Balrum similar games & best alternatives

Balrum - Trailer
Balrum - balrum_1.avif
Balrum - balrum_2.avif
Balrum - balrum_3.avif
Balrum - balrum_4.avif
Balrum - balrum_5.avif
Balrum - balrum_6.avif

Balrum

Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), 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

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • The Doors of Trithius

  • Drova - Forsaken Kin

  • Crashlands

  • ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery)

  • Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy

  • Chained Echoes

More leadership-focused

Games that feels like Balrum but with more leadership over others

  • The Iron Oath

  • Avernum 3: Ruined World

  • Zoria: Age of Shattering

  • From Glory To Goo

  • The Temple of Elemental Evil

  • Voidspire Tactics

More intense

Games that feels like Balrum but with a more intense feel

  • UnderRail

  • ZERO Sievert

  • In Celebration of Violence

  • Stoneshard: Prologue

  • Stoneshard

  • Eschalon: Book I

Choose your own criteria ->

Similarity map

How to compare these games

Compare nearby games

Each card is a nearby game on the similarity map, compared with Balrum. Swipe sideways to move between games. Titles already listed in What to play next are left out.

  • Cover and title: open that game’s page.
  • What works / keep in mind: the same highlights as the desktop comparison panel.
  • Bars: the main motivational differences versus this game.
How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • 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 to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

Swipe to compare nearby games with Balrum. These titles are not in What to play next.

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

Last update: 21/08/2026