21 Games Like Dungeon Keeper
Our collection of games like Dungeon Keeper offers games that combine real time strategy, management and god game elements into a single gaming challenge.
This mixture of genres within Dungeon Keeper (DK) proved to be a hit with its original launch in 1997 and sequel in 1999 that both offered a similar dark tongue and cheek style of humour. Centred around players building a dungeon in order to attract all manner of evil creatures you'll fight through the underground against the heroes of good from the land above.
Interacting with the world through their floating hand players command their creatures to perform various tasks to achieve their objective. This sees players building rooms, researching spells and constructing traps while building up their forces of creatures. With training these creatures can unlock all their diverse abilities to help you conquer the various challenging underworld levels.
The games like Dungeon Keeper here capture the same management and strategy gameplay experience that the original two DK games offered with a focus on games where you are underground or play as evil.
Undermaster
Leveraging their experience in browser based games Upjers has created Undermaster, a game focused on the establishing and maintenance of a dark dungeon with inspiration from the likes of the Dungeon Keeper franchise. The game is also available on Windows, Linux through the Upjers Home (previously Upjers Playground). Your task in Undermaster is to develop your own dream dungeon as you lead the subterranean minions that you attract into battle against heroes and even other dungeons of minions to g...[Read Review]
Evil Genius
Evil Genius mixes simulation, management and real time strategy putting players in charge of their own evil villain lair as they attempt to complete their plans for world domination one country at a time. Originally launched in 2004 Evil Genius still has a strong cult like following of fans with comparison to the popular Dungeon Keeper series of games which launched several years earlier. With age does come some limitations however with graphics and general polish quickly falling behind other mo...[Read Review]
Oxygen Not Included
Oxygen Not Included challenges you with space colony simulation across varied procedurally generated worlds that each offer their own distinct fight for survival. From food, warmth and even oxygen as your resources under constant threat you’ll need to guide your colonists to survive and in time thrive to a civilisation that is self sufficient and safe from external threats. Released in 2019 for Windows, Mac and Linux this space adventure has some similar survival mechanics to Klei Entertai...[Read Review]
Dungeons 4
The Absolute Evil returns to the gaming universe with Dungeons 4 a title that continues the roots of the franchise and serves as a direct sequel to Dungeons 3. Once again blending the genres of real time strategy and dungeon management players will lead their own selection of dungeon creatures across three factions to conquer the heroes above and for the first time also the hero Dwarves below ground. Published in 2023 across major platforms by Kalypso Media it’s been six years since the la...[Read Review]
Prison Architect
Maximum security prisons aren’t a common theme for a video game but one that Prison Architect explores in detail with its takes on the management simulation genre as players control a private construction business. With a campaign of several levels that also serve as your tutorial players the majority of gameplay takes place in sandbox setting of prison management. Prison Architect takes place in a top-down 2D environment and clearly draws from a number of classics in the tycoon genre with...[Read Review]
Dungeons 3
Live the life of dungeon master in Dungeons 3, a game with clear inspirations but takes the management mechanics in its own direction. Gameplay includes a vast 20 mission campaign (co-op available) amongst a multiplayer skirmish mode and a survival format in the base game which is expanded further through several DLC releases. Set in a far off fantasy land players infect the mind of the dark elf priestess Thalya, convincing her to give into her dark urges and conquer the goodly game world and se...[Read Review]
Ghost Master
If you’ve ever thought you’d make a great haunting ghost then you can now put that to the test with Ghost Master a title where you get to control a team of ghastly ghouls and attempt to scare people out of their homes by utilising the hauntable items in an everyday home. Ghost Master combines the likes of puzzle and adventure with touches of light strategy but overall is primarily about the journey rather than a vast amount of strategy depth in haunting. Set across a number of missio...[Read Review]
Black & White 2
Black & White 2 is a sequel to the first popular god game in the series and expands on the core gameplay with the addition of real time strategy elements to expand on the original challenge. Praised as offering something unique Black & White 2 continues to have a small dedicated fan base decades after its release with plenty of nostalgia for those that played it upon original release date. In Black & White 2 players again take on the role of a god and use their divine hand to interac...[Read Review]
Populous: The Beginning
Populous: The Beginning blends strategy and god games together to create an interesting and fun hybrid of the genres where players lead their tribe through an array of missions with their powers. The game serves as the third in the series and was developed by Bullfrog Productions who also developed the highly popular Dungeon Keeper series with features some similar themes and game mechanics. In Populous: The Beginning players will join their own tribe as a powerful shaman who wishes to achieve v...[Read Review]
From Dust
