Exodus Borealis similar games & best alternatives

Exodus Borealis

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2021

Should you play it?

In this city builder and tower defense game, you will command a small band of ship wrecked colonists. Progress from struggling to survive the elements to a thriving kingdom that will smash the demon hordes that dare attack your settlement.

What works
  • Unique blend of city building and tower defense
  • Deep strategic gameplay with elemental synergies
  • Addictive and challenging with good replay value
  • Active and responsive solo developer
  • Quality of life features and intuitive ui
Things to keep in mind
  • Some performance issues and occasional crashes
  • Limited map variety and repetitive late game
  • Lack of multiplayer or cooperative modes
  • Basic graphics and limited cosmetic customization
  • Randomness in gem drops can frustrate players

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense

  • XCOM® 2

  • Master of Command

  • Cubic Cosmos

  • X3: Reunion

  • Zeus + Poseidon

  • Kingdom Rush - Tower Defense

  • Drill Core

  • S.W.I.N.E. HD Remaster

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Kainga: Seeds of Civilization

  • Sumerian Six

  • Seer's Gambit

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Strategy

    变量 Variables

  • Survival

    Skirmish Line

  • Autonomy

    Border Pioneer

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).

Exodus Borealis: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Intimacy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Leadership, Survival. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Exploration.

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 significant control over city layout and strategy choices."

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    "Players have significant control over city layout, tower placement, job assignments, and strategy, though individual unit control is indirect."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

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    "Game challenges players with complex city management, logistics, resource balancing, and strategic problem solving."

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    "Game challenges players with resource management, strategic tower defense, and balancing city needs, requiring skill and planning."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

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

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

  • Continuation

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    "Players report long play sessions, high replay value, and addictive gameplay encouraging extended engagement."

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  • Cooperation

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    "Gameplay is primarily single-player with no significant cooperative or multiplayer elements."

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    "Gameplay is primarily single-player with no significant multiplayer or cooperative elements."

  • Creativity

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    "Players creatively design maze-like tower layouts and experiment with tower combinations and strategies."

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    "Players design their own maze layouts and city plans, experiment with tower and gem combinations."

  • Domination

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    "No evidence of player dominance over others; interactions are solo and balanced rather than aggressive."

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    "No evidence of player dominance over others; interactions are solo and balanced."

  • Escapism

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    "Players use the game as a complex, immersive distraction with atmospheric music and a fantasy setting."

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    "Players use the game as a challenging, immersive distraction with atmospheric music and setting."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

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    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, not obligation or external pressure."

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    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, not obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

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    "Players try different city layouts, strategies, and building combinations to optimize and explore game mechanics."

    Capsule for The Final Earth 2 The Final Earth 2

    "Players try different tower/gem synergies, city layouts, and strategies to optimize defense and growth."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

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    "Game involves discovering new islands and unlocking new maps and content, though environments are somewhat structured and familiar."

    Capsule for Worshippers of Cthulhu Worshippers of Cthulhu

    "Some map variety and unlocking new islands, but gameplay mostly occurs within known mechanics and environments."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

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    "Limited character or avatar customization, but players can express creativity through city design and layout."

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    "Limited cosmetic customization, but players express themselves through city and maze design."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Imaginative setting with demon hunters and theatrical fantasy elements."

    Capsule for Foul Play Foul Play

    "Fictional setting with anthropomorphic foxes and demons, combining fantasy elements with survival."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -4

    "Minimal social interaction; primarily a solo experience without community integration in gameplay."

    Capsule for Offspring Fling! Offspring Fling!

    "Minimal social interaction; primarily a solo experience with community interaction external to gameplay."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players learn complex systems, improve strategic skills, and develop mastery over time."

    Capsule for Solium Infernum Solium Infernum

    "Players learn and improve strategies, manage complex systems, and develop mastery over time."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

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    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity components."

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    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity components."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

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    "Requires sustained attention and micromanagement, especially in early and mid game"

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    "Requires active management and attention; micromanagement especially in early game."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No close social or emotional relationships formed within gameplay."

    Capsule for Rain World Rain World

    "No close social or emotional relationships formed within gameplay."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    3

    "Players lead their colony and manage resources and defenses, guiding overall strategy and development."

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    "Players lead and manage their colony and defense efforts, making strategic decisions."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

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    "Clear progression through unlocking buildings, research, settlers, and upgrades."

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    "Clear progression through research, resource acquisition, building upgrades, and unlocking islands."

  • Relaxation

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    "Some players find the game relaxing and immersive, others find it frustrating and tense due to difficulty."

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    "Some players find the game relaxing and immersive, others find it tense and challenging."

  • Sensation

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    "Satisfying sound effects and visual feedback enhance sensory enjoyment."

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    "Visual and auditory feedback from tower effects and music enhance sensory engagement."

  • Status

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    "No social status or recognition systems within the game."

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    "No social status or recognition systems within the game."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Some narrative context with ship defense and alien invasion theme, but gameplay is largely mission-based."

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    "Basic narrative framing about fox colonists and demon invasions, but gameplay is mostly mechanical."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "High strategic depth with planning tower placement, maze design, equipment synergy, and resource management."

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    "Strong emphasis on planning, resource allocation, tower placement, and elemental synergy strategies."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

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    "Players experience suspense and tension from enemy waves and resource management challenges."

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    "Players experience suspense and challenge from waves of enemies and resource management pressures."

  • Value

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    4

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

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

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat against enemies is central, with towers attacking and destroying waves of monsters."

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    "Combat against monsters is central, with tower attacks and destruction of enemies."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

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    "Core gameplay revolves around surviving waves of enemies and managing scarce resources."

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    "Core gameplay revolves around surviving waves of enemies and managing scarce resources."

Last update: 13/07/2026