Games like State of Decay
If State of Decay is your kind of game, the closest matches are State of Decay: YOSE, State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition and iZolated — picked from the ranked list below. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.
Get personalized picks →State of Decay is a 2013 third-person action game blending survival simulation with RPG mechanics in a post-apocalyptic open world. Players guide a community of survivors, managing resources, constructing and upgrading a base, and fighting off zombie hordes. The game emphasizes strategic decision-making where the death of a character is permanent, adding weight to combat encounters and resource allocation. Reviewers highlight the tension of balancing short-term survival against long-term community growth. State of Decay is verified to run on Steam Deck and holds an 82% positive rating from over 8,800 Steam reviews, offering a lengthy and challenging solo experience in the zombie survival sandbox genre.
About State of Decay: The end is here. Life as you knew it has gone to hell after the mother of all zombie outbreaks. Now you and the few scattered survivors must band together to survive and rebuild in a 3rd-person action game set in a dynamic open world.

Players who liked State of Decay also play
Steam players who put hours into State of Decay also tend to own these titles — a signal called collaborative filtering. imho.run cross-references millions of library ownership patterns to surface games whose real audiences overlap, regardless of whether their genre tags match.
State of Decay: YOSE
WHY THIS
Top pick for State of Decay fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Simulation with State of Decay.
Make your stand against the collapse of society in the ultimate zombie survival-fantasy game. Explore an open world full of dangers and opportunities that respond to your every decision. Recruit a community of playable survivors, each with their own unique skills and talents.
State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
WHY THIS
Second-strongest match for State of Decay fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Simulation with State of Decay.
The dead have risen and civilization has fallen. Now it's up to you to gather survivors, scavenge for resources and build a community in a post-apocalyptic world – a world where you define what it means to survive in this ultimate zombie survival simulation.
iZolated
WHY THIS
Third-strongest match for State of Decay fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and RPG with State of Decay.
iZolated - This is a post-apocalyptic 2D action game with elements of survival and RPG, which throws you into a harsh open world where the slightest mistake costs you your life. Find equipment, engage in fights, and prove that you are the top of the food chain in this chaos!
7 Days to Die
WHY THIS
Ranked #4 for State of Decay fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with State of Decay.
7 Days to Die is an open-world game that is a unique combination of first-person shooter, survival horror, tower defense, and role-playing games. Play the definitive zombie survival sandbox RPG that came first. Navezgane awaits!
Survivalist
WHY THIS
Ranked #5 for State of Decay fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with State of Decay.
It's one year after the collapse of civilization and self-centered hedge fund manager Joe Wheeler emerges from his specially constructed bunker in search of food. This is a huge open-world RPG where you have the freedom to play how you want - but your choices have consequences.
Nether: Resurrected
WHY THIS
Ranked #6 for State of Decay fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Simulation with State of Decay.
Nether is a unique, first-person, multiplayer urban survival experience. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Nether forces players to make life-saving decisions in a fast-paced struggle against players and the environment. Join tribes, hold territory, scavenge, craft, trade and loot your way to stay alive.
How to Survive
WHY THIS
Ranked #7 for State of Decay fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and RPG with State of Decay.
“A real Gem” – Destructoid at E3 “Offers a different experience for zombie game veterans” – Co-Optimus“Has a lot more going for it than smashing brains and gory, red goo ... With a surprisingly deep crafting system” – GamesRadarYou're shipwrecked on an isolated island, a desperate castaway in a total freakshow world. How will you survive?
How to Survive 2
WHY THIS
Ranked #8 for State of Decay fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and RPG with State of Decay.
Dead or Alive? Make up your mind, stranger. We don’t like that undead business here in Louisiana…Survive solo or with friends as you look to fulfill your basic needs of food, water and shelter, crafting your own tools and weapons while you secure your camp and face flesh hungry zombies.
Reviewers mention these as similar to State of Decay
Surfaced from review text: when other players write 'if you liked X, try Y', we catch the name and resolve it back to a Steam game.
Project Zomboid
WHY THIS
Reviewers of State of Decay cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Simulation and RPG with State of Decay.
Project Zomboid is the ultimate in zombie survival. Alone or in MP: you loot, build, craft, fight, farm and fish in a struggle to survive. A hardcore RPG skillset, a vast map, massively customisable sandbox and a cute tutorial raccoon await the unwary. So how will you die? All it takes is a bite..
Survivalist: Invisible Strain
WHY THIS
Reviewers of State of Decay cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action with State of Decay.
It's ten years since the infection started. Long-established settlements are collapsing, one by one, for unknown reasons. Survivors are running to the hills to escape, hoping for safety in remote places. As another refugee, you're here to carve out a new life for yourself - by any means necessary.
The Forest
WHY THIS
Reviewers of State of Decay cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Simulation with State of Decay.
As the lone survivor of a passenger jet crash, you find yourself in a mysterious forest battling to stay alive against a society of cannibalistic mutants. Build, explore, survive in this terrifying first person survival horror simulator.
Kenshi
WHY THIS
Reviewers of State of Decay cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Simulation with State of Decay.
A free-roaming squad based RPG. Focusing on open-ended sandbox gameplay features rather than a linear story. Be a trader, a thief, a rebel, a warlord, an adventurer, a farmer, a slave, or just food for the cannibals. Train your men up from puny victims to master warriors.
