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EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS similar games & best alternatives

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 • 2021

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Quick resume

A new EDF adventure begins! Only this time, the action unfolds in a parallel world where the Earth is made of digital blocks. This world has befallen into chaos, as the once peaceful square Earth has been shattered into pieces. Shape aside, it is an Earth nonetheless which needs to be defended.

Global score

81/100

Genres

Action, Strategy, Shooter

Similar games

    Pros

    • Large roster of unique characters and weapons
    • Fun and strategic team switching mechanic
    • Smooth, optimized performance
    • Lighthearted, humorous writing and meta references
    • Strong co-op multiplayer support

    Cons

    • Mouse and keyboard controls problematic at launch
    • Some players find humor childish or cringy
    • Smaller maps and shorter missions than mainline edf
    • Multiplayer matchmaking issues and lack of local co-op
    • Grind for character leveling can be tedious

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Intimacy, Value.

    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 can freely choose and switch between 4 characters with unique weapons and abilities during missions, allowing personal control and strategic decisions."

    • Competence
      3

      "Game offers skill-based combat with character abilities, weapon mastery, and tactical switching, though it is easier and less punishing than mainline EDF games."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is mostly on single-player or cooperative play with friends; no strong evidence of ranked or leaderboard competition."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report long playtimes, character collection, and replaying missions for upgrades encourage habitual play."

    • Cooperation
      4

      "Supports online co-op with up to 4 players, though local co-op is absent; teamwork is encouraged but less critical due to multiple characters per player."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Players create teams from a large roster of characters with unique abilities and weapons, enabling varied playstyles and customization."

    • Domination
      -4

      "Interactions emphasize shared team play and mutual support rather than exerting control or superiority over others."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Bright, silly voxel art style and goofy humor provide a lighthearted escape from real life stress."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and nostalgia without pressure or obligation."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Encourages trying new character combinations, weapons, and abilities to find effective or amusing synergies."

    • Exploration
      -2

      "Levels are smaller and more compact with less emphasis on discovery or large environments."

    • Expression
      3

      "Players express themselves by assembling teams of diverse characters with unique looks and abilities."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Features imaginative voxel worlds, exaggerated characters, and over-the-top sci-fi alien invasions."

    • Fellowship
      3

      "Online co-op and shared fandom foster community, though some players also enjoy solo play."

    • Growth
      3

      "Character leveling and weapon unlocking provide learning and progression opportunities."

    • Health
      -4

      "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related mechanics."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires active attention and continuous engagement during missions."

    • Intimacy
      -3

      "Social interactions are mostly surface-level cooperative play without deep emotional connections."

    • Leadership
      2

      "Players manage teams of characters and coordinate in co-op, but no strong evidence of authoritative leadership roles."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong emphasis on collecting characters, unlocking weapons, and leveling up armor and abilities."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "Generally lighthearted and fun, but some missions and higher difficulties can be challenging and tense."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Bright voxel visuals, energetic music, and explosive combat provide sensory stimulation and excitement."

    • Status
      -3

      "Little focus on social recognition or leaderboards; emphasis on personal and cooperative enjoyment."

    • Story
      2

      "Features a lighthearted, silly story with meta humor and references to previous EDF games."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Requires tactical team composition, character switching, and ability timing for effective combat."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Some suspense and challenge in higher difficulties, but overall tone is more playful than intense."

    • Value
      1

      "Players find good value in gameplay and content, though some mention price is high for the shorter experience."

    • Violence
      4

      "Core gameplay involves combat, destruction, and shooting hordes of giant insects and robots."

    • Survival
      2

      "Players must avoid death and manage health, but multiple characters and easier difficulty reduce survival pressure."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026