Single-player games like Desktop Mars
Below are 10 single-player Steam games similar to Desktop Mars, ranked by player overlap. Every pick carries Steam's Single-player category, so multiplayer-only titles or always-online games don't sneak in. imho.run pulls the category data from Steam directly — Single-player here matches what the store labels.
Want the full alternatives list (paid + free + Steam Deck + cheaper picks)? See the parent games like Desktop Mars page.
Ranked picks
- 1
Desktop Farm
Single-player alternative to Desktop Mars — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Strategy and Indie with Desktop Mars.
Relaxing game where you can build your farm on your desktop. Your farm will be your interactive live wallpaper. Perfect to play in the background doing other things.
- 2
Surviving Mars
Single-player alternative to Desktop Mars — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Strategy and Simulation with Desktop Mars.
There will be challenges to overcome. Execute your strategy and improve your colony’s chances of survival while unlocking the mysteries of this alien world. Are you ready? Mars is waiting for you.
- 3
Timberborn
Single-player alternative to Desktop Mars — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Strategy and Indie with Desktop Mars.
Humans are long gone. In a world struck by droughts and toxic waste, will your lumberpunk beavers do any better? A sandbox city-building game featuring ingenious animals, vertical architecture, water physics, and terraforming. Contains high amounts of wood.
- 4
Corsair Cove
Single-player alternative to Desktop Mars — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Strategy and Simulation with Desktop Mars.
Build a sprawling pirate haven, raise a fleet to explore the high seas, and take on the Crown to keep the Age of Piracy alive! From ale to flintlock pistols, and from scallywags to swashbucklers, you’ll need to manage complex production chains and govern a rowdy crew to reign supreme over the seas!
- 5
Per Aspera
Single-player alternative to Desktop Mars — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Strategy and Indie with Desktop Mars.
Make Mars your own! Take control of the world’s most sophisticated AI (AMI) and terraform the surface of the Red Planet for a city-building experience on a planetary scale. Transform this barren world into a lush paradise and explore the surface for any ancient secrets that may be waiting.
- 6
ISLANDERS
Single-player alternative to Desktop Mars — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Strategy and Indie with Desktop Mars.
ISLANDERS is a minimalist strategy game about building cities on colorful islands.
- 7
Foundation
Single-player alternative to Desktop Mars — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Strategy and Indie with Desktop Mars.
Foundation is a grid-less, laidback medieval city-building game with a focus on organic development, monument construction and resource management.
- 8
Imagine Earth
Single-player alternative to Desktop Mars — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Strategy and Indie with Desktop Mars.
Build your own global colonies on distant worlds. Manage energy and resource supplies and produce goods for space trade. Form economic and diplomatic alliances or take over competing corporations. Conduct research to protect your colonists from disasters and avoid a climate crisis.
- 9
MY FOX - Desktop Wild Pet
Single-player alternative to Desktop Mars — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Simulation with Desktop Mars.
A relaxing game displayed as wallpaper. Adopt a little fox with whom you will explore the new wild world.
- 10
DESKTOP MONKEY
Single-player alternative to Desktop Mars — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Casual with Desktop Mars.
A challenging game where you fight for the best places on Steam Leaderboards. A funny little Monkey living on your screen will prepare you for everything.