Stonehearth vs Virtual Villagers: Origins
Stonehearth
Stonehearth is the game you'll want to play if you enjoy playing Minecraft because you can build your very own city. Although the game is basically a sandbox game like Minecraft, it has a building aspect that's much more similar to Craft the World... except that in Stonehearth, everything's in glorious 3D. In this game, you play as the leader of a small handful of adorable-looking pioneers who are looking for a new place to settle down. There isn't a lot of digging involved in Stonehearth though you still need to get your pioneers to collect resources from the environment or to plant and harvest their own.Like in Craft the World, you'll need to provide shelter for your people and equip them with the necessary equipment so they can fend off attacks during the night. However, when it comes to crafting, Stonehearth has a much more diverse and in-depth crafting system. The building system in this game is also pretty unique though it can be rather restrictive when compared to Minecraft since the most "building" you'll be doing is mainly houses for your villagers. Of course, let's not forget about the game's much better-looking graphics!
In some way, Stonehearth is more of a survival/town-building game than a pure sandbox game like Minecraft. However, it is perfect for players who enjoy having an entire town of minions to order around, and the satisfaction of leading and developing a tribe. For a price tag of $24.99 (on Steam), Stonehearth can be a bit on the costly side, but if this is the sort of game you're into, the game will always be worth the price. You can show your support to the indie developers behind this game as well... so there's that!
Virtual Villagers: Origins
Virtual Villagers: Origins is the village simulation game that is developed to answer the question of "what if The Sims is set in tribal times" and it did so perfectly. In this game, you'll need to help the fellow members of your tribe to survive in a mysterious new island by getting them to take up important roles, like farmers, builders and scientists. Grow your tribe and send them to explore the island they have now made their home on. There are also plenty of fun and challenging, random events that will spice up the day-to-day routine, allowing you to make use of your excellent problem-solving skills.In many ways, Virtual Villagers: Origins is very similar to other life simulation games like Virtual Families or, as mentioned, The Sims. For fans of such games, you'll find Virtual Villagers: Origins a suitable alternative.