the walls from falling. Mixing survival strategy and resource management, build your camp, craft supplies, and scavenge the occupied city to supply the last troops holding back the invaders. Siege Survival: Gloria Victis is a singleplayer, city builder and immersive sim game developed by Black Eye Games and published by Ravenscourt. Released on May 18th 2021 has received 1,629 reviews of which 1,284 were positive and 345 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for games like Dwarf Fortress.
7.6
1,284
345
-91%
25.11€
2.26€
10. Surviving the Aftermath
Similarity 67% Survive and thrive in a post-apocalyptic future — resources are scarce, but opportunity calls! Build the ultimate disaster proof colony, protect your colonists, and restore civilization to a devastated world. Surviving the Aftermath is a strategy, simulation and city builder game developed by Iceflake Studios and published by Paradox Interactive. Released on November 16th 2021 has received 4,332 reviews of which 3,062 were positive and 1,270 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for games like Dwarf Fortress.
6.9
3,062
1,270
-91%
30.78€
2.77€
Free games like Dwarf Fortress on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play games like Dwarf Fortress you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on April 26th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play games like Dwarf Fortress.
1. Fallout Shelter
Similarity 50% Fallout Shelter puts you in control of a state-of-the-art underground Vault from Vault-Tec. Build the perfect Vault, keep your Dwellers happy, and protect them from the dangers of the Wasteland. Fallout Shelter is a free to play, base-building and survival game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. Released on March 29th 2017 has received 73,819 reviews of which 65,306 were positive and 8,513 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. With 940 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free games like Dwarf Fortress.
8.7
65,306
8,513
940
players
2. Stronghold Kingdoms
Similarity 53% A massively multiplayer grand strategy game, Stronghold Kingdoms is about forging alliances, political mind games, city-building and castle sieges with thousands of other players! Stronghold Kingdoms is a strategy, free to play and medieval game developed and published by FireFly Studios. Released on February 27th 2012 has received 9,307 reviews of which 5,953 were positive and 3,354 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.3 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 303, this game has secured the #2 spot in the ranking of free games like Dwarf Fortress.
6.3
5,953
3,354
303
players
3. DFHack - Dwarf Fortress Modding Engine
Similarity 61% Extensions for Dwarf Fortress, including bugfixes, interface improvements, automation agents, design blueprints, modding building blocks, and other tools. DFHack - Dwarf Fortress Modding Engine is a dwarf, simulation and software game developed and published by The DFHack Team. Released on April 13th 2023 has received 700 reviews of which 695 were positive and 5 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 263, this game has secured the #3 spot in the ranking of free games like Dwarf Fortress.
9.2
695
5
263
players
4. Kingdom: Classic
Similarity 64% Kingdom is a 2D sidescrolling strategy/resource management hybrid with a minimalist feel wrapped in a beautiful, modern pixel art aesthetic. Kingdom: Classic is a free to play, singleplayer and strategy game developed by Noio and Licorice and published by Raw Fury. Released on October 21st 2015 has received 21,997 reviews of which 19,946 were positive and 2,051 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. The game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played free games like Dwarf Fortress.
8.9
19,946
2,051
51
players
5. Industry Idle
Similarity 59% Industry Idle is an idle game that combines factory building, resource management and market trading. Design & build your base, expand & scale up your productions, improve & optimize your economy. Plus all the incremental game goodies: offline earnings, prestige to unlock more powerful upgrades. Industry Idle is a automation, idler and resource management game developed and published by Fish Pond Studio. Released on September 13th 2024 has received 1,352 reviews of which 1,053 were positive and 299 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played free games like Dwarf Fortress.
7.5
1,053
299
51
players
6. Simutrans
Similarity 50% Simutrans is a freeware and open-source transportation simulator. Your goal is to establish a successful transport company. Transport passengers, mail and goods by rail, road, ship, and even air. Interconnect districts, cities, public buildings, industries and tourist attractions. Simutrans is a simulation, free to play and trains game developed and published by The Simutrans Team. Released on May 24th 2016 has received 616 reviews of which 465 were positive and 151 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played free games like Dwarf Fortress.
7.2
465
151
22
players
7. Oxygen: First Breath
Similarity 68% This is a free version of Oxygen, featuring the first 50 game-days. Build your city around the Oxygen Center and ensure your people's survival in a post-apocalyptic future, threatened by crack explosions, deadly winds, droughts and frosts. Lead your people and keep the Oxygen Center running! Oxygen: First Breath is a strategy, base building and city builder game developed by Turquoise Revival Games and published by GrabTheGames and UpgradePoint. Released on October 07th 2022 has received 1,586 reviews of which 1,425 were positive and 161 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played free games like Dwarf Fortress.
8.6
1,425
161
5
players
8. Smart Factory Tycoon: Beginnings
Similarity 53% This is a free version of Smart Factory Tycoon, a game inspired by Little Big Workshop introducing the first productions. Smart Factory Tycoon is a tycoon management game where you design your dream factory with robots, plan all steps of production, research new technologies and become a tycoon! Smart Factory Tycoon: Beginnings is a simulation, strategy and resource management game developed by Turquoise Revival Games and published by GrabTheGames. Released on January 05th 2022 has received 495 reviews of which 384 were positive and 111 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.3 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played free games like Dwarf Fortress.
7.3
384
111
2
players
9. United Penguin Kingdom: Huddle up
Similarity 55% This free version of the United Penguin Kingdom covers the content from one year of in-game time. A city-building game where you build a penguin settlement and satisfy the various needs of your penguins while dealing with seals and killer whales. United Penguin Kingdom: Huddle up is a strategy, city builder and survival game developed by Turquoise Revival Games and published by GrabTheGames and UpgradePoint. Released on December 19th 2023 has received 616 reviews of which 552 were positive and 64 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played free games like Dwarf Fortress.
8.4
552
64
1
players
10. Don't get lost
Similarity 50% A procedurally-generated, open-world, first-person colony sim. Build colonies in an infinite world, alone or with friends via Steam or self-hosted multiplayer. Don't get lost is a colony sim, multiplayer and procedural generation game developed by Michael Hutcheon and published by miicck. Released on February 01st 2023 has received 453 reviews of which 361 were positive and 92 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played free games like Dwarf Fortress.
7.5
361
92