1
Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this.
Base-BuildingMiningAutomation
$14.99 ~21.2 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 85.7% of 28k
The Squirrel's verdictHydroneer starts with mining and raw-material processing but expands into base-building and automation at a scale Fantasy Blacksmith never attempts. The crafting loop feeds larger systems rather than a single focused trade, and co-op is available, though reviewers describe it as poorly implemented. Controls draw consistent complaints across reviews. Median playtime is 21.2 hours. Good fit for players who want the digging and crafting loop expanded into open-ended automation.
Not for you if you want tight, single-craft focus rather than sprawling automation, or need controls that feel precise and intuitive.
2
Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
RPGAdventureCrafting
$9.99 ~20.1 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 79% of 2k
The Squirrel's verdictWeapon Shop Fantasy puts you in charge of a vampire-run weapon shop burdened by debt, with staff you assign to crafting or combat training and send on resource-gathering quests. The smithing work is delegated rather than hands-on — you manage timelines and employee focus while watching a monthly debt repayment tick down. At $9.99 and Mostly Positive (79%), it suits players who liked the weapon-trading theme but want a management layer over direct forging.
Not for you if you want to physically shape each weapon yourself rather than assign workers to handle production.
3
Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
Medieval Crafter: Blacksmith
PC
Time ManagementCraftingMining
$11.99 ~5.5 hr median no co-op complexity: light 77.6% of 764
The Squirrel's verdictBoth put you at the forge hammering ingots and assembling swords for a rotating cast of customers, with mining runs feeding your material stock. Medieval Crafter adds an RPG layer: hiring adventurers, dungeon quests, and a village to manage, but item customization is thinner, recipes are static, and rarity comes down to RNG rather than craft skill.
Not for you if you want the deep customization and alloy-mixing that made shaping each sword feel deliberate rather than randomized.
4
RPGMedievalBase-Building
Moral Weight Moral WeightHard choices with real consequences are central here.
$19.99 ~10.9 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 70.3% of 2k
The Squirrel's verdictAnvil Saga keeps the ingot-heating, hammer-striking core but adds quest lines, NPC scheduling, room-building, and both sandbox and story modes alongside the forge work. Median playtime is 10.9 hours. Players who wanted more structure and progression around the smithing will find it here, though reviews flag broken quests, NPCs going idle, and items clipping through geometry as persistent issues.
Not for you if you want a forge-only loop without quest systems, NPC scheduling, or tolerance for reported bugs affecting tasks and characters.
5
TradingAutomationCrafting
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$19.99 ~10.9 hr median no co-op complexity: light 63.8% of 177
The Squirrel's verdictBoth games build shopkeeping loops around a crafting minigame, buying raw materials and selling finished goods to picky customers. Craftlands broadens the scope beyond blacksmithing into other trades and adds hired workers, but trades Fantasy Blacksmith's deep single-craft focus for a wider, thinner spread of systems and slower shop-floor navigation.
Not for you if you came for a deep, focused crafting system rather than a broader multi-trade shop-management loop with walking and worker management.
6
Medieval Shopkeeper Simulator
PC
RPGAdventureTrading
Free ~2.6 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 61.1% of 280
The Squirrel's verdictPlayers who want a light medieval resource loop without combat or story will find familiar territory here: buy stock, run a shop, farm materials, and manage a warehouse. It's free and skips the forge entirely in favor of broader shopkeeping. The Mixed rating (61.1% positive) and 2.6-hour median playtime reflect a short, buggy experience — reviews flag save data wiping pets and warehouse contents between sessions.
Not for you if you need reliable saves — reviews report warehouse and pet data getting wiped between sessions.
7
Resource ManagementClickerEconomy
~5.8 hr median no co-op complexity: light 47.7% of 151
The Squirrel's verdictBlacksmith Legends keeps the smithing-sim premise but trades Fantasy Blacksmith's hands-on hammer-and-assemble loop for a click-based worker management system with a tech tree and separate good/evil quest lines. Reviews describe a slow prologue before the game opens up. Median playtime sits at 5.8 hours, with a Mixed rating.
Not for you if you want direct hands-on crafting rather than clicking through menus and waiting on timers for workers to finish tasks.
8
Ironsmith Medieval Simulator
PC
SwordplayMilitaryMedieval
$9.99 ~1.9 hr median no co-op complexity: light 30.1% of 259
The Squirrel's verdictSame core loop: heat metal, hammer at the forge, assemble blade components, with unclear tutorials both games share. Reviews describe buggy mechanics, imprecise controls, and thin content beyond the first hour. For players who want blacksmithing mechanics explored a second way, not for those seeking Fantasy Blacksmith's deeper crafting systems or alloy variety.
Not for you if you want more than a couple hours of content or controls that work reliably on the first try.