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Kenshi similar games & best alternatives

Kenshi

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2018

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Quick resume

A free-roaming squad based RPG. Focusing on open-ended sandbox gameplay features rather than a linear story. Be a trader, a thief, a rebel, a warlord, an adventurer, a farmer, a slave, or just food for the cannibals. Train your men up from puny victims to master warriors.

Global score

96/100

Genres

Action, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Adventure, Real Time Strategy (RTS)

Similar games

    Pros

    • Extreme player freedom and autonomy
    • Deep emergent gameplay and storytelling
    • Large, immersive open world
    • Complex skill and progression system
    • Strong modding community enhancing experience

    Cons

    • Dated graphics and clunky ui
    • Performance issues and bugs
    • Steep learning curve and initial difficulty
    • Lack of multiplayer or social features
    • Tedious micromanagement and grind

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Leadership, Survival, Violence, Strategy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Cooperation, Domination, 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
      5

      "Players have full freedom to choose actions, build bases anywhere, recruit and manage characters, and pursue any playstyle without linear constraints."

    • Competence
      4

      "Game features skill-based progression requiring players to learn and improve through repeated attempts and mastery of complex mechanics."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on personal progression and survival rather than direct competition with other players; no PvP or leaderboards."

    • Continuation
      5

      "Highly addictive with hundreds of hours played, players invest long sessions building and managing their factions."

    • Cooperation
      3

      "Players recruit and manage multiple characters working together; cooperation is within player-controlled squads rather than multiplayer."

    • Creativity
      5

      "Strong emphasis on player creativity in base building, crafting, roleplaying, and emergent storytelling."

    • Domination
      2

      "Players can dominate NPC factions, enslave others, and impose their will, but interactions are balanced with emergent consequences."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game as an immersive escape into a harsh, post-apocalyptic world with emergent stories."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and curiosity, with no external obligations or pressures."

    • Experimenting
      5

      "The game encourages trying different strategies, roles, and emergent gameplay without fixed paths."

    • Exploration
      5

      "Large open world with many secrets, factions, and locations to discover driven by player curiosity."

    • Expression
      4

      "Players customize characters, build unique bases, and roleplay stories, expressing themselves in the sandbox."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Set in a fictional post-apocalyptic world with unique races and lore, blending realism with fantasy elements."

    • Fellowship
      1

      "Some social interaction through NPC companions and factions, but primarily a single-player experience."

    • Growth
      5

      "Strong focus on learning, skill development, and personal progression through gameplay."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; players often endure long sessions."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires sustained attention and micromanagement; not designed for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Limited emotional or close social connections; interactions are mostly functional and strategic."

    • Leadership
      4

      "Players lead and manage groups of characters, directing their actions and development."

    • Progression
      5

      "Clear progression through acquiring resources, upgrading gear, building bases, and expanding influence."

    • Relaxation
      -1

      "Game can be tense and challenging but also offers moments of flow and satisfaction."

    • Sensation
      1

      "Visuals are dated and subdued; sensory stimulation comes more from emergent gameplay than graphics."

    • Status
      1

      "Recognition is mostly internal or through community; no social status systems in-game."

    • Story
      4

      "Emergent narrative driven by player actions and world events rather than scripted plot."

    • Strategy
      5

      "Requires planning, resource management, tactical combat, and strategic decision-making."

    • Thrill
      4

      "High stakes survival and combat create suspense and excitement."

    • Value
      5

      "Players report high value for time invested due to depth, replayability, and emergent experiences."

    • Violence
      4

      "Combat and violence are central, including brutal fights, slavery, and destruction."

    • Survival
      5

      "Core gameplay revolves around survival, avoiding death, managing resources, and overcoming threats."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026