Avernum 3: Ruined World Thumbnail

Avernum 3: Ruined World similar games & best alternatives

Avernum 3: Ruined World

PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac • 2018

Related articles

Quick resume

Wander free through this epic, indie fantasy adventure. Explore a huge world that evolves as time passes. Towns fight battles. Refugees flee. Disasters happen. Features cunning adventures, great depth, and unlimited freedom. Be a merchant or bounty hunter, buy a home, save the world!

Global score

84/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)

Similar games

    Pros

    • Huge open world with extensive exploration
    • Deep and engaging story with rich lore
    • Tactical turn-based combat with strategic depth
    • Flexible character customization and party building
    • High replayability and long playtime

    Cons

    • Retro graphics and minimal sound may deter some players
    • Some mechanics feel dated or tedious (e.g. puzzles, inventory management)
    • Limited quality of life features and ui quirks
    • No multiplayer or social features
    • Late game combat can become trivial or repetitive

    Analysis

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

    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
      4

      "Players have freedom to build classless characters, choose party composition, and explore a large open world with multiple quest paths and outcomes."

    • Competence
      4

      "The game features tactical turn-based combat with strategic positioning, skill development, and difficulty settings that challenge player skill and decision-making."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on personal progression and exploration without ranked modes or direct player-vs-player competition."

    • Continuation
      5

      "Players report hundreds of hours of engagement, replayability, and habitual play with a large world and many quests."

    • Cooperation
      -4

      "Gameplay centers on managing a solo party; no multiplayer or cooperative social play is mentioned."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Character customization is flexible with skill trees and multi-classing; players can experiment with builds and party roles."

    • Domination
      -5

      "Interactions emphasize story and exploration; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over other players."

    • Escapism
      5

      "The large immersive fantasy world and engaging story provide strong escape from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and nostalgia; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players try different character builds, explore multiple quest paths, and experiment with tactical combat strategies."

    • Exploration
      5

      "The game features a huge open world with many hidden dungeons, secrets, and optional quests encouraging discovery."

    • Expression
      2

      "Character creation and skill customization allow some self-expression, though graphics and avatars are retro and standardized."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Strong fantasy setting with magic, mythical creatures, and an imaginative fictional world."

    • Fellowship
      -4

      "Gameplay is primarily single-player with minimal social or community interaction."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop characters through skill trees and learn tactical combat; story progression also supports personal development."

    • Health
      -5

      "The game is a sedentary computer RPG with no physical activity elements."

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires focused attention on tactical combat and exploration; not designed for background or casual intermittent play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing; interactions are mostly with NPCs in a narrative context."

    • Leadership
      3

      "Players lead and manage a party of characters, making strategic decisions and guiding their actions."

    • Progression
      5

      "Strong emphasis on leveling up characters, acquiring items, and completing quests to advance."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "While the game can be challenging, many players find it rewarding and immersive, providing a flow experience."

    • Sensation
      -2

      "Graphics and sound are retro and minimal; sensory stimulation is moderate and understated."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social status or recognition systems; focus is on individual story and gameplay."

    • Story
      5

      "Highly praised narrative depth, world-building, and character-driven storylines."

    • Strategy
      5

      "Turn-based tactical combat and skill management require planning and problem solving."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Combat and exploration involve suspense and risk, especially with time-limited quests and dangerous enemies."

    • Value
      5

      "Players report excellent value with 40-70+ hours of gameplay and replayability for a reasonable price."

    • Violence
      4

      "Combat involves defeating monsters and enemies through tactical battles and spells."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players manage resources and avoid threats; time pressure and monster invasions add survival challenges."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026