1
Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this.
Stardew Valley
PCMacLinux
Farming SimLife SimRPG
$14.99 ~74.5 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 98.5% of 1022k
The Squirrel's verdictBoth hand you a base to manage while resources come in over time, but Stardew swaps Dwarfs!?'s hands-off tower-defense loop for direct control: you plant, mine, fight, and befriend townsfolk yourself instead of nudging autonomous diggers. Expect a mining mode with monsters and cave-ins as the closest overlap, wrapped in a much longer farming and relationship structure.
Not for you if you wanted to mostly watch AI-controlled units work while you intervene occasionally, rather than directly farm, mine, and manage a schedule yourself.
2
Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
DwarfColony SimBase-Building
$29.99 ~114.7 hr median no co-op complexity: heavy 94.8% of 31k
The Squirrel's verdictBoth put you in charge of dwarves digging into the earth for minerals while threats emerge from the depths. Dwarfs!? is light tower defense you can finish in an afternoon; Dwarf Fortress drops the defense framing entirely for full colony simulation, with detailed materials, manufacturing chains, and a world that keeps running whether you understand it or not.
Not for you if you liked Dwarfs!? for its short, guided sessions rather than open-ended systems you have to learn through wikis and trial and error.
3
Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
Kingdom Two Crowns
PCMacLinux
Tower DefenseMinimalistCity Builder
$3.99 ~34.4 hr median co-op complexity: light 90.2% of 39k
The Squirrel's verdictThe outpost-defense structure carries over from Dwarfs!?: semi-autonomous units gather resources while escalating waves threaten your base. Kingdom Two Crowns removes direct digging control entirely — you spend currency to recruit and expand, then watch outcomes unfold. Suits players drawn to Dwarfs!?'s hands-off management loop who want tighter, more polished production and optional co-op.
Not for you if you enjoyed directly commanding where your dwarfs dig, since building spots and progression are pre-defined per island.
4
Colony SimRogue-liteExploration
$19.99 ~27.2 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 85% of 2k
The Squirrel's verdictBoth games have you managing miners you don't directly control, watching them dig into hazards like lava and rockfalls while you handle threats and build up outposts. Drill Core adds a tech tree and heavier meta-progression, but runs are long, with no mid-run save, and reviewers report the core loop turning repetitive once the tech tree is exhausted.
Not for you if you want short sessions — runs commonly take 1 to 3 hours with no mid-game save, and progression can feel like numerical upgrades rather than new mechanics.
5
Colony SimBase-BuildingSurvival
$19.99 ~24.8 hr median no co-op complexity: heavy 84.4% of 1k
The Squirrel's verdictOdd Realm is a dwarf colony sim built on digging, resource collection, and defending against threats, but adds full colony-sim depth: direct worker management, crafting chains, and systems reviewers compare to Dwarf Fortress. Players wanting more control over individual dwarfs and more complexity than Dwarfs!?'s passive oversight loop will find more to work with here.
Not for you if you liked Dwarfs!?'s hands-off simplicity — Odd Realm asks you to micromanage individual workers and learn Dwarf Fortress-tier systems.
6
Tower DefenseDragonsFantasy
Monetized MonetizedHeads up: leans on microtransactions or free-to-play hooks.
Free ~1.2 hr median no co-op complexity: light 84.3% of 197
The Squirrel's verdictBoth games hand you semi-autonomous dwarfs who dig, cut, or gather while you manage the economy around them. Castle Woodwarf compresses that loop into a single 20-30 minute countdown run instead of an open session, trading Dwarfs!?'s tower-defense skirmishing for tight upgrade-timing under a shrinking score. Suits players who want the dwarf-watching loop distilled and short.
Not for you if you want to relax and watch dwarfs work rather than optimize a countdown where early tree spawns can decide the run before you've adapted.
7
FantasyCraftingMagic
$24.99 ~9.9 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 66.5% of 212
The Squirrel's verdictWhere Dwarfs!? lets diggers operate mostly on their own, Beneath the Mountain puts you in direct command — you order units to dig, build a fortress with traps and runes, and fend off escalating goblin waves in an RTS-style structure. Reviewers note steep difficulty and pathing problems; the Mixed rating reflects an unpolished release state.
Not for you if you prefer a hands-off digging loop or dislike direct unit micromanagement, janky pathing, and steep difficulty spikes.
8
DwarfColony SimBase-Building
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
Free ~13.8 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 64.9% of 262
The Squirrel's verdictDwarfs digging on their own initiative while you manage threats like lava, water, and enemies is the shared premise. Mountaincore layers a colony-sim structure closer to Dwarf Fortress on top, with more systems to manage per dwarf. It is free to play, but development has ceased and the source code has been released publicly.
Not for you if you want the lighter, arcade-scale digging loop rather than a denser colony-management system, or need active ongoing development.