Games like Thrive
by Revolutionary Games Studio
An evolution simulation game. Take control of your species in the environment and edit your species as a whole. Compete with other evolving species for resources on an alien planet.
View on Steam · $4.99 →
Ranked by how similar the games actually are, not by sales. Released and Price are remembered for next time.
Closest matches
$17.99The Sapling
Dec 12 · Wessel Stoop
Both: Sandbox · Science · Nature
The Sapling is a short simulation game where you design your own plants and animals, and put them in a world together. Or you turn on random mutations, and see what evolution does to your ecosystem!
Life SimSandboxGod GameScienceNatureArtificial IntelligenceSimulationProcedural GenerationDinosaursAliens👍 1,925
$1.99Gridworld
Dec 24 · DopplerFrog
Both: Sandbox · Artificial Intelligence · Science
Gridworld is an artificial life and evolution simulator. Watch creatures evolve through natural selection as they learn to find food, avoid danger, and compete with other creatures for survival.
SimulationSandboxArtificial IntelligenceScienceProcedural GenerationManagementColony SimGod GameLevel EditorPixel Graphics👍 238
$19.99SPORE™
Dec 19 · Maxis™
Both: Sandbox · Science
Be the architect of your own universe with Spore, an exciting single-player adventure. From Single Cell to Galactic God, evolve your creature in a universe of your own creations.
God GameOpen WorldSandboxColony SimSimulationExplorationSpaceCasualCuteScience👍 66,890
$3.99Tyto Ecology
Apr 14 · Immersed Games
Both: Science · Education · Nature
Build your biome! With an empty biodome as your canvas, add plants and animals from three different ecosystems. Observe interactions like hunting, blooming, and even decomposing! Will your biodome last for decades, or will it experience a total ecosystem collapse? You’re in control!
SimulationIndieStrategyCasualScienceEducationAnimalsDinosaursNatureGod Game👍 414
$17.99Niche - a genetics survival game
Sep 21 · Stray Fawn Studio
Both: Nature · Education · Sandbox
Niche - a genetics survival game is a turn-based strategy game combined with simulation and roguelike elements. Shape your own species of animals based on real genetics. Keep your species alive against all odds, such as predators, climate change and spreading sickness.
Turn-Based StrategyAdventurePuzzleSingleplayerNatureTurn-BasedRPGEducationSandboxSurvival👍 4,354
$19.99Species: Artificial Life, Real Evolution
Sep 28 · Quasar
Both: Sandbox · Science
Play with evolution! Species: ALRE is a scientifically-grounded, emergent simulation of natural selection. Creatures evolve and speciate in response to in-game mutation and selection forces, allowing you to experience and tinker with evolution in real-time.
SimulationSandboxEarly AccessGod GameScienceExperimentalIndieReal-Time with PauseSingleplayerRelaxing👍 972
$14.99Vilmonic
Nov 5 · Bludgeonsoft
Both: Nature · Sandbox · Science
Vilmonic is an artificial life simulator and genetics and evolution sandbox game. Protect and breed unique pixel-art life forms where pixels and color have meaning. Craft tools and buildings and change the environment. Find ancient tech and fend off haywire zombitons. Craft Farm Breed Evolve!
SimulationNatureSandboxCraftingGod GameCasualScienceAgricultureEducationCreature Collector
$34.99Timberborn
Mar 12 · Mechanistry
Both: Sandbox · Nature
Humans are long gone. In a world struck by droughts and toxic waste, will your lumberpunk beavers do any better? A sandbox city-building game featuring ingenious animals, vertical architecture, water physics, and terraforming. Contains high amounts of wood.
City BuilderColony SimVoxelSandboxAutomationBuildingNatureManagementBase BuildingSurvival👍 38,783
-15%$12.74Biovoid
3 days ago · Dzedou
Both: Sandbox · Nature · Procedural Generation
Biovoid is a creature-building roguelike game where you slay hordes of hostile aliens. Combine a variety of cells and mutations to create game-breaking builds and evolve from a fragile hatchling to a deadly predator.
