The White Laboratory similar games & best alternatives

The White Laboratory

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2019

Should you play it?

The White Laboratory is a sandbox style physics-based tower defense and RTS game in which you modularly build and command robotic structures. Use them to defend against or conquer other disobedient mechanical blocks on a facility floating in the atmosphere of a remote gas planet.

What works
  • Innovative modular tower defense and rts hybrid
  • High creativity and freedom in building
  • Realistic physics simulation
  • Minimalist sci-fi aesthetic
  • Sandbox mode for experimentation
Things to keep in mind
  • Limited content and short campaign
  • Clunky controls and camera issues
  • Physics can be wonky and frustrating
  • Lack of multiplayer or social features
  • Bugs and crashes reported by users

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Dungeon Warfare 2

  • REDCON

  • Age of History 2: Definitive Edition

  • Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense

  • Holo vs Robo

  • Dungeon Warfare 3

  • GemCraft - Frostborn Wrath

  • Anomaly Defenders

  • Microcivilization
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Holo vs Robo

  • Dungeon Warfare 3

  • Kainga: Seeds of Civilization
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Autonomy

    Brickadia
  • Creativity

    The Matchless Kungfu
  • Experimenting

    MachineCraft

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).

The White Laboratory: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy, Value.

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

    5

    "Players have full control over building, wiring, and creating their own worlds and minigames with extensive freedom."

    Capsule for Brickadia Brickadia

    "Players have full freedom to build and customize towers and units with modular parts, deciding their own strategies and designs."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "Game requires skillful block placement, managing physics, and strategic use of powers, with a learning curve and skill mastery."

    Capsule for Tricky Towers Tricky Towers

    "The game requires skillful management of physics-based building, strategic placement, and real-time adjustments, with a notable learning curve."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on single-player experience with no mention of multiplayer or leaderboards; players compete against game challenges rather than others."

    Capsule for Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery

    "Focus is on single-player experience with no multiplayer or leaderboards; players compete against game challenges rather than others."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players enjoy repeated play in sandbox and wave modes, but limited content may reduce long-term habitual play."

    Capsule for Project Gunship Project Gunship

    "Players enjoy the unique mechanics and sandbox mode, but limited content and bugs reduce long-term engagement."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "No multiplayer or cooperative gameplay; all play is solo and individual."

    Capsule for Furious Angels Furious Angels

    "No multiplayer or cooperative gameplay; all play is individual and self-directed."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    5

    "High creativity in building structures, customizing world map tiles, creating sects, and shaping the sandbox environment."

    Capsule for The Matchless Kungfu The Matchless Kungfu

    "High creativity encouraged through modular building of towers and flying units, with sandbox mode for experimentation."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of dominance or power over others; gameplay is individual and cooperative social dynamics are absent."

    Capsule for Zet Zillions Zet Zillions

    "No evidence of dominance or power over others; gameplay is solitary and cooperative social dynamics are absent."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "Players use the game as a challenging distraction and social experience, escaping real life through intense gameplay."

    Capsule for FORCED: Slightly Better Edition FORCED: Slightly Better Edition

    "Players use the game as a challenging distraction and creative outlet, escaping real life through strategic and building gameplay."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Last Train Home Last Train Home

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on trying new designs, testing mechanics, and exploring building possibilities."

    Capsule for MachineCraft MachineCraft

    "Strong emphasis on trying new designs, testing physics, and experimenting with different tower and unit configurations."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Players explore diverse levels and sandbox environments, uncover secrets and lore."

    Capsule for BONELAB BONELAB

    "Players explore different levels and strategies, including non-linear progression and sandbox challenges."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    4

    "Players express themselves through unique factory designs and blueprint creations."

    Capsule for Factorio Factorio

    "Players express themselves through unique tower and unit designs, saved in an invention database."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    -2

    "Game is grounded in a surreal but plausible physics-based challenge rather than imaginative fiction or roleplaying."

    Capsule for Pogostuck: Rage With Your Friends Pogostuck: Rage With Your Friends

    "Game is grounded in realistic physics and plausible sci-fi setting rather than high fantasy or improbable fiction."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No community or social features; play is solitary without shared achievements or group identity."

    Capsule for Merge Maestro Merge Maestro

    "No social or community features; play is solitary without group identity or shared achievements."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop skills in building and understanding game physics, though no formal progression."

    Capsule for People Playground People Playground

    "Players develop skills in physics-based building and strategy, though content limitations restrict extended growth."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and micromanagement; not suited for casual or background play."

    Capsule for Space Empires V Space Empires V

    "Requires focused attention and micromanagement; not suited for casual or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional connections are formed; interactions are limited to gameplay."

    Capsule for NOT A HERO NOT A HERO

    "No social or emotional connections formed; interactions are limited to single-player gameplay."

  • Leadership
    Insufficient data

    No nearest game available

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Players accumulate items, upgrades, and level progress, though some find progression limited or repetitive."

    Capsule for Backrooms: Extractions Backrooms: Extractions

    "Players accumulate and manage modular parts and upgrades, but progression is limited by content and level design."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -1

    "Gameplay can be tense and challenging, with moments of flow but also frequent pressure and difficulty spikes."

    Capsule for Mindustry Mindustry

    "Gameplay can be tense and challenging, with some players finding it stressful due to difficulty spikes and physics issues."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Visuals and sound design contribute to sensory enjoyment."

    Capsule for For The King II For The King II

    "Enjoyment from visual style, sound design, and physics-based interactions, though sensory input is moderate and minimalistic."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems present."

    Capsule for Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Resident Evil 7 Biohazard

    "No social recognition or status systems present."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    1

    "Simple narrative backdrop for gameplay; story is minimal and mostly context."

    Capsule for Pang Adventures Pang Adventures

    "Minimal narrative context; some background and setting provided but gameplay is mostly mechanics-driven."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "Strong strategic elements in tower placement, unit control, and resource management."

    Capsule for Toy Soldiers Toy Soldiers

    "Strong strategic elements in tower placement, resource management, and real-time tactical decisions."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    2

    "Some tension from challenging waves and randomness, but overall moderate suspense."

    Capsule for Rogue Tower Rogue Tower

    "Some tension and challenge from enemy waves and physics unpredictability, but not high suspense or risk."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    1

    "Generally considered worth the price by players, though some mention short length and bugs affecting value."

    Capsule for Fears to Fathom - Woodbury Getaway Fears to Fathom - Woodbury Getaway

    "Generally considered worth the price by players, though some feel content is lacking and bugs reduce value."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    2

    "Combat involves defeating enemies, but violence is abstract and cartoonish rather than graphic."

    Capsule for Spin Hero Spin Hero

    "Combat involves destroying enemy units and structures, but violence is abstract and mechanical rather than graphic."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Core gameplay involves defending against waves of enemies, managing resources, and avoiding base destruction."

    Capsule for Protolife Protolife

    "Core gameplay involves defending base and surviving enemy attacks with resource and structural management."

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Last update: 01/06/2026