The Colonists similar games & best alternatives
The Colonists
2018
Related articles
Quick resume
Build a new home for your team of robots as they begin a new life for themselves on a distant planet where they can fulfil their ultimate dream: to be human.
Global score
86/100
Genres
Indie, Strategy, Simulator
Similar games
Pros
- Engaging logistics and resource management
- Charming graphics and relaxing atmosphere
- Active developer support and frequent updates
- Well-designed campaign and challenge modes
- Custom maps and mod support for replayability
Cons
- Limited multiplayer and social features
- Some bugs and pathfinding issues reported
- Combat system considered simplistic by some
- Price considered high by a few players
- Lack of random map generation in campaign
Analysis
A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fantasy, Violence, Story, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Competition, Status, Story.
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
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Autonomy4
"Players have extensive control over routing, resource priorities, and building placement, enabling personal strategic decisions."
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Competence4
"The game challenges players with complex logistics, resource management, and optimization puzzles that require skill and planning."
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Competition2
"Includes ranked time challenges and AI combat scenarios, but many players focus on personal optimization and casual play."
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Continuation4
"Many players report long playtimes, habitual return, and deep engagement with campaign, challenges, and sandbox modes."
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Cooperation-3
"Primarily a single-player experience with limited multiplayer; focus is on individual colony management rather than teamwork."
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Creativity3
"Players design and optimize transport networks and layouts; sandbox and mod support encourage creative experimentation."
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Domination-4
"Interactions with AI opponents are balanced and strategic rather than about exerting superiority or trash talk."
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Escapism4
"Players describe the game as relaxing, stress-relieving, and immersive, providing a peaceful escape with charming aesthetics."
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Expectation-4
"Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or external pressure."
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Experimenting4
"Game encourages trying new layouts, adjusting priorities, and tinkering with transport rules to solve logistical challenges."
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Exploration1
"Some map exploration and unlocking new areas, but mostly focused on known maps and optimizing within them."
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Expression2
"Customization mainly through colony layout and transport design; limited character or avatar personalization."
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Fantasy-3
"Grounded in plausible colony building and logistics with robots; minimal roleplaying or improbable fiction elements."
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Fellowship-3
"Social interaction is limited; community exists but gameplay is focused on solo play and personal goals."
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Growth4
"Players develop skills in logistics, planning, and optimization; campaign and challenges promote learning and mastery."
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Health-5
"Standard sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."
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Idle-3
"Requires active attention to manage logistics and optimize routes; not designed for passive or background play."
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Intimacy-4
"Minimal social or emotional connection features; interactions are surface-level and limited to community forums."
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Leadership-4
"No player leadership roles; gameplay is individual with no group management or authority dynamics."
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Progression4
"Players accumulate resources, unlock tech tiers, upgrade buildings, and expand colonies progressively."
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Relaxation4
"Many players describe the game as calming and peaceful, with a soothing soundtrack and flow-inducing gameplay."
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Sensation2
"Enjoyable visual style and sound design provide pleasant sensory stimulation without overwhelming excitement."
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Status1
"Some leaderboard rankings and community recognition exist but are not central to the experience."
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Story1
"Campaign provides some narrative context and lore, but story is light and secondary to gameplay."
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Strategy5
"Core gameplay revolves around strategic planning, problem solving, and optimizing complex logistics networks."
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Thrill-2
"Gameplay is generally calm and methodical; combat adds some tension but is not highly suspenseful or risky."
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Value3
"Players report good value for time spent with frequent updates and expanding content."
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Violence-4
"Combat is minimal and indirect, focused on tower defense rather than direct violence or destruction."
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Survival1
"Some resource management challenges and combat threats exist, but overall conditions are stable and controlled."
Last update: 29/04/2026