Humankind has been extremely fixated on family genealogies and dynasties for centuries. From the various wars fought because of succession disputes in the past to modern society being obsessed with the British royal family, people have been interested in the powers associated with the "right" name. Those who have power desire to continue wielding it, while those who don’t have it yet, seek to establish their own. Although most people may not be obsessed with establishing their dynasties and family legacies in real life, several video games allow players to roleplay and satisfy their desire to create a powerful clan or house.

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The idea of creating a virtual family that consists of the player's heirs is an alluring prospect that a lot of titles have played around with. While it's true that this mechanic isn't all that prevalent in the realm of gaming, it's only a matter of time before players can easily fulfill their wildest fantasies in this department as games become more and more complex. A lot of games have already toyed with this concept, enjoying varying results.

Updated May 17, 2024 by Rie Takumi: Games that allow players to create a family dynasty that takes building family trees seriously are still a rarity. For a game to qualify for this niche, gamers typically want a direct continuation of lineages from a starting clan. Skill inheritance and long-term strategies to make it to the next generation are also must-have features.

Family dynasties also vary in size, wealth, and influence between games. Some titles give prestige to family trees by default, while other games task players with building their clan's reputation and strength. Others still focus on every generation's characteristics, combat prowess, and ability to continue their line.

1 RimWorld

Peaceful Mode With Biotech Expansion For Dynasties

Family dynasties are possible through RimWorld’s Biotech expansion pack. Colonists can get pregnant naturally, through surrogacy, or growth vats. Children are also obtainable through scenarios, quests, and events.

A child’s stats can be predicted through its parents’ stats and external birth conditions. Players can predict which germline genes and qualities are passed down via pregnancy to construct their family tree. Raising children well is critical for new traits and skills to appear. Xenogerms can also be applied to babies, but these genes can’t be passed down via pregnancy.

2 Clanfolk

Hunter Gatherer Scottish Clan Through Generations

Centered around a Scottish clan living in the Highlands, Clanfolk tasks players with ensuring their dynasty’s survival. Building a safe settlement with proper ventilation, heating, and other considerations is a must, especially during winter. Caring for the land and livestock will also keep the clan alive and ready for any possible threats.

Matching clanfolk with the right partner is crucial for preparing the next generation. Skill proficiencies and traits are passed through pregnancies, including traits that negatively impact learning and labor speed. Lastly, senior clanfolk need care until they pass on.

3 Echoes Of The Plum Grove

Continue To Farm Through The Next Generation

Players settle in Honeywood to establish their family dynasty in Echoes of the Plum Grove. Starting with a plot of land, players farm, fish, cook, forage, and craft their way to comfort and a solid base to start a family with.

Couples can adopt children or try for pregnancy. Pregnancy can occur in any gender and will last for three days. Orphans in town can be adopted, though they can turn down offers if they’re not too familiar with the player couple.

4 Founders' Fortune

Play As A Matchmaker On Top Of Mayoral Duties

Although Founders' Fortune is a colony sim, establishing family trees is an important mechanic. Matchmaking migrants and villagers with good traits and skills ensure the next generation has greater chances of success. The buck doesn’t stop at childrearing though, as kids must be nurtured.

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Children need to have a happy childhood, a good education, and a healthy amount of chores. Kids who grow up under these circumstances carry more Education Points and Positive Experiences into adulthood. These resources greatly contribute to mastering professions and helping the colony grow.

5 Star Dynasties

Human Drama & Politics Across Space

Fans of Dune are in luck. In Star Dynasties, players take control of the head of a feudal house within a politically divided galaxy after the destruction of Earth. Players must work with and compete with rival aristocratic families to ensure that their bloodline and faction become the dominant power in the galaxy.

Each campaign features a procedurally generated galaxy that differs each time and players must adapt to the traits of their generational offspring as time goes by. As the universe is trapped in a scientific dark age, technology remains stagnant and foreign. Factions will fight over "pre-collapse" artifacts and knowledge to maintain superiority. If players enjoy a game that intermarries Stellaris and Crusader Kings with plenty of political intrigue and murder, then this might be the right game.

6 Saelig

Building A Legacy In The Dark Ages

A game that plays like Banished but incorporates RPG, strategy, and business management elements, Saelig centers around a player’s character and family as they attempt to build a profitable and powerful family.