Action RoguelikeSimulationSandboxNatureSurvivalProcedural GenerationBuildingPerma DeathDifficultAliens
-60%$7.99Terraformers
Mar 9 · Asteroid Lab
Both: Procedural Generation · Science
Terraform Mars in this turn-based colony builder and resource management game with roguelike elements. Explore the planet, develop spectacular cities, spread life and turn the Red Planet into a green one!
SimulationProcedural GenerationSurvivalAtmosphericRoguelikeSci-fiSingleplayerSpaceChoices MatterScience👍 3,031
$7.99Creature Crafter
Dec 23 · Daniel Lochner
Both: Sandbox · Character Customization
Create your own creatures to explore online worlds with friends and collect new parts to upgrade your stats and abilities! Complete quests, battle enemies, challenge friends to minigames, or just have fun roleplaying — the possibilities are endless when your imagination is the limit!
God GameOpen WorldSandboxCharacter CustomizationCreature CollectorSimulationSurvivalMultiplayerSingleplayerCollectathon👍 745
-20%$27.99RimWorld
Oct 17 · Ludeon Studios
Both: Sandbox
A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more.
Colony SimBase BuildingSurvivalStrategyManagementSandboxSingleplayerModdableSimulationSci-fi👍 208,795
$9.99Blockscape
Jul 3 · ioneo
Both: Sandbox
The ultimate block building game. Start with nothing and build an empire. Smooth voxel worlds, settlers, crafting, vehicles, and Steam multiplayer. Survival or Just Build — every item in your inventory is also a building block.
Open World Survival CraftSandboxOpen WorldSurvivalCraftingBuildingIndieMultiplayerSimulationCasual👍 727
$49.99X4: Foundations
Nov 30 · Egosoft
Both: Sandbox
Your journey to building a vast space empire begins behind the controls of a single ship. Explore, trade, fight, and build as you rise to command fleets, stations, and entire economies in a living, fully simulated universe that reacts to every decision.
SpaceSimulationOpen WorldSpace SimExplorationSandboxSci-fi4XStrategyEconomy👍 25,274
$11.99Dig or Die
Jul 10 · Gaddy Games
Both: Sandbox
Crash land on a hostile planet where you'll have to build the strongest defenses if you wish to live to escape from it. But be warned... this planet is merciless. Build strong, and smart; else physics may flood or destroy your only hopes of survival.
SurvivalOpen World Survival CraftSandboxCrafting2DOpen WorldIndieTower DefenseStrategyAction👍 3,864
$19.99Eden Crafters
May 7 · Osaris Games
Both: Sandbox
Eden Crafters is a solo or co-op open-world survival, crafting, and factory-building game where you transform a hostile planet into a habitable haven for humanity. Build, automate, and terraform. Control the climate, create a breathable atmosphere, and turn toxic lakes into water: shape a new world!
AutomationOpen World Survival CraftBase BuildingCraftingSandboxOpen WorldOnline Co-OpBuildingSurvivalAdventure👍 2,515
Planet Nomads
May 3 · Craneballs
Both: Procedural Generation · Sandbox
There's a whole planet of diverse biomes waiting for you to explore. Gather enough materials to build a mobile base that will carry everything a Nomad needs on a journey through an unknown land.
Sci-fiProcedural GenerationPhysicsOpen World Survival CraftDrivingSandboxIndieSurvivalVoxelDestruction👍 1,772
$14.99Farlanders
Jan 17 · Andrii Bychkovskyi
Both: Procedural Generation · Sandbox
Terraform, strategize, and construct a Martian colony in this retro-inspired turn-based city builder. Create a comfortable living for your citizens, research alien artifacts, and uncover the secrets of the Red Planet.
