Imagine Earth similar games & best alternatives

Imagine Earth

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Linux, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S • 2021

Should you play it?

Build your own global colonies on distant worlds. Manage energy and resource supplies and produce goods for space trade. Form economic and diplomatic alliances or take over competing corporations. Conduct research to protect your colonists from disasters and avoid a climate crisis.

What works
  • Unique blend of city building and ecological simulation
  • Frequent developer updates and community engagement
  • Challenging yet accessible gameplay
  • Multiple game modes including campaign and sandbox
  • Engaging environmental and economic balance mechanics
Things to keep in mind
  • Lack of multiplayer or cooperative modes
  • Some ui and control clunkiness reported
  • Graphics and animations could be improved
  • Campaign length and replayability limited
  • Ai can be simplistic and unchallenging

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • GearCity

  • City of Gangsters

  • Mad Games Tycoon

  • Empire TV Tycoon

  • Potion Tycoon

  • Restaurant Empire II

  • Startopia

  • Weedcraft Inc

  • Let's School

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Restaurant Empire II

  • GamersGoMakers

  • Pizza Express

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Autonomy

    Farlanders

  • Creativity

    Sins of a Solar Empire®: Rebellion

  • Experimenting

    Sintopia

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).

Imagine Earth: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Fellowship, Status, Cooperation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, Fellowship, Cooperation.

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

    4

    "Players have freedom to choose building placement, research paths, and strategies with multiple viable approaches."

    Capsule for Farlanders Farlanders

    "Players have freedom to choose building placement, strategies, and tech upgrades with multiple approaches to objectives."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Game requires skillful resource management, timing, and strategic planning to survive and progress."

    Capsule for Kingdom: New Lands Kingdom: New Lands

    "Game requires skillful resource management, strategic planning, and balancing ecological and economic factors."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    3

    "Includes multiplayer racing with ranked and unranked modes, leaderboards, and skill-based competition."

    Capsule for HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™ HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™

    "Includes competitive modes against AI and leaderboards, with players racing to expand and score higher."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Addictive gameplay encourages repeated playthroughs and long sessions despite some repetitiveness."

    Capsule for Kingdom: Classic Kingdom: Classic

    "Addictive gameplay and frequent updates encourage long sessions and repeated playthroughs."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -3

    "Primarily a single-player experience with limited multiplayer; focus is on individual colony management rather than teamwork."

    Capsule for The Colonists The Colonists

    "Focus is mainly on individual colony management; multiplayer or cooperative play is absent."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Players can customize fleets, research different tech trees, build and upgrade planets, and create custom maps, fostering creative strategies."

    Capsule for Sins of a Solar Empire®: Rebellion Sins of a Solar Empire®: Rebellion

    "Players create and customize colonies on procedurally generated or custom planets with diverse layouts."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    2

    "Competitive elements exist with rankings and guild wars, but interactions are mostly balanced and respectful."

    Capsule for Hero Zero - Multiplayer RPG Hero Zero - Multiplayer RPG

    "Competitive elements include out-expanding and sabotaging rivals, but interactions are balanced and respectful."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "Players engage in a deep sci-fi universe to escape real life, enjoying immersion in a challenging galactic war."

    Capsule for AI War: Fleet Command AI War: Fleet Command

    "Players engage in an imaginative sci-fi setting to escape real life and explore planetary colonization."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for 7 Days to Die 7 Days to Die

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

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "The game encourages trying new layouts, mechanics, and strategies to optimize and overcome challenges."

    Capsule for Sintopia Sintopia

    "Game encourages trying different strategies, building layouts, and tech choices to solve challenges."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Players explore multiple unique biomes and environments around the world."

    Capsule for Fresh Start Cleaning Simulator Fresh Start Cleaning Simulator

    "Players explore different planets and biomes, discovering resources and adapting to environmental conditions."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Customization through tower upgrades, modifiers, and map creation allows for personal expression within gameplay."

    Capsule for Infinitode 2 - Infinite Tower Defense Infinitode 2 - Infinite Tower Defense

    "Customization of colonies and building upgrades allows for personal expression within gameplay."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Set in imaginative sci-fi universe with fictional planets and technology."

    Capsule for ASTRONEER ASTRONEER

    "Set in a fictional sci-fi universe with imaginative planetary colonization and environmental challenges."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -3

    "Minimal social interaction; primarily single-player experience with limited community features."

    Capsule for Fabledom Fabledom

    "Minimal social interaction; primarily single-player experience with limited community features."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players learn and develop skills in resource management, tech progression, and strategic planning."

    Capsule for Havendock Havendock

    "Players learn and develop skills in resource management, strategy, and ecological balance."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Sedentary gameplay typical of city builders; no physical activity or health-related mechanics."

    Capsule for Farthest Frontier Farthest Frontier

    "Sedentary gameplay typical of city builders with no physical activity component."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and micromanagement; not designed for passive or background play."

    Capsule for KeeperRL KeeperRL

    "Requires focused attention and micromanagement rather than passive or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "Limited social or emotional connections; interactions are brief and surface-level."

    Capsule for Elong Plug Elong Plug

    "Limited social or emotional connections; interactions are surface-level and functional."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    2

    "Players lead their own trading empire and make strategic decisions, but no group leadership roles."

    Capsule for Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator

    "Players lead their own colonies and make strategic decisions, but no formal group leadership roles."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Players accumulate resources, unlock tech tiers, upgrade buildings, and expand colonies progressively."

    Capsule for The Colonists The Colonists

    "Players accumulate resources, unlock techs, and upgrade buildings to expand colonies."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Generally relaxing gameplay with some tension from time limits and mission objectives, but not overly stressful."

    Capsule for Mahokenshi - The Samurai Deckbuilder Mahokenshi - The Samurai Deckbuilder

    "Generally chill and laid-back gameplay, though some missions impose time pressure and challenges."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Visuals and music provide pleasant sensory stimulation, though the game is not focused on intense sensory thrills."

    Capsule for Ecosystem Ecosystem

    "Pleasant visuals and music provide moderate sensory stimulation fitting the game's style."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    2

    "Leaderboards and score rankings offer some social recognition, though limited."

    Capsule for Savant - Ascent Savant - Ascent

    "Leaderboards and rankings offer some social recognition, though limited in scope."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Campaign provides narrative context and missions but story is simple and not deeply immersive."

    Capsule for Aven Colony Aven Colony

    "Campaign provides narrative context and motivation, though story is not deeply immersive."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Strong emphasis on strategic planning, resource management, and problem solving."

    Capsule for Aven Colony Aven Colony

    "Strong emphasis on strategic planning, resource allocation, and problem solving."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    1

    "Some suspense from environmental hazards but overall low tension and risk."

    Capsule for ASTRONEER ASTRONEER

    "Some suspense from environmental disasters and competitive pressure, but overall controlled."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    2

    "Generally considered good value for price by players, especially with ongoing updates."

    Capsule for Forsaken Frontiers Forsaken Frontiers

    "Good value for price considering gameplay depth and frequent updates, though some find price steep."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -4

    "Focus on constructive building and management, no combat or destruction"

    Capsule for GolfTopia GolfTopia

    "No combat units; focus on constructive building and environmental management."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players must manage threats from natives, rival powers, and resource scarcity to maintain colonies."

    Capsule for Sid Meier's Colonization (Classic) Sid Meier's Colonization (Classic)

    "Players must manage threats like disasters and rival companies to keep colonies alive."

Last update: 01/06/2026