28 Simulation games like Citadels that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Citadels down to the 28 that fit the “Simulation” category. Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, Defense Grid: The Awakening and Stronghold top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Citadels.

iRank17/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

The best simulation games like Citadels

28 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Citadels. Each one has been evaluated across 14 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.

#1Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium WarsClosest overall match

iRank86

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMeleeTacticalNarrativeHistoricalBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 90%· 9.2KRAWG👍 83%· 225MC85IGDB85· 4

Year 2007Dev Electronic Arts Los Angeles · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Xbox

✓ Same family of tower defense games: real-time strategy, deep simulation and tower defense planning

≠ Its own twist: setting scifi, post-apocalyptic world and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping visual novel storytelling

Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars is a real-time strategy game developed by EA Los Angeles. It is the third game in the Tiberium sub-series and continues the plot of Tiberian Sun. ###Plot The year is 2047, 17 years after the events of the Firestorm Expansion pack.

Where it drifts furthest from Citadels: setting.

Genre100Combat100Tone100Visuals100Progression69Game mode54

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Steam Xbox

#2Defense Grid: The AwakeningClosest on game mode

iRank82

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalIsometricSci-Fi

Steam👍 96%· 5.3KRAWG👍 59%· 106MC81IGDB86· 2

Year 2008Dev Hidden Path EntertainmentPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, deep simulation and real-time strategy

≠ Stands apart with setting scifi, while skipping visual novel storytelling

###Microsoft’s tower defence The game is one in the genre of tower defense, developed by Hidden Path Entertainment for PC and Xbox 360. Later it was ported to the Mac, and for other consoles in 2013.

Where it drifts furthest from Citadels: setting.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Combat70Setting0

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalMeleeNarrativeMedievalHistoricalBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 10K

Year 2001Dev Firefly Studios · Take-Two InteractiveOn PC · Mac

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing deep simulation, real-time strategy and tower defense planning

≠ Its own twist: sandbox freedom, sandbox world and open world exploration, while skipping visual novel storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Citadels: world.

It predates Citadels by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone100Progression92Setting90Combat79Visuals77

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Steam

#4Stronghold CrusaderClosest on progression

iRank92

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalMeleeHistoricalMedievalBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 98%· 21KIGDB80· 1

Year 2002Dev Firefly Studios · Take-Two InteractiveOn PC

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing deep simulation, real-time strategy and tower defense planning

≠ Its own twist: sandbox freedom, sandbox world and ranged combat, while skipping visual novel storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Citadels: world.

It predates Citadels by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression100Setting90Combat83Visuals80Game mode55

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Steam

#5Stronghold HD (2012)

iRank88

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalNarrativeMedievalHistoricalBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 10KRAWG👍 82%· 310MC81

Year 2012Dev FireFly StudiosPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Same family of tower defense games: deep simulation, real-time strategy and tower defense planning

≠ Stands apart with sandbox freedom, sandbox world and open world exploration, while skipping visual novel storytelling

Stronghold is a real-time strategy game, the first installment in Firefly Studio’s Stronghold series. Gameplay### The game takes place in Medieval Brittan of XI century.

Where it drifts furthest from Citadels: world.

Genre100Tone100Progression92Setting89Visuals77Combat68

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalDarkCasualCozy

Steam👍 98%· 152KRAWG👍 93%· 733MC87IGDB80· 1

Year 2010Dev PopCap Games · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, deep simulation and real-time strategy

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, survival mechanics and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping visual novel storytelling

This is a casual tower defense game from the PopCap Games studio. The main characters are homeowners who, with the help of plants, protect their garden from the invasion of zombies. The game was ported to all kinds of consoles, including mobile platforms. In Plants vs.

Where it drifts furthest from Citadels: tone and setting.

Genre100Game mode100Combat72Tone0Setting0Visuals0

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalMeleeHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 93%· 14KIGDB67· 2OC71· 29

Year 2018Dev Plausible Concept · Raw FuryOn PS4 · PC · Mac

✓ Same family of tower defense games: deep simulation, real-time strategy and tower defense planning

≠ Its own twist: turn-based strategy, puzzle design and adventure storytelling, while skipping visual novel storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Citadels: tone and world.

Released 5 years after Citadels.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting60Tone0

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloNarrativeBase BuildingManagementCozy

Steam👍 89%· 1.6KRAWG👍 30%· 20IGDB80· 1OC66· 10

Year 2013Dev Teyon · AGM PLAYISMPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Nintendo

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with deep simulation, real-time strategy and tower defense planning

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, turn-based strategy and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping visual novel storytelling

Welcome to Unholy Heights, a mashup of Tower Defense and Apartment Management Simulation! The Devil has converted a tenement building into monsters-only housing, and has big plans for the future. Sucker monsters into moving into your building, charge them rent and keep them happy by buying them furniture.

