For those who relish the strategic depth of building intricate defenses and then commanding armies to obliterate enemy strongholds, the world of real-time strategy (RTS) and tower defense games offers a unique thrill. Among these, 2003's "Forts" stands out as a beloved classic, celebrated for its innovative physics-based destruction and engaging multiplayer. If you've exhausted your love for "Forts" or are simply seeking new titles that capture its essence, you're in luck! In 2025, the landscape of gaming offers several compelling experiences that echo the core mechanics of building, defending, and attacking. This article explores the top 5 best games similar to "Forts", ensuring your strategic cravings are satisfied.
1. Reassembly
Reassembly offers a unique take on the space-based building and combat genre, bearing a strong resemblance to "Forts" in its modular design philosophy. Players construct their own starships from various modules, each serving a specific purpose – from weapons and engines to shields and utility systems. The key similarity lies in the freeform building and the way damage affects ship integrity. Just like in "Forts" where a well-placed shot can cripple a structure, in Reassembly, losing a critical module can have devastating consequences. The game encourages creative engineering and tactical adaptation as you engage in ship-to-ship combat across a procedurally generated galaxy.
2. Guns of Icarus Online
Guns of Icarus Online shifts the focus to a steampunk-inspired aerial combat experience, but the core principles of teamwork, resource management, and strategic targeting are remarkably similar to "Forts." Players crew massive airships, each with distinct roles like engineering, gunnery, and piloting. The "Forts"-like element comes into play with the management of your ship's systems and the importance of targeting specific enemy components to disable them. A well-aimed cannon blast to an engine or a barrage of machine-gun fire on enemy turrets can turn the tide of battle, mirroring the satisfaction of strategically dismantling an opponent's base in "Forts." The cooperative nature of the game also adds a layer of depth often found in "Forts" multiplayer.
3. Creeper World Series (Especially Creeper World 3: Arc Eternal)
The Creeper World series, particularly its later installments like "Creeper World 3: Arc Eternal," presents a fascinating evolution of the tower defense and base-building genre. While the primary antagonist isn't another player's fort, the strategic imperative to build, expand, and defend against an overwhelming, encroaching enemy force (the titular Creeper) is paramount. Players deploy various weapon emplacements and energy networks to push back the fluid-like Creeper. The resource management and the need for efficient base layout to defend against multiple attack vectors will feel very familiar to "Forts" players. The physics-based spread and flow of the Creeper also offer a unique, dynamic challenge akin to "Forts'" destructible environments.
4. Airships: Conquer the Skies
Airships: Conquer the Skies puts you in the captain's chair of your own fleet of customizable airships, set in a world of Victorian-era-inspired technology and political intrigue. Much like "Forts," the game emphasizes the design and construction of your war machines. Players can design airships with various components, including weapons, armor, engines, and even internal rooms for troops and amenities. The tactical combat involves maneuvering your fleet and targeting enemy weak points, a direct parallel to "Forts'" strategic targeting of structures. The game also incorporates elements of empire management and exploration, adding a broader strategic layer to the core building and combat loop.
5. Besiege
While Besiege leans more towards a sandbox physics-puzzle game, its core loop of designing and building functional contraptions shares a significant DNA with "Forts." In Besiege, you construct siege engines and other mechanical marvels to destroy fortresses, crush armies, and overcome various challenges. The intricate building system allows for incredible creativity, and the physics engine ensures that your creations behave in a realistic (and often hilariously unpredictable) manner. The satisfaction of constructing a perfectly engineered machine that systematically dismantles a target, much like the tactical construction of a fort in the game that shares its name, is what makes Besiege a worthy contender for fans of "Forts."
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Conclusion
The enduring appeal of "Forts" lies in its blend of creative building, strategic defense, and exhilarating destruction. While no game can perfectly replicate the unique magic of "Forts," the titles listed above offer compelling alternatives that capture its spirit in 2025. Whether you're drawn to modular ship construction in space, cooperative airship combat, or the challenge of defending against an encroaching enemy, these games provide ample opportunities to build, battle, and conquer. Dive into these experiences and discover your next strategic obsession!
