If you want a truly hectic test of your management skills apart from starting a real-life family, then you ought to try out the best indie colony sims out there. Where else can you try out your logistical wisdom and management know-how without consequences if you fail?
Of course, the following games will reward you with the satisfaction of a smooth and running colony that runs like clockwork. And, as an added bonus, you get to admire the beauty and efficiency of your creation.
We picked the best indie colony sims for you, with indie being the operative word here for their innovation and boundless creativity.
Dyson Sphere Program
We still recommend you try out this one even if youโre not a fan of mechs building a perpetual energy source around the sun. Dyson Sphere Program is also in early access, meaning it should be more affordable.
What you do here is manage and build up the fabled Dyson Sphere, a huge array of solar panels designed to harness the power of the sun without completely blocking it out. It plays out similar to colony sims like Anno 1800 or Factorio where thereโs a gameplay aspect involving streamlining production and efficiency.
Thatโs on top of managing the denizens of the space colony. Itโs surprisingly one of the prettiest early-access colony sims you can play right now.
Against the Storm
Moving on to the other side of the coin, which is fantasy (if you prefer it over sci-fi), Against the Storm is a charming city builder where you choose your faction and help them raise their civilization from the worldโs apocalyptic ruins.
Itโs quite special as there arenโt many city builders or colony sims that take place in the dark fantasy genre. Even the factions are oddballs as they range from human, beaver, lizard, foxes, and harpy civilizations. That should provide you with tons of replay value.
Do keep in mind that thereโs no direct combat or war in Against the Storm despite the worryingly distinct factions. There are crises at play though, and you have to deal with them lest they wipe out your population.
The Universim
If you want something even more charming, then The Universim puts you in control of a planetary diorama with oversized buildings and terrain jutting out of the atmosphere. That idea alone makes it worth the price of admission, and being an indie title, itโs highly affordable.
This is a historical (and eventually contemporary) take on a colony sim where you manage your cavemen and guide them into a modern or futuristic society youโre familiar with. Think of it like Civilization, except the space is a lot smaller and meteors are more commonplace.
The developers also deem it as some kind of โgod gameโ so itโs a lot more relaxed than actually raising a civilization from Paleolithic brutes.
Farthest Frontier
Farthest Frontier is still in early access and can improve even more. As it is, itโs a typical but somehow fresh spin on the colony sim formula where you must guide your population in building a town (and eventually a city) out in the wilderness. Thatโs practically the essence of colony sims, but Farthest Frontier puts more emphasis on the survival elements.
You start with a small band of settlers and must farm, build, and fight your way up a fully-fledged civilization. Thereโs even a combat aspect here where you fend off raiders and invaders who would desecrate the honesty of your efforts.
The gameโs graphics are also somewhat of a callback to the Age of Empire games, and that should say something about the taste of its indie developers.
Oxygen Not Included
It may look simple but Oxygen Not Included should leave you pleasantly surprised. Itโs a space colony sim where you start out with a measly crew who must then uncover the secrets of a floating space rock while dealing with new lifeforms and naturally, surviving the hostile environment.ย
If the art style looks a little too similar, thatโs because itโs from the same indie developers as those responsible for survival games like Donโt Starve. That would be Klei Entertainment and they just created another masterpiece.
Youโll find no shortage of their signature humor and cheekiness to dilute the frenzy of the actual gameplay.
Pioneers of Pagonia
Pioneers of Pagonia puts the essence of colonization into colony sims but with a more delightful perspective. Itโs also an early-access game, mind you, and is bound to improve more over time.
Here, you get to explore and lead the discovery of new places in which to build your settlements. Youโre given a huge island and you probably know what to do. But the exploration aspect here is something that should keep you busy once youโve gathered your bearings and set up an economy.
This more contemporary iteration of the Settlers formula is something you need to try out if youโre a fan of both fantasy and colony sims.
Cult of the Lamb
Cult of the Lamb is many things. Itโs a Satanist game, a roguelite, an action RPG, and of course, itโs also a colony sim. That ought to pique your interest. Youโre supposed to be a sacrificial goat here who was chosen by an old Satanic god to enact his vengeance on his usurpers. So he gives you superpowers and turns you into his apostle.
You must then gather your unholy flock of sacrificial animals and build your own cult and base. Thatโs the colony sim part. And even when you venture out into the gameโs action and RPG segments, it still ties in neatly to the colony sim part where you have to look after your worshippers.
But donโt worry too much about the Satanist iconography, itโs balanced out by the cutesy art style that even a born-again grandma might find adorable (as long as she doesnโt notice the weird symbols).