From Dust combines a number of genres incorporating strategy, building and god games into one with players helping their own tribe of humans through the challenges that they face. From Dust was published by Ubisoft in July 2011 for the Xbox 360 and was followed by Windows and PlayStation 3 a few months later, along with Xbox One backwards compatibility. From Dust was briefly made available on the Google Chrome store in 2012 although this version has since been discontinued. Set in a world where ...[Read Review]
Banished
Banished joins the ranks of the city build genre with a 2014 release that takes it into a unique medieval setting where you’ll build from humble beginnings into a thriving economic powerhouse. Banished opts not to throw abundance of resources at players either and instead looks to force players into resource scarcity so that every decision is one of balance as you try to survive and with some luck, thrive. Banished starts you off with your own community of outcasts who have come together a...[Read Review]
War For The Overworld
Many video games over the decades have tried to revived the exceedingly popular Dungeon Keeper franchise but none have come as close as War for the Overworld, a fan driven game that was born from the realm of Kickstarter. With Richard Ridings providing his familiar dungeon overseeing voice acting for the game it is already half way there to replicated the formula. Offering campaign, sandbox and multiplayer War For The Overworld is set in a similar dark setting to that of its spiritual predecesso...[Read Review]
Startopia
Startopia is the brain child of several former Bullfrog employees which has players taking control of several space stations as you attempt to create a thriving space hub for the galaxy to visit. Released in 2001 the game features similar humour filled gameplay of games previously developed by Bullfrog such as Dungeon Keeper and Theme Hospital. Startopia takes place in a universe that has recently been devastated by war on an intergalactic scale which has left the galaxy mostly barren and in des...[Read Review]
Overlord II
Overlord II continues the humorous and unique experience of the original Overlord game with a full adventure as an evil overlord across major gaming platforms (Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360). Fans of the original evil adventure will welcome the highly anticipated sequel with plenty of familiar and fresh mechanics that ensure there is plenty of fun to be head for returning or newcomers to the franchise. At the heart of Overlord II you’ll be once again stepping into the metal shoes of ...[Read Review]
Planetbase
Planetbase challenges you to settle the stars with your own team of space settlers as they try to establish a colonist outpost on a remote planet. Originally released in 2015 for Windows the game later expanded to the console market which offers the same science fiction setting struggle for survival as you work with minimal resources far from your home base. Your ultimate goal in Planetbase to master the four game planets that provide different challenges and increasing difficulty and serve as t...[Read Review]
Craft The World
Craft The World is a sandbox game with strategy elements for PC, Mac and iOS whereby players will be creating their own dwarven colony from humble beginnings. Mixing elements from a range of titles in similar genres Craft The World’s overall experience is a gaming treat and offers replayability at the same time. Craft The World puts you in charge of your own dwarf society that grows from a single dwarf to a thriving community of adventurers (often 12-14 depending on your level completion t...[Read Review]
Dwarfs!?
Dwarfs!? is a game that comes in paid and a free to play variant where you command your own special team of Dwarfs in a game that seeks to cross Lemmings and Dwarf Fortress gameplay together. In the free to play version players will be able to freely access the Arcade mode (including tutorials and challenges) that serves as the foundation of your dwarven themed adventure. Subsequent to this players can either unlock the 5 additional game content pieces individually or opt purchase the full game ...[Read Review]
Overlord
Overlord opts to blend a number of genres together with role playing elements, kingdom management, action-adventure and Pikmin like game puzzles to offer a unique and humorous title. Released in 2007 the game was the first title in the Overlord franchise with an expansion pack (Raising Hell) released soon after which also happens doubled as the name of the PlayStation 3 full version. Set within a fantasy world Overlord tasks players with the role of an evil leader who seeks to reclaim power by s...[Read Review]
A Game of Dwarves
A Game of Dwarves puts you at the head of a dwarf settlement and gives you complete control of building a new and thriving civilisation. This civilisation of dwarves is highly customisable with the experience focusing on the dungeon simulation and creation elements rather than a robust and deep layer of strategic gameplay. While this means A Game of Dwarves can’t live up to the likes of Dwarf Fortress in terms of challenge it does provide the necessary tools and freedom to create a thriving dwar...[Read Review]
Dungeons
Dungeons takes a different spin on the dungeon strategy management genre which makes for a unique experience where you’ll invite heroes into your dungeon, provide them with a tantalising adventure and drain their souls before they can escape. The game was released in 2011 published by Kalypso Media who would go on to support Dungeons 2 and Dungeons 3 albeit with different game mechanics. In Dungeons players take control of a once dominate Dungeon Lord who falls victim to a disastrous plot ...[Read Review]
Space Colony
Space Colony throws a crew of explorers across to the other side of the known galaxy with a limited number of resources to create a profitable venture for the powerful corporation that sent them. With this base deep in alien territory you’ll have to keep these explorers safe from the hostile alien threat that circles your base constantly while maximising your resource acquisition Part simulation game Space Colony requires players to not only expand their base but also keep their colonists ...[Read Review]