(Pictured: Darkwood)
Looking for recs for base building games like Darkwood, This War of Mine, And??????
I really enjoy game play loops where I have to scrounge like a little rat during the day cycle to get resources for my base before going on defense at night. I enjoy taking risks to find loot and then managing my limited resources. Stealth gameplay is a plus.
I'm seeking a solo experience that's not fps. I love games like subnautica and valheim but they're really meandering and I'm seeking something with more time pressure.
Oh. I saw the title and the first line and I was like, SUBNAUTICA!!!! But you've played it already and it's not quite what you're looking for, sorry about that. I have no actual recommendations, I just am sad I can't yell subnautica at you, you know how it goes.
I wish you luck on your search! Hopefully you find a spectacular game!
Don't Starve is great!
The only thing it doesn't have is a "base" to defend. Most of the mechanics actually prevent defensive style building. But you have to tuck in at night and manage a ton of resources.
Oh yeah I marathoned it back in 2013 and haven't opened it in a while. I should give it another look.
Rim World is a good survival base builder, it’s ugly but fantastic especially with all the Mods out there. Depending on the difficulty you get a pretty good cycle of trying to defend your base from raids.
Project Zomboid might fit the bill? There are by default certain time sensitive things, but it's less about active defense usually than planning and avoiding bad situations. The base building is pretty good though and it gives you a lot of tools to solve your problems.
I dig project zomboid but the lack of NPC interaction makes it difficult for me to get into. I am waiting patiently for the update.
Well you named the all-stars, so I'll have to do some digging and give alternative suggestions.
Terraria sounds somewhat close. Think 2D Minecraft but you recruit NPCs that give you bonuses. However it might not be the rat feeling all the time.
Lobotomy Corporation is a base-builder where you manage anomalies SCP style. You are a Power Company that has some, uh, unusual methods for generating electricity. Definitely makes you feel like the rat in the cage sometimes when things go south.
People have recommended Rimworld, Dwarf Fortress, and Frostpunk. I might as well throw Timberborn in the ring. You manage a bunch of highly advanced beavers that construct elaborate machines and dams for water management during droughts. However it isn't a rat-like feeling. Bonus: humans extincted themselves.
The original Homeworld is a 3D RTS has persistent fleets and resources between missions, and you can steal enemy ships including unique AI ships for yourself. Homeworld Cataclysm/Emergence takes this concept and applies survival-horror.
As long as I'm on the weird recommendations, how about an "Unfair" strategy game, AI War: Fleet Command? This is a rat-like experience. The whole game is set up where you are always lethally disadvantaged right up until you win. The AI has overwhelming power, but it doesn't notice you yet. The whole game is about managing a deteriorating ignorance of the AI while you build up enough power to strike at it. There are two of these AIs, and killing one make the other notice and destroy you. The entire game builds up to a climactic battle where you make a desperate strike at both AIs before they can fully muster their forces. I still haven't beaten it yet
Honorable mentions:
- Factorio - Begins as a survival scavenger, but my mid-game you are in full logistics mode. Late game is basically an elaborate RTS. Mitigation: crank up research and construction costs to balloon the early game, deathworld settings make enemies more dangerous and frequent.
- Stardew Valley - Harvest Moon farming sim early game, but mid to late game materials require Dungeon Crawling.
Thank you for recommending Lobotomy Corporation I had it on my radar and completely forgot about it!
AI war fleet command looks sick af gonna check that out too.