Similar to The Guild 2, players can opt to start in a quiet hamlet or large town. Each offers its distinct advantages and disadvantages and will determine what professions players are allowed to pursue. Though noted to be a little buggy and repetitive, Saelig still offers a charming simulation of establishing a powerful lineage in a medieval world.

7 The Guild 2

Family Dynasty In The Renaissance

In the quintessential medieval life sim, players get to go back in time to the 1400s and create their legacy. The Guild 2 features extensive character creation and allows players to select a wide array of professions, which can include being a priest, stonemason, or even a thief.

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Players will start families and watch their lineage and power grow in size and influence. As everything is in real-time, players can wander the streets and notice various "everyday" happenings in this medieval sim. Perhaps a rival is attempting to set fire to a nearby church, or a player’s son is about to get executed for wooing the wrong lady. Though quite dated and having a sequel (Guild 3), Guild 2 remains the favorite among fans and should be experienced at least once.

8 Ancestors: Humankind Odyssey

Ensure The Family's Evolution & Survival

Ancestors: Humankind Odyssey covers the span of a hominid clan's evolution from 10 million years ago to two million years ago. To make it to the end of the evolutionary line, players ensure their clan's survival by outpacing predators, discovering new food, locations, and tools, and developing their neural systems.

The game has a steep learning curve because of its evolution system. For clans to move on to the next generation, players must unlock neurons or skills. Their clan can manifest these skills through reinforcement points, which are earned by having babies or finding meteorites.

Generational changes move the timeline forward. By moving on, clan members age, babies manifest genetic mutations, and neurons are reinforced.

9 Record Of Agarest War

Soul Breed Dating System Spans Five Generations

Building a family dynasty is in the title for Record of Agarest War, at least in Europe. Also known as Agarest: Generations of War in Europe and on Steam, the tactical RPG covers five generations. Each generation has a male protagonist who must marry one of three female companions through the Soul Breed system.

Player characters from the resulting union inherit their parents' appearance and abilities. Weapon type, physical and magic skills, and base stats depend on player lineage. However, players can change their alignment from light, neutral, or dark in every generation for role-playing or dating sim purposes.

10 The Sims 4

Continue Generations From Old Sims Or Create New Ones

The Sims 4 is a game that needs no introduction, with the fame facing a pretty rocky launch before eventually getting its bearings together. Given the sheer number of expansion packs that have cropped up for this game over time, it's easy to see why The Sims 4 is now one of the most loaded and enjoyable life simulation games out there.

A big part of the gameplay loop in The Sims 4 is controlling households and either overseeing their rise to success or engineering their downfall if players wish to go down this dark route. Forming matrimonial bonds, giving birth to sons, and eventually moving on to let the new generation take over is a huge part of what makes The Sims 4 such a fun game.

11 Medieval Dynasty

Survive A Primal Landscape To Make A Family

Medieval Dynasty marries survival crafting with town management and life simulation. Players take charge of pioneering a settlement by building what their town lacks through farming, hunting, foraging, and trading.

Making a home is also a priority, as finding a wife and having an heir is important if players want to continue playing the game. It's game over if a player passes away without having a child. Players can also get a game over if their dynasty reputation gets too low, as the village will kick them out.

Although it's possible to max out a village within a few days, Medieval Dynasty is geared towards long plays. Players can even create generations of a single-family line if they wish to.

12 Massive Chalice

Long-Term Decisions To Create A 300-Year Family Dynasty

Double Fine Productions has developed a wealth of massive games that are all engaging in their own right. Massive Chalice is one of their lesser-known projects. The game combines elements of kingdom management with turn-based tactical gameplay.

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While the mechanics of this game slowly lose their luster over time, Massive Chalice still makes for a unique experience that has decent lore and an engaging gameplay loop. It's a shame that the game can't support itself after a strong beginning, but there's still something engaging about relying on certain heroes and helping them marry other people to have children who will further their legacies.

13 Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord

Build A New World In A Medieval Land

Mount & Blade 2 was widely anticipated, with the game's perennial status in Early Access leading many to people feel that the game simply wouldn't be released in a finished state anytime soon. However, this was the most negative thought that fans had, which made the launch of Bannerlord such a celebrated event.

As expected of a game set in the medieval period, family is important in Mount & Blade 2. Starting stats depend on the profession picked by players for their dead parents. The right marriage strengthens the player’s clan, influences overlords and vassals, and even expands their army.

More importantly, having children allows players to continue their save after their character passes away on the battlefield or from old age. Children can be married off to the player’s companions or molded into the perfect hero fit to be the clan’s heir.

