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Volcanoids similar games & best alternatives

Volcanoids

PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux • 2019

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Quick resume

A base-building open-world survival shooter that replaces your typical base with a giant drill. Alone or with friends, explore an island plagued by eruptions, upgrade your drill, and fight robots to uncover what's been hiding beneath the surface.

Global score

83/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Indie, Simulator, Early Access

Similar games

    Pros

    • Unique steampunk setting and concept
    • Engaging drillship customization and progression
    • Solid cooperative multiplayer experience
    • Frequent developer updates and community involvement
    • Stable performance and good optimization

    Cons

    • Limited map variety and endgame content
    • Some ui and crafting complexity
    • Combat can feel clunky or repetitive
    • Single-player experience less balanced
    • Occasional bugs and performance drops in crowded areas

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Status, Competition.

    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

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players have significant control over their drillship customization, resource management, and combat strategies, with freedom to explore and choose approaches."

    • Competence
      3

      "The game offers a moderate challenge with skill-based combat, resource management, and progression systems that reward mastery."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is primarily on solo or cooperative play against AI rather than player-vs-player competition or leaderboards."

    • Continuation
      2

      "Players report long play sessions and repeated playthroughs, though some mention limited replayability after story completion."

    • Cooperation
      3

      "Co-op multiplayer is supported and appreciated, with teamwork enhancing the experience, though single-player is also viable."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Customization of the drillship and crafting systems allow creative expression and strategic building."

    • Domination
      -4

      "Interactions are balanced with AI enemies; no evidence of player dominance or toxic behavior reported."

    • Escapism
      4

      "The immersive steampunk world and survival mechanics provide a strong escape from reality."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, with no indication of obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players explore different modules, combat tactics, and resource management strategies, experimenting with game systems."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Exploration of underground areas and enemy drillships is a core part of gameplay, though map variety is limited."

    • Expression
      3

      "Drillship painting and module customization enable personal expression within the game."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Steampunk setting with robots and giant drillships creates an imaginative fictional experience."

    • Fellowship
      2

      "Community and multiplayer interactions exist but are not the central focus; some social engagement is present."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players learn crafting, combat, and progression systems, improving skills over time."

    • Health
      -5

      "Game is sedentary with no physical activity elements."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires consistent attention and active management during play sessions."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Social interactions are limited to cooperative gameplay without deep personal connections."

    • Leadership
      1

      "Some cooperative play involves coordination, but no strong leadership roles are described."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong emphasis on upgrading drillship, crafting better gear, and advancing through tech tiers."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "Some players find the game relaxing and immersive, though the volcano timer adds tension."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Visuals and sound design provide moderate sensory stimulation, with satisfying combat feedback."

    • Status
      -4

      "No social status or ranking systems; focus is on individual or cooperative achievement."

    • Story
      2

      "The game includes a story and lore that some players find engaging, though it is not the main focus."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Players must plan resource gathering, combat tactics, and drillship upgrades strategically."

    • Thrill
      3

      "The volcano eruption timer and combat encounters create suspense and excitement."

    • Value
      3

      "Players generally feel the game offers good value for its price, especially with ongoing updates."

    • Violence
      3

      "Combat against robots and enemy drillships involves destruction and shooting mechanics."

    • Survival
      3

      "Survival elements include managing resources, defending the drillship, and avoiding volcano eruptions."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026