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ICARUS similar games & best alternatives

ICARUS

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2021

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Quick resume

ICARUS is a PvE survival game for up to eight players. Explore a savage wilderness in the aftermath of terraforming gone wrong. Survive the Open World, complete timed Missions or build your Outpost. Explore, build, craft and hunt while seeking your fortune and prospecting for exotic matter.

Global score

74/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Simulator

Similar games

    Pros

    • Immersive survival mechanics
    • Extensive base building and crafting
    • Strong multiplayer cooperation
    • Frequent developer updates
    • Challenging and rewarding progression

    Cons

    • Performance and optimization issues
    • Grind-heavy gameplay
    • Steep difficulty for solo players
    • Limited character customization
    • Mission timers can frustrate casual players

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players have freedom to choose playstyle (domination or destruction), manage minions, customize tower and equipment, but missions are mostly linear with some scripted events."

      Capsule for Overlord II Overlord II

      "Players have freedom to build bases, choose missions, and develop talents, but must operate within mission timers and game mechanics."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      4

      "Game is challenging with skill trees, survival mechanics, combat, and crafting requiring mastery."

      Capsule for Plains of Pain Plains of Pain

      "Game offers challenging survival mechanics, skill trees, and complex crafting systems requiring mastery."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -3

      "Focus is mostly on personal progression and survival; multiplayer is cooperative rather than competitive."

      Capsule for 10 Miles To Safety 10 Miles To Safety

      "Focus is primarily on personal progression and survival; multiplayer is cooperative rather than competitive."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      4

      "Many players report long play sessions and habitual engagement despite grind and slow progression."

      Capsule for Mist Legacy Mist Legacy

      "Many players report long playtimes and habitual engagement despite grind and difficulty."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      4

      "Strong emphasis on cooperative multiplayer play, teamwork, and shared survival goals."

      Capsule for HumanitZ HumanitZ

      "Game shines in multiplayer cooperative play with teamwork needed for survival and mission success."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      4

      "Extensive crafting, base building, and world customization allow creative expression and experimentation."

      Capsule for Don't Starve Don't Starve

      "Extensive base building with customizable structures and crafting encourages creative expression."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -4

      "Interactions emphasize shared survival and cooperation rather than dominance or power over others."

      Capsule for Escape the Backrooms Escape the Backrooms

      "Interactions emphasize shared survival and cooperation rather than dominance or power over others."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Immersive world and survival gameplay provide strong escape from real life"

      Capsule for Conan Exiles Conan Exiles

      "Immersive survival environment and challenging gameplay provide strong escape from real life."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or pressure."

      Capsule for The Witch of Fern Island The Witch of Fern Island

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      3

      "Players explore crafting, base building, and survival mechanics, experimenting with strategies and progression."

      Capsule for Rem Survival Rem Survival

      "Players explore different crafting paths, base designs, and survival strategies."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      3

      "Game features multiple biomes and maps to discover, with puzzles and secrets encouraging exploration."

      Capsule for Force of Nature 2: Ghost Keeper Force of Nature 2: Ghost Keeper

      "Game features multiple biomes and caves to discover, though some find exploration limited or repetitive."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      3

      "Character customization and base design allow for personal expression, though some limitations noted."

      Capsule for Infinite Veil Infinite Veil

      "Character customization is limited, but base building and crafting allow personal expression."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      -2

      "The game is grounded in realistic scenarios about plants and life events, with minimal fantasy elements."

      Capsule for Urban Jungle Urban Jungle

      "Game is grounded in realistic survival scenarios on a terraformed planet with minimal fantasy elements."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      4

      "Strong community and multiplayer focus foster a sense of belonging and shared interest."

      Capsule for Railroads Online Railroads Online

      "Strong community and multiplayer focus foster sense of belonging and shared goals."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      4

      "Players develop skills, unlock tech trees, and improve their equipment and bases over time."

      Capsule for Empyrion - Galactic Survival Empyrion - Galactic Survival

      "Players develop skills, unlock tech trees, and improve talents over time."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -4

      "Game is sedentary with no physical activity; some players report frustration and fatigue from difficult controls."

      Capsule for Mana Spark Mana Spark

      "Gameplay is sedentary with no physical activity; some players report frustration and fatigue."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

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

      Capsule for Door Kickers 2: Task Force North Door Kickers 2: Task Force North

      "Requires sustained attention and planning; not suited for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      2

      "Multiplayer encourages social interaction and cooperation, though not necessarily close emotional bonds."

      Capsule for River City Ransom: Underground River City Ransom: Underground

      "Multiplayer cooperation encourages social interaction but not close emotional relationships."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      2

      "Some players take lead roles in coordinating survivors, but leadership is shared and situational."

      Capsule for Project Winter Project Winter

      "Some players take leadership roles in coordinating group survival and resource management."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      5

      "Strong emphasis on accumulating items, upgrading skills, crafting better equipment, and base building."

      Capsule for ZED ZONE ZED ZONE

      "Strong emphasis on accumulating resources, crafting upgrades, and advancing tech and talents."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      -1

      "Game can be tense and challenging but also offers moments of flow and satisfaction."

      Capsule for Kenshi Kenshi

      "Game can be tense and challenging but also has moments of flow and satisfaction in building."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      3

      "Atmospheric visuals and sound design provide immersive sensory experience."

      Capsule for DARK SOULS™ II DARK SOULS™ II

      "Visuals and sound design provide immersive sensory experience with atmospheric environments."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -2

      "Limited social status mechanics; recognition mainly within cooperative groups rather than broad visibility."

      Capsule for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

      "Limited social status mechanics; recognition mainly within small multiplayer groups."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      1

      "Some narrative and lore elements exist but story is minimal and not central."

      Capsule for Nova Lands Nova Lands

      "Narrative is minimal and mission-based; story elements exist but are not central."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      4

      "Requires planning, resource management, and tactical decision-making to survive and progress."

      Capsule for PUMPKIN PANIC PUMPKIN PANIC

      "Requires planning, resource management, and tactical decision-making for survival and mission success."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      3

      "Survival threats and predator encounters create suspense and excitement."

      Capsule for Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey

      "Survival threats, hostile wildlife, and environmental hazards create suspense and excitement."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      3

      "Players report good value for time spent with frequent updates and content."

      Capsule for Everdream Valley Everdream Valley

      "Players report good value for time invested, especially with frequent updates and content."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      3

      "Combat with animals and AI hunters is core gameplay involving killing and defense"

      Capsule for Subsistence Subsistence

      "Combat with animals and environmental threats is a core gameplay element."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      5

      "Central focus on managing resources, avoiding death, and overcoming threats in a hostile environment."

      Capsule for Sword of the Stars: The Pit Sword of the Stars: The Pit

      "Central focus on overcoming threats, managing resources, and staying alive in a hostile world."

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Survival. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy, Relaxation.

    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.

    Last update: 30/04/2026