Balrum similar games & best alternatives

Balrum

PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac • 2016

Should you play it?

Balrum is an old-school, turn-based, open world RPG with deep tactical combat. Explore a huge living fantasy world with dozens of side quests next to an epic main quest. Grow your own crops, build your home, and craft your own custom items.

What works
  • Deep crafting and building systems
  • Large open world with exploration and secrets
  • Challenging and strategic turn-based combat
  • Immersive survival mechanics
  • Engaging old-school rpg atmosphere
Things to keep in mind
  • Slow movement and pacing
  • Steep learning curve with limited tutorials
  • Lack of monster respawn can make grinding difficult
  • Some ui and inventory management clunky
  • Pet system and some crafting skills underwhelming

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Chained Echoes

  • Erannorth Reborn

  • Crown Trick

  • Cross Blitz

  • Relic Guardian - Tower Defense

  • Dungeons of Aether

  • Aces & Adventures

  • Esoteric Ebb

  • ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery)
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Erannorth Reborn

  • DOG WITCH

  • Serin Fate
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Exploration

    Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition
  • Fantasy

    The Bloodline
  • Autonomy

    Mist Legacy

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

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

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • 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 (hidden on purpose).

Balrum: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression, Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Leadership.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players have freedom to explore, choose skills, craft, and build their own path with minimal handholding."

    Capsule for Mist Legacy Mist Legacy

    "Players have freedom to explore, choose skills, build and craft their own way, and make decisions without handholding"

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Game involves skillful crafting, base building, combat, and resource management with increasing challenge and progression."

    Capsule for Sunkenland Sunkenland

    "Game is challenging with slow progression and requires skillful management of resources, combat, and crafting"

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on solo exploration and personal progression without PvP or leaderboards."

    Capsule for Bear Simulator Bear Simulator

    "Focus is on personal progression and exploration without PvP or ranked modes"

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players report long play sessions and engagement with exploration and story."

    Capsule for Die Young Die Young

    "Players report long play sessions and high engagement with crafting, exploration, and questing"

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player game with no multiplayer or cooperative elements"

    Capsule for Horizon Zero Dawn™ Remastered Horizon Zero Dawn™ Remastered

    "Single player game with no multiplayer or cooperative elements"

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Extensive crafting, base building, and world customization allow creative expression and experimentation."

    Capsule for Don't Starve Don't Starve

    "Extensive crafting, building, farming, and customization options allow creative expression"

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of power over others or dominance mechanics; gameplay is solo and self-directed."

    Capsule for STRAFE: Gold Edition STRAFE: Gold Edition

    "No evidence of power over others or dominance mechanics; gameplay is solo and self-directed"

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game as immersive escape into a rich fantasy world with exploration and survival challenges."

    Capsule for Soulmask Soulmask

    "Players use the game for immersive fantasy escape and exploration of a rich world"

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by interest and enjoyment rather than obligation."

    Capsule for Resident Evil 4 Resident Evil 4

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by interest and enjoyment rather than obligation"

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Players explore different strategies, playstyles, and crafting recipes."

    Capsule for Abiotic Factor Abiotic Factor

    "Players explore many mechanics, crafting recipes, and combat strategies"

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Large open world with many secrets, side quests, and areas to discover."

    Capsule for Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition

    "Large open world with many secrets, puzzles, and areas to discover"

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    4

    "Players customize homes, farms, and bases extensively, expressing personal style through building."

    Capsule for Len's Island Len's Island

    "Players can customize their home base, character builds, and crafted items"

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Strong fantasy setting with magic, mythical creatures, and imaginative lore."

    Capsule for The Bloodline The Bloodline

    "Strong fantasy setting with magic, mythical creatures, and lore"

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No multiplayer or social community gameplay elements"

    Capsule for Fictorum Fictorum

    "No multiplayer or social community features"

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Skill progression and character development provide learning and growth."

    Capsule for Tyranny Tyranny

    "Character progression is slow but meaningful, with skill learning and personal development"

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -3

    "Sedentary gameplay with survival mechanics; no physical activity involved."

    Capsule for Praey for the Gods Praey for the Gods

    "Sedentary gameplay with some survival mechanics but no physical activity"

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires constant attention and focus due to lethal combat and survival mechanics."

    Capsule for Project Silverfish Project Silverfish

    "Requires focused attention due to survival mechanics and combat"

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing"

    Capsule for Joe Dever's Lone Wolf HD Remastered Joe Dever's Lone Wolf HD Remastered

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing"

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements"

    Capsule for ISLANDERS ISLANDERS

    "No leadership or group management elements"

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Strong emphasis on acquiring items, upgrading equipment, and leveling skills."

    Capsule for Rune Factory 5 Rune Factory 5

    "Strong emphasis on leveling up, acquiring items, and upgrading skills"

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Slow-paced gameplay and atmospheric immersion provide a relaxing experience."

    Capsule for Nobody Wants to Die Nobody Wants to Die

    "Slow pace and immersive exploration provide a relaxing experience for many players"

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Visuals and sound provide moderate stimulation; not highly intense sensory experience."

    Capsule for Tap Tap Infinity Tap Tap Infinity

    "Visuals and sound provide nostalgic and pleasant sensory stimulation, but not intense"

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social status or recognition systems"

    Capsule for Minoria Minoria

    "No social status or recognition systems"

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Engaging and evolving narrative with quests and lore, though initially sparse."

    Capsule for Warframe Warframe

    "Engaging narrative with lore and quests, though some find it slow or simple"

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Combat and resource management require planning and tactical thinking."

    Capsule for Grounded Grounded

    "Combat and resource management require planning and tactical thinking"

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    2

    "Some suspense and challenge in combat and exploration, but overall controlled experience."

    Capsule for Shadow Complex Remastered Shadow Complex Remastered

    "Some suspense from survival and combat challenges, but overall controlled experience"

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players feel the game offers good content and depth for the price paid."

    Capsule for Kynseed Kynseed

    "Players find great content and gameplay depth for the price"

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    1

    "Combat exists but is not the main focus; some destruction but also constructive gameplay."

    Capsule for Odd Realm Odd Realm

    "Combat is present but not focused on destruction; also includes constructive activities"

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Survival mechanics like managing hunger, thirst, and avoiding death are important gameplay aspects."

    Capsule for Soulash 2 Soulash 2

    "Survival mechanics like hunger, thirst, and resource management are core gameplay elements"

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Last update: 01/06/2026