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Guns of Icarus Online similar games & best alternatives

Guns of Icarus Online

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux • 2012

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Quick resume

Assemble your crew, take to the skies in the premier PvP airship combat game. Guns of Icarus Online is all about flying massive airships, shooting big turret weapons, and working as a team for supremacy of the skies. Everyone as one, victory or death, together.

Global score

90/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Indie, Simulator, Shooter, Tactical

Similar games

    Pros

    • Strong teamwork and communication focus
    • Unique steampunk airship combat
    • Friendly and welcoming community
    • Good class and ship variety
    • Fair progression and customization

    Cons

    • Small and declining player base
    • Long matchmaking and wait times
    • Steep learning curve for new players
    • Limited game modes and maps
    • Some ui and chat usability issues

    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. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Competition, Leadership, Status.

    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 choose roles (pilot, engineer, gunner), customize ships and loadouts, and direct their own actions within team coordination."

    • Competence
      4

      "The game has a steep learning curve, requires skillful piloting, shooting, and repairing, with feedback on performance and tactical depth."

    • Competition
      4

      "Strong PvP focus with team vs team battles, leaderboards, and clan competition."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report long playtimes and habitual engagement, though small player base limits session availability."

    • Cooperation
      5

      "Game is fundamentally team-based, requiring communication and coordination among crew members to succeed."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Players can customize ships, loadouts, and character appearance, though mostly within predefined options."

    • Domination
      -3

      "Community is described as friendly and cooperative, with little evidence of toxic domination or trash talk."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game as a social and immersive escape with engaging steampunk fantasy and teamwork."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, not obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players explore different ships, roles, weapons, and strategies, though within a stable game framework."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Maps and environments offer some variety and tactical elements, but limited discovery or new areas."

    • Expression
      3

      "Character and ship customization allow for personal expression, though mostly cosmetic."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Strong steampunk fantasy setting with imaginative airship combat and roles."

    • Fellowship
      4

      "Players report a welcoming, friendly community and social bonding through teamwork."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop skills in piloting, shooting, repairing, and team coordination with progression systems."

    • Health
      -4

      "Game is sedentary with no physical activity involved."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Gameplay requires continuous attention and active participation during matches."

    • Intimacy
      3

      "Players form social bonds and friendships through cooperative play and voice communication."

    • Leadership
      4

      "Captain/pilot role involves leading and coordinating the crew, guiding team decisions."

    • Progression
      3

      "Players unlock cosmetic items and level up classes, progressing in experience and customization."

    • Relaxation
      1

      "Gameplay can be tense and exciting, but also has moments of flow and satisfaction."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Visual and audio effects create exciting sensory stimulation during battles."

    • Status
      2

      "Some recognition through achievements and clan status, but limited social visibility."

    • Story
      1

      "Game has some lore and setting but gameplay is mostly match-based with limited narrative immersion."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Strong strategic elements in ship loadouts, positioning, and team coordination."

    • Thrill
      4

      "High tension and excitement from aerial combat and critical ship damage moments."

    • Value
      4

      "Players find good value for price, especially during sales, with long playtime and community."

    • Violence
      4

      "Combat and destruction of enemy ships is core gameplay and enjoyed by players."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must manage ship damage and repairs to stay alive and avoid defeat."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026