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24 Games with a sci-fi setting like StarCraft that you should try

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We filtered the 50 games similar to StarCraft down to the 24 that fit the “Sci-Fi” category. Oil Rush, Gratuitous Space Battles and Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to StarCraft.

iRank88/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

Tags

SoloMultiplayer

Year 1998Dev Blizzard Entertainment

Quick answer

Within the “Sci-Fi” category, the closest game to StarCraft is Oil Rush — scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. Gratuitous Space Battles and Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars follow close behind.

#1Oil Rush95 #2Gratuitous Space Battles94 #3Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars94 #4Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time92 #5Sol Survivor89

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The best games with a sci-fi setting like StarCraft

24 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to StarCraft. Each one has been evaluated across 10 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.

95

Oil Rush

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerSci-FiIsometricPost-Apocalyptic

Steam👍 58%· 535RAWG👍 13%· 54MC67IGDB50· 2

Year 2012Dev UniginePlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with real-time strategy, tower defense planning and setting scifi

≠ Its own twist: post-apocalyptic world, while skipping combat tactical

#2Gratuitous Space Battles

94

Gratuitous Space Battles

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerMeleeTacticalSci-FiIsometric

Steam👍 70%· 877RAWG👍 24%· 42MC72IGDB65· 2

Year 2009Dev Positech GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of tower defense games: real-time strategy, tower defense planning and melee combat

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, turn-based strategy and sandbox freedom, while skipping loot and gear systems

#3Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

94

Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerMeleeTacticalSci-FiIsometric

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, tower defense planning and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, strong narrative focus and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping loot and gear systems

#4Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time

92

Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalSci-FiDark

IGDB80· 1

Year 2013Dev PopCap Games · Electronic ArtsOn Android · iOS

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

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

89

Sol Survivor

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerSci-FiCo-opDark

Steam👍 90%· 439MC75

Year 2010Dev Cadenza InteractivePlaytime ~5hOn PC

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, setting scifi and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: survival mechanics, roguelike runs and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping real-time strategy

#6Infested Planet

89

Infested Planet

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalMeleeSci-FiIsometric

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 visual topdown and visual 2d, while skipping multiplayer gameplay

#7AI War: Fleet Command

89

AI War: Fleet Command

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalMeleeSci-FiIsometric

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, tower defense planning and combat tactical

≠ Where it differs: brings deep simulation, turn-based strategy and punishing difficulty, while skipping loot and gear systems

#8Gratuitous Tank Battles

88

Gratuitous Tank Battles

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloSci-Fi

Steam👍 52%· 103MC69

Year 2012Dev Positech GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, setting scifi and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings deep simulation, while skipping real-time strategy

#9Defense Grid: The Awakening

88

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, real-time strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, while skipping melee combat

#10Harvest: Massive Encounter

87

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 setting scifi

≠ Its own twist: base building, while skipping combat tactical

#11Revenge of the Titans

83

Revenge of the Titans

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMeleeSci-FiIsometricHardcore

Steam👍 82%· 1.3KRAWG👍 38%· 94MC79IGDB70· 1

Year 2010Dev Puppygames · Puppy GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

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

≠ Its own twist: punishing difficulty, visual pixel and visual 2d, while skipping combat tactical

82

Robowars

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalMeleeSci-FiIsometric

Steam👍 46%· 290

Year 2014Dev N-Game Studios · KissPlaytime ~3hOn PC

✓ Same family of tower defense games: tower defense planning, real-time strategy and combat tactical

≠ Where it differs: brings card game strategy, setting cyberpunk and historical setting, while skipping multiplayer gameplay

#13Unstoppable Gorg

81

Unstoppable Gorg

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMeleeSci-FiIsometricCasual

Steam👍 79%· 307MC73IGDB73· 2

Year 2012Dev FuturemarkPlaytime ~1hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Same family of tower defense games: tower defense planning, melee combat and setting scifi

≠ Stands apart with vibe casual and setting space, while skipping real-time strategy

#14Anomaly: Warzone Earth

81

Anomaly: Warzone Earth

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMeleeSci-FiIsometricFantasy

Steam👍 87%· 4.7KRAWG👍 45%· 226MC80IGDB85· 5

Year 2011Dev 11 Bit Studios · Microsoft StudiosPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing real-time strategy, tower defense planning and melee combat

≠ Where it differs: brings fantasy world and historical setting, while skipping combat tactical

#15StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void

52

StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalSci-FiLootSkill TreeIsometric

IGDB90· 8

Year 2015Dev Blizzard EntertainmentOn PC · Mac

✓ Nearly identical: real-time strategy, combat tactical and setting scifi.

≠ Missing: tower defense planning.

Complete list of games with a sci-fi setting like StarCraft

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

Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising

Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising

Turn-Based Strat

Advance Wars: Dual Strike

Advance Wars: Dual Strike

Simulation · Turn-Based Strat

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade

RTS

Homeworld

Homeworld

RTS · Adventure

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

RTS

Advance Wars

Advance Wars

Simulation · Turn-Based Strat

Star Wars: Empire at War

Star Wars: Empire at War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Command & Conquer: Generals

Command & Conquer: Generals

RTS

Command & Conquer

Command & Conquer

RTS

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Rankings in the same genre

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