Games like Humankind: If you enjoy Humankind, Ikariam in your browser could be an exciting alternative
Looking for strategy games like Humankind? Humankind by AMPLITUDE Studios is a strategy game where you shape a civilisation, build cities and spread influence. If this strategy approach appeals to you, but you don't necessarily want to install a full-price title, it's worth taking a look at Ikariam – a strategy building game with an ancient setting that runs directly in your browser and is free to play.
What makes Humankind special
Humankind is a strategy game by AMPLITUDE Studios that was released on 17 August 2021. According to the Steam description, the focus is on rewriting history and shaping your own unique civilisation.
- Culture combination: 60 cultures from antiquity to the present day can be combined to lead an empire to victory.
- City building & combat: Build flourishing cities and outwit enemies in epic battles.
- Modes: Single-player and multiplayer, including online PvP.
- Platform features: Steam achievements and Steam trading cards.
- Genre: Strategy.
According to Steam, Humankind is not a free-to-play title – so entry requires a purchase.
What Ikariam offers
Ikariam is an ancient strategy building game in your browser. Instead of an installation process, you start directly in your browser window and build your island empire step by step. The focus is on economy, research, seafaring and military conflict.
Research as a central system
In the Economy research area, you can progress from early preservation through to advanced stages of "Future of the Economy". Some examples from the research tree:
- Preservation (12 research points)
- Prosperity (112 research points)
- Wine culture (336 research points)
- Architecture (3,672 research points) – enables the construction of architectural offices
- Culinary specialities (10,764 research points) – allows the training of chefs in the barracks
- Bureaucracy (106,560 research points)
- Utopia (241,200 research points)
- Multiple stages of "Future of the Economy" (up to 5,328,000 research points)
Seafaring, privateering and fleets
Ikariam places a strong emphasis on seafaring. At the Pirate Fortress you can order privateering expeditions. The expansion level determines the available expeditions, crew and range of raids. Shorter expeditions are considered particularly effective – depending on the yield per time – for collecting privateer points and gold.
Military megastructures are also part of it: the Balloon Carrier, for example, is a floating fortress with balloons that requires prerequisites such as a War Shipyard Level 7 and a Floating Base.
The Sea Map Archive reduces travel times and can be developed across many expansion levels – with multiple islands, the time savings add up noticeably.
How Ikariam differs from Humankind
Both games fall into the strategy genre, but take different approaches:
- Platform: Humankind is released as a classic full-price title (including on Steam). Ikariam runs directly in your browser – no installation, immediately playable.
- Pricing model: According to Steam, Humankind is not a free-to-play game. Ikariam is free to access.
- Setting: Humankind covers 60 cultures "from antiquity to the present day". Ikariam remains thematically anchored in an ancient setting.
- Gameplay structure: Humankind is a classic strategy game with individual matches. Ikariam is designed as a persistent building game – research and expansion levels go far, with some build times ranging from hours to days.
- Multiplayer focus: Humankind supports single-player and online PvP via Steam. Ikariam is designed as a browser strategy game for ongoing interaction with other players – for example through privateering expeditions against other pirate fortresses.
Which game is better suited depends on whether you're looking for a self-contained strategy match (Humankind) or a long-term growing island empire in your browser (Ikariam).
Comparison table: Humankind vs. Ikariam
| Feature | Humankind | Ikariam |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | PC (including Steam) | Browser |
| Free-to-play | No | Yes |
| Setting | Antiquity to present day (60 cultures) | Antiquity |
| Genre | Strategy | Strategy building game |
| Modes | Single-player, multiplayer, online PvP | Multiplayer in browser |
| Installation required | Yes | No – playable directly in browser |
| Release | 17 August 2021 | Ongoing browser title |
FAQ: Games like Humankind
Is Ikariam really free to play and playable without installation?
Yes. Ikariam runs directly in your browser and is free to access. This makes entry significantly easier than Humankind, which is a paid title according to Steam.
Does Ikariam offer similar strategic depth to Humankind?
Ikariam sets its own focus: economic research (from preservation through architecture to multiple stages of "Future of the Economy"), seafaring, privateering and military units like chefs or megastructures like the Balloon Carrier. Humankind, on the other hand, lives from the combination of 60 cultures across multiple epochs. Both offer strategic depth – but in different forms.
Can I play Ikariam against other players?
Yes. Ikariam is designed as a browser strategy game with other players. Through the Pirate Fortress, for example, you can conduct privateering expeditions against other pirate fortresses – and with increasing expansion, beyond your own island as well.
Are there other browser alternatives?
If you like strategy in your browser but prefer a medieval setting, you might also want to check out Kingsage – a medieval strategy game in your browser.
Try it now directly in your browser
If the strategy approach of Humankind appeals to you, but you want to get started without a download, without a purchase price and without lengthy setup, Ikariam is worth a try. Ancient setting, deep research tree from preservation to Utopia, seafaring with privateering expeditions and megastructures like the Balloon Carrier – all directly in your browser. Those who prefer a medieval setting can find another browser alternative in Kingsage.