RimWorld
WHY THIS
Reviewers of State of Decay cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Simulation with State of Decay.
A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more.
7 Days to Die
WHY THIS
Reviewers of State of Decay cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action with State of Decay.
7 Days to Die is an open-world game that is a unique combination of first-person shooter, survival horror, tower defense, and role-playing games. Play the definitive zombie survival sandbox RPG that came first. Navezgane awaits!
This War of Mine
WHY THIS
Reviewers of State of Decay cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Simulation with State of Decay.
In This War Of Mine you do not play as an elite soldier, rather a group of civilians trying to survive in a besieged city; struggling with lack of food, medicine and constant danger from snipers and hostile scavengers. The game provides an experience of war seen from an entirely new angle.
Medieval Dynasty
WHY THIS
Reviewers of State of Decay cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Simulation with State of Decay.
Hunt, survive, build and lead in the harsh Middle Ages: Create your own Medieval Dynasty and ensure its long-lasting prosperity or die trying! Play alone or team up with friends to enjoy the ultimate medieval experience.
Free alternatives
Free-to-play games that recommended players of this title also tend to enjoy.
Doki Doki Literature Club!
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.
The Literature Club is full of cute girls! Will you write the way into their heart? This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.
Life is Strange - Episode 1
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with State of Decay.
Episode 1 now FREE! Life is Strange is an award-winning and critically acclaimed episodic adventure game that allows the player to rewind time and affect the past, present and future.
Ultimate Custom Night
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with State of Decay.
Welcome to the ultimate FNAF mashup, featuring 50 selectable characters and custom difficulties!
Bongo Cat
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Simulation with State of Decay.
Bongo cat needs your help. Bongo cat needz more hatz!!! Every time you press a key, Bongo cat will punch your taskbar. Type, click, play, work to collect more points. Which hats will you find?
ENA: Dream BBQ
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.
Experience surreal environments and inexplicable characters as ENA in a new wild world.
Indigo Park: Chapter 1
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with State of Decay.
Explore the abandoned childhood wonder of Indigo Park! Guided by Rambley the Raccoon, help restore power to the destroyed amusement park while you run from the reason it shut down.
STRAFTAT
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with State of Decay.
STRAFTAT is a 1v1/2v2 ONLINE first person SHOOTER with quick rounds in over 350 MAPS ; Including all WEAPONS, proximity chat and 4 players FFA.
The Looker
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.
You wake up, alone, on a strangely familiar island full of puzzles that will frustrate and annoy you.
Narrow it down
Head-to-head comparisons
More from Undead Labs
Other recommendable Steam games by Undead Labs, ranked by review count so the studio's hits land first.
State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
WHY THIS
Another title from Undead Labs, the studio behind State of Decay. Shares Action and Simulation with State of Decay.
The dead have risen and civilization has fallen. Now it's up to you to gather survivors, scavenge for resources and build a community in a post-apocalyptic world – a world where you define what it means to survive in this ultimate zombie survival simulation.
State of Decay: YOSE
WHY THIS
Another title from Undead Labs, the studio behind State of Decay. Shares Action and Simulation with State of Decay.
Make your stand against the collapse of society in the ultimate zombie survival-fantasy game. Explore an open world full of dangers and opportunities that respond to your every decision. Recruit a community of playable survivors, each with their own unique skills and talents.
State of Decay 3
WHY THIS
Another title from Undead Labs, the studio behind State of Decay. Shares Action with State of Decay.
Play as a community of survivors, build up your settlements with friends, and destroy zombies in State of Decay 3, the latest in the franchise from developer Undead Labs.
Plays great on Steam Deck
Valve-Verified or Playable picks from the similar pool — ready to go on Deck out of the box.
7 Days to Die
WHY THIS
Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action with State of Decay.
7 Days to Die is an open-world game that is a unique combination of first-person shooter, survival horror, tower defense, and role-playing games. Play the definitive zombie survival sandbox RPG that came first. Navezgane awaits!
Survivalist
WHY THIS
Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action with State of Decay.
It's one year after the collapse of civilization and self-centered hedge fund manager Joe Wheeler emerges from his specially constructed bunker in search of food. This is a huge open-world RPG where you have the freedom to play how you want - but your choices have consequences.
How to Survive
WHY THIS
Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action and RPG with State of Decay.
“A real Gem” – Destructoid at E3 “Offers a different experience for zombie game veterans” – Co-Optimus“Has a lot more going for it than smashing brains and gory, red goo ... With a surprisingly deep crafting system” – GamesRadarYou're shipwrecked on an isolated island, a desperate castaway in a total freakshow world. How will you survive?
Frequently asked about State of Decay
- Is State of Decay verified for Steam Deck?
- Yes — State of Decay is Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve has confirmed it runs well on the Deck with full controller, text legibility, and default configuration support.
- What games are most similar to State of Decay?
- Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside State of Decay are State of Decay: YOSE, State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition, iZolated.
- Who developed State of Decay?
- State of Decay was developed by Undead Labs and published by Xbox Game Studios.
imho.run ranks Steam game alternatives using a mix of collaborative filtering (ALS / iALS / EASE / LightGCN), content scoring over genres, categories, Steam tags, developers, and publishers, plus AI-extracted vibes mined from review text. The page above is generated in seed mode anchored on State of Decay.
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