From the Depths similar games & best alternatives

From the Depths

PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac • 2020

Should you play it?

Over 1000 unique components allow you to build and command voxel vehicles from the deep ocean to outer space! Forge strategies, allegiances and fleets strong enough to destroy eight deadly factions of the planet and reign supreme. A genre-defying mashup of simulation, building, RTS and RPG.

What works
  • Extensive creative freedom in vehicle and weapon design
  • Deep and rewarding learning curve
  • Active developer and community support
  • Complex physics and ai systems
  • Engaging campaign and multiplayer modes
Things to keep in mind
  • Steep learning curve intimidating for new players
  • Complex and sometimes unintuitive ui and controls
  • Performance can lag with large battles
  • Campaign can become repetitive
  • Lack of polish in graphics and some gameplay systems

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Airships: Conquer the Skies

  • Space Pirates And Zombies 2

  • Reassembly

  • Empyrion - Galactic Survival

  • The Slimeking's Tower

  • Voxel Turf

  • Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

  • Seven Kingdoms 2 HD

  • The Pirate: Caribbean Hunt

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Voxel Turf

  • Seven Kingdoms 2 HD

  • Stellar Warfare

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Autonomy

    Dream Car Builder

  • Competence

    Out of Action

  • Continuation

    X4: Foundations

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).

From the Depths: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Fellowship, Status, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Creativity, Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy.

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

    5

    "Players have full control over every aspect of vehicle design and customization, with no preset limitations."

    Capsule for Dream Car Builder Dream Car Builder

    "Players have full freedom to design and customize vehicles, weapons, engines, and AI systems with no preset constraints."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    5

    "High skill ceiling with complex mechanics and rewarding mastery; players improve through learning and overcoming challenges."

    Capsule for Out of Action Out of Action

    "High skill ceiling with complex engineering, physics, and AI programming challenges; players learn and improve over hundreds of hours."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    3

    "Includes multiplayer and AI opponents with victory conditions encouraging competition, but also supports solo play."

    Capsule for Master of Orion Master of Orion

    "Includes competitive multiplayer and campaign battles against AI and player designs, but also supports solo creative play."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    5

    "Highly addictive with long play sessions and players investing hundreds to thousands of hours."

    Capsule for X4: Foundations X4: Foundations

    "Highly addictive with players investing hundreds to thousands of hours, repeatedly redesigning and testing vehicles."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    1

    "Some cooperative multiplayer exists but is limited; main experience is controlling a team solo."

    Capsule for Commandos 2: Men of Courage Commandos 2: Men of Courage

    "Some cooperative multiplayer exists, but most gameplay and vehicle design is done individually."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    5

    "Core motivation is creative freedom to build any vehicle or machine with detailed parts and logic."

    Capsule for Homebrew - Patent Unknown Homebrew - Patent Unknown

    "Core motivation is creative freedom to build and customize vehicles, weapons, and AI from individual blocks."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    1

    "Players can dominate factions and organizations, but interactions are more about strategic control than social dominance."

    Capsule for X-COM: Apocalypse X-COM: Apocalypse

    "Players compete and fight for dominance but interactions emphasize design and strategy over social dominance."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players immerse themselves in historical conquests and strategic challenges, escaping real life through gameplay."

    Capsule for Rome: Total War™ - Alexander Rome: Total War™ - Alexander

    "Players immerse themselves in complex vehicle design and warfare, escaping real life through deep engagement."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by intrinsic interest and creativity rather than obligation or pressure."

    Capsule for SPORE™ Creepy & Cute Parts Pack SPORE™ Creepy & Cute Parts Pack

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by intrinsic interest and creativity rather than obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    5

    "Players experiment with many weapons, tactics, mods, and strategies to overcome challenges and explore game mechanics."

    Capsule for 7,62 High Calibre 7,62 High Calibre

    "Strong emphasis on experimentation with designs, weapons, AI, and strategies to overcome challenges."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    2

    "Varied missions and editor encourage discovering new tactical approaches and map layouts."

    Capsule for Men of War™ Men of War™

    "Campaign and world editor modes encourage exploration of new maps and faction designs, though not primary focus."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    4

    "Players express themselves through detailed mechanical creations and custom vehicles."

    Capsule for GearBlocks GearBlocks

    "Players express themselves through unique vehicle designs, aesthetics, and custom AI behaviors."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Futuristic aircraft and nuclear weapons provide imaginative, semi-fictional combat scenarios."

    Capsule for Nuclear Option Nuclear Option

    "Allows imaginative and improbable vehicles like flying battleships, orbital platforms, and sci-fi weapons."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    2

    "Active community sharing levels and strategies, though gameplay is mostly solo."

    Capsule for Dustforce DX Dustforce DX

    "Active community sharing designs and collaborating on content, though much gameplay is solo."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    5

    "Steep learning curve with continuous skill acquisition in engineering, programming, and survival."

    Capsule for Stationeers Stationeers

    "Steep learning curve with continuous personal development in engineering, physics, and programming."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for Borderlands 2 Borderlands 2

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires continuous attention and focus during combat; not suited for casual or background play."

    Capsule for Serious Sam II Serious Sam II

    "Requires sustained attention and focus during building and combat; not suited for casual or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -3

    "Limited social interaction; relationships mostly superficial or minimal emotional sharing."

    Capsule for Wuthering Waves Wuthering Waves

    "Limited social interaction mostly focused on sharing designs; minimal close personal relationships."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    2

    "Players lead fleets and manage towns, but leadership is personal and not collaborative or multiplayer focused."

    Capsule for Port Royale 3 Port Royale 3

    "Players command fleets and manage resources, but leadership is tactical and strategic rather than social."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Strong progression through acquiring vehicles, expanding networks, and completing scenarios."

    Capsule for Chris Sawyer's Locomotion™ Chris Sawyer's Locomotion™

    "Progression through acquiring resources, building better vehicles, and expanding territory in campaigns."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    1

    "Some players find flow and fun in gameplay, but game is generally challenging and tense."

    Capsule for City of Brass City of Brass

    "Some players find flow in building and testing, but overall gameplay can be tense and challenging."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Visual and auditory feedback from combat and explosions provide sensory excitement."

    Capsule for Assault Bots Assault Bots

    "Visual and auditory feedback from explosions and combat provide excitement and stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    1

    "Some recognition through multiplayer and community presence, but not a dominant motivation."

    Capsule for Total War: WARHAMMER II Total War: WARHAMMER II

    "Recognition mainly through community sharing and multiplayer, but not a primary motivation."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    0

    "Campaign has some narrative but is minimal and considered secondary to gameplay."

    Capsule for TerraTech TerraTech

    "Campaign has some narrative elements but is limited; game mainly focuses on sandbox and design."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Strong strategic elements in resource management, defense planning, and combat tactics."

    Capsule for Castle Craft Castle Craft

    "Strong strategic elements in vehicle design, resource management, and combat tactics."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Combat tension, ambushes, and close battles create suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Ancestors Legacy Ancestors Legacy

    "Combat and losing/winning battles provide suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players report high value for time and money due to depth, replayability, and developer support."

    Capsule for Star Ruler 2 Star Ruler 2

    "Players report high value for time invested due to depth, replayability, and developer support."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Combat and destruction are core gameplay elements, with realistic weaponry and vehicle warfare."

    Capsule for Arma 3 Arma 3

    "Combat and destruction of vehicles is a core gameplay element with detailed damage simulation."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players manage resources and overcome threats to survive in campaign."

    Capsule for SpellForce 3 Fallen God SpellForce 3 Fallen God

    "Campaign involves resource management and overcoming threats to survive and expand."

Last update: 01/06/2026