Turn-Based StrategyPixel GraphicsColony SimCity BuilderResource ManagementProcedural GenerationPuzzleStrategyBase BuildingSandbox👍 510
$23.99The Planet Crafter
Apr 10 · Miju Games
A space survival open world terraforming crafting game, designed for 1 to 10 players. Alter the ecosystem of an inhospitable planet to render it habitable for humanity. Survive, gather resources, and build your base. Then, generate oxygen, warmth, and pressure to create a brand new biosphere.
Base BuildingOpen World Survival CraftSurvivalOnline Co-OpCo-opBuildingCraftingSpaceOpen WorldExploration👍 68,913
$14.99Starbound
Jul 22 · Chucklefish
Both: Sandbox
You’ve fled your home, only to find yourself lost in space with a damaged ship. Your only option is to beam down to the planet below, repair your ship and set off to explore the universe...
Open World Survival CraftSandboxSurvivalSpaceAdventureCraftingPixel GraphicsOnline Co-OpMultiplayerOpen World👍 120,674
$24.99Oxygen Not Included
Jul 30 · Klei Entertainment
Both: Sandbox
Oxygen Not Included is a space-colony simulation game. Deep inside an alien space rock your industrious crew will need to master science, overcome strange new lifeforms, and harness incredible space tech to survive, and possibly, thrive.
Colony SimBase BuildingSurvivalResource ManagementBuildingSingleplayerManagement2DSandboxSimulation👍 135,357
-30%$10.49Craftomation 101: Programming & Craft
7 days ago · Luden.io
Both: Education · Sandbox
Program a crew of tiny robots to turn a frozen planet into a living world. Connect visual code blocks, automate crafting, and build a workforce that fuels itself. Keep the heat flowing, refine your machines, and watch your ideas come to life.
EducationProgrammingAutomationSandboxPuzzleCraftingRobotsBase BuildingStrategy2D👍 643
Also worth a look
Share some of the same DNA, but further from the original.
-60%$15.99ZEPHON
Nov 8 · Proxy Studios
Both: Sandbox · Procedural Generation
From the developers of Warhammer 40,000: Gladius, ZEPHON is a post-apocalyptic 4X strategy game built on Proxy’s unique tactical combat system. Guide survivors through a turbulent future, navigating unexpected disasters, eldritch horror and cyberpunk monstrosities. What will you do to survive?
StrategyTurn-Based4XTacticalMultiplayerLovecraftianSandboxCo-opSci-fiProcedural Generation👍 1,841
$9.99Take On Mars
Feb 9 · Bohemia Interactive
Both: Science · Sandbox
Take On Mars places you right in the middle of mankind’s most exciting undertaking. Start out in the seat of a rover operator, finish as the first human to have ever set foot on the Red Planet.
SimulationSpaceMarsExplorationSurvivalScienceBuildingMultiplayerSpace SimSandbox👍 1,750
-30%$8.39From Glory To Goo
Apr 2 · Stratagem Blue
Both: Sandbox
From Glory To Goo is a Sci-Fi survival RTS set on an alien world. Serve as humanity's bulwark by establishing a colony and supporting your colonists still in orbit. But beware, for The Goo, a relentless and shape-shifting force approaches from all sides, even above and below.
Base BuildingRTSTower DefenseReal-Time with PauseAction RTSResource ManagementColony SimCity BuilderStrategySandbox👍 1,796
$19.99Odd Realm
Aug 16 · Unknown Origin Games Inc
Both: Sandbox · Procedural Generation
Build a settlement in a realm recovering from the Fracture, a calamity that nearly destroyed the realm. Choose from several unique races, establish a new kingdom, and survive in a land filled with magic and strange creatures. Farm the land, fish the seas, or raid rival kingdoms for their treasures.
