31 Best City Builder Games You Can’t Afford To Miss

There are all sorts of video games out there for people to enjoy, but what sometimes people like is not an FPS where you’re shooting everything on sight, or an RPG where your grind up your character levels, but rather…they want to build something. And if it’s a city or town, or world that you’re trying to build…you have options. Allow us to show you the best city builder games!

#31 Frostpunk 2

Platform: PC PS5 X/S
Release Date: September 20, 2024

Steam

The cold is a killer, but so, too, are the people trying to stay out of it. In Frostpunk 2, you’ll return to the city that the first game constructed but deal with new perils 30 years after the first game’s timeline.

This time, you’re not necessarily the builder of the city but one who is tasked with maintaining peace, order, and balance between those governing the city and those who reside in it. As a Steward, you’ll have numerous choices to make that’ll affect the city, its people, and how things progress. The wrong moves will make certain factions mad at you and could escalate tensions to a literal boiling point.

Can you lead the city to new heights? Or will it fall under your watch?

#30 Bellwright

Platform: PC
Release Date: April 23, 2024

Steam

In this city-building game, you’ll take on the role of a man who was framed for murder. Upon living a life of solitude, you are attacked by an assassin and soon realize there is more to your framing than you realized.

You’ll begin your quest for justice by building up a rebel army and taking the fight to the crown! As you do, you’ll establish settlements and help make life better for the people under your command. The more you build and recruit, the more you’ll uncover about what the kingdom has really been up to, and how your role in the land’s future is more important than you realize.

#29 Stronghold: Definitive Edition

Platform: PC
Release Date: November 07, 2023

Steam

One could argue that city-building games were one of the first genres within video games that pushed things to incredible places because of all they tried to enact on screen.

You’ll see what we mean in Stronghold: Definitive Edition, as you’ll get to retake England for your king and his kin while also making some of the best possible castles, fortresses, and more! The game is multi-layered, but the main building mechanics come from trying to build defenses and offenses to take on foes and repel the assaults they’ll bring against you.

Be smart with building and expanding, and you won’t have any problems!

#28 Townscaper

• Publisher: Raw Fury
• Developer: Oskar Stålberg
• Platforms: Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
• Release Date: June 30, 2020

How about an indie title to start this all off? If that’s good for you, allow us to show you Townscaper.

This is a game where you are told to build your dream town…and that’s it. No, really. There’s no “ultimate goal”, there’s no overarching world that you have to work within and limit yourself due to it. Townscaper lets you build your dream town block by block and house by house.

This is a game that embraces your creativity and the freedom to truly make what you want. So why not enjoy this passion project?

#27 Islanders

• Publishers: GrizzlyGames, Coatsink
• Developer: GrizzlyGames
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Linux
• Release Date: April 4, 2019

If you’re looking for a game that is a bit more…basic, but also fun, check out Islanders. Why? this is what is known as a ‘minimalist’ city builder game. Mainly because it puts you on a variety of different islands and allows you to go and build your cities without having to worry about resources, just the islands natural contours.

Then, as you go and build up your island, you can start from scratch on another island! So go and see what all you can make on a variety of colorful places.

#26 Farthest Frontier

• Release date: August 9, 2022
• Developer: Crate Entertainment
• Publisher: Crate Entertainment
• Platform: Microsoft Windows

Set yourself on a course to rebuild a community’s life on the world’s edge in Farthest Frontier.

You will lead a group of villagers as you build a home for them from scratch. Harvest the resources in the wilderness around you, and then plant the literal seeds of your future via the farming system.

The game’s numerous challenges include having to endure the elements, the dangers of the wild, and invading forces that will try and steal what you have. Defend yourselves against them so life can go on.

Or, if you wish, you can do a Pacifism run and only worry about the building of your village.

#25 The Wandering Village

• Release date: September 14, 2022
• Developer: Stray Fawn
• Platforms: Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Xbox Series X and Series S, Macintosh operating systems
• Publishers: Stray Fawn, WhisperGames

A deadly plant species has spread across the world. To survive, a group of humans finds safety on the back of a giant, Onbu.

Now, they must rebuild their lives on Onbu, and you will be the one to help them do that.

You’ll start small, building up your village so that it can thrive on its own. Then, you’ll expand, make production lines, see how far you can take things with your farms, and so. Just be mindful of the space you use; Onbu only has so much space on his back.

As the giant travels through the world, you can send out expeditions to get new resources, find artifacts, and figure out how to expand your village even further.

