Kenshi was an indie sensation! What made this game extremely popular is the fact that it does not have a linear story that you can just follow. You are the story! Your decisions make the world go round! And based on that, all the survival aspects in this open-world survival RPG make this fantasy world different. It’s full of cannibals, murderers, and a combat system to match that. And those features made this apocalypse survival simulation one of the best games ever created.

So, as you can imagine, more games wanted to imitate that element of being able to do whatever you want, free-falling, and emulate the wonderful feeling of freedom and that you are a master of your fate. So, in this list, we will show you all the games that let you create your path, armor, and sword, become a leader in your community, create your storyline, feel the hunger, suffer through the night, or have amazing dreams in your vast castle. 

Those games have so many mechanics and missions that one planet will certainly not be enough. With that in mind, let’s go over some of the most critical games, like Kenshi, that allow creating, exploring, and dying quite a lot. Let’s dive in!

• Release Date: December 2018

• Developer: Lo-Fi Games

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows

• Meta Score: 75/100

So, what exactly is Kenshi? Well, it’s full of mysteries, that’s for sure! And – one of the best survival games ever created. If you want to play a game that allows you to do everything but also – allows everything to be done to you – well then, Kenshi is one of those PC games that can change your life.

So, what are the game features you can expect from this one? This game has survival mechanics that are pushed to the limit. You need to find shelter to keep you through the night, eat, and gather resources. 

But if you spring your ankle, that’s not a med-pack kind of problem that can be solved quickly. If one of your party members suffers from that, they will slow everyone down. Oh, and that big sword you're swinging? Well, it's a no-go with a broken arm. And let's talk about back pain – it's not just a minor annoyance; it could bench you for ages. It’s like in real life – you only live once. So be extremely careful about what you do.

In this world, you can become anything you would like (or not like at all). Whether it’s an enslaved person sold for fighting, a master with hundreds of people under them, a farmer, a thief, or a meal for the whole family (yes, there are cannibals in this game), this game provides you with plenty of elements.

The most important one is the experience of the game as a whole. It combines RPG elements with RTS for fighting, but no level-scaling or someone being “just” more potent than others. There are no heroes in this game; everyone you meet has a life of their own, struggles, and getting to know you may be the biggest problem they have encountered or the rescue they were craving. 

And it’s up to you what you will do with it. You can create an army of your own, build shelter, upgrade your defenses, become a small settlement, or create a palace with your friends. Of course, only offline, as the game lacks multiplayer mode. And, with 870 square kilometers to roam through – you will surely have some stories to tell people. Remember, it may be a game for you, but for all the creatures living in this world – it’s just their life.

So, now that we know what are we dealing with, let’s go over some of the best games like Kenshi on the market. Of course, it’s a rather subjective choice, but we are positive that you will find something for yourself.

• Release Date: August 2017

• Developer: Studio Wildcard

• Platforms: Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Stadia

• Meta Score: 70/100

Next on our list is ARK: Survival Evolved, a game where you can build structures, find resources, and smash your puny victims but also…ride dinosaurs! If you want to have a Kenshi-like experience but are also a fan of some good dinosaur adventure, ARK: Survival Evolved is a game for you!

You are stranded on an alien planet with no food or clothes; you only need to know that you need to survive. Also – there’s a bunch of dinosaurs roaming around, so you have that going for you. Team up with them, force them into submission, kill or get killed – it’s the Ark world for you. The main goal is to escape this harsh wasteland, find a strategy to get out of this circumstance, and save your friends in this post-apocalyptic world! 

The survivors can interact with over 100 creatures in the game, and there are many different ways to tame nature. You can have fun flying a Pterodactyl, kill enemies from a T-Rex, and set up your camp next to a brontosaurus. The whole world is living, and you can also live among those creatures! Survival Evolved: Ark will definitely be your next favorite game!

When it comes to the gameplay itself, there is a lot of crafting and things to hunt. Everything you do will cost you some energy that you will need to take out from the wild, so be sure to manage your safety and fortress accordingly. 

The combat system is based on the FPS standards we all know and love, with bows, arrows, and other craftable items in the game, plus the involvement of the dinosaurs as well. You can level up, take control of your supplies by building your base next to precious resources, and just keep defending your group. That’s the reason you are there. Oh, and death is permanent, so keep that in mind. Have fun!

• Release Date: February 2021

• Developer: Iron Gate Studio

• Platforms: Linux, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

• Meta Score: 90/100

The subsequent survival classic on our list is Valheim. It’s a brutal, Norse mythology-inspired survival game where you craft items, protect your city, and face off against characters from myths and legends. You can create your character from scratch and head-on to prove that you are worthy to the one and only – Odin!

