Highlights
- Judgment: Apocalypse Survival Simulation offers a lighter version of RimWorld with a dark, demon apocalypse twist.
- Frostpunk challenges players with gray morality decisions in a frozen, post-apocalyptic city-building experience.
- Cult of the Lamb mixes cute esthetics with dark cult management in a Roguelite colony sim game.
Colony simulators are one of the most popular genres on Steam, thanks to the success of games such as RimWorld, Dwarf Fortress, and lesser known titles like Amazing Cultivation Simulator. These games often offer complex management experiences and high replay value.
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While many colony simulators are more focused on granular mechanics and deep gameplay than story, theme, or tone, a few projects manage to be thematic. Of these, even fewer take on a truly dark tone. However, some colony simulators embrace their naturally dark themes.
6 Judgment: Apocalypse Survival Simulation - Surviving In A Demon Apocalypse
Steam User Rating: 80%
This somewhat obscure release from 2016 is a dark, post-apocalyptic colony simulator packed with demons and dark magic. Judgment's gameplay feels like a lighter, more accessible version of RimWorld, but takes on a darker, apocalyptic tone.
Judgment may come across as almost over-the-top darkness with its Hellspawn demon enemies and occasional voiceover, but this B-movie darkness is arguably what makes it so distinct. With its gritty setting and downtrodden characters, as well as its focus on constant scavenging and defense against horrific creatures, Judgment is perfect for players who enjoy over-the-top darkness.
5 Frostpunk - A Somber Mix Of City-Building And Colony Management
Steam User Rating: 92%
From the developers behind This War Of Mine, Frostpunk offers a post-apocalyptic colony-management experience of building a city in a frozen world. Players will have to contend with the discontent, starvation, and illness of their colonists as they expand their colony in an attempt to survive.
Frostpunk can be brutal, and extremely challenging at times. However, what makes it so dark is its stark focus on gray morality. Frostpunk constantly asks players to make tough, even cruel decisions for their colonists, most of which force them to face dark realities.
4 Kenshi - Tactical Squad-Based RPG Meets Colony Sim Base-Builder
Steam User Rating: 95%
While Kenshi may not market itself as a colony simulator, and it can certainly be played in a multitude of ways, the late-game of Kenshi can often evolve into a combination of base-building and colony management. This often happens after the player has become strong enough to defend themselves, has amassed a small fortune, and usually having gathered an abundance of party members.
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With a wealth of currency and a small army in tow, players will often need to build a base to act as their headquarters. While Kenshi's base-building may not be as fluid as more focused colony sims, and the gameplay is much more focused on micromanagement and automation, its unique dark-fantasy setting and brutal world make Kenshi a great choice for fans of darker experiences.
3 Cult Of The Lamb - A Roguelite Colony Sim About Leading A Cult
Steam User Rating: 94%
This wildly popular Roguelite indie game features action Roguelite gameplay that tasks players with crawling through dangerous dungeons full of enemies. However, outside of these dungeons, players spend their time expanding and managing a dark cult.
Cult of the Lamb may have a cute aesthetic with its anthropomorphized animals and hand-drawn art style, but this is in stark contrast to its gameplay. Cult of the Lamb may not be the darkest colony sim out there, as its tongue is firmly in its cheek, but the cult-building theme and gameplay mechanics surrounding dark rituals and ritual sacrifice make Cult of the Lamb a decidedly dark experience.
2 RimWorld - A Classic Colony Sim That Lets Players Wreak Havoc
Steam User Rating: 98%
RimWorld is arguably responsible for the modern popularity of the colony sim genre. Since its release on Steam in 2018, RimWorld has evolved with updates and DLC to become not only one of the best colony simulators, but perhaps one of the darkest.
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While RimWorld may not appear particularly dark or gritty on the surface, the freedom it gives players can lead to some morally gray situations. RimWorld doesn't shy away from dark themes and gameplay mechanics surrounding drugs, slavery, and the removal (and selling) of vital organs. RimWorld never tells the player what they're doing is wrong, and that's perhaps the darkest thing about it.
1 This War Of Mine - A Dark And Gritty War Story
Steam User Rating: 94%
This War of Mine: Final Cut
- Platform(s)
- PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- May 10, 2022
- Developer(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
- Genre(s)
- Survival
This dark and gritty colony survival game tasks players with managing and protecting a group of downtrodden civilians in a war-torn world. This war-ravaged setting is packed with dark stories, characters, and heartbreaking events, making This War of Mine consistently dark.
This War of Minecan be pretty emotional, thanks in large part to its theme and tone. Similar to games such as Frostpunk (from the same developer), This War of Mine also frequently asks players to make tough decisions, driving home the game's dark theme and tying it into the gameplay.
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