8 Hardcore games like Diplomacy is Not an Option that you should try

Games like Diplomacy is Not an Option · Find similar →

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 Diplomacy is Not an Option down to the 8 that fit the “Hardcore” category. Craft The World, Bloons TD 6 and iBomber Defense Pacific top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Diplomacy is Not an Option.

iRank80/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

The best hardcore games like Diplomacy is Not an Option

8 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Diplomacy is Not an Option. Each one has been evaluated across 19 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.

#1Craft The WorldClosest overall match

iRank83

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloCo-opCasualHardcoreSandbox WorldMedievalBase BuildingManagement

Steam👍 88%· 17KRAWG👍 75%· 157

Year 2014Dev Dekovir EntertainmentPlaytime ~9hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: deep RPG systems, roguelike runs and open world exploration, while skipping real-time strategy

Craft The World is a unique sandbox strategy game, the mix of Dungeon Keeper, Terraria and Dwarf Fortress. Explore a random generated world populated by dangerous creatures, build a dwarf fortress, gather resources, and craft all the items, weapons, and armor you need.

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: visuals and setting.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone80Game mode77Progression61World59Setting42

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Steam GOG

#2Bloons TD 6Closest on world

iRank91

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloCo-opTacticalCasualHardcoreSandbox WorldManagementIsometric

Steam👍 97%· 386KRAWG👍 81%· 208

Year 2018Dev Ninja KiwiPlaytime ~8hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, sandbox freedom and survival mechanics

≠ Stands apart with cozy, relaxing feel, combat magic and ranged combat, while skipping deep simulation

The Bloons are back and better than ever! Get ready for a massive 3D tower defense game designed to give you hours and hours of the best strategy gaming available.

Genre100World100Tone73Visuals64Combat62Game mode59

1/1 agree it's a good matchDetails →

Steam Epic itch.io

#3iBomber Defense PacificClosest on tone

iRank57

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalCasualHardcoreHistorical

Steam👍 83%· 593RAWG👍 19%· 42

Year 2012Dev Cobra MobilePlaytime ~1hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing tower defense planning, real-time strategy and vibe casual

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, melee combat and visual 2d, while skipping deep simulation

iBomber Defense Pacific is the sequel to the original iBomber Defense. It is the second part in this tower defense series designed for mobile devices. ###Premise The game is set during the World War II. Unlike the original game, the sequel shifts its attention to the Pacific Theatre.

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: visuals.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone85Combat84Game mode52Setting52Visuals0

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Steam

#4Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense

iRank90

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloHardcoreCasualIsometricMagic

Steam👍 97%· 10KRAWG👍 88%· 92IGDB80· 1

Year 2013Dev Ironhide Game StudioPlaytime ~5hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, real-time strategy and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus, combat magic and melee combat, while skipping deep simulation

The world's most devilishly addictive defense game is back - welcome to Kingdom Rush: Frontiers! Bigger and badder than ever before, Kingdom Rush: Frontiers is a whole new level of the furiously fast, enchantingly charming gameplay that made the original title an award-winning hit.

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: combat and setting.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone74Visuals60Game mode52Combat0Setting0

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Steam GOG Nintendo

#5Gratuitous Space Battles

iRank58

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalHardcoreSandbox WorldIsometric

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 sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, melee combat and setting scifi, while skipping adventure 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 Diplomacy is Not an Option: setting and game mode.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Diplomacy is Not an Option.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Combat83Tone48Visuals43Game mode36

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloHardcoreMedievalBase BuildingNarrative

Steam👍 86%· 12KIGDB75· 2OC73· 12

Year 2016Dev Licorice · Raw FuryOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of tower defense games: tower defense planning, deep simulation and survival mechanics

≠ Stands apart with roguelike runs, strong narrative focus and procedural generation, while skipping real-time strategy

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: world and visuals.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression55Game mode53Setting47Tone40World0

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Steam GOG Epic

#7AI War: Fleet CommandClosest on visuals

iRank69

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

Co-opSoloTacticalHardcoreIsometric

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, open world exploration and melee combat, while skipping adventure 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 Diplomacy is Not an Option: world and setting.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Visuals100Combat86Game mode79Tone51Setting0

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Steam GOG

#8Revenge of the Titans

iRank68

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloHardcoreIsometricMeleeSci-Fi

Steam👍 82%· 1.3KRAWG👍 38%· 94MC79IGDB70· 1

Year 2010Dev Puppygames · Puppy GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, real-time strategy and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: melee combat, setting scifi and visual pixel, while skipping deep simulation

Revenge of the Titans is a sequel to Titan Attacks! In the previous game, aliens who arrived from Titan on huge spacecraft to destroy us, were successfully stopped. But they flew again - to avenge the defeat. This time they prepared a full-scale landing on the surface of the planet.

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: combat and setting.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Visuals60Game mode52Tone45Combat0Setting0

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Steam

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