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SteamWorld Heist similar games & best alternatives

SteamWorld Heist

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch, Linux • 2016

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Quick resume

Command a steam-driven pirate crew in a series of epic tactical shootouts in SteamWorld Heist. This is turn-based strategy with a twist: You manually aim the guns of your robots, allowing for insane skill shots and bullet-bouncing action!

Global score

94/100

Genres

Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Indie

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    Pros

    • Engaging tactical gameplay
    • Unique manual aiming mechanic
    • Charming steampunk space setting
    • Varied characters and customization
    • Excellent soundtrack

    Cons

    • Some repetitive mission structure
    • Limited character development depth
    • Grind for hats can be tedious
    • Difficulty spikes late game
    • Limited social interaction

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players control character movement and ability usage freely, but shooting is automatic and aimed by the game, allowing personal tactical positioning and decision-making."

      Capsule for Deathstate: Abyssal Edition Deathstate: Abyssal Edition

      "Players manually aim shots and choose team composition and tactics freely, emphasizing control over actions."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      4

      "Challenging tactical combat requiring skillful planning and execution, with meaningful feedback and progression."

      Capsule for Miasma Chronicles Miasma Chronicles

      "Challenging tactical combat requiring skillful aiming, positioning, and strategic planning with feedback on performance."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -2

      "Focus is on personal progression and mission completion rather than direct player-vs-player competition or leaderboards."

      Capsule for Space Reign Space Reign

      "Focus is on personal progression and mission completion rather than direct player-vs-player competition."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      3

      "Players report habitual play and desire for more content; missions and progression encourage continued engagement."

      Capsule for Ultrawings Ultrawings

      "Players report being highly engaged with repeated missions, leveling, and collecting hats, encouraging habitual play."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -1

      "Gameplay centers on individual squad management rather than multiplayer cooperation."

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

      "Gameplay centers on managing a personal squad rather than multiplayer cooperation."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      3

      "Players can customize loadouts, respec characters, and reposition defenses dynamically, allowing creative tactical experimentation."

      Capsule for Fortified Fortified

      "Players customize loadouts, choose characters, and experiment with ricochet shots and tactics."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -3

      "Interactions are cooperative within the squad; no evidence of dominance or power over other players."

      Capsule for Yet Another Zombie Survivors Yet Another Zombie Survivors

      "Interactions are balanced and cooperative within the player’s squad; no evidence of dominance over others."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Provides immersive steampunk world and engaging gameplay that distracts from real life."

      Capsule for Gremlins, Inc. Gremlins, Inc.

      "Immersive steampunk space setting and engaging gameplay provide strong distraction from real life."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, not obligation."

      Capsule for Warframe Warframe

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, not obligation."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      4

      "Game encourages trying different tactics, weapon use, and approaches to objectives."

      Capsule for Soldiers: Heroes of World War II - Enhanced Edition Soldiers: Heroes of World War II - Enhanced Edition

      "Encourages trying different characters, weapons, and strategies including ricochet shots and positioning."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      2

      "Procedurally generated levels encourage some discovery, though environments repeat and are somewhat familiar."

      Capsule for West of Dead West of Dead

      "Procedurally generated levels and multiple zones encourage some discovery, though environments are limited."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      3

      "Collectible hats and character customization allow for some player self-expression."

      Capsule for Struggling Struggling

      "Hat collecting and character customization allow for player self-expression."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      3

      "Steampunk setting with imaginative vehicles and robotic characters offers a fictional experience."

      Capsule for Airmen Airmen

      "Fictional steampunk space pirate setting with robots and imaginative elements."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -2

      "Primarily single-player experience with limited social or community interaction."

      Capsule for Summer Memories Summer Memories

      "Mostly single-player experience with limited social interaction or community feeling."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      4

      "Character leveling, skill acquisition, and equipment upgrades provide clear personal development."

      Capsule for Low Magic Age Low Magic Age

      "Character leveling, skill acquisition, and gear upgrades provide clear personal development."

    • 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 and continuous engagement during missions; not suitable for passive play."

      Capsule for Aliens: Dark Descent Aliens: Dark Descent

      "Requires focused attention and strategic thinking during missions; not suited for passive play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -4

      "Limited character interaction mostly through scripted dialogue; no deep social or emotional connections."

      Capsule for Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride

      "Limited character interaction and no deep emotional connections; dialogue is light and functional."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      3

      "Players lead a squad of characters with unique abilities and roles, managing their skills and equipment."

      Capsule for Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery

      "Player leads and manages a squad of unique characters with distinct roles and abilities."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      4

      "Strong emphasis on accumulating experience, items, and upgrades to improve characters and gear."

      Capsule for Dungeon Journey Dungeon Journey

      "Strong emphasis on accumulating experience, weapons, and cosmetic items like hats."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      2

      "Gameplay balances challenge and flow, providing satisfying tension release but also some frustration."

      Capsule for Indie Pogo Indie Pogo

      "Gameplay balances challenge and flow, providing satisfying tension release but some frustration at times."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      3

      "Enjoyable visual style, animations, sound effects, and music contribute to sensory engagement."

      Capsule for Shadow Blade: Reload Shadow Blade: Reload

      "Enjoyable visual style, sound effects, and music contribute to sensory engagement."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -3

      "Achievements and recognition are mostly personal; little social status or visibility."

      Capsule for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR

      "Achievements and hats provide some recognition but mostly personal and not social status oriented."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      2

      "Simple narrative with characters and cutscenes, but story is secondary to gameplay."

      Capsule for TY the Tasmanian Tiger TY the Tasmanian Tiger

      "Simple narrative with character dialogue and plot, but story is secondary to gameplay."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      5

      "Core gameplay is tactical turn-based combat requiring planning, positioning, and problem solving."

      Capsule for Age of Fear 2: The Chaos Lord GOLD Age of Fear 2: The Chaos Lord GOLD

      "Core gameplay is tactical turn-based combat requiring planning, positioning, and problem solving."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      3

      "Combat and mission tension create moments of suspense and excitement."

      Capsule for Cleared Hot Cleared Hot

      "Tension from challenging missions and timing shots creates excitement and suspense."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      4

      "Players report high satisfaction and value for time and money invested."

      Capsule for Wildermyth Wildermyth

      "Players report high satisfaction and good return on investment for time and money."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      4

      "Combat involves destroying enemy robots with weapons and explosives."

      Capsule for Bionic Dues Bionic Dues

      "Combat involves shooting, explosions, and destruction of enemy robots."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      3

      "Players must avoid death and manage resources carefully to complete missions."

      Capsule for Delta Force 2 Delta Force 2

      "Players must avoid death and manage resources to complete missions successfully."

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Leadership, Survival, Violence, Strategy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Violence, Cooperation, Expression.

    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