#24 Two Point Campus

• Release date: August 9, 2022
• Developer: Two Point Studios
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, MORE
• Publishers: Sega, SEGA of America

School may be a bummer to most people, but what if you can make the university of your dreams or have only the most fun courses? Then jump into Two Point Campus and let the proper education begin.

First, you’ll make your school from scratch. Make it big, elegant, or with nature; it’s all up to you!

Then, get ready to bring students in for classes ranging from learning how to be knights to cooking giant pizzas!

Talk with your incoming students to learn more about that, know what they think you need to do to improve the school, then do so!

#23 RimWorld

• Publisher: Ludeon Studios
• Developers: Ludeon Studios, Tynan Sylvester
• Platforms: macOS, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh operating systems
• Release Date: November 4, 2013

Would you like a more sci-fi twist on your city builder? If so, then check out RimWorld. This is a very special top-down colony builder set on a remote world and is apparently inspired by both Firefly and Dune. Which means it either will get canceled before its time or will only tease Zendaya coming around but she’ll be a glorified cameo. Either or.

The twist here is that the narrative itself is driven by an AI as you keep building. Not to mention, you’ll have to fight off pirates, ensure you have resources to stay alive, and so on. So for a different kind of experience, try out RimWorld.

#22 Northgard

• Publishers: Shiro Games, Playdigious
• Developer: Shiro Games
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Android, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Macintosh operating systems
• Release Date: February 22, 2017

Ok, so sci-fi is out for you, huh? How about something with a more Norse tinge to it? If so, then Northgard will be the game for you to check out.

You’ll play as a group of Vikings that have come to a brand new land, seems great, right? Except, this land is full of mysteries, giants, and incredibly harsh winters. So if you’re going to survive it, you’ll need to build and defend your colony in order to last.

There are multiple “victory conditions” here, so you might want to go and check out what you can do as you play, then start over and try a different path. All in all, Northgard offers a lot and it’s worth your time.

#21 Kingdoms and Castles

• Publisher: Lion Shield
• Developer: Lion Shield
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, Classic Mac OS
• Release Date: July 20, 2017

Fine, you don’t like sci-fi or Norse-style stories, what about medieval? Have you ever wanted to run your own castle town? If so, then you’ll want to take a dive into Kingdoms and Castles.

In this game, you’ll be the runner of a small “Hamlet” (no, not the play) and need to build it up into a mighty kingdom full of castles and…whatever else castle towns have.

But it’s not just about making the best castles (for some reason…) you’ll need to make sure that your peasants are happy within the town that you make. So thus you just can’t build it for yourself, but for others.

And once you build up your kingdom, you need to defend it! So build, please, and go to war until your Kingdoms and Castles are the best! See what I did there?

#20 Timberborn

• Publisher: Mechanistry
• Developer: Mechanistry
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Macintosh operating systems
• Release Date: September 15, 2021

Look, I’m running out of genres within a genre here, so we’re going to go ape here and talk about a game where you’re building things…as beavers. Yes, really.

Timberborn takes place in a world where humans are gone and only certain species, like beavers, have evolved enough to survive in this new paradigm. And as one of several beaver factions, you’ll need to work hard to rebuild and make a world fit for beavers.

Each beaver faction has different ways of going about remaking beaver life, and you’ll need to use the lands and your workforce to your advantage in order to make the most epic beaver kingdom that was made by beavers for beavers.

You’re welcome.

#19 Dorfromantik

• Publisher: Toukana Interactive
• Developer: Toukana Interactive
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
• Release Date: March 25, 2021

Dorfromantik is a title that takes a different approach to the city-building landscape, and we’re grateful for that. Because you’re not just building a city, you’re building a world…one tile at a time. You’ll need to construct the world and then build upon it. It can be as relaxing as you want, or, you can make it as challenging as you want in order to beat the high score of the game.

As you continue to expand, you’ll find tiles that can give you quests or special resources, and as you expand even further you’ll realize that you’re making a vast and almost painting like landscape that was truly made by your hands.

So this is one where you’ll want to do things multiple times to see what you can make.

#18 Medieval Dynasty

• Publisher: Toplitz Productions
• Developer: Render Cube
• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Release Date: September 17, 2020

Medieval Dynasty also takes a stab at changing up the formula. This one is set in medieval times, but, you’ll find that your quest line is much different than before. Because you are just a common man who is tired of being ruled by kings and factions and decides to make your own place to live and invite people to try a better life here.

