1
Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this. Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
Real-Time with PauseResource ManagementTactical
$11.99 ~36.9 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 85.5% of 12k
The Squirrel's verdictWave-defense pressure is Diplomacy is Not an Option's defining feature: thousands of on-screen enemies attack in escalating waves while you manage a building economy, the inverse of Driftland's relaxed island-linking pace. At a median of 36.9 hours and a Very Positive rating, it offers more content, but reviewers warn that difficulty spikes sharply mid-campaign, requiring precise defensive play rather than casual experimentation.
Not for you if you prefer a slow, relaxed base-building pace rather than constant enemy waves and escalating difficulty that reviewers call punishing.
2
Hidden Gem Hidden GemLoved by the players who found it, but still under the radar.
Base-BuildingColony SimTower Defense
Jank Tolerant Jank TolerantRough edges and bugs — rewarding if you don't mind them.
$11.99 ~42.9 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 96.7% of 2k
The Squirrel's verdictBoth are single-player base-and-economy strategy games where you expand outward from a core and manage escalating resource demands. Driftland links floating islands under a magic theme; Goo defends against growing enemy hordes in a They Are Billions-style survival loop, with hero units, tech trees, and stratagem-style support that reviewers say keeps deepening over time.
Not for you if you want island-linking and a magic setting rather than wave-based colony survival against advancing hordes.
3
Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
Grand StrategyRTSMedieval
$4.49 ~16.1 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 75.9% of 3k
The Squirrel's verdictMedieval Kingdom Wars suits players who want deep conquest mechanics across a persistent overworld map with real battles, 14 factions, and more than 50 lords. Reviewers compare its base-building-plus-conquest structure to Civilization and Total War combined. Median playtime sits around 16 hours. Co-op is supported, and the $4.49 price reflects a sometimes unfinished feel that reviewers note in AI behavior and balance.
Not for you if you expect a polished experience, since reviewers report poor AI, bugs, and underexplained systems.
4
Kingdom, Dungeon, and Hero
PC
WargameGrand StrategyFantasy
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$29.99 ~21.2 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 77.8% of 176
The Squirrel's verdictHex-based wargame conquest layered with hero-led dungeon crawling for gold, magic shards, and items is what Kingdom, Dungeon, and Hero offers players wanting more mechanical integration than floating-island RTS. Conquest, empire development, and RPG adventuring feed into each other as one system. Reviewers with 4X experience praise the depth; others find the elements clunky and the $29.99 price high for the current state. Median playtime is 21.2 hours.
Not for you if you want RTS base-building and island-shifting mechanics, since KDH is a hex wargame with dungeon-crawling, not a city or base builder.
5
EconomyResource ManagementPvP
$19.99 ~8.8 hr median co-op complexity: light 69.4% of 4k
The Squirrel's verdictCo-op Norse village-building with resource management feeding unit combat is Frozenheim's core appeal. It leans hard into tank-rush combat rather than city construction, and reviewers flag that the building element is minimal — primarily a vehicle for producing units. At a median of 8.8 hours, it fits players who want a shorter, combat-forward strategy session with a friend rather than Driftland's slower island management loop.
Not for you if you want substantive city-building depth or a game that accurately markets itself as one.
6
Gold Gold Adventure Gold
PC
RTSCity BuilderGod Game
$24.99 ~13.4 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 70.2% of 775
The Squirrel's verdictBoth mix town/base management with indirect strategic control rather than direct unit combat. Gold Gold Adventure Gold drops the island-building for a Majesty-style setup: you build a settlement and issue quests to autonomous heroes instead of moving armies. Reviews describe unclear objectives, balance problems, and a tutorial that leaves systems unexplained.
Not for you if you want clear win conditions and explicit tutorials rather than figuring out unstated mechanics through trial and error.
7
Revival: Recolonization
PC
4XGrand StrategyTurn-Based Strategy
$29.99 ~7.8 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 69.2% of 425
The Squirrel's verdictTurn-based 4X structure — diplomacy with native tribes, terraforming, and customizable units — is what separates Recolonization from Driftland's real-time island-hopping. Both involve claiming scattered territory and managing scarce resources, but Recolonization resolves that through strategic planning across turns rather than real-time base shifts. Reviewers flag AI aggression and a loyalty system that can hand over secured cities without warning. Median playtime is 7.8 hours.
Not for you if you want real-time base-building rather than turn-based 4X, or need a balanced AI rather than one reviewers describe as effectively cheating.
8
Grand StrategyRTSCity Builder
$4.94 ~6.5 hr median co-op complexity: light 66% of 238
The Squirrel's verdictBoth pair a strategic overworld map with city-building and resource management, letting you expand holdings while armies clash below. Kingdom Wars 4 trades Driftland's floating-island magic for grand-strategy setting and adds co-op, but reviewers report similar AI pathing and balance issues. Median playtime sits at 6.5 hours, suiting short strategic sessions over long campaigns.
Not for you if you want the magic-fantasy setting kept, since Kingdom Wars 4 swaps it for historical/plague-era warfare with reported AI and combat targeting bugs.