1
Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this. Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
MilitaryCity BuilderMedieval
$9.99 ~58.2 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 97.5% of 21k
The Squirrel's verdictSkirmish battles against a roster of AI lords with distinct personalities and strategies are Crusader's core structure, replacing Knights and Merchants' linear campaign with replayable siege-focused matches. The same resource-chain-feeds-army logic applies, but the emphasis is on repeated short engagements rather than a sustained progression. No co-op; median playtime runs about 58 hours; Steam rating is Overwhelmingly Positive.
Not for you if you want a story-driven campaign rather than repeatable skirmish matches against AI opponents.
2
Classic ClassicOlder, proven, and still worth your time.
Real Time TacticsCity BuilderColony Sim
$5.99 ~20.8 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 95.5% of 10k
The Squirrel's verdictCastle construction and siege mechanics are Stronghold HD's defining layer on top of the economic base both games share — you're managing food, goods, and workers, but the endpoint is a fortified castle under attack rather than a supply line feeding troops in the field. No co-op, median playtime runs about 20 hours, and the Steam rating is Overwhelmingly Positive.
Not for you if you want logistics-heavy troop supply chains rather than castle construction and siege combat.
3
Hidden Gem Hidden GemLoved by the players who found it, but still under the radar. Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
Lords of Magic: Special Edition
PC
RPGDwarfClassic
$4.99 ~29.2 hr median no co-op 92.2% of 551
The Squirrel's verdictLords of Magic gives you seven distinct religions to choose from, each with its own units and structures, and puts a named hero leader at the center of every campaign — one who can permanently die, restarting the run. Fantasy factions and RPG-inflected combat replace the medieval logistics of Knights and Merchants. Median playtime is about 29 hours; Steam rating is Very Positive at 92%.
Not for you if you want pure economic management without permadeath risk on a leader unit or heavy save-reloading against ambushes.
4
The Settlers® : Heritage of Kings - History Edition
PC
Colony SimCity BuilderRTS
$5.99 ~38.5 hr median no co-op 83.7% of 838
The Squirrel's verdictHeritage of Kings runs the same build-economy-to-field-army structure at a pace reviewers compare to The Settlers, but renders it in 3D and adds a hero unit with RPG-adjacent abilities. Reviewers strongly recommend limiting play to the base game; the second expansion's scenario maps are reported as glitched. Median playtime is about 38.5 hours, and a Ubisoft launcher account is required.
Not for you if you need expansion content to work reliably, or object to a mandatory third-party launcher on a legacy title.
5
City BuilderRTSResource Management
$4.99 ~8.6 hr median no co-op 82.7% of 688
The Squirrel's verdictNorthland is a society simulator built by former Settlers developers: each villager has individual needs, and production chains require tracking those needs rather than routing abstract resources. Combat exists but sits behind the economic layer rather than alongside it. Median playtime is about 8.6 hours, no co-op, and the Steam rating is Very Positive.
Not for you if you came to Knights and Merchants mainly for the combat rather than granular production-chain and worker management.
6
Cultures - 8th Wonder of the World
PC
City BuilderRTSVikings
$4.99 ~11.9 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 82.9% of 519
The Squirrel's verdictCultures gives each worker a distinct identity and role rather than pooling interchangeable villagers into a production line — the colony-sim detail runs deeper than Knights and Merchants' streamlined economy-to-army loop, with an RPG-leaning micromanagement layer alongside base-building. Isometric camera, 2000s European design sensibility, no co-op. Median playtime is about 12 hours.
Not for you if you want a tight, streamlined economy loop rather than per-unit micromanagement and granular worker identity, or need multiplayer.
7
RTSResource ManagementEconomy
$3.99 ~18.3 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 80.9% of 404
The Squirrel's verdictTaxation, market trade, espionage, and diplomacy replace Knights and Merchants' baker-to-soldier pipeline here. Seven Kingdoms 2 runs multiple civilizations simultaneously and lets you time spy assassinations alongside military campaigns — systems K&M never attempted. Production values are dated by modern standards, pacing is slower than Age of Empires, and there is no co-op. Median playtime sits at 18 hours.
Not for you if you want castle-siege combat focus rather than layered espionage, diplomacy, and multi-civilization economic systems.
8
Renaissance Kingdom Wars
PC
Grand StrategyRTSWargame
$13.99 ~3.2 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 72.6% of 168
The Squirrel's verdictPike-and-shot infantry, cannons, and siege-camp construction are Renaissance Kingdom Wars' distinguishing features — systems oriented around battlefield setup and early firearms rather than town logistics. Reviewers praise the siege-camp mechanics and note the developer reuses art assets and engine code across multiple entries in the franchise. Median playtime is 3.2 hours; released 2024.
Not for you if reused assets across a franchise series bother you, or you want a deep town-logistics and resource-chain simulation.