4 – Oxygen Not Included
Oxygen Not Included is a game that’s all about survival in space, and that does include managing oxygen and a whole host of other science stuff. Released in 2017 to Early Access, the game remains a powerhouse in 2026 because it offers a deep simulation of thermodynamics, gases, and liquid pipes that feels like a playable science fair, with all the stress involved of preventing your team from meeting an untimely demise. Known for being a hard game, Oxygen Not Included doesn’t shy away from complexity, and it’s the kind of game that draws players who are willing to delve into its complex systems and love problem-solving.
3 – Against the Storm
Against the Storm is such a gem that, despite its humble origins, the game managed to become one of the best-rated strategy games of the last 2 decades. It did that by revolutionizing the genre for anyone who finds the 50-hour commitment of a traditional colony sim intimidating. Instead of managing one city forever, players take on the role of Viceroy and are tasked with building a series of short-lived settlements in a world plagued by eternal rain. Each “run” lasts about 60–90 minutes, meaning you get that satisfying “early-game rush” over and over again. This structure is incredibly beginner-friendly because it encourages experimentation; if a settlement fails, you don’t lose everything, and you simply head back to the Smoldering City to spend your meta-progression points on permanent upgrades that make your next attempt easier. Against the Storm is also on sale right now, so take advantage of that.
2 – Dwarf Fortress
Yes, I know that a lot of you think that Dwarf Fortress should be the number one best colony sim game to play in 2026, and while I would have agreed with you for the longest time, I do think the number 2 spot is very much a deserved one. Dwarf Fortress is no longer the impenetrable wall it once was, since the groundbreaking Steam release that came with proper graphics that aren’t just letters and your imagination, even becoming quite an example in accessibility, because the available tutorials are immaculate, in my opinion, doing a lot of the heavy lifting of having players understand the game and the genre.
Dwarf Fortress is better known for its world-generating system, which creates millennia spanning myths, legends, and lore, it creates rivers and mountains, heroes and history. It’s quite something special, mainly because you then get to experience what’s left of that world by creating your very own Moria, from The Lord of the Rings.
1 – RimWorld
I don’t think that, in 2026, RimWorld is just a game; For years now, it’s a cultural phenomenon that has defined the colony sim genre for over a decade, by being one of the best sci-fi strategy games ever made. It’s constantly on gaming new cycles, millions of YouTube videos and forum posts, and the game is still going strong. The main reason, in my opinion, is the pool of inadequate, lazy, and idiotic colonists the game will randomly give out to you, that turn the game from a run-of-the-mill experience, into a chaotic mess where everything, eventually, will go wrong, because Joe didn’t want to tend to the food, because he’s always procrastinating, and now everyone else is starving, the alien creatures just ate your only competent dude, and now you’re being attacked, and your last 3 days of carefully building your outpost are worth nothing. All because Joe was too lazy to get out of bed. Thanks, Joe.
In all seriousness, RimWorld is the perfect game for emergent storytelling, and you’ll be having the time of your life just trying to survive the first couple of hours, then a couple of days, then maybe a couple of weeks. It’s such a cool experience, and the best colony sim of all time.
Conclusion
I’ve been getting increasingly interested and the colony simulation genre lately. It’s the kind of genre that, for the longest time, I wanted to dive right into, but kept bouncing back. Maybe because they take too long to learn, and you need to dedicate a significant amount of time to that. Fortunately, for people like me, the colony sim genre is no longer defined by impenetrable spreadsheet menus, and there are plenty of options that prefer to offer emergent storytelling alongside the challenge of perfect optimization and supply-chain management. From the zombie-ridden wastelands of Infection Free Zone to the derelict space-colonies of RimWorld, there’s an ever-increasing array of colony sim experiences that offer hundreds and thousands of hours of gameplay, and still manage to be quite cheap, as they go on sale quite often.
If you enjoyed this article, make sure to check my other lists.
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