Regions Of Ruin similar games & best alternatives

Regions Of Ruin

Mac, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Linux, Xbox One • 2018

Should you play it?

Regions of Ruin is a 2D pixel side-scrolling RPG with town-building, where you explore, fight and build into an open world that progressively challenges you and your settlement, and threatens the extinction of the dwarven race.

What works
  • Addictive gameplay loop
  • Engaging exploration and combat
  • Charming pixel art and music
  • Active developer support
  • Meaningful town building and progression
Things to keep in mind
  • Balance issues with difficulty and gear
  • Repetitive late-game content
  • Limited companion ai and social features
  • Some ui and quest tracking problems
  • Platforming controls can be clunky

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Exogate Initiative

  • Warcube

  • The Caribbean Sail

  • The Riftbreaker

  • Pixel Privateers

  • Afterimage

  • Between the Stars

  • 9th Dawn III

  • Space Pirates and Zombies

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Warcube

  • The Caribbean Sail

  • 9th Dawn III

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Exploration

    NAIAD

  • Fantasy

    Sacred Gold

  • Progression

    Fallout 4

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).

Regions Of Ruin: 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 Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Fellowship.

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 create and customize towns, assign jobs, build and decorate, and choose how to tend to their worlds and exploration."

    Capsule for Grow: Song of the Evertree Grow: Song of the Evertree

    "Players have freedom to explore the map, choose quests, build and upgrade their town, and customize character builds and skills."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Game involves skillful combat and strategic gear optimization, though some players find balance issues and grind affect challenge."

    Capsule for Into the Necrovale Into the Necrovale

    "Combat and resource management provide skill challenges, but balance issues and overpowered late-game gear reduce difficulty."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal progression and exploration without ranked modes or direct player-vs-player competition."

    Capsule for Foregone Foregone

    "Focus is on personal progression and exploration without ranked modes or direct player comparison."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Addictive gameplay loop encourages long sessions and grinding, though some players note limited replayability after completion."

    Capsule for Insect Swarm Insect Swarm

    "Addictive gameplay loop encourages extended play sessions, though some players feel the game ends abruptly after completion."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    1

    "Companions can be recruited and controlled, but they are often unreliable and combat is mostly solo-focused."

    Capsule for Brigand: Oaxaca Brigand: Oaxaca

    "Players can hire companions to assist in combat, but mostly play independently."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players customize town layouts and decorations but building shapes and options are somewhat limited."

    Capsule for Constructor Constructor

    "Town building and crafting allow some customization, but structures and mechanics are limited and linear."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -3

    "Interactions are cooperative or individual; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

    Capsule for Aqua Kitty - Milk Mine Defender Aqua Kitty - Milk Mine Defender

    "Interactions are cooperative or solo; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game as a relaxing, immersive fantasy escape with exploration and creative building."

    Capsule for Portal Knights Portal Knights

    "Players use the game as a relaxing, immersive fantasy escape with exploration and progression."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for Don't Starve Together Don't Starve Together

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

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players try different builds, combos, and tactics, exploring mechanics and strategies."

    Capsule for StormEdge: Wind of Change StormEdge: Wind of Change

    "Players try different builds, tactics, and explore new areas, though some mechanics become repetitive."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Core gameplay involves discovering new areas, secrets, and environmental details driven by curiosity."

    Capsule for NAIAD NAIAD

    "Core gameplay involves discovering new map areas, secrets, and puzzles driven by curiosity."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Some customization in city design and layout, but no character or avatar personalization."

    Capsule for Mini Settlers: Prologue Mini Settlers: Prologue

    "Some character and town customization exists, but limited cosmetic or avatar personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Strong fantasy setting with demons, elves, dragons, magic, and mythical lore."

    Capsule for Sacred Gold Sacred Gold

    "Strong fantasy setting with dwarves, goblins, magic, and mythical lore."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    0

    "Primarily single-player with NPC interactions; no strong community or multiplayer focus."

    Capsule for Little Kitty, Big City Little Kitty, Big City

    "Limited social interaction; mostly solo play with some NPC companions."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players learn combat timing, enemy patterns, and develop strategic thinking; character progression through leveling."

    Capsule for Sea of Stars Sea of Stars

    "Players learn combat skills, resource management, and character progression through leveling."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "No physical activity or rehab elements; sedentary gameplay."

    Capsule for STORY OF SEASONS: A Wonderful Life STORY OF SEASONS: A Wonderful Life

    "No physical activity or rehab elements; sedentary gameplay."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention during combat and exploration."

    Capsule for StarCrawlers StarCrawlers

    "Requires focused attention during combat and exploration; some passive resource gathering."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "Minimal social connection; interactions limited to NPC companions without deep emotional sharing."

    Capsule for Kingdom Eighties Kingdom Eighties

    "Minimal social connection; interactions limited to NPCs and companions."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    1

    "Players manage their city and armies, but no strong leadership roles over others in multiplayer."

    Capsule for The Settlers® : Rise of an Empire - History Edition The Settlers® : Rise of an Empire - History Edition

    "Players manage their town and assign workers, but no multiplayer leadership roles."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on acquiring items, upgrading gear, leveling up, and building settlements."

    Capsule for Fallout 4 Fallout 4

    "Strong emphasis on acquiring gear, upgrading skills, and expanding the settlement."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Game offers flow and catharsis through satisfying physics and gameplay, balanced with challenge."

    Capsule for Zeepkist Zeepkist

    "Gameplay provides flow and catharsis, though some frustration with platforming and balance issues."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Enjoyable pixel art and music provide sensory pleasure, though some find music repetitive."

    Capsule for Enigmoon Enigmoon

    "Enjoyable pixel art and music provide sensory pleasure, though repetitive for some."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "Achievements exist but social recognition or popularity is minimal."

    Capsule for 80 Days 80 Days

    "Achievements exist but social recognition or popularity is minimal."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Narrative elements and lore are present and enhance immersion, though story is not deeply complex."

    Capsule for Karnage Chronicles Karnage Chronicles

    "Narrative and lore are present and enhance immersion, though story is simple and not deeply complex."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Combat and resource management require tactical thinking and planning."

    Capsule for Resident Evil Revelations Resident Evil Revelations

    "Combat and resource management require tactical thinking and planning."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    2

    "Some suspense in battles and exploration, but overall controlled and predictable gameplay."

    Capsule for King's Bounty: The Legend King's Bounty: The Legend

    "Some suspense in combat and exploration, but overall controlled and predictable gameplay."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players perceive good value for time and money, especially when purchased on sale."

    Capsule for Farm Manager 2018 Farm Manager 2018

    "Players perceive good value for time and money, especially on sale."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat and defeating enemies are core gameplay elements."

    Capsule for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion® Game of the Year Edition (2009) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion® Game of the Year Edition (2009)

    "Combat and defeating enemies are core gameplay elements."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    2

    "Players manage health and resources to survive battles and progress."

    Capsule for Dungeon Siege Dungeon Siege

    "Players manage health and injuries, avoid death, and gather resources to sustain the town."

Last update: 01/06/2026