What is the best game similar to Gnomes?

The closest game to Gnomes is Rise to Ruins, scoring 86/100 on our similarity scale. They share 12 gameplay attributes, including tower defense planning, deep simulation and survival mechanics. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like Gnomes?

The three closest games to Gnomes are: 1. Rise to Ruins (86/100, 12 shared attributes) 2. Craft The World (71/100, 13 shared attributes) 3. Dwarfs!? (78/100, 14 shared attributes). All share Gnomes's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 20 dimensions.

Is Craft The World similar to Gnomes?

Yes, very much so — Craft The World scores 71/100 similarity to Gnomes. They share 13 attributes, including deep simulation and sandbox freedom. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What Tower Defense games are similar to Gnomes?

The best Tower Defense games similar to Gnomes are Rise to Ruins, Craft The World, Dwarfs!? and Kingdom: New Lands. All share the Tower Defense genre alongside other key Gnomes attributes like tower defense planning, deep simulation and survival mechanics.

How is similarity to Gnomes calculated?

We compare Gnomes against every game in our catalog using 20 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 Gnomes experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

50 Games like Gnomes that you should try

Games like Gnomes · Find similar →

More about this game →

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

Looking for games like Gnomes? We analyzed its gameplay DNA — tower defense planning, vibe casual and procedural generation — against over 6,700 titles. These 50 alternatives are ranked by real similarity, not marketing tags. Rise to Ruins leads with 86/100, followed by the rest of the list.

iRank95/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

Top games similar to Gnomes

50 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Gnomes. Each one has been evaluated across 20 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.

#1Rise to RuinsClosest overall match

iRank80

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloSandbox WorldProceduralFantasyBase BuildingManagementPixel Art

Steam👍 88%· 7.7KRAWG👍 68%· 40

Year 2019Dev Raymond Doerr · SixtyGig GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing tower defense planning, deep simulation and survival mechanics

≠ Its own twist: visual 2d and early access, while skipping turn-based strategy

Follow Development About the Game Rise to Ruins is at heart a godlike village simulator, but it also throws in plenty of familiar game play mechanics from classic 90s era real-time strategy games like Warcraft, along with some tower defense and survival elements in an attempt to create a new kind…

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Gnomes.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100World100Progression100Visuals66

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloCasualHardcoreSandbox WorldProceduralFantasyBase 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 survival mechanics

≠ Its own twist: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and open world exploration, while skipping turn-based 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 Gnomes: visuals and game mode.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Gnomes.

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

Genre100World86Setting65Progression60Tone54Game mode35

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloCasualNarrativeSandbox WorldProceduralFantasyBase BuildingManagementPixel ArtIsometric

Steam👍 78%· 1.1KRAWG👍 18%· 56

Year 2011Dev Power of 2 · Tripwire InteractivePlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

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

≠ Stands apart with precision platforming, open world exploration and visual topdown, while skipping turn-based strategy

Dwarfs!? is a two-dimensional RTS developed by Power Of Two. ###Gameplay The players control a mining colony of dwarves, who dig for treasures. The players have to mine the resources and to protect the colony from environmental hazards, such as water and lava and different enemies.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Gnomes.

It predates Gnomes by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Progression100World84Visuals62

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloNarrativeHardcoreProceduralFantasyBase BuildingPixel Art

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 adventure storytelling, open world exploration and setting medieval, while skipping turn-based strategy

Where it drifts furthest from Gnomes: tone.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Gnomes.

It predates Gnomes by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World67Visuals62Progression59Setting52

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalCozyProceduralIsometric

Steam👍 93%· 14KIGDB67· 2OC71· 29

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

✓ Same family of tower defense games: turn-based strategy, deep simulation and tower defense planning

≠ Its own twist: real-time strategy, puzzle design and adventure storytelling, while skipping sandbox freedom

Where it drifts furthest from Gnomes: setting and tone.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Gnomes.

Genre100Game mode100Combat79World76Visuals57Tone38

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloCasualNarrativeProceduralFantasyBase BuildingManagementPixel Art

Steam👍 91%· 23KIGDB70· 2

Year 2015Dev Licorice · Raw FuryOn Linux · PC · Mac

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

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, deep RPG systems and ranged combat, while skipping turn-based strategy

Where it drifts furthest from Gnomes: combat and setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Gnomes.

It predates Gnomes by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100World74Visuals57Tone48

Details →

Steam

#7Plants vs. ZombiesClosest on combat

iRank91

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 survival mechanics

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, real-time strategy and horror setting, while skipping turn-based strategy

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 Gnomes: setting and visuals.

It predates Gnomes by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone76Setting0Visuals0

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalFantasyBase 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 survival mechanics

≠ Stands apart with fighting mechanics, melee combat and setting medieval, while skipping turn-based 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.

Where it drifts furthest from Gnomes: visuals and setting.

Genre100Game mode100Combat78Progression69Setting48Visuals47

Details →

Steam

#9Farm for your LifeClosest on tone

iRank82

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloCasualCozyDarkManagementIsometric

Steam👍 82%· 638

Year 2014Dev Hammer LabsPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with deep simulation, survival mechanics and tower defense planning

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, adventure storytelling and horror setting, while skipping turn-based strategy

Your community was taken down by a heavy storm which caused an apocalypse and unleashed the living dead. Together with the other survivors, it is your task to rebuild and to allow that sustainable life can still be assured.

Where it drifts furthest from Gnomes: setting and visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Gnomes.

