Games like Diplomacy is Not an Option

The Squirrel's verdictColony planning with no mid-run saves or resets defines They Are Billions: one misplaced wall segment can collapse hours of work, and the game permanently records every loss. That slowness and methodical layout focus replaces any APM demand — the threat is positional error, not reaction speed. At 85 median hours, it suits players who want the defense-building challenge taken seriously.

Not for you if you want mid-run saves, faster pacing, or any forgiveness for placement mistakes made hours earlier.

The Squirrel's verdictFrom Glory To Goo layers hero units, orbital support, a science system, and stratagems over territory-based base expansion. Reviewers with Starcraft and They Are Billions backgrounds call it a standout, citing 42.9 median hours of play. The strategic systems replace reflex demands: holding ground is about system management, not unit micro speed.

Not for you if you specifically want co-op, since From Glory To Goo has none.

The Squirrel's verdictBecastled is a sandbox survival castle-builder: no structured campaign, no scripted mission escalation, just repeated rounds of fortification and wave defense. Reviewers say the core loop is masterable quickly and updates have been light. At 14.3 median hours, it suits players who want open-ended fortification building without reflex-testing combat demands.

Not for you if you want a structured campaign with escalating missions, since reviewers report only sandbox survival rounds and no real progression arc.

The Squirrel's verdictVedelem is a free, score-chasing survival game built around a countdown clock: gather resources, raise defenses, hold until time expires and a final buff wave ends the run. Runs are short — median playtime is 2 hours total — and the score-comparison loop replaces any campaign structure. Reviewers note wave frequency leaves little breathing room for resource planning.

Not for you if you want deep resource planning and campaign structure rather than short, score-chasing survival rounds with aggressive wave timers.

The Squirrel's verdictBoth are wave-defense base-builders where you tech up and hold territory against escalating swarms. Here Comes The Swarm adds adjustable difficulty and a slower, more gradual wave curve players describe as fair, plus roguelite and endless modes instead of a fixed campaign. Maps run smaller and missions carry time limits, pushing faster decisions.

Not for you if you want a story-driven campaign with large open maps and unhurried base-building time.

The Squirrel's verdictBoth are medieval-era strategy games where base building and defense sit alongside combat balance complaints. DiNaO focuses tightly on twitch-micro RTS defense; Medieval Kingdom Wars widens the scope to overworld campaign management, faction diplomacy, and Total War-style battles. Suits players wanting broader kingdom-management scope over precise combat micro.

Not for you if you want tight, well-balanced combat mechanics rather than a sprawling campaign layer with a simplistic battle AI.

The Squirrel's verdictRisen Kingdom is a short, casual take on the same genre space: reviewers describe it as less punishing, less developed, and completable in around five hours — consistent with the 6.3-hour median. Where DiNaO's difficulty spikes and micro demands frustrate players, this one prioritizes approachability. The $2.99 price reflects the scope.

Not for you if you came to DiNaO for difficulty and depth, or you want a game with more content than any of the titles it borrows from.

The Squirrel's verdictFrozenheim runs as an AoE-style base manager with Norse aesthetics: construct resource buildings, grow a settlement, then feed a tank-rush combat system. Co-op is available. Reviewers are consistent that the village-building layer is thin — structures exist mainly to produce units — and pathing bugs undercut battles. Median playtime sits at 8.8 hours.

Not for you if you want a deep economic city-builder rather than a settlement that functions primarily as a unit-production engine.