1
Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this.
AutomationBase-BuildingResource Management
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$19.99 ~53.3 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 90.7% of 4k
The Squirrel's verdictPlayers who want production chains feeding growing settlements at a relaxed pace fit Factory Town well. Separate belts, minecarts, wagons, and caravans each handle different goods, giving more routing options than a single depot type. There are no enemies or timers, and deleted buildings refund resources. Median playtime runs around 53 hours.
Not for you if campaign variety matters to you — levels reuse the same base layout, and minecarts are limited to bulk goods only.
2
Hidden Gem Hidden GemLoved by the players who found it, but still under the radar.
City BuilderTurn-Based StrategyColony Sim
$14.99 ~28.9 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 90.9% of 585
The Squirrel's verdictBoth put terraforming at the center instead of treating it as set dressing: Farlanders makes it the core puzzle, turn-based tile-by-tile pattern matching for resources, rather than Plan B's largely automatic planet transformation. It swaps real-time logistics chains and train networks for grid-based, deliberate placement decisions. Suits players who wanted the terraforming itself to be the challenge.
Not for you if you want continuous real-time factory logistics rather than turn-based tile puzzles, or want a solvable map instead of randomized layouts.
3
City BuilderColony SimAutomation
$24.99 ~34.3 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 85.6% of 1k
The Squirrel's verdictThe Colonists routes resources through road networks walked by individual carrier bots rather than trains, giving more granular control over connections between buildings. Production chains and settlement growth are the core loop, with no combat. Released in 2018, reviews note limited content added since launch and persistent pathing quirks where bots fetch resources from distant depots while nearby ones sit idle.
Not for you if bot AI pathing inefficiency frustrates you, or you want substantial post-launch content added over time.
4
Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
Base-BuildingRTSExploration
$9.99 ~27.2 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 84.3% of 830
The Squirrel's verdictReshaping Mars suits players who want planetary colonization — surveying terrain, extracting water, metal, and energy, expanding outward — without any transport logistics layer. There are no depots, trains, or routing decisions. The loop is building admin centers and housing while balancing resource output, a structure reviewers describe as straightforward but repetitive across the game's length.
Not for you if you want layered transport logistics or production chains with more than a few building types in rotation.
5
Real-TimeAutomationBase-Building
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$29.99 ~30.8 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 75.9% of 6k
The Squirrel's verdictBoth put you on a rotating 3D globe watching a planet turn habitable while you manage logistics chains between limited outposts. Per Aspera adds an AI-driven story with voice acting and dialogue choices, but its logistics are shallower still - mostly building more workers and mines rather than deep production chains. For players who want narrative alongside the terraforming rather than pure systems depth.
Not for you if you want deep logistics puzzles rather than a story-driven experience with simplified worker and resource management.
6
Colony SimCity BuilderSci-fi
$24.99 ~18.9 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 81.7% of 961
The Squirrel's verdictRival colonies competing for territory and resources on a single planet is Imagine Earth's core dynamic, which separates it from Plan B's logistics-focused single-player loop. Disaster events tied to pollution add pressure, and goals like population or resource thresholds drive each mission. Players who want planetary management shaped by competition and environmental consequence rather than production-chain depth fit here.
Not for you if you want deep logistics puzzles, co-op play, or a game centered on transport routing.
7
AutomationCity BuilderColony Sim
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$19.99 ~29.7 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 80.5% of 796
The Squirrel's verdictKubifaktorium uses colonists performing manual labor tasks on island-based maps, with base-building elements closer to Rimworld than pure factory automation. Production chains are present but every action requires explicit stockpile configuration, and reviews consistently flag the micromanagement as tedious. Each island resets progression, making the structure feel repetitive across maps.
Not for you if you want automation that scales without manual stockpile clicking, or maps that carry progress forward rather than resetting per island.
8
Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
City BuilderEconomyHex Grid
$19.99 ~16.5 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 78% of 2k
The Squirrel's verdictBoth build production chains across a spherical world with multiple settlements to balance. Before We Leave swaps trains and Depos for ship-based expansion between islands and eventual planets, with roads eating more space than logistics nodes. Resource-chain planners who liked Plan B's scale but wanted more manual routing control fit here.
Not for you if you want deep automated logistics rather than manual route-building and roads that consume most of your buildable space.