There are plenty of similarities between Kenshi and Valheim. Both are fantastic survival games where world management is totally up to you. In Valheim, most challenges you will face in this procedurally-generated world are about surviving and challenging yourself to even higher standards. 

The only difference between those two games is that there are probably fewer cannibals in Valheim and the whole Norse mythology aspect. And – there is plenty to do there. There are open seas that you can search through, build your own Viking ship, create a colony, lead your friends (up to 10 people in one party), watch the zombies eat their corpses, and resurrect them. Really, lots of fun activities for everyone.

The combat is stamina-based, so you need to plan your fights effectively. Additionally, there are a lot of recipes for you to explore in the game, so if you like to experiment with those, Valheim will allow you to do that. Additionally, the building system is one of the most advanced in the gaming world, with hundreds of possibilities to utilize your gathered materials. And finally – the boss battles are the cream on the top of this cake. Worth checking out if you are a Kenshi fan.

• Release Date: April 2018

• Developer: Endnight Games

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4

• Meta Score: 83/100

Next, we have The Forest, a game full of Kenshi-inspired mechanics but also – cannibals. Here’s the setting – you survive a jet crash and find yourself in a pretty unique spot on a deserted island. Additionally – there are mutant cannibals all over the map to make your day brighter.

The world of The Forest is a living and breathing one, so everything you do there will impact the overall environment. You can chop down trees to build a camp, start a fire, hunt for food, fight against mutant-cannibals, you know, everyday stuff.

The best thing about this game is how advanced your fighting with the mutant warriors can get. From something basic and small like just killing them off to advanced traps, creating fortresses on the side of the ocean, crafting weapons to keep them out of your perimeter, and just playing with them – it’s extremely satisfying.

Especially because the mutants themselves are well-designed, with some belief systems and morals they present, you can even start to feel sympathetic for them. Then you can remember that they are mutant cannibals that kill people in large quantities. So there goes the sympathy.

Overall, The Forest is an excellent stop after playing Kenshi, as it is more advanced in graphics and everything but still has this rawness in it, which made Kenshi so enjoyable. And it’s pretty gruesome as well, so it has that going for it.

• Release Date: October 2022

• Developer: TaleWorlds Entertainment

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

• Meta Score: 77/100

Mount and Blade 2: Bannerworld is the next game in the TaleWorlds Entertainment series focused on creating a realistic medieval fighting experience for all interested people. And – it works well!

The empire is at civil war in the second installment of the game. Kingdoms fight with each other in Calradia; people are more divided than ever, and a lot of things are happening at once. You have an opportunity to end this conflict once and for all. Gather the army, get followers, and battle against those terrible enemies on the front lines.

Mount and Blade 2 is essentially a medieval empire RPG simulator, where you cut all the “magical” stuff we have seen in the RPG games throughout the years and focus on the rawness of the middle ages in Europe. In this game, you can feel what it’s like to be a soldier on the front lines in one of Europe’s significant conflicts. There are no magic tricks or enchanted weapons; only you, your sword, and your enemy. Will you get them faster than they will get you? Or will you die in the process?

You can create your soldier from scratch and travel through this vast medieval world to end the civil world ruining the empire. With dozens of people fighting on the same battlefield against each other, you can be sure that none of the playthroughs will be the same. So, climb up the social ladder, gather your army, and head into the battle that will end things once and for all!

• Release Date: November 2007, May 2021 (Legendary Edition)

• Developer: Deep Silver, Warhorse Studios

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Luna

• Meta Score: 76/100

Speaking of medieval times, we have Kingdom Come: Deliverance! You came to the right place if you wanted an even more authentic experience of the middle ages. You start your journey as Henry, the son of a blacksmith. And that’s pretty much it. You were born in Medieval Bohemia, in the wrong place and time. Charles IV died, and his son, Wenecaslas, was not the best ruler you ever had. So, his brother, Sigismund the Red Fox, travels to Bohemia and kidnaps the emperor while plundering Bohemia of its resources.

Your village got burnt by Sigismund’s order with little to no survivors left. Now, you are trying to get back at the evil king of Hungary and fight the righteous fight in order to get your revenge. You meet up with Lord Radzig Kobyla, who is recruiting people wanting to fight back. Will you be able to get your hands on the evil king?

