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Surviving Mars similar games & best alternatives

Surviving Mars

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Linux • 2018

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Quick resume

There will be challenges to overcome. Execute your strategy and improve your colony’s chances of survival while unlocking the mysteries of this alien world. Are you ready? Mars is waiting for you.

Global score

84/100

Genres

Simulator, Strategy

Similar games

    Pros

    • Challenging and deep resource management
    • Immersive sci-fi setting
    • Randomized tech trees for replayability
    • Detailed colony and drone management
    • Beautiful graphics and soundtrack

    Cons

    • Steep learning curve and poor tutorial
    • Micromanagement can be tedious
    • Late game can become repetitive
    • Some ai and ui issues
    • Dlc content fragmented and costly

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players have significant control over base building, resource management, and strategic decisions including story choices and colony development."

      Capsule for The Crust The Crust

      "Players have significant control over colony building, resource management, and strategic planning, requiring foresight and decision-making."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      4

      "The game challenges players with complex logistics, optimization, and problem-solving, rewarding skillful management and efficiency improvements."

      Capsule for Blueprint Tycoon Blueprint Tycoon

      "The game challenges players with complex resource logistics, micromanagement, and strategic problem solving, rewarding skillful play."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -3

      "Focus is on personal colony management and survival rather than direct player-vs-player competition or leaderboards."

      Capsule for Judgment: Apocalypse Survival Simulation Judgment: Apocalypse Survival Simulation

      "Focus is on individual colony management and survival rather than competing against other players; some DLC adds AI rivals but not strongly competitive."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      3

      "Many players report long play sessions and replayability through scenarios and sandbox mode, though some find late game repetitive."

      Capsule for Project Highrise Project Highrise

      "Many players report long play sessions and replayability due to randomized tech trees and challenges, though some find late game repetitive."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -4

      "Single player experience focused on managing own team and base, with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

      Capsule for The Last Spell The Last Spell

      "Single-player experience focused on individual management; no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      3

      "Players build and customize colony layout, policies, and strategies, though within predefined game systems."

      Capsule for Ratopia Ratopia

      "Players design colony layouts, manage dome configurations, and choose tech paths, allowing creative problem solving and customization."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control over others; interactions are with AI and environment, not other players."

      Capsule for The Wandering Village The Wandering Village

      "No evidence of exerting control over others; interactions are with environment and AI, not other players."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Immersive sci-fi setting and survival challenge provide strong escape from real life"

      Capsule for Planetbase Planetbase

      "Immersive sci-fi setting and survival challenge provide a strong escape from real life."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest and challenge; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

      Capsule for FEIST FEIST

      "Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest and challenge; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      3

      "Randomized tech trees and perks encourage trying new strategies and adapting to different conditions every run."

      Capsule for Slipways Slipways

      "Randomized tech trees and multiple strategies encourage experimentation and adapting to new conditions."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      3

      "Players discover new areas, ruins, and mysteries on Mars, enhancing immersion and curiosity."

      Capsule for Per Aspera Per Aspera

      "Exploration of Mars surface, anomalies, and resource locations is a key gameplay element."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      2

      "Some customization of colony layout and upgrades allows personal expression"

      Capsule for Empires of the Undergrowth Empires of the Undergrowth

      "Some customization in colony design and dome layouts allows personal expression, though cosmetic options are limited."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      3

      "The sci-fi colonization setting offers an imaginative fictional experience distinct from realistic scenarios."

      Capsule for Solar Settlers Solar Settlers

      "Futuristic sci-fi setting with speculative technologies and colonization scenarios, blending realism with imaginative fiction."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -5

      "No social or community features; strictly single-player experience."

      Capsule for Prototype 2 Prototype 2

      "No social or community features; strictly single-player experience."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      4

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

      Capsule for Cartel Tycoon Cartel Tycoon

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

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

      Capsule for THE ENIGMA MACHINE THE ENIGMA MACHINE

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires active attention and management; not suited for passive or background play."

      Capsule for Majesty Gold HD Majesty Gold HD

      "Requires active management and attention; not suited for passive or background play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -5

      "No social or emotional relationship building; colonists act independently without interpersonal dynamics"

      Capsule for Planetbase Planetbase

      "No social or emotional relationship building; colonists have traits but no interpersonal player interactions."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      4

      "Players lead and manage colonies, directing tasks and making strategic decisions."

      Capsule for RimWorld RimWorld

      "Player acts as colony leader, managing resources, people, and strategic decisions."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      4

      "Strong progression through research, resource accumulation, and colony development."

      Capsule for Grim Realms Grim Realms

      "Progression through research, technology unlocks, colony expansion, and resource accumulation."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      1

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

      Capsule for Sherlock Holmes - Nemesis Sherlock Holmes - Nemesis

      "Some find the game relaxing and immersive, others find it tense due to survival challenges."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      2

      "Enjoyable soundtracks and visuals provide moderate sensory stimulation."

      Capsule for Cossacks: Back to War Cossacks: Back to War

      "Enjoyable visuals, soundtracks, and atmospheric effects provide moderate sensory stimulation."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social recognition or popularity mechanics; focus is on individual colony success."

      Capsule for Whiskerwood Whiskerwood

      "No social recognition or status systems; focus is on personal colony success."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      1

      "Light narrative with some lore and mission context, but story is minimal and not a major focus."

      Capsule for Void Crew Void Crew

      "Minimal narrative; some missions and mysteries add light story elements but not a strong focus."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      5

      "Heavy emphasis on strategic planning, resource management, and problem solving."

      Capsule for Anno 1404 - History Edition Anno 1404 - History Edition

      "Heavy emphasis on strategic planning, resource management, and problem solving."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      2

      "Some suspense from disasters and survival challenges, but overall a controlled environment."

      Capsule for Banished Banished

      "Some suspense from disasters and survival threats, but overall controlled environment."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      0

      "Mixed opinions on value; base game is cheap but DLC pricing criticized; overall seen as fair by many."

      Capsule for Wanba Warriors Wanba Warriors

      "Mixed opinions on value; base game considered good value especially on sale, but DLC pricing criticized."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      -5

      "No combat or destruction; gameplay focuses on building and maintaining colony."

      Capsule for Microtopia Microtopia

      "No combat or destruction focus; gameplay centers on building and maintaining colony."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      5

      "Core gameplay revolves around managing threats, resource scarcity, and keeping the colony alive."

      Capsule for IXION IXION

      "Core gameplay revolves around survival challenges, resource scarcity, and avoiding colony failure."

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Leadership, Survival, Violence, Strategy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, Value, Fellowship.

    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