Plains of Pain similar games & best alternatives

Plains of Pain

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2023

Should you play it?

Survive a brutal open world alone or with friends. Explore a procedural wasteland scorched by chaos. Build and defend your base, trade for what you need, complete deadly quests, and fight to claim faction outposts before someone else does.

What works
  • Immersive post-apocalyptic setting
  • Deep survival and crafting mechanics
  • Frequent developer updates
  • Support for solo and multiplayer co-op
  • Addictive gameplay loop
Things to keep in mind
  • Low multiplayer population
  • Clunky inventory and building systems
  • Early access bugs and crashes
  • Steep learning curve for new players
  • Some grind and repetition

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • JUMP KING QUEST

  • Nuclear Nightmare

  • Forsaken Frontiers

  • Rem Survival

  • PIT OF GOBLIN

  • Dead In Vinland

  • Ostranauts

  • Gatewalkers (Alpha)

  • KLETKA

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Forsaken Frontiers

  • Rem Survival

  • MetaPhysical

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Survival

    Distrust: Polar Survival

  • Autonomy

    Forgotten Seas

  • Competence

    ICARUS

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).

Plains of Pain: A very typical example of its motivational profile. 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, Leadership. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation.

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 explore, build, craft, and choose their own pace and style of play in an open world with many options."

    Capsule for Forgotten Seas Forgotten Seas

    "Players have freedom to explore, build bases, craft, and choose playstyle in a harsh open world."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

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

    Capsule for ICARUS ICARUS

    "Game is challenging with skill trees, survival mechanics, combat, and crafting requiring mastery."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is mainly on single-player or cooperative play with friends; limited competitive elements and no ranked modes."

    Capsule for Rake Rake

    "Focus is mostly on solo or cooperative play with little active competitive multiplayer due to low player base."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Many users report long play sessions and addictive grind encouraging habitual play."

    Capsule for Force of Nature Force of Nature

    "Many users report long play sessions and addiction despite grind and difficulty."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    3

    "Supports multiplayer co-op and community servers; players often team up for survival and base building."

    Capsule for Rem Survival Rem Survival

    "Supports multiplayer co-op and community servers with base building and resource sharing."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players build and manage settlements with some customization and crafting, though building tools have limitations."

    Capsule for First Feudal First Feudal

    "Players can build bases, craft vehicles, and customize settlements, though building system has limitations."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -2

    "While PvP exists, limited server options and weekend-only PvP reduce dominance behaviors; cooperative and casual play is common."

    Capsule for PixARK PixARK

    "Some PvP and raiding possible but low player counts limit domination dynamics; cooperative play emphasized."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Immersive post-apocalyptic world provides strong escape from real life through survival challenges."

    Capsule for NEO Scavenger NEO Scavenger

    "Immersive post-apocalyptic world offers strong escape from real life stress and routine."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, no evidence of obligation or pressure."

    Capsule for Demise of Nations Demise of Nations

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, no evidence of obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players explore crafting, base building, and survival mechanics, experimenting with strategies and progression."

    Capsule for Rem Survival Rem Survival

    "Players explore mechanics, test survival strategies, and experiment with crafting and base building."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Procedurally generated maps and daily worlds encourage discovery and curiosity-driven play."

    Capsule for One Way Heroics One Way Heroics

    "Procedurally generated maps and dynamic events encourage discovery and curiosity."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Some customization through upgrades and character appearance changes, but limited cosmetic options."

    Capsule for The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED] The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED]

    "Some character customization and vehicle upgrades exist, but limited cosmetic options."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Post-apocalyptic fiction with imaginative threats and lore, though grounded in survival realism."

    Capsule for Don't Escape: 4 Days to Survive Don't Escape: 4 Days to Survive

    "Post-apocalyptic fiction with imaginative vehicles and factions, though grounded in survival realism."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    3

    "Community interaction through multiplayer matches and Discord; social play with friends is a key aspect."

    Capsule for Hyper Chess Hyper Chess

    "Community interaction via multiplayer servers and Discord; cooperative play and shared goals."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Skill trees, crafting progression, and learning survival mechanics support personal development"

    Capsule for Survival: Fountain of Youth Survival: Fountain of Youth

    "Skill trees, crafting progression, and learning survival mechanics provide personal development."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -3

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; some reports of long play sessions without breaks."

    Capsule for STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; some players report long continuous sessions."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires constant attention due to survival demands, combat, and resource management."

    Capsule for SCUM SCUM

    "Requires constant attention due to survival mechanics, combat, and resource management."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    1

    "Some social interaction in multiplayer but limited evidence of close emotional relationships."

    Capsule for Farming Simulator 25 Farming Simulator 25

    "Some social interaction in multiplayer but limited evidence of close emotional relationships."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    2

    "Players can coordinate team strategy and roles, but no strong evidence of formal leadership or authority roles."

    Capsule for Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions

    "Players can manage bases and settlements, but no strong evidence of formal leadership roles."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Strong emphasis on accumulating items, crafting upgrades, leveling up, and base building."

    Capsule for Dead Maze Dead Maze

    "Strong emphasis on accumulating items, crafting upgrades, and base/vehicle development."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -2

    "Gameplay is tense and challenging with sustained pressure; not primarily focused on relaxation."

    Capsule for Talvisota - Winter War Talvisota - Winter War

    "Gameplay is tense and challenging with survival pressure and threats, not focused on relaxation."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Sound design and atmosphere provide immersive sensory experience, though graphics are modest."

    Capsule for Cold Waters Cold Waters

    "Atmospheric visuals and sound design create immersive sensory experience, though graphics are basic."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -2

    "Little evidence of social status or recognition systems; low player base limits social evaluation."

    Capsule for TrenchesWIP TrenchesWIP

    "Low player population limits social recognition and status seeking."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Narrative is engaging but considered short and incomplete by many; side quests add depth but main plot is abrupt."

    Capsule for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

    "Some quests and faction narratives exist but overall open-ended with no main plot yet."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Requires planning resource gathering, combat tactics, and base building to survive and progress."

    Capsule for Radiation Island Radiation Island

    "Requires planning for survival, combat tactics, base building, and resource management."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Tension from survival challenges, disasters, and raids provides suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Endzone - A World Apart Endzone - A World Apart

    "Survival tension, meteor showers, and hostile encounters provide suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players feel they get good value for price with many hours of gameplay and active development."

    Capsule for Kingdom of Atham: Crown of the Champions Kingdom of Atham: Crown of the Champions

    "Players feel they get good value for price with many hours of gameplay and active development."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat and PvP are core elements involving destruction and fighting."

    Capsule for Anarchy Online Anarchy Online

    "Combat with enemies and PvP elements involve destruction and fighting."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    5

    "Core gameplay revolves around managing threats, resources, and staying alive in harsh conditions."

    Capsule for Distrust: Polar Survival Distrust: Polar Survival

    "Core gameplay revolves around managing threats, resources, and staying alive in harsh conditions."

Last update: 01/06/2026