# Games like Thrive

> The closest matches to Thrive: The Sapling, Ecosystem, Planetary Life, Species: Artificial Life, Real Evolution, and The Bibites: Digital Life. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.

## Similar games, ranked

The full ranked list, 24 games, best match first (the HTML page shows the top 8 as cards).

1. [The Sapling](https://imho.run/games/997380/the-sapling) — Also Science and Artificial Intelligence, like Thrive. 1,559 Steam reviews, 89% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/997380/)
2. [Ecosystem](https://imho.run/games/1133120/ecosystem) — A frequent pick in Thrive players' libraries, and another Casual. 472 Steam reviews, 78% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1133120/)
3. [Planetary Life](https://imho.run/games/2471970/planetary-life) — Also Science and Nature, like Thrive. 435 Steam reviews, 94% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2471970/)
4. [Species: Artificial Life, Real Evolution](https://imho.run/games/774541/species-artificial-life-real-evolution) — Also Science and Education, like Thrive. 814 Steam reviews, 74% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/774541/)
5. [The Bibites: Digital Life](https://imho.run/games/2736860/the-bibites-digital-life) — A frequent pick in Thrive players' libraries, and another Indie. 172 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2736860/)
6. [Universe Sandbox](https://imho.run/games/230290/universe-sandbox) — Also Science and Education, like Thrive. 18,850 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/230290/)
7. [SPORE™](https://imho.run/games/17390/spore) — Also Science, like Thrive. 37,494 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/17390/)
8. [Vilmonic](https://imho.run/games/458330/vilmonic) — A frequent pick in Thrive players' libraries, and another Strategy. 56 Steam reviews, 73% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/458330/)
9. [Gridworld](https://imho.run/games/396890/gridworld) — Also Science and Education, like Thrive. 183 Steam reviews, 85% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/396890/)
10. [Kerbal Space Program](https://imho.run/games/220200/kerbal-space-program) — Also Science and Education, like Thrive. 77,731 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/220200/)
11. [Nature & Life - Drunk On Nectar](https://imho.run/games/512460/nature-life-drunk-on-nectar) — Shares predator prey dynamics with Thrive. 194 Steam reviews, 91% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/512460/)
12. [Imagine Earth](https://imho.run/games/280720/imagine-earth) — Also Science and Nature, like Thrive. 484 Steam reviews, 77% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/280720/)
13. [Cell to Singularity - Evolution Never Ends](https://imho.run/games/977400/cell-to-singularity-evolution-never-ends) — Also Science and Education, like Thrive. 10,706 Steam reviews, 86% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/977400/)
14. [Creatura](https://imho.run/games/781130/creatura) — Also Science and Nature, like Thrive. 158 Steam reviews, 69% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/781130/)
15. [Timberborn](https://imho.run/games/1062090/timberborn) — Also Science and Nature, like Thrive. 22,640 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1062090/)
16. [SpaceEngine](https://imho.run/games/314650/spaceengine) — Also Science and Education, like Thrive. 8,862 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/314650/)
17. [Terra Firma 2](https://imho.run/games/3422270/terra-firma-2) — Also Science and Nature, like Thrive. 97 Steam reviews, 92% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3422270/)
18. [Niche - a genetics survival game](https://imho.run/games/440650/niche-a-genetics-survival-game) — Also Education and Nature, like Thrive. 3,745 Steam reviews, 90% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/440650/)
19. [ANLIFE: Motion-Learning Life Evolution](https://imho.run/games/2452130/anlife-motion-learning-life-evolution) — Also Science and Artificial Intelligence, like Thrive. 52 Steam reviews, 83% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2452130/)
20. [Take On Mars](https://imho.run/games/244030/take-on-mars) — A frequent pick in Thrive players' libraries, and another Simulation. 1,129 Steam reviews, 52% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/244030/)
21. [Caves of Qud](https://imho.run/games/333640/caves-of-qud) — Also Procedural Generation, like Thrive. 10,368 Steam reviews, 95% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/333640/)
22. [Beyond Blue](https://imho.run/games/883360/beyond-blue) — A frequent pick in Thrive players' libraries, and another Adventure. 532 Steam reviews, 88% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/883360/)
23. [Space Simulation Toolkit](https://imho.run/games/1196080/space-simulation-toolkit) — Also Artificial Intelligence and Education, like Thrive. 391 Steam reviews, 81% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1196080/)
24. [Dwarf Fortress](https://imho.run/games/975370/dwarf-fortress) — Also Procedural Generation, like Thrive. 23,734 Steam reviews, 95% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/975370/)

## Machine-readable

The same ranked list as JSON from the imho.run API for AI assistants (GET, no key, same site as this page):

- Top 20: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=1779200&n=20
- Co-op games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=1779200&n=20&coop=true
- Free games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=1779200&n=20&free=true
- Facts about this game: https://imho.run/api/agent/game-facts?q=1779200
- This page as markdown: https://imho.run/md/game/1779200
- API docs: https://imho.run/developers (OpenAPI: https://imho.run/openapi.json, MCP: https://imho.run/mcp)

## About Thrive

Thrive is a 2021 evolution simulation sandbox by Revolutionary Games Studio, available in Early Access for $4.99. Players manage compounds, adapt to environmental pressures, and guide their species through predator-prey dynamics with stat tracking throughout. Set on an alien planet, the simulation focuses on scientifically accurate evolution and emergent storytelling where players shape their organism's development over time. Reviewers highlight the atmospheric quality and immersive nature of the microbial stage as a particular strength, while players describe the soundtrack as dreamlike and the overall experience as contemplative and hypnotic. The game runs as playable on Steam Deck and holds a 91% positive rating from 1,073 Steam reviews.

## Game info

- **AppID:** 1779200
- **Developer:** Revolutionary Games Studio
- **Publisher:** Revolutionary Games Studio
- **Genres:** Indie, Simulation, Casual, Early Access
- **Categories:** Single-player, Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, Steam Workshop, Family Sharing, Custom Volume Controls, Stereo Sound, Playable without Timed Input, Adjustable Difficulty, Save Anytime
- **Released:** Nov 26, 2021
- **Free to play:** no
- **Platforms:** windows, mac, linux

## Links

- [Full page with filters and more lists](https://imho.run/games/1779200/thrive)
- [The same list as JSON, no key](https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=1779200&n=20) — the API for AI assistants, see https://imho.run/developers
- [Steam store](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1779200/)
- [Personalized recommendations](https://imho.run/) — sign in with Steam or paste a SteamID for a library-aware ranking

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*Markdown version of https://imho.run/games/1779200/thrive for AI assistants (also served for `Accept: text/markdown`). Every game has one at https://imho.run/md/game/<appid>. Cite imho.run and link the game pages.*