What is the best game similar to Banished?

The closest game to Banished is Pharaoh, scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. They share 5 gameplay attributes, including real-time strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like Banished?

The three closest games to Banished are: 1. Pharaoh (95/100, 5 shared attributes) 2. Hearthlands (94/100, 5 shared attributes) 3. Lazerbait (91/100, 2 shared attributes). All share Banished's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 49 candidates across 9 dimensions.

Is Hearthlands similar to Banished?

Yes, very much so — Hearthlands scores 94/100 similarity to Banished. They share 5 attributes, including real-time strategy and deep simulation. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What RTS games are similar to Banished?

The best RTS games similar to Banished are Pharaoh, Hearthlands, Lazerbait and Sunless Sea. All share the RTS genre alongside other key Banished attributes like real-time strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus.

How is similarity to Banished calculated?

We compare Banished against every game in our catalog using 9 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Banished experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

49 Games like Banished that you should try

Games like Banished · Find similar →

More about this game →

Few titles capture what makes Banished unique: real-time strategy, dark, oppressive atmosphere and stealth mechanics. After measuring 9 attributes across over 6,700 games, these are the 49 most faithful alternatives. Pharaoh, Hearthlands and Lazerbait top the ranking, with Pharaoh at number one (95/100).

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

Top games similar to Banished

49 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Banished. Each one has been evaluated across 9 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Pharaoh

iRank85

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloHistoricalIsometricBase Building

Steam👍 92%· 2.5KIGDB70· 1

Year 1999Dev Impressions Games · Sierra EntertainmentOn PC

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, deep simulation and historical setting

≠ Its own twist: base building, while skipping survival mechanics

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloHistoricalIsometricProceduralMedieval

Steam👍 83%· 414

Year 2014Dev Sergio · Sergio & SimonPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and historical setting

≠ Where it differs: brings procedural generation, setting medieval and base building, while skipping survival mechanics

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloFirst PersonFree to Play

Steam👍 96%· 512

Year 2016Dev Taylor StapletonPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with visual first person and free to play, while skipping deep simulation

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloDarkHorrorHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 83%· 9.5KIGDB85· 4OC81· 28

Year 2015Dev Failbetter GamesOn Linux · PC · iOS

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, survival mechanics and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Stands apart with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and roguelike runs, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#5Kenshi

iRank85

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloStealthIsometricOpen WorldSandbox World

Steam👍 96%· 112KRAWG👍 77%· 191MC75IGDB84· 1

Year 2018Dev Lo-Fi GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, deep simulation and survival mechanics

≠ Stands apart with sandbox freedom, deep RPG systems and adventure storytelling, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloIsometricBase BuildingManagement

Steam👍 93%· 3.6KRAWG👍 71%· 137MC75IGDB83· 4

Year 2004Dev Elixir Studios · RebellionPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, base building and resource management, while skipping survival mechanics

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloIsometricSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagement

Steam👍 92%· 13KRAWG👍 67%· 511MC78IGDB74· 4

Year 2011Dev Feral Interactive · Kalypso MediaPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings sandbox freedom, sandbox world and base building, while skipping survival mechanics

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloIsometric

IGDB79· 2

Year 1994Dev Bullfrog Productions · OceanOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Mac

✓ Nearly identical: real-time strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus.

≠ Missing: survival mechanics.

Details →

GOG

#9Pikmin

iRank80

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloIsometricSci-Fi

IGDB80· 1

Year 2001Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development · Gradiente

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, single-player focus and visual isometric

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling and setting scifi, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Nintendo

#10Frostpunk

iRank88

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloDarkIsometricNarrativeHardcore

Steam👍 93%· 134KRAWG👍 88%· 1.1KMC85IGDB86· 9OC86· 103

Year 2018Dev 11 Bit Studios · 11 bit studiosPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, deep simulation and survival mechanics

≠ Where it differs: brings strong narrative focus, punishing difficulty and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping stealth mechanics

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloIsometricSandbox WorldFantasy

IGDB73· 3

Year 2005Dev Lionhead Studios · Feral InteractiveOn PC · Mac

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and sandbox freedom, while skipping survival mechanics

Details →

#1218 Wheels of Steel: American Long Haul

iRank72

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloOpen WorldExplorationFirst PersonThird Person

Steam👍 73%· 516IGDB70· 1

Year 2007Dev SCS Software · RetroismPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with racing gameplay, open world exploration and exploration and discovery, while skipping survival mechanics

Details →

Steam GOG

#13Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2

iRank90

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloHistoricalIsometricMultiplayerFantasy

IGDB90· 1

Year 2000Dev Westwood Pacific · Electronic ArtsOn PC

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, historical setting and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: fantasy world, setting scifi and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

#14Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive

iRank88

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloStealthHistoricalIsometricTactical

Steam👍 88%· 2.4K

Year 2001Dev Spellbound Entertainment · InfogramesOn PC

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, stealth mechanics and historical setting

≠ Its own twist: strong narrative focus, combat tactical and melee combat, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam GOG

#15Patapon

iRank88

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloRanged2D

IGDB88· 3

Year 2007Dev SCE Japan Studio · Sony Computer Entertainment

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, ranged combat and visual 2d, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Complete list of Banished alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Banished, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

Europa Universalis III

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Theme Hospital

RTS · Simulation

RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RTS · Simulation

New World: Aeternum

RTS

Plague Inc.

RTS · Simulation

Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty

RTS

Pikmin 3

RTS · Adventure

Dawn of Discovery

RTS · Simulation

Majesty Gold HD

RTS · Simulation

Grand Ages: Rome

RTS · Simulation

Imagine Earth

RTS · Simulation

Maia

RTS · Simulation

The Guild II

RTS · Simulation

The Mims Beginning

RTS · Simulation

Age of Mythology: Extended Edition

RTS · Simulation

World in Conflict

RTS

Knights and Merchants

RTS · Simulation

A Game of Dwarves

RTS · Simulation

Rome: Total War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Supreme Commander

RTS · Simulation

Anno 1602: Creation of a New World

RTS · Simulation

Pikmin 2

RTS · Adventure

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade

RTS

Shogun: Total War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Victoria II

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Tropico 6

RTS · Simulation

Desperados 2: Cooper's Revenge

RTS · Adventure

Halo Wars 2

RTS

The Guild II Renaissance

RTS · Simulation

Dune 2000

RTS

Cossacks: European Wars

RTS

Commander: Conquest of the Americas

RTS · Simulation

Black & White

RTS · Puzzle

Dungeon Keeper

RTS · Simulation

Explore games similar to Banished by category

Rankings in the same genre

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Banished?: The closest game to Banished is Pharaoh, scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. They share 5 gameplay attributes, including real-time strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Banished?: The three closest games to Banished are: 1. Pharaoh (95/100, 5 shared attributes) 2. Hearthlands (94/100, 5 shared attributes) 3. Lazerbait (91/100, 2 shared attributes). All share Banished's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 49 candidates across 9 dimensions.
Is Hearthlands similar to Banished?: Yes, very much so — Hearthlands scores 94/100 similarity to Banished. They share 5 attributes, including real-time strategy and deep simulation. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What RTS games are similar to Banished?: The best RTS games similar to Banished are Pharaoh, Hearthlands, Lazerbait and Sunless Sea. All share the RTS genre alongside other key Banished attributes like real-time strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus.
How is similarity to Banished calculated?: We compare Banished against every game in our catalog using 9 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Banished experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.