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

Genre100Game mode100Tone79Progression40Visuals37Setting0

Details →

Steam Xbox

#10Stronghold HD (2012)

iRank88

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalNarrativeSandbox WorldFantasyBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 10KRAWG👍 82%· 310MC81

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

✓ Same family of tower defense games: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and tower defense planning

≠ Stands apart with real-time strategy, open world exploration and setting medieval, while skipping turn-based strategy

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 Gnomes: tone and setting.

It predates Gnomes by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Progression93Game mode55World51Visuals50

Details →

Steam GOG

#11Stronghold Crusader

iRank92

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalSandbox WorldFantasyBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 98%· 21KIGDB80· 1

Year 2002Dev Firefly Studios · Take-Two InteractiveOn PC

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing deep simulation, sandbox freedom and tower defense planning

≠ Its own twist: real-time strategy, melee combat and ranged combat, while skipping turn-based strategy

Where it drifts furthest from Gnomes: setting.

It predates Gnomes by 23 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression100Combat72World58Game mode55Visuals51

Details →

Steam

#12Stronghold

iRank96

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalNarrativeSandbox WorldFantasyBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 10K

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

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing deep simulation, sandbox freedom and tower defense planning

≠ Its own twist: real-time strategy, open world exploration and melee combat, while skipping turn-based strategy

Where it drifts furthest from Gnomes: tone and setting.

It predates Gnomes by 24 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression93Combat66Game mode55World51Visuals50

Details →

Steam

#13Bloons TD 6

iRank91

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalCasualHardcoreCozySandbox 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 combat magic, ranged combat and melee combat, while skipping turn-based strategy

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.

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

Genre100Tone78Combat59Progression49World46Visuals43

Details →

Steam Epic itch.io

#14Bloons TD 5

iRank95

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalCasualSandbox WorldIsometric

Steam👍 95%· 12K

Year 2011Dev Ninja KiwiOn PS4 · Android · PC

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing tower defense planning, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Where it differs: brings melee combat, multiplayer gameplay and co op, while skipping turn-based strategy

Where it drifts furthest from Gnomes: game mode and tone.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Gnomes.

It predates Gnomes by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat83Visuals53World40Tone31Game mode29

Details →

Steam PS Nintendo

#15Gratuitous 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, turn-based strategy and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with real-time strategy, melee combat and setting scifi, while skipping roguelike runs

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 Gnomes: setting and tone.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Gnomes.

It predates Gnomes by 16 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat80Game mode54World54Visuals33Tone29

Details →

Steam

Complete list of Gnomes alternatives

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

Kingdom Two Crowns

Tower Defense · Adventure

Defense Grid: The Awakening

Tower Defense · Simulation

Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense

Tower Defense · RTS

Go Home Dinosaurs!

Tower Defense · Puzzle

Creeper World: Anniversary Edition

Simulation · Tower Defense

Atom Zombie Smasher

Tower Defense · Sandbox

Unholy Heights

Simulation · RTS

Sol Survivor

Tower Defense · Survival

Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

RTS · Simulation

iBomber Defense Pacific

Tower Defense · RTS

Stacklands

Simulation · Deck Builder

Castle Story

Simulation · Sandbox

Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time

RTS · Adventure

Prime World: Defenders

Tower Defense · RPG

Gnomoria

Simulation · Sandbox

7 Days to Die

Survival · Simulation

Zombie Pirates

Tower Defense

Infested Planet

RTS · Tower Defense

Fieldrunners

Tower Defense

Harvest: Massive Encounter

Tower Defense · RTS

Dorfromantik

Puzzle · Simulation

iBomber Defense

Tower Defense · RTS

Gratuitous Tank Battles

Simulation · Tower Defense

GemCraft - Chasing Shadows

Tower Defense

Anomaly: Warzone Earth

RTS · Tower Defense

Ultimate Arena

Turn-Based Strat · Simulation

Unstoppable Gorg

Tower Defense

Revenge of the Titans

Tower Defense · RTS

AI War: Fleet Command

RTS · Simulation

Clash of Clans

RTS · Tower Defense

Desktop Dungeons

Roguelike · Adventure

Rock of Ages

Racing · Tower Defense

Swords and Soldiers HD

RTS · Tower Defense

StarCraft

RTS · Tower Defense

Cubemen

Tower Defense · RTS

Explore games similar to Gnomes by category

Rankings in the same genre

Best Tower Defense Games Best Strategy Games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Gnomes?: The closest game to Gnomes is Rise to Ruins, scoring 86/100 on our similarity scale. They share 12 gameplay attributes, including tower defense planning, deep simulation and survival mechanics. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Gnomes?: The three closest games to Gnomes are: 1. Rise to Ruins (86/100, 12 shared attributes) 2. Craft The World (71/100, 13 shared attributes) 3. Dwarfs!? (78/100, 14 shared attributes). All share Gnomes's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 20 dimensions.
Is Craft The World similar to Gnomes?: Yes, very much so — Craft The World scores 71/100 similarity to Gnomes. They share 13 attributes, including deep simulation and sandbox freedom. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Tower Defense games are similar to Gnomes?: The best Tower Defense games similar to Gnomes are Rise to Ruins, Craft The World, Dwarfs!? and Kingdom: New Lands. All share the Tower Defense genre alongside other key Gnomes attributes like tower defense planning, deep simulation and survival mechanics.
How is similarity to Gnomes calculated?: We compare Gnomes against every game in our catalog using 20 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 Gnomes experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.