This game not only allows you to grow and expand your own version of a kingdom, you’ll be building up your main character and having them go on main quests, sidequests, or just exploring the world of the game itself.

All in all, you might find that this game is one of the most in-depth city builders out there.

#17 Anno 1800

• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Developer: Ubisoft
• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Release Date: April 16, 2019

The Anno franchise is honestly a rather robust one, so it’s likely that you’ve seen or heard of many of their games. Anno 1800 takes place within the Industrial Revolution and has you trying to build up your own part of that world.

This game features a lot for you to do and accomplish. You’ll need to build up factories, but also establish trade routes with the New World in order to get more workers to run them. There are story missions, sidequests for you to do, and more. There are also new features like a Blueprint Mode where you can outline your cities before building them.

#16 Dawn of Man

• Publisher: Madruga Works
• Developer: Madruga Works
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Macintosh operating systems, Classic Mac OS
• Release Date: October 20, 2018

If you want a city builder that is set WAY before you think it would be…then check out Dawn of Man. Because this is a game that has you trying to build up some of the first settlements of mankind.

You’ll go through the first 10,000 years of the human age, going from the Stone Age to the Iron Age and face all the struggles and trials that go with it. Will you be able to hunt and build enough for you to survive? Or will you go the way of humans past and go extinct? Check out the game and find out!

#15 Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic

• Publisher: 3DIVISION
• Developer: 3DIVISION
• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Release Date: March 15, 2019

We’ll be delicate with this one because of all that’s going on in the world, ok?

Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic is a game that indeed does put you in the Soviet Union and asks that you build up your world within the confines of what that time period was like.

There is a high level of detail here that makes it feel like you are a Soviet builder and citizen, and you’ll get to control your part of the world and see how vast you can make it to please Mother Russia.

#14 Rise To Ruins

• Publisher: SixtyGig Games
• Developer: Raymond Doerr
• Platforms: Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh operating systems
• Release Date: October 14, 2019

If you’re a fan of true “godlike” titles then Rise to Ruins is a game you’ll want to try out. This title has you trying to “build a village and die trying”. Yes, really.

Because this title has you indeed trying to make your own village from on high, but as you might have guessed, it’s not that easy to do. Because there are all sorts of things trying to literally bring you and your village down.

There are all sorts of modes for you to partake in, and you can even take away some of the difficulty in order to ensure that you get to make your village the way you want.

#13 Foundation

• Publishers: Polymorph Games, Polymorph Games Inc.
• Developers: Polymorph Games, Polymorph Games Inc.
• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Release Date: February 1, 2019

Foundation is another in a long line of construction games that will try and shake things up for you just enough to make things interesting.

For example, Foundation focuses on giving you a grid-less experience so that you have free reign of what you build. What’s more, they choose to give you a more “organic building experience” and as such you’ll be building things up at your own pace and see them come up before your very eyes.

Make your own world and then interact with other estates in order to have a even more enriching experience.

#12 Surviving Mars

• Publisher: Paradox Interactive
• Developers: Haemimont Games, Abstraction
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Linux, Macintosh operating systems, Classic Mac OS
• Release Date: March 15, 2018

Humanity in the real world is still trying to get to Mars and colonize it. But in Surviving Mars, we’re going to skip one part and just get to the point where you’re making the first colony on Mars.

Naturally, it’s anything but simple. You’ll need to ensure you build upon a good spot, then try and find the resources needed to make a place for humanity to survive. You can’t just stay stagnant either, you need to expand in order to better your capabilities and then make it all work in your favor.

Can you survive on Mars? You’re about to find out…

#11 Banished

• Publisher: Shining Rock Software
• Developer: Shining Rock Software
• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Release Date: February 18, 2014

What happens when you are exiled from a kingdom? Simple, you have to rebuild! You have to build your own way to show those that banished you that you can live without them.

Banished gives you an interesting twist on things where your most important resource is the very people you were banished with. They will help you build your new home, but, they’ll also grow older, make new members of your community, and you’ll need to take care of them else all will be wiped out.

You have no money, and you have to do wise trading and manage resources in order to get what you need without hurting the needs of your people.

So go and make your new home and let nothing stand in your way.

#10 Stronghold Crusader HD

• Publishers: Gathering of Developers, Take-Two Interactive
• Developer: Firefly Studios
• Platform: PC
• Release Date: July 31, 2002

If you’re looking for more action in your city-builders, then you need to get Stronghold Crusader HD. Because this game will not only be having you build things, but you’ll also be working on fighting off the enemies of the Crusades!

