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Rise to Ruins

50 Games like Rise to Ruins that you should try

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Looking for games like Rise to Ruins? We analyzed its gameplay DNA — tower defense planning, sandbox world and fantasy world — against over 6,700 titles. These 50 alternatives are ranked by real similarity, not marketing tags. Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense leads with 94/100, followed by the rest of the list.

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GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense
Tags
Solo
Year 2019Dev Raymond Doerr

Quick answer

The closest game to Rise to Ruins is Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense — scoring 94/100 on our similarity scale. GemCraft - Chasing Shadows and Thronefall follow close behind.

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Top games similar to Rise to Ruins

50 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Rise to Ruins. Each one has been evaluated across 14 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.

Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense
StrategyTower Defense
SoloFantasy2DPixel ArtMagic
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, fantasy world and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with real-time strategy, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty, while skipping deep simulation

GemCraft - Chasing Shadows
StrategyTower Defense
SoloFantasyMeleeTop-Down
Steam👍 95%· 4.4KRAWG👍 58%· 39
Year 2015Dev Game in a Bottle · Armor GamesPlaytime ~5hOn PC

✓ Same family of tower defense games: tower defense planning, fantasy world and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with melee combat and visual topdown, while skipping deep simulation

Thronefall
StrategyTower Defense
SoloFantasyBase BuildingTacticalMelee
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, combat tactical and melee combat, while skipping sandbox freedom

Creeper World: Anniversary Edition
StrategyTower Defense
Solo
Steam👍 97%· 966
Year 2016Dev Knuckle CrackerPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Nearly identical: deep simulation, tower defense planning and single-player focus.

≠ Missing: survival mechanics.

Go Home Dinosaurs!
StrategyTower Defense
SoloFantasyCasualCozyHistorical
Steam👍 87%· 623MC79
Year 2013Dev Fire Hose GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · iOS

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, fantasy world and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, vibe casual and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping deep simulation

Plants vs. Zombies
StrategyTower Defense
Solo2DTacticalDarkCasual
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 dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping sandbox freedom

Prime World: Defenders
StrategyTower Defense
SoloFantasyTacticalCasual
Steam👍 76%· 1.1KRAWG👍 54%· 50MC58
Year 2013Dev Nival Interactive · NivalPlaytime ~5hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Same family of tower defense games: tower defense planning, fantasy world and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and card game strategy, while skipping deep simulation

Kingdom: Classic
StrategyTower Defense
SoloProceduralFantasyBase BuildingManagement2DPixel 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 vibe casual, while skipping sandbox freedom

Anomaly: Warzone Earth
StrategyTower Defense
SoloFantasyMeleeSci-FiHistorical
Steam👍 87%· 4.7KRAWG👍 45%· 226MC80IGDB85· 5
Year 2011Dev 11 Bit Studios · Microsoft StudiosPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing tower defense planning, fantasy world and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings real-time strategy, melee combat and setting scifi, while skipping deep simulation

Kingdom: New Lands
StrategyTower Defense
SoloProceduralFantasyBase BuildingPixel Art2D
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, strong narrative focus and punishing difficulty, while skipping sandbox freedom

Defense Grid: The Awakening
StrategyTower 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 single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with real-time strategy, combat tactical and setting scifi, while skipping survival mechanics

Harvest: Massive Encounter
StrategyTower Defense
SoloBase BuildingSci-Fi
Steam👍 79%· 162
Year 2008Dev Oxeye Game StudioPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of tower defense games: tower defense planning, single-player focus and base building

≠ Its own twist: real-time strategy and setting scifi, while skipping deep simulation

Infested Planet
StrategyTower Defense
Solo2DTacticalMeleeSci-Fi
Steam👍 94%· 3.0KRAWG👍 59%· 44MC75OC77· 10
Year 2013Dev Rocket Bear GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, single-player focus and visual 2d

≠ Stands apart with real-time strategy, combat tactical and melee combat, while skipping deep simulation

Farm for your Life
StrategyTower Defense
SoloManagementCasualCozyDark
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 vibe casual, while skipping sandbox freedom

iBomber Defense
StrategyTower Defense
SoloCasual
Steam👍 74%· 245IGDB70· 1
Year 2010Dev Cobra MobilePlaytime ~2hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing tower defense planning and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with real-time strategy and vibe casual, while skipping deep simulation

Complete list of Rise to Ruins alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Rise to Ruins, 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.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Rise to Ruins?
The closest game to Rise to Ruins is Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense, scoring 94/100 on our similarity scale. They share 5 gameplay attributes, including tower defense planning, single-player focus and fantasy world. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Rise to Ruins?
The three closest games to Rise to Ruins are: 1. Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense (94/100, 5 shared attributes) 2. GemCraft - Chasing Shadows (96/100, 3 shared attributes) 3. Thronefall (93/100, 6 shared attributes). All share Rise to Ruins's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 14 dimensions.
Is GemCraft - Chasing Shadows similar to Rise to Ruins?
Yes, very much so — GemCraft - Chasing Shadows scores 96/100 similarity to Rise to Ruins. They share 3 attributes, including tower defense planning and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Tower Defense games are similar to Rise to Ruins?
The best Tower Defense games similar to Rise to Ruins are Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense, GemCraft - Chasing Shadows, Thronefall and Creeper World: Anniversary Edition. All share the Tower Defense genre alongside other key Rise to Ruins attributes like tower defense planning, single-player focus and fantasy world.
How is similarity to Rise to Ruins calculated?
We compare Rise to Ruins against every game in our catalog using 14 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 Rise to Ruins experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.