10 Narrative games like Gnomes 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 Gnomes down to the 10 that fit the “Narrative” category. Unholy Heights, Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense and Ultimate Arena top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Gnomes.

iRank95/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

The best narrative games like Gnomes

10 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.

#1Unholy HeightsClosest on genre

iRank68

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloCozyCasualNarrativeBase BuildingManagement

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, tower defense planning and turn-based strategy

≠ Stands apart with real-time strategy, puzzle design and open world exploration, while skipping roguelike runs

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 Gnomes: world and visuals.

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

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

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Tone78World0Visuals0

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Steam GOG PS

#2Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower DefenseClosest on visuals

iRank90

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloHardcoreNarrativeCasualFantasyIsometricPixel Art

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, punishing difficulty and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with real-time strategy, adventure storytelling and combat magic, while skipping turn-based strategy

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 Gnomes: combat.

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

Genre100Game mode100Visuals84Tone70Setting53Combat0

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Steam GOG Nintendo

#3Ultimate ArenaClosest on combat

iRank54

GenreStrategySubgenreGrand Strategy

SoloTacticalCozyNarrativeCasualSandbox WorldProceduralFantasyIsometricPixel Art

Steam👍 80%· 992RAWG👍 14%· 21

Year 2016Dev TriverskePlaytime ~4hOn PC · Linux

✓ Like Gnomes, it's known for turn-based strategy, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Where it differs: brings horror tension, horror setting and historical setting, while skipping tower defense planning

Many will enter, one will win. It has taken a few millennia for the art of the arena to be perfected, but we've finally done it. Ultimate Arena puts you in charge of the greatest battle royale, the one that you pick who fights and the conditions they fight under. Take charge by setting up landmines, deploying care packages, and initiating arena events.

Where it drifts furthest from Gnomes: setting.

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

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

Combat100Game mode100World100Visuals80Tone78Genre50

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Steam

#4Dwarfs!?Closest overall match

iRank54

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

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

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Steam

#7Stronghold 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

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

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloNarrativeFantasyBase BuildingPixel Art

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 survival mechanics

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, deep RPG systems and setting medieval, 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.

Genre100Progression69Visuals58Setting52Tone24Game mode20

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Steam GOG Xbox

#10Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

iRank86

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalNarrativeBase 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: deep simulation, tower defense planning and strong narrative focus

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

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 Gnomes: setting and tone.

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

It predates Gnomes by 18 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression67Combat66Visuals57Game mode54Tone17

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Steam Xbox

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