Relive the historic Crusades as Richard the Lionheart and the Saladin, Sultan of Syria. It won’t be easy, and you’ll need to make sure you manage your crusaders in order to survive.

Can you endure and come out victorious in these historical battles? Lots of campaigns and challenges await you!

#9 Songs of Syx

• Publisher: Gamatron AB
• Developer: Gamatron AB
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, Macintosh operating systems
• Release Date September 21, 2020

Songs of Syx challenges you to go and make something of yourself when you are in fact very much nothing to start. you’ll be a very small colony and have to work and scheme in order to become the empire you’ve always dreamed you would be!

But this game doesn’t stop with just the building, you’ll have to work through the day and night in order to survive, and that’s IF you can survive the other challenges of the world like enemy nations and monsters.

Pick the culture you want to be and then build up your empire!

#8 Going Medieval

• Publishers: The Irregular Corporation, Gramophone Games
• Developers: Foxy Voxel, Gramophone Games
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux
• Release Date: August 10, 2020

Yes, we know we’ve “gone medieval” before, will you stop ruining this for us? Thank you.

Ok, so in Going Medieval, you’ll find yourself at the end of a very dark version of the Dark Ages. In this timeline, 95% of the worlds population has been wiped out from a plague. Now, you are in a race to get humanity back on track by building back the world and reclaiming it from nature.

Because as you know, when humanity stops building, nature reclaims the world.

Once you build, you’ll need to defend. Ensure the safety and security of your new world and ensure that the dark ages end!

#7 Planetbase

• Publisher: Madruga Works
• Developer: Madruga Works
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, macOS, Macintosh operating systems, Classic Mac OS
• Release Date: October 15, 2015

Planetbase has you in the role of an architect, it’s your job to guide a group of colonists in order to build an outpost on a remote world. But as you might expect, that’s not going to be easy.

You’re going to have to ensure that you build on the right areas, and make sure that your colonist group has what it needs to survive and thus expand the outpost further.

But wait, there’s more, you’ll also have a variety of planets to choose from, and thus, you’ll be able to up the difficulty and test yourself as you try and make it off world.

#6 Frostpunk

• Publishers: 11 Bit Studios, Merge Games
• Developer: 11 Bit Studios
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Android, Xbox One, macOS, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Macintosh operating systems
• Release Date: April 24, 2018

Frostpunk is not related to Cyberpunk 2077, mainly because it actually works. ZING!

Also, Frostpunk puts you in the role of a ruler who happens to be ruling the last city on Earth. What’s more, every decision you make in terms of what you do and build and manage things can have dire consequences on you, your city, and your people.

Frostpunk has been updated a LOT over the years and as a result, you’ll be able to enjoy a wide variety of modes for you to enjoy. So whether you want to play the main mode, or an Endless Mode, the challenge is there.

#5 Anno 2070

• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Developers: Ubisoft Blue Byte, Related Designs
• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Release Date: November 17, 2011

We told you that Anno was a large franchise, and Anno 2070 is another example of what you can do within this franchise. As this time around, you’ll be in the future via year 2070 (get it?), and have to build the futuristic cities and colonies of your dreams.

And that also means you can take things not just to the land, but to the seas AND the skies in order to make what you want.

But with a new world comes new challenges, as well as new ways to enjoy the gameplay. So check it out and see just how fresh this title is.

#4 Tropico 6

• Publishers: Kalypso Media, Kalypso Media Digital Ltd., Koch Media, Kalypso Media USA Inc.
• Developer: Limbic Entertainment
• Publishers: Kalypso Media, Kalypso Media Digital Ltd., Koch Media, Kalypso Media USA Inc.
• Release Date: March 29, 2019

So…you ready to be El Presidente? Tropico 6 puts you in the role of a dictator who is trying to build up his own empire and isn’t afraid to let other people do the dirty work for him.

Unlike in other games on this list, you’ll have an archipelago to settle and can even build up places on islands at the same time! That way you’re not having to wait before expanding.

You’ll also be able to go to other regions of the world via your “special agents’ and steal priceless treasures and monuments! Because as we all know, it’ll look SO much better on your island chain.

So be the ruler and make things the way you, and only you, see fit.

#3 Caesar 3

• Publishers: Sierra Entertainment, Activision, 1C Company, MORE
• Developer: Impressions Games
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Classic Mac OS, Macintosh operating systems
• Release Date: May 30, 1998

Rome has a large area in which they need to build, and you are the Governor of a territory charged with building and expanding the glory of Rome. Welcome to Caesar 3.

