Plants vs. Zombies

28 RTS games like Plants vs. Zombies that you should try

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Plants vs. Zombies down to the 28 that fit the “RTS” category. Bad North, Unholy Heights and Castle Story top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Plants vs. Zombies.

iRank90/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

Tags

DarkCasualSolo

Year 2010Dev PopCap Games

Stores

Steam ↗Xbox ↗

Quick answer

Within the “RTS” category, the closest game to Plants vs. Zombies is Bad North — scoring 85/100 on our similarity scale. Unholy Heights and Castle Story follow close behind.

#1Bad North85 #2Unholy Heights94 #3Castle Story68 #4Defense Grid: The Awakening91 #5Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time85

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The best rTS games like Plants vs. Zombies

28 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Plants vs. Zombies. Each one has been evaluated across 12 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.

85

Bad North

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalCozyMeleeProcedural

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, adventure storytelling and roguelike runs, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

#2Unholy Heights

94

Unholy Heights

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloCozyCasual2DNarrative

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 turn-based strategy, strong narrative focus and open world exploration, while skipping survival mechanics

68

Castle Story

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMagicSandbox World

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 survival mechanics

≠ Stands apart with sandbox freedom, adventure storytelling and sandbox world, while skipping puzzle design

#4Defense Grid: The Awakening

91

Defense Grid: The Awakening

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalSci-FiIsometric

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 and visual isometric, while skipping puzzle design

#5Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time

85

Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalDarkHorror2D

IGDB80· 1

Year 2013Dev PopCap Games · Electronic ArtsOn Android · iOS

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with real-time strategy, survival mechanics and tower defense planning

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, setting scifi and historical setting, while skipping puzzle design

#6Stronghold Crusader

81

Stronghold Crusader

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTactical2DMultiplayerMelee

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 melee combat, while skipping puzzle design

#7Stronghold HD (2012)

77

Stronghold HD (2012)

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTactical2DMultiplayerNarrative

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, strong narrative focus and sandbox world, while skipping puzzle design

#8Gratuitous Space Battles

75

Gratuitous Space Battles

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTactical2DMultiplayerMelee

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 puzzle design

74

Stronghold

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTactical2DMultiplayerMelee

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, strong narrative focus and sandbox world, while skipping puzzle design

#10Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

73

Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalMultiplayerMeleeNarrative

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: strong narrative focus, melee combat and setting scifi, while skipping puzzle design

#11AI War: Fleet Command

72

AI War: Fleet Command

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalCo-opMultiplayerMelee

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 puzzle design

#12iBomber Defense

93

iBomber Defense

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloCasual

Steam👍 74%· 245IGDB70· 1

Year 2010Dev Cobra MobilePlaytime ~2hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Nearly identical: tower defense planning, real-time strategy and vibe casual.

≠ Missing: puzzle design.

#13Harvest: Massive Encounter

91

Harvest: Massive Encounter

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloSci-FiBase Building

Steam👍 79%· 162

Year 2008Dev Oxeye Game StudioPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of tower defense games: tower defense planning, real-time strategy and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: setting scifi and base building, while skipping puzzle design

#14Infested Planet

89

Infested Planet

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTactical2DMeleeSci-Fi

Steam👍 94%· 3.0KRAWG👍 59%· 44MC75OC77· 10

Year 2013Dev Rocket Bear GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with real-time strategy, tower defense planning and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with melee combat, setting scifi and visual isometric, while skipping puzzle design

#15iBomber Defense Pacific

86

iBomber Defense Pacific

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalCasual2DMelee

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, punishing difficulty and melee combat, while skipping puzzle design

Complete list of rTS games like Plants vs. Zombies

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Plants vs. Zombies, 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.

Cubemen

Cubemen

Tower Defense · RTS

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StarCraft

RTS · Tower Defense

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Oil Rush

RTS · Tower Defense

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Atom Zombie Smasher

Tower Defense · Sandbox

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Swords and Soldiers HD

RTS · Tower Defense

Anomaly: Warzone Earth

Anomaly: Warzone Earth

RTS · Tower Defense

Robowars

Robowars

Tower Defense · RTS

Clash of Clans

Clash of Clans

RTS · Tower Defense

Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense

Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense

Tower Defense · RTS

Revenge of the Titans

Revenge of the Titans

Tower Defense · RTS

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Defenders of Ardania

Tower Defense · RTS

Clash Royale

Clash Royale

RTS · Deck Builder

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Plague Inc.

RTS · Simulation

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