Age of Wonders: Planetfall similar games & best alternatives

Why it matches

• Both leave room to create Extensive customization of factions, heroes, spells, and worlds encourages creative experimentation and unique playthroughs.
• Both are driven by steady progression Strong emphasis on accumulating upgrades, spells, units, and empire development throughout play.
• Both let you express yourself Customization of characters, factions, and visual elements allows players to express themselves uniquely.
• Same kind of look Screenshots of both games share a very close visual identity (palette, framing, level of detail).

Why it matches

• Both leave room to create Extensive leader customization, race/class combinations, spells, and modding tools provide strong creative expression and experimentation.
• Both are driven by steady progression Strong progression through hero leveling, unit upgrades, city building, and research.
• Both let you express yourself Leader visual customization and emblem/color choices allow personal expression within the game.

Why it matches

• Both are driven by steady progression Strong progression through unlocking factions, upgrading armies, and accumulating resources and power.
• Both reward thinking ahead Core gameplay revolves around deep strategic planning, tactical battles, and problem solving.
• Both are built to keep you coming back Extremely high replayability with thousands of hours played by users, habitual return to the game, and ongoing DLC/mod support.

Why it matches

• Both reward thinking ahead Deep strategic gameplay involving army composition, card use, map control, and tactical decision-making.
• Both are driven by steady progression Players unlock heroes, classes, units, and upgrades through campaign and skirmish play, showing clear progression systems.
• Both are built to keep you coming back Players report engaging campaign and skirmish modes with high replayability and long play sessions, showing strong attachment and desire to continue playing.

Why it matches

• Both reward thinking ahead High mental challenge requiring tactical combat, resource management, diplomacy, and planning.
• Both are driven by steady progression Players accumulate tech, units, and upgrades, advancing through a tech tree and building armies.
• Both invite you to experiment Players try different leaders, tech paths, and alliances, exploring varied strategies and unit combinations.

Why it matches

• Both reward thinking ahead Core of the game is deep tactical and strategic decision-making involving terrain, unit abilities, and resource management.
• Both are driven by steady progression Players accumulate units, upgrades, and city expansions; tech trees and hero development provide progression.
• Both invite you to experiment Players explore different factions, unit synergies, and tactical combinations; game rewards learning and adaptation.

Why it matches

• Both reward thinking ahead Strong emphasis on strategic planning, resource management, and tactical combat.
• Both let you chart your own course Players have control over base building, unit production, research choices, and tactical decisions in large-scale battles.
• Both pull you into another world Players use the game for immersive large-scale battles and distraction from real life.

Why it matches

• Both are driven by steady progression Strong progression through tech, city expansion, unit upgrades, and quest completion.
• Both let you express yourself Players can customize heroes, units, and factions, expressing personal style.
• Both reward thinking ahead Core gameplay revolves around deep strategic planning and problem solving.

Why it matches

• Both reward thinking ahead Heavy emphasis on tactical combat, resource management, diplomacy, and long-term planning.
• Both leave room to create Extensive soldier customization, multi-classing, and tactical aiming encourage creative approaches to combat and strategy.
• Both are driven by steady progression Strong emphasis on accumulating resources, upgrading equipment, and advancing technology.