Colony SimBase BuildingSimulationManagementResource ManagementStrategySandboxSurvivalProcedural GenerationBuilding👍 955
$44.99ARK: Survival Ascended
Oct 25 · Studio Wildcard, Grove Street Games, Instinct Games
Both: Sandbox
ARK is reimagined from the ground-up into the next-generation of video game technology with Unreal Engine 5! Form a tribe, tame & breed hundreds of unique dinosaurs and primeval creatures, explore, craft, build, and fight your way to the top of the food-chain. Your new world awaits!
SurvivalOpen WorldMultiplayerDinosaursBase BuildingCraftingBuildingAdventureSandboxAction👍 106,877
$9.99Don't Starve
Apr 23 · Klei Entertainment
Both: Sandbox
Don’t Starve is an uncompromising wilderness survival game full of science and magic. Enter a strange and unexplored world full of strange creatures, dangers, and surprises. Gather resources to craft items and structures that match your survival style.
SurvivalOpen World Survival CraftCraftingAdventureIndieSandboxSingleplayerPerma DeathMultiplayerOpen World👍 97,019
FreePlanet Explorers
Nov 8 · Pathea Games
Both: Sandbox
Planet Explorers is an open world sandbox adventure RPG game set on a distant planet. The game uses a new OpenCL calculated voxel system to allow players to change the terrain in any way, create new objects such as weapons, vehicles, objects, and do it anywhere.
Open World Survival CraftSandboxOpen WorldSurvivalMultiplayerAdventureCraftingRPGExplorationBuilding👍 5,114
$29.99Eco
Feb 6 · Strange Loop Games
Build a civilization of real people, working together to advance society and stop a meteor, all without destroying the ecosystem in the process.
Early AccessBase BuildingCraftingResource ManagementTransportationTradingMultiplayerDiplomacyOpen WorldOpen World Survival Craft👍 11,376
FreeCreatures Docking Station
Dec 7 · Creature Labs
Both: Artificial Intelligence · Sandbox · Science
Raise and train a troupe of cuddly virtual life creatures that live on a Space Station. Because they have neural network brains, Norns can be taught right from wrong, but because they also have their own, individual personalities, they may not always do what you want.
Life SimCasualArtificial IntelligenceSimulationCuteModdableSandboxScienceDialogue HeavyNonlinear
$19.99PixARK
May 31 · Snail Games USA
Both: Sandbox
Enter a world of mystery, danger, ancient dinosaurs, mythical beasts, and cubes! Work by yourself or with a tribe of others to gather materials, craft useful items, tame wild creatures, and build huge bases to survive in PixARK!
SurvivalOpen WorldAdventureMultiplayerMassively MultiplayerDinosaursSandboxPixel GraphicsRPGAction👍 11,151
$14.99ARK: Survival Evolved
Aug 27 · Studio Wildcard, Instinct Games, Efecto Studios, Virtual Basement LLC
Stranded on the shores of a mysterious island, you must learn to survive. Use your cunning to kill or tame the primeval creatures roaming the land, and encounter other players to survive, dominate... and escape!
Open World Survival CraftSurvivalMultiplayerOpen WorldDinosaursCraftingBuildingAdventureBase BuildingCo-op👍 586,881
-35%$9.74Necesse
Oct 16 · Fair Games ApS
Both: Sandbox
Build, quest, and conquer across an infinite procedurally generated world. Play alone or with friends as you establish a settlement and explore deep dungeons, fight monsters and bosses, mine rare ores, craft magical equipment, recruit specialists for your colony, and more!
Open World Survival CraftPixel GraphicsMultiplayerOpen WorldSandboxSurvivalCraftingAdventureIndieRPG👍 24,443
-90%$1.29Distrust: Polar Survival
Aug 23 · Cheerdealers
Both: Procedural Generation
DISTRUST is an isometric survival adventure with procedural generation on an Arctic research station lost in the endless dark of a polar night. A story-rich fiction with multiple endings that suits both singleplayer fans and co-op enthusiasts.
SurvivalIsometricAdventureProcedural GenerationHorrorPsychedelicSurvival HorrorSingleplayerTop-DownAtmospheric👍 1,764
