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Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this. Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
Colony SimMedievalCity Builder
$9.99 ~12.4 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 85.2% of 5k
The Squirrel's verdictKnights and Merchants is a 1998 economic strategy game pairing settlement-building with military production — the same core combination as New Allies — but singleplayer campaigns with AI opponents are the default mode, with no online account or forced 1v1 structure. The base Steam version has bugged combat controls; reviewers consistently point to the free KaM Remake patch as the fix. Rated Very Positive at 85.2% positive, median playtime 12.4 hours.
Not for you if you want modern visuals or multiplayer as the main draw, or are unwilling to install the KaM Remake patch to fix the Steam build.
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Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
Base-BuildingPvECity Builder
$34.99 ~27.1 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 81.5% of 5k
The Squirrel's verdictPioneers of Pagonia is built around goods as physical objects that must be carried between production buildings — the same loop as New Allies — and includes a proper singleplayer campaign alongside co-op support. Priced at $34.99, Very Positive at 81.5% positive, median playtime 27.1 hours. Reviewers note there are no enemy factions; combat consists of infinitely respawning camps rather than AI opponents with their own settlements.
Not for you if you expect faction-based AI opponents — combat is limited to infinitely respawning enemy camps with no rival settlement AI.
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City BuilderColony SimAgriculture
$19.99 ~19.3 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 79.4% of 2k
The Squirrel's verdictHavendock suits solo players who want a crafting-focused colony sim with no online account or multiplayer requirement blocking access. Production chains grow a floating settlement over time, and the median playtime is 19.3 hours. Multiplayer was removed at the 1.0 release, so co-op is no longer available. Reviewers note crafting balance issues and content gaps despite the 1.0 label.
Not for you if you bought it for co-op play — multiplayer was removed at the 1.0 release and is no longer supported.
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Colony SimCity BuilderVikings
$25.99 ~16.6 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 73.8% of 2k
The Squirrel's verdictLand of the Vikings suits players who want slower, deeper resource-management systems in a single-player settlement builder with no account requirement. Production chains and worker behavior are more granular than in most genre entries, median playtime 16.6 hours. Reviewers flag a persistent bug where warehouse workers go permanently idle and halt production chains, and note the game has no defined end-game goals after construction is complete.
Not for you if you want a campaign with clear end-game goals, or need reliable production chains — warehouse worker idle bugs are a long-standing reported issue.
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EconomyResource ManagementPvP
$19.99 ~8.8 hr median co-op complexity: light 69.4% of 4k
The Squirrel's verdictFrozenheim shares the resource-gathering-into-military-units loop and lets you play solo against AI without forced multiplayer matches, unlike New Allies. Base-building exists mainly to feed unit production rather than deep city management. $19.99, co-op supported, Mixed rating at 69.4% positive, median playtime 8.8 hours.
Not for you if you wanted deep city-building depth rather than resource gathering that mainly funnels into unit production for combat.
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City BuilderColony SimEconomy
$1.99 ~14.5 hr median no co-op complexity: light 60.8% of 1k
The Squirrel's verdictResource-chain management is the main loop in Depraved: production buildings, worker routing, and economic micro-management across a Wild West setting. Random map generation and the ability to build multiple cities per map add replayability. It is single-player only at $1.99, but reviewers report save-breaking bugs, performance degradation at larger town sizes, and mechanics that grow repetitive after roughly an hour of new content.
Not for you if you need stable saves and reliable performance at scale, or want multiplayer — Depraved is single-player only with reported save bugs and slowdown.
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Thrive: Heavy Lies The Crown
PC
RTSColony SimGrand Strategy
$27.99 ~9.5 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 59.2% of 448
The Squirrel's verdictPlayers who tolerate dense, slow-paced economy management and fantasy creature content will find Thrive: Heavy Lies The Crown worthwhile. Worker routing, resource chains, and city busywork are heavier here than in most settlement builders, with co-op supported. Reviewers report units getting stuck frequently, slow pacing, and a late-arriving combat payoff. Priced at $27.99, Mixed rating at 59.2% positive, median playtime 9.5 hours.
Not for you if you want tight, reliable AI behavior and steady pacing — reported stuck units and heavy micro-management busywork are consistent complaints.
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City BuilderMythologyVikings
$6.99 ~6 hr median no co-op complexity: light 54.8% of 1k
The Squirrel's verdictPlayers drawn to New Allies for logistics over combat will find a closer fit in Valhalla Hills. The focus is pathways, couriers, storage, and resource chains across island levels — no military escalation required. It is single-player only with no account requirement, priced at $6.99, but carries a Mixed rating at 54.8% positive, and reviewers flag thin content with levels that repeat the same structure.
Not for you if you need co-op, want deep military systems, or expect substantial content variety beyond a handful of structurally similar island levels.