Post-apocalyptic worlds have been popular for many years. Still, they are getting quite a resurgence lately, as many games are taking this setting and giving it a twist. Also, city builders and city management titles are back on track. Finding the optimal way to build your place is becoming a recomforting form to play for many gamers.

Let's mix both, throwing away all that comfort; instead, you are constantly dealing with problems and scarce resources. Frostpunk found the perfect formula, getting acclaimed by critics and the public as one of the best city builders ever made. Let's see why!

Frostpunk was released in April 2018 by 11-Bit Studios and immediately caught the eyes of everyone. It wasn't another city builder or city management game. In Frostpunk, you are always running out of time, and your people are desperate to find refuge against the low-freezing temperatures.

But in this harsh world, you won't only mine resources (mostly coal) and improve your settlement. You must make difficult moral decisions that might get people mad at you in exchange for making your job easier. Or maybe you are the nicest leader in the world, but those decisions would severely cost you your resource management.

Frostpunk will test your morale and wits while trying to keep your people alive from the freezing ecological disaster. In that regard, we would like to introduce you to 12 games like Frostpunk. From a colony survival sim to a post-apocalyptic RTS, these similar games will share mechanics and/or themes with Frostpunk that will catch your eye to try them out.

• Developer: Iceflake Studios and Paradox Interactive

• Release Date: November 16, 2021

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC

• Metacritic Score: 67

Without being so grim and dark, Surviving the Aftermath is one of the closest games to Frostpunk on the list. In this survival city builder set in a post-apocalyptic world, you are managing one of the many colonies scattered worldwide, trying to bring back human civilization with scarce resources.

Just like in Frostpunk, you will need specialists for more advanced jobs, research, and make hard choices to keep the colony together.

Get a Surviving the Aftermath Founder’s Edition Steam CD key and the DLC New Alliances at a discounted price in the RoyalCDKeys store.

• Developer: Ludeon Studios

• Release Date: October 17, 2018

• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC

• Metacritic Score: 87

One could argue that RimWorld is the spiritual successor to Dwarf Fortress but sci-fi. There aren’t many games similar to it.

You will manage a new colony on a remote planet. But things might get interesting as the story will be generated through gameplay depending on your chosen AI Storyteller type. It ranges from a chill experience to being chaotic as hell, and that's the beauty of RimWorld. Try to manage your people while they will do things randomly that could destroy your entire colony.

Get a RimWorld Steam CD Key for the base game at a discounted price at our store.

• Developer: Haemimont Games

• Release Date: March 15, 2018

• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC

• Metacritic Score: 76

In Surviving Mars, you will be preparing the first colony on this planet from Earth. You will manage a bunch of robots to keep your colony safe and collect energy.

When new colonists arrive, you need to ensure that they will be healthy, fed, happy and occupied, as these space settlers will also serve as new workers for your colony. But beware, as each person will come with new sets of quirks and traits that will make things a little more interesting.

You can get a Surviving Mars Steam CD key for the First Colony Edition at a discounted price in our store.

• Developer: Madruga Works

• Release Date: October 15, 2015

• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC

• Metacritic Score: 70

Planetbase will challenge you to the harsh environment of a distant world, as you will often face the challenge of making hard decisions to keep the colony moving forward.

You must create a self-sufficient colony to mine resources, grow food, collect energy, and survive this hostile planet.

Get a Planetbase Steam CD Key by visiting the RoyalCDKeys store.

• Developer: Gentlymad

• Release Date: March 18, 2021

• Platforms: PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC

• Metacritic Score: 72

In the post-apocalyptic future of EndZone, you will raise your civilization from the brink of destruction due to a nuclear war almost killing all humankind. Now, humanity needs to rise up from the ashes, facing the many threats that radiation, desperate people and vandals will pose to anyone.

You must allocate the scarce resources and try to slowly go back to the present, as this nuclear disaster pushed back years of progress for humanity in terms of technology.

• Developer: Bethesda Softworks

• Release Date: January 15, 2014

• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Android, iOS

• Metacritic Score: 71

You are the leader of your own Vault in Fallout Shelter as you improve your settlement, recruit new survivors, and send people to explore the wasteland. But keep some weapons for you, as you will often be invaded by ghouls, scorpions, moles, and raiders.

It is available for free for many platforms at Fallout Shelter main website.

• Developer: Numantian Games

• Release Date: June 18, 2018

• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC

• Metacritic Score: 77

Most of humanity are now zombies and monsters, infecting and killing any other living thing in their way. In this RTS, you will constantly be preparing your defenses using futuristic steampunk technology.

But always check both its citizens and your structures, as one unnoticed zombie that managed to infiltrate in your town can unleash an unstoppable infection in your colony with one single hit.

You can get a They Are Billions Xbox CD Key at a discounted price in our store.

• Developer: 11-Bit Studios

• Release Date: November 14, 2014

• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Switch, PC, Android, iOS

• Metacritic Score: 83

It was 11-Bit Studios' "breakthrough game," as they gained quite a reputation with the release of This War of Mine. With a tone similar to Frostpunk, you will play as a group of few survivors, staying away from the war. But you will often make hard moral decisions: deciding to help people or not (as there are very few resources available), raiding houses, and staying alert from anyone trying to steal from you.

You can get a This War of Mine Complete Edition Steam CD Key at a low price in our store.

• Developer: Shiro Games

• Release Date: March 7, 2018

• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Android, iOS

• Metacritic Score: 81

Northgard combines RTS with city management. You are a Viking clan, ordering your people to fulfill many roles, from lumberjacks to becoming warriors and fighting the many monsters on the islands. But keep your resources high, as you will have to endure Fimbulwinter, halting most of your activities. It also has multiplayer and PvP modes.

You can get a Clan of the Lynx DLC (you need the base game) Steam CD key at a low price in our store.

• Developer: Bulwark Studios

• Release Date: December 7, 2022

• Platforms: PC

• Metacritic Score: 71

You run the Tiqqun Space Station, searching the cosmos for a new place where humanity can settle. You must ensure that what remains of humanity survives until we find that new home.

Tiqqun is huge and complex. You need to make it a fully self-sufficient colony to endure its stay in the new land. And you will be sending probes for resources while you make decisions to go through the story.

• Developer: Shining Rock Software

• Release Date: February 18, 2014

• Platforms: PC

• Metacritic Score: 73

In this city-building game, you are a group of exiles traveling around the world, carrying only the clothes on their backs and a cart with supplies from your former civilization. You must start from scratch, but please your people, as they are your number one resource.

It has plenty of customization and allows you to freely manage how your city will be composed. Also, you must ensure that every worker has their required materials to keep up their jobs. If not, there is room for trading with other towns or craft materials.

• Developer: Digital Reef Games

• Release Date: January 12, 2023

• Platforms: PC

• Metacritic Score: TBD

Aquatico has a unique setting. As the Earth’s surface has become a total wasteland, humanity is looking for a new place to keep moving forward. They discover a new world below the tides and it allows civilization to start over within its reach.

You will be building an underwater city atop the ocean floor, facing the challenges of an oceanic life. Collect resources and optimize your city management to maintain your people's oxygen levels.

If you have heard about Frostpunk or watched videos but never got into it, this is your chance, as you can get the base game for PC with all the three major DLCs in one pack at a discounted price over the RoyalCDKeys store.

Frostpunk quickly became a classic and the primordial city-building survival game. For those that want more, we presented you with great games with similar themes and mechanics. But if you are looking for more games, check out our store, as you might find one that you like at a low price.