Gameplay-wise – it’s a beautiful RPG experience in the middle ages. You level up, learn new skills, get better at those you already know, upgrade your equipment, then fight some more, level up – it’s all in there!

Additionally, you have this exciting narrative that pushes the plot forward, unlike other titles on this list. Some people may like it, some don’t, but it gives you a sense of purpose in this purposeless land. The big thing about this game is how historically accurate it is. There are no magical beings roaming around; it's instead well portrayed Bohemia, full of historically accurate characters and places. So, if you are a history nerd, you will surely find something for yourself in this title, that’s for sure! 

In the end, it’s a well-put-together title that most Kenshi fans should enjoy. It has the brutality of the indie game, with some classic narrative style sprinkled over it, so you can get hung up on the story. Definitely worth checking out!

• Release Date: May 2018

• Developer: Funcom

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

• Meta Score: 68/100

But if you would like something more mythical – you have Conan: Exiles for you! It’s an online multiplayer survival to conquer them all! Sorcery, weapons, co-op, single, whatever you want – Conan: Exiles is something for everyone, especially if you are a fan of the source material.

The open world of Conan: Exiles awaits you. The plot is pretty simple. After being saved by Conan himself, you are left alone to survive in the wilderness. Hunt animals, get resources, explore this wonderful world, and feel at home! You can start wars, fight with different enemies, and even use the gods' avatars to crush your enemies and fight to be the very best.

And remember not to die in the process! Conan: Exiles is not an easy game to play, as you need to keep your food/water/astonishing levels well leveled. Sandstorms are not something out-of-ordinary for those lands, so you need to build yourself a home and, in the process, not get corrupted by the foul sorcery while exploring dungeons. Or do so if you like; it’s not like any morality is left in this forsaken world.

The combat is great, brutal, and combo-based, so learn your moves if you want to dominate the battlefield. And, while doing so, be sure not to get enslaved in the process. The game is one of those “easy-to-play, hard-to-master” sort-of titles, so if you would like to spend some time in the virtual gym, you are welcome to do so.

Additionally, you can play with a friend or enjoy some solo campaign, there are a lot of options for you to explore in that regard. In the end, it’s a fun game that Kenshi fans will surely enjoy. Especially those wastelands full of death and destruction. Feels like home, right?

• Release Date: February 2022

• Developer: From Software

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

• Meta Score: 96/100

And finally, we have the one, the only Elden Ring. It’s probably the best-reviewed game on our list, so if you want to just play a game that is extraordinary on its own, Elden Ring is a title for you. So, what is this game all about? 

It’s a grand open-world RPG experience with influences from such great writers as George R.R. Martin and Hidetaka Miyazaki. You play as Tarnished once, who was banished from the Land Between and now is coming back to make the place normal again. Make Land Between Great Again sort-of thing. 

Having destroyed the Elden Ring that was keeping everything in check, Queen Marika, who was ruling those lands, is now gone. Now, all the demigods that were living there start to fight with each other for power. As you can imagine – it’s not the best situation for the Land Between.

Your job is to make everything right again, find an Elden Ring, repair it, and become an Elden Lord. Sounds easy? Well, it’s not. It’s one of the hardest games on our list, which makes it that much more entertaining in the end. It has a grim world full of mythical creatures that you will dodge and doge again, try to kill with your +4 weapons, can’t do it, upgrade, die again, try again, you know how it is, right? It’s essentially Dark Souls on steroids.

If you want to find a game that will give you the same feeling of unrest of the unknown, the ability to roam through places feeling lost and without hope – the Elden Ring is the perfect game for every Kenshi enthusiast. Additionally, it’s one of the greatest games ever created, so if you just like good games – you will enjoy Elden Ring as well.

And here we are, at the end of our road! As you can see, there are plenty of amazing games similar to Kenshi that you can choose from. Whether it’s an RPG game that is set in the wonderful world of medieval times, or you have something more magical or survival – everyone will find something for themselves on our list, that’s for sure. Of course, we could not fit everything (sorry Dwarf Fortress), but it seems like a comprehensive list for sure.

Kenshi was one of the original titles when it comes to creating a dire world where you could be the one who is taking control of the events. And so, many titles followed after that. Of course, not every game is literally Kenshi, but we think that we managed to find the essence of this game and present it to you in the form of similar titles on the market.

Thanks for stopping by! We hope that you enjoyed this article on games like Kenshi. If you want to find out more about games/software/office-related topics, be sure to check out our wide library with even more interesting information! We are positive that you will find something to your liking. That’s it for today, we will see you in the next one!