Games like They Are Billions: Why you should take a closer look at Ikariam
Have you played They Are Billions or are you searching for strategy games in a similar direction? Then Ikariam could be an interesting alternative for you. Whilst They Are Billions is a paid single-player strategy game on Steam, Ikariam runs directly in your browser, is free-to-play and immediately playable – without download or installation.
Both games revolve around development, resources and long-term strategic decisions. However, the setting and gameplay differ significantly. This overview shows you what makes both titles special and for whom Ikariam could be a worthwhile addition.
What makes They Are Billions special
They Are Billions was developed by Numantian Games and released on 18 June 2019. According to Steam, it is a steampunk strategy game on a post-apocalyptic planet. The focus is on building and defending colonies against billions of infected.
Key points according to Steam
- Genre: Strategy
- Single-player focus
- Steam achievements, trading cards, workshop, cloud, statistics
- Setting: Steampunk / post-apocalyptic, fighting a zombie apocalypse
- No free-to-play model
They Are Billions is aimed at players who are looking for challenging defence scenarios in single-player rounds.
What Ikariam offers
Ikariam is an ancient-inspired building and strategy game that runs in your browser. The focus is on building an island civilisation, researching new technologies and economic development.
Research as a central mechanism
A central element is the research tree. In the economy section, you can unlock technologies such as the following according to the game wiki:
- Preservation, pulley, prosperity, wine culture
- Improved raw material extraction, geometry, architecture
- Holiday leisure, legislation, culinary specialities
- Labour assistance, levelling tool, wine press, heap, soldier trading
- Bureaucracy, utopia and several levels of "future of the economy"
Research costs range from 12 research points for preservation to several million points for the highest upgrade levels – a long-term progression system.
Further gameplay elements
- Architecture: Allows the construction of architect offices to save marble when building structures.
- Culinary Specialities: Allows the training of cooks in the barracks to support troops.
- Pirate Fortress & Privateering: Short and long privateering expeditions bring privateer points and gold. The upgrade level determines crew, range and available expeditions.
- Sea Chart Archive: Reduces travel times between islands – each level increases time savings, especially with many island destinations.
- Balloon Carrier: A floating fortress with balloons that requires prerequisites such as war shipyard level 7 and a floating base.
Where Ikariam differs from They Are Billions
Both games are strategy titles, but they approach things very differently. The main factual differences:
- Platform: They Are Billions runs as an installed title via Steam, Ikariam directly in your browser.
- Pricing model: They Are Billions is a paid game, Ikariam is free-to-play.
- Setting: They Are Billions focuses on steampunk and post-apocalypse with infected. Ikariam is set in an ancient-inspired island setting.
- Mode: According to Steam categories, They Are Billions is a single-player title. Ikariam is an online building game in the browser where actions like privateering expeditions against other pirate fortresses are also possible.
- Game progression: Ikariam is designed for long-term development through research, upgrade levels and economics.
So it's not about one being "better" – both games serve different needs within the strategy genre.
Comparison table: They Are Billions vs. Ikariam
| Feature | They Are Billions | Ikariam |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Steam (download/installation) | Browser, immediately playable |
| Free-to-play | No | Yes |
| Setting | Steampunk / post-apocalypse | Ancient island world |
| Genre | Strategy (single-player) | Building and strategy game in the browser |
| Release / Developer | 2019, Numantian Games | Browser building game (Ikariam) |
FAQ
Is Ikariam similar to They Are Billions?
Both are strategy games with building and resource elements. However, the setting, platform and game mode differ significantly. They Are Billions is a single-player title on Steam with a post-apocalyptic setting, Ikariam is a browser building game in ancient times.
Do I need to install Ikariam?
No. Ikariam runs directly in your browser and can be played without installation.
Does Ikariam cost anything?
Ikariam is free-to-play and can be started for free.
Are there other browser alternatives?
Yes, for example Kingsage – a medieval strategy game that also runs in the browser and is aimed at fans of classic building and strategy titles.
Try it yourself
If building, research and long-term economic development appeal to you in They Are Billions, you can start Ikariam directly in your browser – for free and without download. This is the quickest way to find out whether the ancient island setting and strategic depth suit you.