The fun of Caesar 3 is that you have a lot of leeway in HOW you go about making things work for you and for Rome. You can go for the basic option of making a wonderful place to live. You can decide to go the “money and power route” in order to make your region a most wondrous and profitable place. You can also ensure that you don’t lose your station by pleasing the Emperor with various words and gifts.

Just remember, Rome has enemies, and they’ll be more than happy to take you down if you’re not ready.

#2 Cities: Skylines

• Publisher: Paradox Interactive
• Developers: Colossal Order, Tantalus Media
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, macOS, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Macintosh operating systems
• Release Date: March 10, 2015

They say you can’t remake a classic, but you can come close, and Cities: Skylines is just that. This game by Paradox was built from the ground up to be what a certain game was, but better, more modern, and more realistic in certain ways.

Because here, it’s not enough to just make a city, you have to ensure it can actually work AS a city and then go and expand it while also taking care of your citizens.

You’ll have to balance working with the people, the environments, working with and against the elements and more. It’s a robust thing as you’ll find out. Plus, with expansions and mods, you’ll never be bored.

#1 SimCity

• Publishers: Electronic Arts, Maxis, Nintendo, Aspyr, Fujitsu
• Developers: Electronic Arts, Maxis, Will Wright,
• Platform: PC
• Release Date: February 2, 1989

The original, the game that set the tone for all city building games in the future. SimCity puts you as the builder of a city and then charges you with trying to make the city as prosperous and big as possible.

It may be an older game, and not as pretty as some of the others on this list, but don’t let that faze you. Go and make it work in the OG classic and see if you still have it like you did in 1989!!!

…or you know, whenever you played it last.

Bonus Games

Jurassic World Evolution 2

• Publisher: Frontier Developments plc
• Developer: Frontier Developments plc
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
• Release Date November 9, 2021

We’re going to do something a little fun to start. Because this first five ‘bonus games’ aren’t actually city builders, but they’re kind of city-building-adjascent.

Case in point, Jurassic World Evolution 2. Here, you’re not building a city, but an enclosure for all the dinosaurs that you’re trying to take care of and bring people to in order to make money. You’ll need to make sure that your dinosaurs are kept safe from one another, and go get them if they decide to break out.

It won’t be easy, but life…uh…finds a way.

Surviving The Aftermath

• Publisher: Paradox Interactive
• Developer: Iceflake Studios
• Platforms: PC, Console
• Release Date: November 16, 2021

Next up is a city builder of sorts…it just so happens that you’re doing it during the end of the world. So…yay?

So, Surviving The Aftermath has you going and making a colony of survivors in the end times. Resources of scarce, and so you’ll have to be careful in regards to what you build, how much you build, and whether it will survive all the things that the end times offers.

So if you want more of a challenge as you build…here you go.

Planet Zoo

• Publisher: Frontier Developments plc
• Developer: Frontier Developments plc
• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Release Date: November 5, 2019

If going and making an enclosure for dinosaurs is a bit too much for you…how about just making a zoo? You know, just a regular zoo.

This is the game for those who wanted to shout, “We bought a zoo!” during that one Matt Damon movie. You’ll have a zoo to run and you’ll need to run it well. Take care of the animals, expand what you have, make it enticing to people so that they’ll come to it, and more.

So for a more laid back “city build” but one that might leave you warm and fuzzy inside…here you go.

Prison Architect

• Publishers: Paradox Interactive, Introversion Software, Double Eleven
• Developers: Introversion Software, Double Eleven, Tag Games
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Android, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Release Date: October 6, 2015

Yep, we’re still not done with these bonus picks, and this one is…very unique.

Prison Architect is a game that’ll have you both building a prison, but then trying to escape it. Yep, it’s both sides of the coin here. You’ll be joining a prison and trying to get out, as “easy” as that sounds. Or, if you prefer to be the warden, go ahead! You can build a prison and then put it online for you to put to the test against other gamers.

So this is a builder and a breakout game. Not bad, huh?

Factorio

• Publisher: Wube Software
• Developer: Wube Software
• Platforms: macOS, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh operating systems
• Release Date: February 21, 2016

For those of you who are a bit more industrious, you might want to try out Factorio. Because here, you won’t be building a city, you’ll be building a lot of factories and managing them so that you can run them efficiently.

You’ll need to ensure that you have enough resources to keep your factories going, and if that’s not enough for you, you could always go and join up with others on multiplayer. So if you want to see the “business side” of building these things, here’s the game for you.