7 Wonders: Ancient Alien Makeover Thumbnail

7 Wonders: Ancient Alien Makeover similar games & best alternatives

7 Wonders: Ancient Alien Makeover

PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS • 2012

Related articles

Quick resume

The long-standing 7 Wonders series keeps getting better and better! The fifth installment, 7 Wonders: Ancient Alien Makeover, adds an entirely new game component, new Wonders and a new and exciting material – Alien Energy!

Global score

86/100

Genres

Casual, Strategy, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Addictive and relaxing match-3 gameplay
    • Varied difficulty levels including zen mode
    • Village building and customization
    • Multiple mini-games adding variety
    • Steam achievements included

    Cons

    • Repetitive and sometimes too easy gameplay
    • Some players find power-ups make game too simple
    • Limited replay value after completion
    • Performance issues on some systems
    • Price considered high for casual content

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Expression. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Value, Story.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      3

      "Players can choose difficulty levels, select where to place buildings in their village, and decide how to use power-ups, indicating moderate control over actions."

    • Competence
      2

      "The game offers skill-based match-3 puzzles with increasing difficulty and power-ups, but many reviews note the gameplay can become easy or repetitive."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on personal progress and achievement hunting rather than competing against others; no multiplayer or ranked modes mentioned."

    • Continuation
      2

      "Many players report addictive qualities and long play sessions, though some find it repetitive and grindy, leading to mixed continuation motivation."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Game is single-player with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players can customize and decorate their village with unlocked buildings and decorations, adding creative expression beyond the match-3 gameplay."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No evidence of dominance or power over others; interactions are individual and non-competitive."

    • Escapism
      3

      "Casual, relaxing gameplay with soothing music and visuals provides a stress-relief and distraction from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and relaxation; some mention achievement hunting but no obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      1

      "Some experimentation with power-ups and mini-games, but core gameplay is largely repetitive match-3 mechanics."

    • Exploration
      1

      "Players progress through multiple wonders and levels with some variation, but environments are mostly familiar match-3 boards."

    • Expression
      2

      "Village customization and decoration allow for some self-expression within the game."

    • Fantasy
      2

      "The alien theme and imaginative story elements add a light fantasy layer to an otherwise realistic puzzle setting."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community features; gameplay is solitary."

    • Growth
      2

      "Players develop skills in puzzle solving and unlock new power-ups and buildings, indicating some learning and progression."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention during timed levels; not suitable for passive or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No close social interactions or relationship building."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements present."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong progression through building wonders, unlocking power-ups, mini-games, and village decorations."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Relaxing music, casual gameplay, and a Zen mode support flow and tension release."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Colorful visuals, sound effects, and animations provide sensory enjoyment, though some find colors too bright or overwhelming."

    • Status
      -4

      "Achievements provide some recognition but no social status or multiplayer ranking."

    • Story
      1

      "Light narrative about building wonders with alien help; story is minimal and mostly a backdrop."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Some strategic use of power-ups and resource management in building placement, but core gameplay is straightforward match-3."

    • Thrill
      0

      "Some timed modes add mild tension, but overall gameplay is casual and low risk."

    • Value
      -1

      "Mixed opinions on value; some find it overpriced for content and replayability, others appreciate the casual entertainment."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No violent content; gameplay focuses on constructive building and puzzle solving."

    • Survival
      -4

      "No survival mechanics; gameplay is stable and low risk."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026