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ICBM similar games & best alternatives

ICBM

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2020

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Quick resume

ICBM is a real-time strategy game of nuclear destruction. Research new technologies, build up your nuclear stockpile and use a combination of ships, planes and missiles to strike at the heart of your opponents’ cities while keeping your population safe from harm.

Global score

92/100

Genres

Strategy, Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator

Similar games

    Pros

    • Deep strategic gameplay
    • Extensive research and customization
    • Active modding community
    • Engaging multiplayer with alliances and betrayals
    • Good value for price

    Cons

    • Lackluster presentation and graphics
    • Steep learning curve for new players
    • Limited diplomacy and story elements
    • Ai can be cautious or dumb at times
    • Performance issues with many units

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players have extensive control over unit design, research choices, and tactical approaches, enabling personal freedom in gameplay decisions."

      Capsule for Earth 2150 Trilogy Earth 2150 Trilogy

      "Players have freedom to choose research paths, build strategies, and customize strike plans, allowing significant control over gameplay decisions."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      4

      "The game requires strategic thinking, managing supply, unit positioning, and adapting to AI tactics, providing skill challenges and feedback."

      Capsule for Order of Battle: World War II Order of Battle: World War II

      "The game requires strategic thinking, managing research and production, and adapting to AI tactics, providing skill challenges and feedback."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      3

      "Includes multiplayer modes with ranked and casual play, encouraging comparison and competition among players."

      Capsule for Clue/Cluedo Clue/Cluedo

      "Includes multiplayer modes with alliances and betrayals, encouraging comparison and competition among players."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      3

      "Players report long sessions and habitual play, supported by multiple game modes and modding community."

      Capsule for Call to Arms Call to Arms

      "Players report long play sessions and habitual engagement, supported by modding community and replayability."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      2

      "Some cooperation through alliances and diplomacy is part of gameplay, but mostly competitive and individual-focused."

      Capsule for RISK: Global Domination RISK: Global Domination

      "Diplomacy and alliances exist, including shared research and radar data, but gameplay can also be solo or competitive."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      3

      "Players can customize task forces, create custom missions, and mod the game extensively."

      Capsule for War on the Sea War on the Sea

      "Players can customize strategies, research different technologies, create strike plans, and mod the game extensively."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      2

      "Gameplay involves exerting military superiority and strategic dominance, including nuclear annihilation and territorial conquest."

      Capsule for ICBM: Escalation ICBM: Escalation

      "Game involves exerting superiority through nuclear strikes and strategic dominance, including backstabbing allies."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      3

      "Players use the game as a fun distraction and stress relief with engaging puzzles and dark humor."

      Capsule for Divide By Sheep Divide By Sheep

      "Players use the game as a distraction and stress relief, enjoying the dark humor and apocalyptic scenarios."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

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

      Capsule for Star Dynasties Star Dynasties

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

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      4

      "The randomized tech trees, multiple strategic options, and exploration mechanics encourage trying new strategies and experimentation."

      Capsule for Interstellar Space: Genesis Interstellar Space: Genesis

      "The tech tree and multiple strategies encourage trying new approaches and experimenting with different tactics."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      -2

      "Game maps are fixed with limited new area discovery; focus is on optimizing known environments."

      Capsule for Caesar™ 3 Caesar™ 3

      "The game uses a fixed map (Earth) with limited new area discovery, focusing more on strategic variation than geographic exploration."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      2

      "Customization through skill shop and modding allows some degree of player expression."

      Capsule for Sonic Generations Collection Sonic Generations Collection

      "Customization of units, strike plans, and modding allows some degree of player expression."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      -1

      "The game focuses on realistic military simulation and Cold War scenarios rather than imaginative fiction."

      Capsule for Arma Reforger Arma Reforger

      "The game simulates plausible Cold War nuclear conflict scenarios, with some futuristic tech but grounded in realism."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      2

      "Multiplayer and alliances foster community, but much gameplay is solo-focused."

      Capsule for ENDLESS™ Space - Definitive Edition ENDLESS™ Space - Definitive Edition

      "Multiplayer and alliances foster community feeling, though solo play is also common."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      3

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

      Capsule for ENDLESS™ Legend 2 ENDLESS™ Legend 2

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

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "The game is a sedentary computer game with no physical activity elements."

      Capsule for The Last Starship The Last Starship

      "The game is a sedentary computer strategy game with no physical activity involved."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement, especially in combat and management."

      Capsule for Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

      "Requires focused attention and active management, especially during combat phases."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -3

      "Social interactions are mostly strategic and competitive with limited emotional or close relationship building."

      Capsule for Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity® Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity®

      "Social interactions are mostly strategic and competitive with limited emotional sharing or close relationships."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      3

      "Players lead factions, manage alliances, and direct military operations, exercising authority and decision-making."

      Capsule for ICBM: Escalation ICBM: Escalation

      "Players lead their faction’s research, production, and military actions, making strategic decisions and guiding alliances."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      4

      "Strong focus on accumulating resources, unlocking technologies, and expanding production capabilities."

      Capsule for Rise of Industry Rise of Industry

      "Research and production systems emphasize accumulating technologies and units to gain power and advantages."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      1

      "Some players find tactical planning relaxing, but micromanagement and difficulty can cause tension."

      Capsule for Jagged Alliance - Back in Action Jagged Alliance - Back in Action

      "Some players find the pacing and strategic planning relaxing, though nuclear war phases introduce tension."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      2

      "Visual and auditory stimuli from explosions, vehicles, and combat provide excitement."

      Capsule for Voxel Turf Voxel Turf

      "Visual and auditory effects of nuclear explosions and strategic gameplay provide sensory stimulation and excitement."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      1

      "Leaderboards and multiplayer provide some recognition, but not a major focus."

      Capsule for Automobilista 2 Automobilista 2

      "Multiplayer and leaderboards offer some recognition, but not a dominant focus."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      -3

      "No narrative or lore; gameplay is context-free tactical matches and career mode without story immersion."

      Capsule for Clatter Clatter

      "No narrative or lore; gameplay is context-free strategic simulation without story immersion."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      5

      "Core gameplay revolves around deep strategic planning, resource management, and tactical decision making."

      Capsule for Dungeons of Aether Dungeons of Aether

      "Core gameplay revolves around deep strategic planning, research, resource management, and tactical decision making."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      3

      "Tense moments arise from RNG and combat outcomes, creating suspense and excitement."

      Capsule for Never Second in Rome Never Second in Rome

      "Tense moments arise from nuclear escalation and uncertain AI behavior, creating suspense and excitement."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      3

      "Players report good value for price, especially with replayability and content variety."

      Capsule for Chasing Tails ~A Promise in the Snow~ Chasing Tails ~A Promise in the Snow~

      "Players report good value for price due to depth, replayability, and modding support."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      5

      "Game centers on combat, destruction, and military conflict."

      Capsule for Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising

      "The game centers on nuclear warfare, destruction of cities, and combat between military units."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      4

      "Players must manage threats, resources, and strategic defense to complete objectives and survive."

      Capsule for Deep Rock Galactic Deep Rock Galactic

      "Players must manage defenses and resources to avoid destruction and survive nuclear attacks."

    Analysis

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

    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.

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 30/04/2026