Where it drifts furthest from Citadels: world and visuals.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Tone29World0Visuals0

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Steam GOG PS

#9Gratuitous Space Battles

iRank58

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMeleeTacticalIsometricMultiplayer

Steam👍 70%· 877RAWG👍 24%· 42MC72IGDB65· 2

Year 2009Dev Positech GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of tower defense games: deep simulation, real-time strategy and tower defense planning

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, sandbox freedom and punishing difficulty, while skipping visual novel storytelling

Gratuitous Space Battles is a mix of real-time strategy and tactics of Tower Defense, altogether featuring a science-fiction setting of space warfare.

Where it drifts furthest from Citadels: tone and world.

Genre100Combat100Game mode54Visuals43Tone0Setting0

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Steam

#10Castle StoryClosest on setting

iRank63

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloHistoricalMedievalBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 65%· 11KRAWG👍 59%· 27

Year 2012Dev Sauropod StudioPlaytime ~3hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing deep simulation, real-time strategy and tower defense planning

≠ Stands apart with sandbox freedom, survival mechanics and adventure storytelling, while skipping visual novel storytelling

An epic adventure awaits you in Castle Story, a strategy game where you command friendly creatures called Bricktrons. Have them explore, carve, dig and gather resources from vast, spectacular floating islands, reshaping the voxel-based world to your desire!

Where it drifts furthest from Citadels: combat and world.

Genre100Setting100Visuals100Progression58Game mode34Combat0

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Steam

#11AI War: Fleet Command

iRank69

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalMeleeIsometricCo-op

Steam👍 82%· 1.6KRAWG👍 26%· 50MC80IGDB90· 1

Year 2009Dev Arcen GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of tower defense games: real-time strategy, deep simulation and tower defense planning

≠ Where it differs: brings turn-based strategy, punishing difficulty and open world exploration, while skipping visual novel storytelling

###Impulse A real-time strategy developed by independent developers from Arcen Games. The game first appeared on the public in 2009 on the developer's site and the Impulse site, and later appeared on Steam in version 2.0.

Where it drifts furthest from Citadels: tone and world.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode33Tone0Setting0

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Steam GOG

#12Thronefall

iRank90

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalMeleeMedievalBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 23KRAWG👍 85%· 37OC86· 9

Year 2023Dev GrizzlyGamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Nintendo

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, deep simulation and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with fighting mechanics, survival mechanics and fantasy world, while skipping real-time strategy

Get involved! About the GameA strategy game without all the headache? We got you covered. Saddle the horses! See your kingdom come to life, fight gripping battles to defend it and still be done in time for lunch.

Released 10 years after Citadels.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression72Visuals70Setting62

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Steam

#13Kingdom Two Crowns

iRank86

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloNarrativeMedievalBase BuildingMultiplayer

Steam👍 90%· 38KOC78· 25

Year 2018Dev Noio · Raw FuryOn PS4 · Linux · Android

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, deep simulation and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, survival mechanics and deep RPG systems, while skipping real-time strategy

Where it drifts furthest from Citadels: visuals and game mode.

Released 5 years after Citadels.

Genre100Tone100Progression71Setting60Game mode20Visuals0

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Steam GOG Xbox

#14Creeper World: Anniversary Edition

iRank97

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

Solo

Steam👍 97%· 966

Year 2016Dev Knuckle CrackerPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Nearly identical: deep simulation, tower defense planning and single-player focus.

≠ Missing: real-time strategy.

Yes, this is your grandfather's Creeper World. Now on Steam and with updated unit graphics! Imagine an enemy that is everywhere and moves like a giant, organic mass across the map. Imagine your base and your people surrounded by a blanket of crushing destruction from all directions.

Released 3 years after Citadels.

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Steam

#15Gratuitous Tank Battles

iRank58

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloSci-Fi

Steam👍 52%· 103MC69

Year 2012Dev Positech GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with deep simulation, tower defense planning and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings setting scifi, while skipping real-time strategy

Gratuitous Tank Battles (GTB) is a unique hybrid of tower-defense, strategy, simulation and RTS. Set in an alternate history timeline where World War I never ends, you are the commander of allied forces fighting right up to the year 2114, where Mechs and lasers are used alongside tanks and rifles.

Where it drifts furthest from Citadels: setting.

Genre100Game mode100Setting0

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Steam

Complete list of simulation games like Citadels

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Citadels, 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.