Urtuk: The Desolation similar games & best alternatives

Urtuk: The Desolation

PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac • 2021

Should you play it?

Urtuk is an open world, tactical turn-based RPG in a low-fantasy setting. Guide your band of adventurers through the ruins of an ancient world. Recruit new followers, loot the corpses of your fallen foes, and do your best to survive in this harsh and unforgiving realm.

What works
  • Deep tactical combat with minimal rng
  • Extensive character customization and mutators
  • High replayability and procedural maps
  • Fair and skill-based gameplay
  • Active and responsive developer
Things to keep in mind
  • Minimal narrative and world-building
  • Some ui and inventory management issues
  • Repetitive map and encounter design
  • Steep learning curve for new players
  • Limited visual customization

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Grim Nights

  • Age of Fear: The Free World

  • Mainframe Defenders

  • Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch

  • Mech Armada

  • Epic Battle Fantasy 4

  • Tinyfolks

  • Fantasy Wars

  • They Are Billions
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Fantasy Wars

  • Shardpunk

  • The Hand of Merlin
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Competence

    Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition
  • Strategy

    Men of War: Assault Squad
  • Autonomy

    Wizardry 8

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).

Urtuk: The Desolation: 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 Leadership. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Story, Expression.

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 extensive freedom in character creation, party composition, exploration order, and tactical combat decisions."

    Capsule for Wizardry 8 Wizardry 8

    "Players have extensive freedom in party composition, character builds, and tactical decisions with minimal RNG influence."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    5

    "The game demands mastery of complex combat mechanics, timing, and strategy with clear feedback and skill progression."

    Capsule for Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition

    "The game emphasizes skillful tactical combat, strategic positioning, and mastery of complex mechanics with clear feedback."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on individual progression and personal challenge rather than direct competition or leaderboards."

    Capsule for Quasimorph Quasimorph

    "Focus is on individual progression and personal challenge rather than direct competition or leaderboards."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Players report habitual play and long sessions due to addictive combat and replayability."

    Capsule for Forestrike Forestrike

    "Players report long play sessions, high replayability, and addictive combat loops encouraging habitual play."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -4

    "Gameplay centers on managing a small party controlled by the player, with no multiplayer cooperation."

    Capsule for Organ Trail: Director's Cut Organ Trail: Director's Cut

    "Gameplay centers on managing own party independently with limited or no multiplayer cooperation."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Deep customization of characters, equipment, and decks allows creative build strategies and playstyles."

    Capsule for Deep Sky Derelicts Deep Sky Derelicts

    "Deep customization via mutators, traits, and party builds allows creative tactical approaches."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -4

    "Interactions are balanced with no evidence of power imposition or dominance over others."

    Capsule for Megadimension Neptunia VII Megadimension Neptunia VII

    "Interactions are balanced with no evidence of power imposition or social dominance mechanics."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Immersive fantasy world and engaging combat provide distraction and escape from real life."

    Capsule for Vernal Edge Vernal Edge

    "Dark fantasy setting and challenging tactical combat provide immersive distraction from real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment of tactical gameplay and story."

    Capsule for Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete Edition Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete Edition

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment of tactical gameplay."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Variety of classes and skills encourages trying new builds and strategies."

    Capsule for Arena of Kings Arena of Kings

    "Encourages trying new builds, tactics, and strategies with diverse classes and mutators."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    2

    "Procedurally generated maps offer some novelty, but limited story content and repeated zones reduce exploration depth."

    Capsule for Ghostlore Ghostlore

    "Procedurally generated maps and multiple zones offer some exploration, though limited narrative depth."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -2

    "Limited character customization; some cosmetic changes exist but mostly standard character and environment presentation."

    Capsule for PAC-MAN WORLD Re-PAC PAC-MAN WORLD Re-PAC

    "Limited visual customization; mostly standard character appearances with some banners and skins."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Fictional horror setting with mutated creatures and supernatural elements."

    Capsule for Resident Evil Revelations 2 Resident Evil Revelations 2

    "Set in a grim low-fantasy world with mutated creatures and supernatural elements."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -4

    "Primarily a single-player experience with minimal social or community interaction within gameplay."

    Capsule for Depersonalization Depersonalization

    "Primarily a single-player experience with minimal social or community gameplay elements."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop skills, learn complex mechanics, and improve tactics over time."

    Capsule for Divinity: Original Sin (Classic) Divinity: Original Sin (Classic)

    "Players develop skills, learn mechanics, and improve tactical decision-making over time."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for CODE VEIN CODE VEIN

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention during long tactical battles; not designed for casual or background play."

    Capsule for Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart (Neptunia) Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart (Neptunia)

    "Requires focused attention during tactical battles; not designed for casual or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing in gameplay."

    Capsule for Alwa's Legacy Alwa's Legacy

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing in gameplay."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    3

    "Players manage and lead a party of characters, making strategic decisions and directing actions."

    Capsule for Caves of Lore Caves of Lore

    "Players manage and lead a party of characters with strategic control over their actions."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Strong progression through item collection, upgrades, and unlocking new characters and abilities."

    Capsule for Neon Abyss Neon Abyss

    "Strong progression through acquiring items, mutators, and character upgrades."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -2

    "Fast-paced and challenging gameplay creates tension rather than relaxation."

    Capsule for Katana ZERO Katana ZERO

    "Challenging and intense tactical gameplay creates sustained tension rather than relaxation."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Enjoyable art style and sound design provide moderate sensory stimulation and emotional fun."

    Capsule for Ratropolis Ratropolis

    "Dark, grotesque art style and sound design provide stimulating sensory experience."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "Achievements and progress are mostly personal with little social recognition or visibility."

    Capsule for while True: learn() while True: learn()

    "Achievements and progress are mostly personal with little social recognition or visibility."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    -3

    "Minimal narrative elements; gameplay centers on combat and progression rather than story immersion."

    Capsule for Survivors of the Dawn Survivors of the Dawn

    "Minimal narrative focus; gameplay centers on combat rather than story immersion."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "Highly strategic gameplay requiring planning, tactical positioning, and problem solving."

    Capsule for Men of War: Assault Squad Men of War: Assault Squad

    "Highly strategic gameplay requiring planning, positioning, and problem solving."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Tense battles and risk of permadeath create suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Ironcast Ironcast

    "Tense battles and risk of permadeath create suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players report high value for time and money with extensive content and replayability."

    Capsule for Grounded Grounded

    "Players report high value for time and money with extensive content and replayability."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Combat involves violent actions against enemies, with gore and destruction."

    Capsule for Tomato Way Tomato Way

    "Combat involves frequent violence, gore, and tactical destruction of enemies."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Core gameplay involves managing resources, avoiding death, and overcoming threats."

    Capsule for Tormented Souls 2 Tormented Souls 2

    "Core gameplay involves managing resources, avoiding death, and overcoming threats."

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Last update: 01/06/2026