# Games like The Sapling

> The closest matches to The Sapling: Species: Artificial Life, Real Evolution, Ecosystem, Thrive, The Bibites: Digital Life, and Planetary 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. [Species: Artificial Life, Real Evolution](https://imho.run/games/774541/species-artificial-life-real-evolution) — Also God Game and Science, like The Sapling. 814 Steam reviews, 74% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/774541/)
2. [Ecosystem](https://imho.run/games/1133120/ecosystem) — A frequent pick in The Sapling players' libraries, and another Strategy. 472 Steam reviews, 78% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1133120/)
3. [Thrive](https://imho.run/games/1779200/thrive) — Also Science and Artificial Intelligence, like The Sapling. 1,073 Steam reviews, 91% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1779200/)
4. [The Bibites: Digital Life](https://imho.run/games/2736860/the-bibites-digital-life) — Shares ecosystem design with The Sapling. 172 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2736860/)
5. [Planetary Life](https://imho.run/games/2471970/planetary-life) — Also God Game and Science, like The Sapling. 435 Steam reviews, 94% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2471970/)
6. [Tyto Ecology](https://imho.run/games/453750/tyto-ecology) — Also Dinosaurs and God Game, like The Sapling. 370 Steam reviews, 76% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/453750/)
7. [SPORE™](https://imho.run/games/17390/spore) — A frequent pick in The Sapling players' libraries, and another Action. 37,494 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/17390/)
8. [WorldBox - God Simulator](https://imho.run/games/1206560/worldbox-god-simulator) — Also God Game and Artificial Intelligence, like The Sapling. 28,024 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1206560/)
9. [Universe Sandbox](https://imho.run/games/230290/universe-sandbox) — A frequent pick in The Sapling players' libraries, and another Indie. 18,850 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/230290/)
10. [Terra Firma 2](https://imho.run/games/3422270/terra-firma-2) — Also God Game and Science, like The Sapling. 97 Steam reviews, 92% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3422270/)
11. [ANLIFE: Motion-Learning Life Evolution](https://imho.run/games/2452130/anlife-motion-learning-life-evolution) — Also God Game and Science, like The Sapling. 52 Steam reviews, 83% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2452130/)
12. [Vilmonic](https://imho.run/games/458330/vilmonic) — Also God Game and Science, like The Sapling. 56 Steam reviews, 73% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/458330/)
13. [Creatura](https://imho.run/games/781130/creatura) — Also God Game and Science, like The Sapling. 158 Steam reviews, 69% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/781130/)
14. [Gridworld](https://imho.run/games/396890/gridworld) — Also God Game and Science, like The Sapling. 183 Steam reviews, 85% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/396890/)
15. [Prehistoric Kingdom](https://imho.run/games/666150/prehistoric-kingdom) — Also Dinosaurs and God Game, like The Sapling. 3,233 Steam reviews, 90% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/666150/)
16. [Sandboxels](https://imho.run/games/3664820/sandboxels) — Also God Game and Science, like The Sapling. 535 Steam reviews, 94% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3664820/)
17. [PolyPine](https://imho.run/games/2718240/polypine) — Also God Game and Nature, like The Sapling. 229 Steam reviews, 94% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2718240/)
18. [Cell to Singularity - Evolution Never Ends](https://imho.run/games/977400/cell-to-singularity-evolution-never-ends) — A frequent pick in The Sapling players' libraries, and another Simulation. 10,706 Steam reviews, 86% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/977400/)
19. [Equilinox](https://imho.run/games/853550/equilinox) — Also God Game and Nature, like The Sapling. 2,091 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/853550/)
20. [Fantasy Map Simulator](https://imho.run/games/3035500/fantasy-map-simulator) — Also God Game and Artificial Intelligence, like The Sapling. 1,052 Steam reviews, 88% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3035500/)
21. [Deisim](https://imho.run/games/525680/deisim) — Also God Game and Artificial Intelligence, like The Sapling. 590 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/525680/)
22. [Solar 2](https://imho.run/games/97000/solar-2) — Also God Game, like The Sapling. 1,141 Steam reviews, 91% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/97000/)
23. [Space Simulation Toolkit](https://imho.run/games/1196080/space-simulation-toolkit) — Also Artificial Intelligence and Education, like The Sapling. 391 Steam reviews, 81% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1196080/)
24. [Imagine Earth](https://imho.run/games/280720/imagine-earth) — Also Science and Nature, like The Sapling. 484 Steam reviews, 77% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/280720/)

## 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=997380&n=20
- Co-op games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=997380&n=20&coop=true
- Free games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=997380&n=20&free=true
- Facts about this game: https://imho.run/api/agent/game-facts?q=997380
- This page as markdown: https://imho.run/md/game/997380
- API docs: https://imho.run/developers (OpenAPI: https://imho.run/openapi.json, MCP: https://imho.run/mcp)

## About The Sapling

The Sapling is a solo simulation and early-access title released in 2019 by developer Wessel Stoop. Players design plants and animals, construct ecosystems, and observe how species adapt over time through optional random mutations. Core mechanics include ecosystem design, environmental balance management, organism customization, and a species editor that allows tweaks mid-simulation alongside scenario-based goals. Reviewers highlight the relaxing god-game vibes and deep systems, noting that passive evolution creates emergent storytelling as species thrive or falter based on their environment. Players describe it as atmospheric and contemplative with a chill tone throughout. It costs $17.99, runs on Steam Deck in playable condition, and holds an 89% positive rating from 1559 Steam reviews.

## Game info

- **AppID:** 997380
- **Developer:** Wessel Stoop
- **Publisher:** Wessel Stoop
- **Genres:** Simulation, Early Access
- **Categories:** Single-player, Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, Family Sharing
- **Released:** Dec 12, 2019
- **Free to play:** no
- **Platforms:** windows, linux

## Links

- [Full page with filters and more lists](https://imho.run/games/997380/the-sapling)
- [The same list as JSON, no key](https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=997380&n=20) — the API for AI assistants, see https://imho.run/developers
- [Steam store](https://store.steampowered.com/app/997380/)
- [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/997380/the-sapling 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.*