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ICARUS similar games & best alternatives

ICARUS

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2021

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Quick resume

ICARUS is a PvE survival game for up to eight players. Explore a savage wilderness in the aftermath of terraforming gone wrong. Survive the Open World, complete timed Missions or build your Outpost. Explore, build, craft and hunt while seeking your fortune and prospecting for exotic matter.

Global score

74/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Simulator

Similar games

    Pros

    • Immersive survival mechanics
    • Extensive base building and crafting
    • Strong multiplayer cooperation
    • Frequent developer updates
    • Challenging and rewarding progression

    Cons

    • Performance and optimization issues
    • Grind-heavy gameplay
    • Steep difficulty for solo players
    • Limited character customization
    • Mission timers can frustrate casual players

    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 Survival. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy, Relaxation.

    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
      3

      "Players have freedom to build bases, choose missions, and develop talents, but must operate within mission timers and game mechanics."

    • Competence
      4

      "Game offers challenging survival mechanics, skill trees, and complex crafting systems requiring mastery."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is primarily on personal progression and survival; multiplayer is cooperative rather than competitive."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Many players report long playtimes and habitual engagement despite grind and difficulty."

    • Cooperation
      4

      "Game shines in multiplayer cooperative play with teamwork needed for survival and mission success."

    • Creativity
      4

      "Extensive base building with customizable structures and crafting encourages creative expression."

    • Domination
      -4

      "Interactions emphasize shared survival and cooperation rather than dominance or power over others."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Immersive survival environment and challenging gameplay provide strong escape from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players explore different crafting paths, base designs, and survival strategies."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Game features multiple biomes and caves to discover, though some find exploration limited or repetitive."

    • Expression
      3

      "Character customization is limited, but base building and crafting allow personal expression."

    • Fantasy
      -2

      "Game is grounded in realistic survival scenarios on a terraformed planet with minimal fantasy elements."

    • Fellowship
      4

      "Strong community and multiplayer focus foster sense of belonging and shared goals."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop skills, unlock tech trees, and improve talents over time."

    • Health
      -4

      "Gameplay is sedentary with no physical activity; some players report frustration and fatigue."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires sustained attention and planning; not suited for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy
      2

      "Multiplayer cooperation encourages social interaction but not close emotional relationships."

    • Leadership
      2

      "Some players take leadership roles in coordinating group survival and resource management."

    • Progression
      5

      "Strong emphasis on accumulating resources, crafting upgrades, and advancing tech and talents."

    • Relaxation
      -1

      "Game can be tense and challenging but also has moments of flow and satisfaction in building."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Visuals and sound design provide immersive sensory experience with atmospheric environments."

    • Status
      -2

      "Limited social status mechanics; recognition mainly within small multiplayer groups."

    • Story
      1

      "Narrative is minimal and mission-based; story elements exist but are not central."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Requires planning, resource management, and tactical decision-making for survival and mission success."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Survival threats, hostile wildlife, and environmental hazards create suspense and excitement."

    • Value
      3

      "Players report good value for time invested, especially with frequent updates and content."

    • Violence
      3

      "Combat with animals and environmental threats is a core gameplay element."

    • Survival
      5

      "Central focus on overcoming threats, managing resources, and staying alive in a hostile world."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026