9 Narrative games like Empire of the Ants 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 Empire of the Ants down to the 9 that fit the “Narrative” category. Offworld Trading Company, Stellaris and Total War: WARHAMMER III top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Empire of the Ants.

iRank76/ 100

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The best narrative games like Empire of the Ants

9 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Empire of the Ants. Each one has been evaluated across 16 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.

#1Offworld Trading CompanyClosest overall match

iRank76

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opPvPNarrativeSci-FiManagementBase Building3D

Steam👍 77%· 5.7KRAWG👍 58%· 122MC78IGDB89· 3OC81· 21

Year 2016Dev Mohawk Games · Stardock EntertainmentPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with survival mechanics, setting space and online features, while skipping turn-based strategy

In the sci-fi game Offworld Trading Company, the player can lead an interplanetary corporation in a futuristic trade war for control of Mars. ###Gameplay The game mixes resource mining and construction used in real-time strategies with a stronger economic element.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone100Game mode89Progression87Visuals59Setting54

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Steam GOG Epic

#2StellarisClosest on combat

iRank82

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalNarrativeSci-FiManagement

Steam👍 86%· 194KRAWG👍 84%· 693MC78IGDB79· 11OC81· 42

Year 2016Dev Paradox Development Studio · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~10hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, deep simulation and turn-based strategy

≠ Stands apart with sandbox freedom, sandbox world and procedural generation, while skipping adventure storytelling

Nova Edition Stellaris Nova Edition includes:Digital Original SoundtrackThe Stellaris soundtrack delivers two and a half hours of original music, including bonus tracks and alternate versions not included in the game.

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: visuals and setting.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Tone100Game mode49Progression45Setting41

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Steam GOG

#3Total War: WARHAMMER IIIClosest on game mode

iRank78

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opPvPTacticalNarrativeFantasy

Steam👍 70%· 143KRAWG👍 79%· 68MC85IGDB78· 3OC86· 72

Year 2022Dev Creative Assembly · SEGAPlaytime ~17hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and historical setting, while skipping adventure storytelling

Far beyond the world and its petty wars there exists a dimension of pure, malevolent magic: The Realm of Chaos. It is a terrible place, incomprehensible to the mortal mind. It whispers promises of power, but to behold it is to be seduced by it. To relinquish your soul to it. To become it.

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: visuals and setting.

Genre100Game mode94Combat79Tone57Setting41Visuals0

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Steam Epic

#4Anno 2070Closest on setting

iRank70

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opNarrativeSci-FiBase BuildingManagement

Steam👍 61%· 13KRAWG👍 71%· 157MC83IGDB75· 1

Year 2011Dev Blue Byte · Ubisoft EntertainmentPlaytime ~11hOn PC

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, deep simulation and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: sandbox freedom, sandbox world and exploration and discovery, while skipping turn-based strategy

This is the fifth game in a series of Anno games. The game genre remains unchanged - this is a real-time strategy with a variety of elements from other genres included in it: from the city construction and management simulator to submarine battles.

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against mostly positive for Empire of the Ants.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone100Progression92Setting75Game mode74Visuals0

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Steam Epic

#5Tropico 6Closest on progression

iRank83

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opNarrativeBase BuildingManagement

Steam👍 88%· 29KIGDB77· 8OC79· 85

Year 2019Dev Limbic Entertainment · Kalypso MediaOn Xbox · PS4 · Linux

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, deep simulation and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: sandbox freedom, sandbox world and visual isometric, while skipping turn-based strategy

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: visuals.

Genre100Tone100Progression100Game mode75Visuals0

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalNarrativeFantasy

Steam👍 82%· 37KIGDB77· 10OC79· 47

Year 2015Dev The Creative Assembly · SegaOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with melee combat, historical setting and setting medieval, while skipping adventure storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: visuals and setting.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone100Combat92Game mode75Setting32Visuals0

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Steam GOG

#7Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising

iRank72

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalNarrativeSci-FiFantasyBase Building

Steam👍 83%· 5.7KRAWG👍 69%· 242MC64IGDB60· 1

Year 2009Dev Electronic Arts Los Angeles · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, strong narrative focus and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with melee combat, setting anime and historical setting, while skipping turn-based strategy

An expansion to Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 that can be played without the original game. Uprising features additional campaigns for three factions: the Allies, the Soviets, and the Empire of the Rising Sun.

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: visuals.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone100Game mode74Progression72Combat66Setting58

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Steam

#8Football Club Simulator - FCS #21

iRank65

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalNarrativeManagement3D

Steam👍 65%· 286

Year 2016Dev The Football Club Simulator Company · FX InteractivePlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings sports simulation, vibe casual and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping turn-based strategy

The real-time club simulator What is it? Simple, really… Football Club Simulator gives you total control of your team through an elegant and powerful interface. This means that the player gets to make all the decisions of the Club as Head Coach, Manager, and Chairman.

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: tone and game mode.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against mostly positive for Empire of the Ants.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Progression68Game mode49Visuals49Tone31