Stronghold

29 Simulation games like Stronghold that you should try

Games like Stronghold · Find similar →

More about this game →

Filter by:Simulation×← Back to home

We filtered the 50 games similar to Stronghold down to the 29 that fit the “Simulation” category. Stronghold Crusader, Stronghold HD (2012) and Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Stronghold.

iRank91/ 100

Did you find what you were looking for?

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

Tags

NarrativeSoloMultiplayer

Year 2001Dev Firefly Studios

Stores

Quick answer

Within the “Simulation” category, the closest game to Stronghold is Stronghold Crusader — scoring 96/100 on our similarity scale. Stronghold HD (2012) and Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition follow close behind.

#1Stronghold Crusader96 #2Stronghold HD (2012)94 #3Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition92 #4Gratuitous Space Battles82 #5Castle Story80

🗳️

Help us build the best rankings

Community powered

Vote on each result below — good match or not. Every vote directly shapes how we rank similar games for everyone.

The best simulation games like Stronghold

29 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Stronghold. 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.

#1Stronghold Crusader

96

Stronghold Crusader

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalMeleeRangedSandbox WorldHistoricalMedievalFantasyBase BuildingManagementIsometric2D

Steam👍 98%· 21KIGDB80· 1

Year 2002Dev Firefly Studios · Take-Two InteractiveOn PC

✓ Nearly identical: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and real-time strategy.

≠ Missing: strong narrative focus.

#2Stronghold HD (2012)

94

Stronghold HD (2012)

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldMedievalHistoricalFantasyBase BuildingManagementExplorationIsometric2D

Steam👍 96%· 10KRAWG👍 82%· 310MC81

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

✓ Nearly identical: deep simulation, real-time strategy and sandbox freedom.

≠ Missing: melee combat.

#3Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition

92

Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

MultiplayerNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldMedievalHistoricalBase BuildingManagementExplorationIsometric2D

Steam👍 86%· 10KRAWG👍 79%· 23

Year 2023Dev FireFly StudiosPlaytime ~4hOn PC

✓ Nearly identical: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and real-time strategy.

≠ Missing: combat tactical.

#4Gratuitous Space Battles

82

Gratuitous Space Battles

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerMeleeTacticalSandbox WorldIsometric2D

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 sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, punishing difficulty and setting scifi, while skipping strong narrative focus

80

Castle Story

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerSandbox WorldOpen WorldHistoricalMedievalBase BuildingExplorationIsometric

Steam👍 65%· 11KRAWG👍 59%· 27

Year 2012Dev Sauropod StudioPlaytime ~3hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing deep simulation, sandbox freedom and real-time strategy

≠ Stands apart with survival mechanics, adventure storytelling and combat magic, while skipping strong narrative focus

#6Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

91

Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerMeleeTacticalNarrativeHistoricalBase 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: real-time strategy, deep simulation and tower defense planning

≠ Its own twist: setting scifi and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping sandbox freedom

#7Rise to Ruins

83

Rise to Ruins

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloSandbox WorldFantasyBase BuildingManagement2D

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 sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: survival mechanics, roguelike runs and procedural generation, while skipping real-time strategy

#8Craft The World

82

Craft The World

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerSandbox WorldOpen WorldFantasyMedievalBase BuildingExplorationManagement2D

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 tower defense planning

≠ Its own twist: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and survival mechanics, while skipping real-time strategy

81

Dwarfs!?

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldFantasyBase BuildingManagement2DIsometric

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, survival mechanics and vibe casual, while skipping real-time strategy

81

Bloons TD 5

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalMeleeSandbox WorldIsometric2D

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 vibe casual, co op and online features, while skipping real-time strategy

Steam PS Nintendo

#11Unholy Heights

80

Unholy Heights

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldBase BuildingManagement2D

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 puzzle design, turn-based strategy and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping sandbox freedom

#12Defense Grid: The Awakening

80

Defense Grid: The Awakening

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalIsometricSci-Fi

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, while skipping sandbox freedom

#13AI War: Fleet Command

75

AI War: Fleet Command

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalMeleeOpen WorldExplorationIsometric

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 setting scifi, while skipping sandbox freedom

#14Plants vs. Zombies

74

Plants vs. Zombies

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTactical2DDarkCasual

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 real-time strategy

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, survival mechanics and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping sandbox freedom

#157 Days to Die

72

7 Days to Die

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

MultiplayerSoloRangedMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationBase Building

Steam👍 87%· 399KRAWG👍 53%· 497IGDB36· 8OC39· 34

Year 2013Dev Telltale GamesPlaytime ~9hOn PC · PS · Xbox

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

≠ Stands apart with survival mechanics, adventure storytelling and deep RPG systems, while skipping real-time strategy

Complete list of simulation games like Stronghold

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

Bad North

Bad North

Turn-Based Strat · Simulation

Stronghold 2

Stronghold 2

RTS · Simulation

Stronghold 3 Gold

Stronghold 3 Gold

RTS · Simulation

Stronghold 2: Steam Edition

Stronghold 2: Steam Edition

RTS · Simulation

Thronefall

Thronefall

Tower Defense · Simulation

Kingdom Two Crowns

Kingdom Two Crowns

Tower Defense · Adventure

Creeper World: Anniversary Edition

Creeper World: Anniversary Edition

Simulation · Tower Defense

Gratuitous Tank Battles

Gratuitous Tank Battles

Simulation · Tower Defense

Kingdom: New Lands

Kingdom: New Lands

Tower Defense · Simulation

Farm for your Life

Farm for your Life

Simulation · Puzzle

Kingdom: Classic

Kingdom: Classic

Simulation · Adventure

Medieval II: Total War

Medieval II: Total War

RTS · Simulation

Rome: Total War

Rome: Total War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Sid Meier's Civilization® V

Sid Meier's Civilization® V

Turn-Based Strat · Simulation

Explore games similar to Stronghold by category

Rankings in the same genre

Best Tower Defense Games Best Strategy Games