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SimCity not only lead to more than one successful spin-off series, but it also inspired a whole new genre. Today city-building games come in all shapes and sizes. With so many unique sub-genres and flavors for gamers of every pallet, finding a suitable city builder has never been easier.
Updated September 17, 2021 by Erik Petrovich: The city builder genre has been at the core of gaming for decades, notably since the release of the first SimCity more than 30 years ago. As time goes on, classic genres, like city simulators, are approached in new ways and mashed with other genres that typically wouldn’t work well together. For example, Northgard is a perfect blend of the city builder and RPG genres, while a game like Frostpunk adds survival to the core gameplay. While city builder games have been done time and time again, the genre has yet to be perfected, and totally unique takes can be seen in games like the surprisingly complex Rimworld or the post-main-story world of Littlewood.
13 Rimworld
Sci-fi colony management game with incredibly deep gameplay Steam/GOG Price: $34. 99
When it comes to city-building games, the depth of gameplay and the breadth of available paths to progress through the game are key to long-term enjoyment. In Rimworld, just about everything is customizable, there’s an unimaginable amount of micro-management systems, and in short, it’s one of the most open-ended simulation games ever made.
It’s no wonder the game has continued to slowly grow in popularity since its release in mid-2016. Rimworld has dedicated communities online that are more helpful than they are exclusive, and while its graphics aren’t anything to write home about, the use of narration and the incredible number of things to do make it one of the best city (ahem, colony) building games out there.
12 Northgard
City builder and narrative RPG genres mashed together Price: $29. 99
Northgard is an amazingly stylistic take on the medieval-management simulator genre. Charged with running a Viking clan, Northgard players soon find that there’s a lot more to this game than placing down buildings and gathering resources – there’s a story mode with lots of classic RPG elements, for example.
At its core, Northgard plays similar to the Civilization series, though with a little bit less focus on progression through time and a little more focus on unlocking new potential for the clan. Its simple and beautiful art style, its exploration, and its surprising depth of gameplay make this one of the best management games out there.
11 Littlewood
A Post-RPG setting in a calming, cute town builder Price: $14. 99
Littlewood is a lot like Northgard in that it’s a civilization-management game with a twist – except instead of taking part in a narrative-driven RPG, the world has already been saved before Littlewood even starts. In fact, the entire game takes place after the “Dark Wizard” was defeated, and the player is tasked with rebuilding the world after these unseen events.
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Its art style is reminiscent of early flash games but with a bit more polish. While the graphics are simple, the potential for creativity in the “play your way” approach of Littlewood makes it a must-play for the city building aficionado. It’s much more relaxing than many city-building games out there, too, thanks to the low stakes of its post-Dark Wizard world.
10 Tropico Series
Play as a brutal dictator or gentle diplomat in this civilization management game Price: Varies, Tropico 6 is currently $39. 99
For players that have ever dreamed of being a dictator, Tropico is the series for them. Consisting of 6 main installments, each one allows fans to live out their most tyrannical fantasies. The mechanics are excellent and varied, with a multitude of factors needing to be considered to run a successful autocracy. Not only is this series immensely entertaining, but it also serves as a surprisingly deep political commentary.
9 Aven Colony
A sci-fi survival-simulation game with space colony management mechanics Price: $29. 99
Aven Colony takes the concept of a city builder to space. In this game, players are faced with a much higher-than-usual task of rebuilding humanity.
Players in Aven Colony start off as the governor of a small colony and grow in authority as their colony rises into a full-fledged city and massive space outpost. This is a game that can be quite testing as it can be quite punishing. While not an especially original game, Aven Colony’s setting allows it to stand out.
8 Frostpunk
Must ensure the survival of a city in an alternate-history city builder Price: $29. 99
An absolute classic in its own right. Frostpunk is the most morally challenging game on this list. Presenting players with the obstacle of surviving an unexpected ice age and its associated hardships.
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This is not a game for those that enjoy city builders that make players feel like all-powerful demigods. This game is about simple and brutal survival, with death and failure always being around the corner.
7 Surviving Mars
Mars-based colony builder with hardcore survival elements Price: $29. 99
If Frostpunk and Aven Colony were to have a lovechild, Surviving Mars would be their offspring. The game combines hardcore and difficult to master survival elements, while also providing players with the thrill and wow factor of running a space colony on Mars.
There are countless decisions to make, and fans are forced to master varied sets of skills to constantly meet the demands, and ensure the safety, of their colonists.
6 Cities: Skylines
Addicting alternative to SimCity with mod support and more robust gameplay Price: $29. 99
It should have been made more clear that the last two entries are not for the faint of heart, or for the genre-uninitiated. For gamers looking for a more easy-to-grasp experience, they need to look no further than Cities: Skylines.
A game that has built its success on simply being fun to play, and giving players a little bit more wiggle room. Cities: Skylines is welcoming to newcomers, deep, and accessible across a variety of platforms, including through Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass.
5 Anno 1800
Historically accurate (to a point) civilization management simulator Price: $59. 99
Not enough games take place during the Industrial Revolution. As a period of history that was dynamic, complex, and filled with rapid social, economic, and political change, the possibilities are quite endless.
Anno 1800 is a game that somehow manages to encapsulate all the factors of this era as it places players in the shoes of an industrial colonies company leader and de facto governor. A unique and challenging setting indeed.
4 Age Of Empires Series
Classics to the civilization management genre, and must-plays for city-building fans Price: Varies, Age of Empires IV will be $59. 99
Delving more into the realm of Real-Time Strategy, the Age of Empires series is nonetheless one that contains some of the best city-building mechanics ever seen in gaming. Each entry takes place in a different era and geographic location, however, all of them follow the same principles of survive, build, and grow.
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The gameplay is engaging, challenging, yet at the same time, it is fair and rewarding. There is no better choice for history buffs craving to scratch their city-building itch.
3 Banished
Medieval-era city builder with a focus on society rather than resources Price: $19. 99
Banished may seem like the common medieval-era-themed city builder, but this game has a ton of unique mechanics and gameplay under the hood.
What makes this entry so unique is its focus on economic theories and the sustainability of society, showing that dynamic and adaptive solutions are the best when it comes to prosperity. Banished is just as much of a survival game as it is a city sim, so players should be prepared to work hard for their success.
2 Flotsam
Not as much a city builder as it is a raft-based colony management game Price: $24. 99
Flotsam takes players away from a terrestrial setting and puts players in a flooded world. This extremely unique environment makes the game even more special when coupled with its special and one-of-a-kind mechanics. What starts out as a survival game, turns into an aquatic city builder, which finally turns into a game with a powerful, yet subtle, environmental lesson.
Flotsam is one of those few rare games that can send a political message, that simultaneously does not get in the way of the fun.
1 Dawn Of Man
A through-the-eras settlement game taking place from the dawn of time to the Iron Age Price:
If players want to see a simulation of what building society and civilization was like in the very beginning, they need to look no further than Dawn of Man. This game will take players all the way back to the prehistoric era, and challenge players to survive into the Iron Age.
What makes this game especially unique is the importance of what are usually trivial items in other city-building games, like clothes, and sticks, which can either mean a player’s survival or demise.
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