Eco similar games & best alternatives

Eco

Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2018

Should you play it?

Build a civilization of real people, working together to advance society and stop a meteor, all without destroying the ecosystem in the process.

What works

  • Deep cooperative gameplay
  • Complex economy and politics
  • Rich ecological simulation
  • Extensive building and customization
  • Strong community and leadership roles

Things to keep in mind

  • Steep learning curve
  • Long real-time progression
  • Server instability and bugs
  • Requires active player base
  • High system requirements and optimization issues

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • Xsyon - Prelude

  • Scrap Mechanic

  • KINGDOMS

  • RV There Yet?

  • Omega Crafter

  • Islet Online

More violent

Games that feels like Eco but with more combat and destruction

  • Saleblazers

  • Colony Survival

  • Citywars Tower Defense

  • ICARUS

  • Sketchy's Contract

  • Plains of Pain

Less leadership-focused

Games that feels like Eco but with less leadership over others

  • Solarpunk™

  • Pumpkin Days

  • ASTRONEER

  • Outbound

  • Old Market Simulator

  • Aloft

Choose your own criteria ->

Similarity map

How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

Eco: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Status, Fellowship, Domination. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Leadership, Intimacy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence.

Last update: 03/08/2026