14 Sunless Sea

Roguelike Where Generations Can Inherit Traits

Sometimes, all a game needs is great writing and a compelling gameplay loop to keep fans hooked. Such is the case with Sunless Sea, a title that lets players go on dangerous expeditions to different lands that are all pretty mysterious in their own right. The oppressive atmosphere and nerve-wracking gameplay go hand-in-hand to make for a truly unique and engaging experience.

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After successful adventures, players have the option of retiring a captain and letting their offspring take over the reins instead. It's a great and unique way to carve a legacy in this hostile world, although players should be warned that it's not the most fleshed-out part of the game.

15 Kynseed

Spend A Lifetime Raising A Family In An Idyllic Setting

Kynseed can be a bit frustrating, with the lack of some much-needed quality-of-life changes and some vague directions on fulfilling quests taking away from what could have been a great experience. The game starts pretty slowly, but once players invest some hours into the game and get to know how things work, they'll have a great time messing around with Kynseed.

Marriage is a less frustrating affair, although the process is as slow-paced as the rest of the game. The effort is worth it, as spirits at the wedding confer pretty good stat bonuses. Having kids, whether biologically or through adoption, is also pretty neat.

Kids can apprentice at shops to boost their skills. These skills carry on to adulthood and greatly help in raising the next generation of villagers. As all non-essential NPCs age and die, they will also have children whom the player’s kin can interact with and even marry.

16 Wildermyth

Tactical RPG With Growing Family Trees

Wildermyth is a great turn-based role-playing title that more people need to check out. At a glance, the cartoonish art style of the game might compel gamers to write this title off as nothing more than just another tactical RPG... but there's way more to Wildermyth than what meets the eye. A campaign spans multiple years, with characters growing old and eventually retiring as adventures before letting their children take up the mantle instead.

Aside from this, certain heroes in Wildermyth can be added as Legacy heroes, allowing them to gain power and be used in subsequent playthroughs too! This, coupled with the various ways characters can transform and evolve, makes this title a great one to check out for players who want to go through multiple epic campaigns while getting attached to their favorite heroes.

17 Niche - A Genetics Survival Game

Breed Traits Into Animals To Adapt

Taking the reigns in a different direction, Niche has players live out their inner Darwin by shaping their animal species in a game based on real genetic principles. Players must work hard to ensure their species' survival against would-be predators, climate change, and the plague!

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Taking inspiration from games such as Spore and Don’t Starve, players will have the opportunity to breed their creature using over 100 different genes in this turn-based strategy game. Fun for those who want to attempt to create the "perfect" animal tribe using real science and attempt to have said tribe survive.

18 WolfQuest

Create A Strong Wolfpack

Ever wanted to play as a wolf and raise wolf pups? Though not everyone’s cup of tea, WolfQuest offers players the experience of being a young gray wolf living in the northern range of Yellowstone National Park. As gray wolves, players must hunt, explore, mate, and raise their own families.

Once a litter is born, players must hunt, protect, play with, and guide their pups to adulthood whilst navigating a realistic ecological simulation of the park. The wilderness hosts many surprises, not all of them good as players must defend against rival wolf packs, predators, and other dangers.

19 BitLife

Choose Your Own Adventure-Type Life Simulator

BitLife has been around for years, but it's still going. Extensive choices, an easy-to-use interface, and simple but addictive gameplay helped it stick around. Player feedback and gaming innovations also made for great updates that kept BitLife relevant as a casual game.

It's also a game that allows players to create a family dynasty. Expanded family features let players plan out how big their family is and how their children are raised. Will and testaments, heirlooms, and family trees add realism and complexity to building a legacy.

20 Rogue Legacy 2

Give The Next Generation A Fighting Chance In Roguelike

Fight, die, and then fight again. In Rogue Legacy 2, players will explore six unique biomes in a classic platform rogue-lite fashion however every time a character dies; players will then continue as their children. Each generation allows players to select one of three kids, each being one of the fifteen different classes with various additional talents and traits that will spice up gameplay or hinder it a little.

The choices of children are varied which means that players will be able to find the fighting style that resonates with them the most. Moreover, fans of the game agree that the story elements in the game are fantastic as each memory or journal entry shines more light on the kingdom’s history and characters. Though not a typical family legacy game, Rogue Legacy 2 offers players a chance to follow the story of the most determined family of dungeon crawlers.