Solar Settlers similar games & best alternatives

Solar Settlers

PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac, iOS • 2017

Should you play it?

Solar Settlers is a card-driven space exploration strategy game set in the far future. Our sun is on the verge of collapse and so mankind has taken to the stars aboard colony ships to seek out a new home.

What works
  • Addictive and quick gameplay sessions
  • Deep strategic resource management
  • Variety of unlockable races and cards
  • Adaptive difficulty scaling
  • Pleasant minimalistic ui and soundtrack
Things to keep in mind
  • Minimalistic graphics and presentation
  • Grindy unlock progression for some players
  • Lack of multiplayer or social features
  • Some repetitiveness at higher playtime
  • No controller support, mouse only

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Hardspace: Shipbreaker

  • Demonic Mahjong

  • Ark Nova

  • Heart of Crown PC

  • Throne of Bone

  • Heading Out

  • Toree Saturn

  • D&D Lords of Waterdeep

  • Terraforming Mars
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Throne of Bone

  • Heading Out

  • Toree Saturn
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Strategy

    Block'hood
  • Autonomy

    Sid Meier's Colonization (Classic)
  • Competence

    Super Fantasy Kingdom

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).

Solar Settlers: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Status, Story, Intimacy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, 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 direct their own colony development, choose strategies, and manage individual colonists and resources."

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

    "Players have freedom to decide how to allocate colonists, manage resources, and upgrade planets with cards, allowing strategic control over their actions."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "The game challenges players with resource management, strategic planning, and micromanagement, rewarding skillful play and mastery over time."

    Capsule for Super Fantasy Kingdom Super Fantasy Kingdom

    "The game challenges players with resource management, strategic planning, and increasing difficulty that requires skillful play and mastery."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    2

    "Includes leaderboards and weekly challenge modes enabling comparison with others, though many players focus on personal improvement."

    Capsule for Hexguardian Hexguardian

    "While primarily single-player, the game features leaderboards and daily/weekly challenges that encourage comparing performance with others."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Many players report high replayability and addictive gameplay leading to long or repeated sessions."

    Capsule for Lazerbait Lazerbait

    "Players report high replayability, addictive gameplay, and progression systems that motivate repeated play sessions."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "The game is strictly single-player with no cooperative multiplayer elements."

    Capsule for The Solitaire Conspiracy The Solitaire Conspiracy

    "The game is strictly single-player with no cooperative multiplayer elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players customize fleets, choose cards and perks, and experiment with different strategies and races."

    Capsule for Space Tyrant Space Tyrant

    "Players customize their strategy by upgrading planets with cards and choosing different races with unique mechanics, allowing creative problem solving."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are solo and non-confrontational."

    Capsule for Leo’s Fortune - HD Edition Leo’s Fortune - HD Edition

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are solo and non-confrontational."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "Players use the game as a strategic distraction and stress relief with immersive sci-fi theme."

    Capsule for Race for the Galaxy Race for the Galaxy

    "The sci-fi theme and strategic gameplay provide a pleasant distraction and mental engagement away from real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and challenge; no indication of obligation or external pressure to play."

    Capsule for Wizard of Legend Wizard of Legend

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and challenge; no indication of obligation or external pressure to play."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Varied cards, characters, and skill trees encourage trying new strategies and deck combinations."

    Capsule for Concrete Jungle Concrete Jungle

    "Unlocking new races and cards encourages players to try different strategies and explore varied gameplay styles."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Fog of war and map exploration mechanics encourage discovery of new areas and surprises during quests."

    Capsule for Descent: Road to Legend Descent: Road to Legend

    "Fog-of-war and tile revealing mechanics promote discovery of new map areas and strategic exploration."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Customization is limited to strategic choices and bird selection; no avatar or environment personalization."

    Capsule for Wingspan Wingspan

    "Customization is limited to strategic choices of cards and race selection rather than visual or avatar personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Futuristic sci-fi setting with speculative technologies and colonization scenarios, blending realism with imaginative fiction."

    Capsule for Surviving Mars Surviving Mars

    "The sci-fi colonization setting offers an imaginative fictional experience distinct from realistic scenarios."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; gameplay is solitary."

    Capsule for Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition

    "No social or community features; gameplay is solitary."

  • 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 develop skills in resource management and strategic planning; progression unlocks new content and challenges."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "No physical activity involved; gameplay is sedentary."

    Capsule for Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization

    "No physical activity involved; gameplay is sedentary."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement due to strategic complexity and long battles."

    Capsule for Library Of Ruina Library Of Ruina

    "Requires focused attention and strategic thinking during short, discrete rounds."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social interactions or relationship-building features."

    Capsule for A Game About Digging A Hole™ A Game About Digging A Hole™

    "No social interactions or relationship-building features."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; solo gameplay."

    Capsule for Resident Evil 2 Resident Evil 2

    "No leadership or group management roles; solo gameplay."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Progression through unlocking cards, cosmetics, and leveling up supports a sense of advancement."

    Capsule for Duelists of Eden Duelists of Eden

    "Unlocking new races, cards, and ranks provides a clear sense of advancement and accumulation."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Gameplay is described as chill and satisfying, balancing challenge and flow for relaxation."

    Capsule for Data Center Data Center

    "Gameplay is described as relaxing and chill with a pleasant soundtrack, balancing challenge and flow."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    1

    "Simple graphics and sounds provide moderate sensory stimulation focused on gameplay."

    Capsule for Qvadriga Qvadriga

    "Minimalistic graphics and sound provide moderate sensory stimulation; focus is on gameplay rather than sensory excitement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    2

    "Leaderboards and rankings offer some social recognition for skilled players."

    Capsule for Stealth Bastard Deluxe Stealth Bastard Deluxe

    "Leaderboards and rankings offer some social recognition for skilled players."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    1

    "Light narrative elements exist but the game focuses more on gameplay than story immersion."

    Capsule for Spell Disk Spell Disk

    "Light narrative framing exists but the game focuses on abstract strategy rather than deep story immersion."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "Core gameplay revolves around strategic planning, problem solving, and managing complex resource chains."

    Capsule for Block'hood Block'hood

    "Core gameplay revolves around complex resource management, planning, and problem solving."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    2

    "Increasing speed and difficulty create tension and excitement."

    Capsule for Slash It 2 Slash It 2

    "Increasing difficulty and tight turn limits create tension and excitement during play."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players report good value for money with many hours of engaging gameplay."

    Capsule for Alina of the Arena Alina of the Arena

    "Players report good value for money with many hours of engaging gameplay and unlockables."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -5

    "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus is on building and resource management."

    Capsule for Midas Gold Plus - Idle Clicker Midas Gold Plus - Idle Clicker

    "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus is on constructive resource management and colonization."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Oxygen and resource management create survival challenges, especially early game."

    Capsule for Breathedge Breathedge

    "Managing oxygen and resources to keep colonists alive adds a survival element to gameplay."

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Last update: 01/06/2026