There are a lot of stories about the emergence of life, and Spore is one such game based on a similar story. This game allows controlling, evolving, and customizing an organism of a peculiar species right from its cell stage to civilization stage, and further to the space stage. It’s a very addicting, player dominated game, with a unique theme and a catchy storyline. However, if Spore feels old school to you, here are some Spore alternatives.
The word Spore basically means a single-celled microbe which multiplies without the need for sexual fusion; the game too revolves around a similar concept, wherein a tiny organism leads to a mighty planet of mutated creatures.
Though Spore amused a lot, it’s not the only game in the life-simulation/god game genre. What’s a god game? It’s quite evident from the name of the genre itself – a game that allows the player to control and transform the game world on a much larger scale. It’s also called a life-simulation game, as the player controls certain in-game lifeforms or species right from their conception to evolution.
There are only two reasons for which you could be here; either you are bored playing Spore, or you wish to explore other games like Spore. Whatever the reason, you are here for alternatives, and we shall provide you some. Take a look at some free as well as paid games like Spore.
Although in its foundational stages, the game features a lot of customization, and is aiming towards clubbing entire solar systems with new organisms, technology, and culture. The game comprises 7 stages of evolution, which include microbe, multicellular, aware, awakening, society, industrial, and space; and features 3 gameplay modes – observer (you control/observe a creature), organism (you are the creature), and strategy (you control large troops of creatures on battlefields). This game is fully compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
It’s already starting to sound a lot more exciting than Spore, isn’t it? Why wait then? Go ahead and Thrive.
A lot of customization is taken from the original Spore; however, the game features its own RPG elements, making it more fun and addicting. Along with single-player battles, Darkspore features online multiplayer modes like co-op and PvP, which make the gameplay even better.
The game is available solely for the Windows platform. Check out Darkspore.
Though not as advanced as Spore, it is a great game to pass time and is very, very addictive. Flow can be either played online or downloaded for offline play on Windows and Mac. The game also supports PS3, PSP, and PSV platforms, and is completely free of charge. So go ahead and play Flow on your device, and enjoy.
However, it’s not just planting and nurturing trees, there is a lot more like protecting your colonies from intruders, attacking colonies, and conquering enemy asteroids. Though the gameplay is a bit difficult to understand, it gets a lot more fun when you get a really good hang of it.
The game is not free, and users need to pay $20 to buy it for Windows or Mac. The mobile version costs somewhere around $4.99. Check out Eufloria.
It also introduces the principles of genetic variation and mutation, which make every creature unique and slightly different from others belonging to that respective species. It’s completely up to the player to decide whether to observe the process of evolution or be an active part by developing new and unique species through the process of DNA fusion. The game allows the player to choose maps and tools that would foster the process of evolution and help the player observe the simulation.
Although the game is in its alpha state, it’s quite fun to play, and is surely expected to improve with future updates. It provides the alpha version for free, however, one can donate $10 or more to pre-order the upcoming version. Check out Species.
Make an alliance with your friends or challenge them in a battle with the intuitive multiplayer feature of this game. This game still has a lot more to offer in its upcoming versions, so keep an eye open.
The demo version of the game is completely free; however, to get the full game, one needs to make a payment of $6. Try Planetoid 3D.
The game supports single-player, multiplayer, and cross-platform multiplayer modes, which make the gameplay even more interesting and fun. Endless Space is a very popular award-winning game, with crisp graphics and a very immersive gameplay, and makes a very good alternative for Spore’s space stage.
The game supports Windows as well as Mac, and costs $30. Check out Endless Space.
It also features a multiplayer mode, wherein players can battle against each other or create and test custom ships. Players can also join ongoing matches.
The game is free and can only be played online. Check out Void Hunters.
A lot of these games are completely similar to Spore, and some are inspired by specific stages of the game. Try the one that suits your playing preference, and enjoy!
