There aren’t many games that include themselves in the city builder genre. It’s a simple premise: you take on the role of planner, and mayor of a city. You look down upon your creation from above, and you are entirely responsible for its growth and management. City building games are exceptionally time consuming, and each game can go on forever—or at least until the city you are working on gets stale and you make a new one for different challenges.
So, I saw the Steam Summer Sale and saw the awesome offers and I really want to get a good game while the offers last. I am a huge fan of city-building games, I am looking for city-builders set in.
Despite originally established in 1989 with the release of Will Wright’s SimCity, city builders haven’t had all that many releases in their 24 years of existence. In addition, they aren’t all that similar to each other in gameplay style.
Because it’s a genre full of duds and great titles are few and far between, we’ve compiled a list of the ten best city building video games. Likewise, we’ve included some bonus titles at the end.
In Planetbase, players guide a group of space settlers in an attempt to establish a base on a remote and uninhabitable planet that doesn’t look too different from Mars. Grow food, collect and mine resource, survive disasters, and build a sufficient colony in an environment unfit for human habitation. It’s basically The Martian in the form of a city building sim.
Anno 2070 is a lot like previous games in the series, including Dawn of Discovery, but with the crucial difference in that it’s set in the future. The game plays upon the looming catastrophe of the sea level rise and the melting polar ice caps, as humanity continues to grow and expand well beyond sustainable levels.
It’s your job as a manager to build a sustainable island city while currying favor with each of the game’s three factions—industrialists, environmentalists, and technologists. In return for your support, each faction provides you access with unique technologies and advancements for your city.
In addition to the game’s single player campaign and freeplay modes, Anno 2070 comes with an online component which adds weekly challenges for players and a live voting system for passive bonuses to your city, which can change the dynamic of how you build, and manage your city.
Set in the distant future, Anno 2205 brings the long-running Anno series of games all the way to the Moon. At first, you “conquer” all of Earth, building large, bustling technologically-driven cities and grand industrial complexes before you run out of space and travel to the stars.
Cities in Motion 2 is a follow up to Colossal Order’s Cities in Motion. The particular video game series has a focus on public transportation where players must create efficient routes and systems within different cities around the world.
Depending on how well you are able to craft a decent transportation system will determine the impact of your city growth. Likewise, there are cooperative and competitive game modes to enjoy the city building and management titles with friends.
Banished is an interesting title as it’s not a typical city builder. Instead of the common day cities or futuristic worlds, Banished follows an outcast group of citizens who must live in a remote community. This small group will rely on players carefully managing the various resources for their survival.
Starting from scratch, gamers can build up their community into a thriving city which can be maintained from the birth of children to accepting wandering citizens out in the world. Speaking of citizens, in Banished, as players grow their cities, citizens will age and eventually die which results as citizens being a precious resource to account for.
Part of a series on: |
Simulation video games |
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This is a comprehensive index of city-building games, sorted chronologically. Information regarding date of release, developer, platform, setting and notability is provided when available. The table can be sorted by clicking on the small boxes next to the column headings.
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Year | Game | Developer | Setting | Platform | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1969 | The Sumer Game | Richard Merrill | Historical | MAIN | |
1975 | Hamurabi | David H. Ahl | Historical | MAIN | Expanded version of The Sumer Game. Published later as part of BASIC Computer Games. |
1978 | Santa Paravia en Fiumaccio | Historical | MAIN | ||
1981 | Kingdom (Also known as Yellow River Kingdom)[1] | David Allen[2] | Historical | BBC | A conversion of the game 'Hamurabi', it was included as part of welcome package to BBC Microcomputers. |
1982 | Utopia | Don Daglow | Contemporary | AQUA, INT | |
1989 | SimCity | Maxis, Nintendo EAD, Babaroga | Contemporary | AMI, ARC, BBC, C64, CDTV, CPC, DESQ, DOS, EPOC32, FMT, GBA, iPod, LIN, MAC, MOBI (iPhone, JAVAME, SYB), NeWS, OS2, PC98, SNES, ST, Tk, UNIX, VC, WIN, XO1, X11, ZX | First title in the series. |
1990 | ActRaiser | Quintet | Fantasy | MOBI, SNES, VC | Hybrid with side-scrolling platform game. |
1990 | Moonbase | Wesson | Sci-fi | AMI, DOS | |
1991 | Utopia: The Creation of a Nation | Celestial | Sci-fi | AMI, DOS, SNES, ST | |
1992 | Caesar | Impressions | Historical | AMI, DOS, ST | First title in the series. |
1993 | Stronghold | Stormfront | Fantasy | DOS | Hybrid with RTS elements. |
1993 | SimCity 2000 | Maxis, Full Fat | Contemporary | AMI, DOS, GBA, MAC, N64, PS1, PSP, SAT, SNES | Sequel to SimCity. |
1993 | Lunar Command | Wesson | Sci-fi | DOS | Updated version of Moonbase. |
1993 | The Settlers (a.k.a. Serf City: Life is Feudal) | Blue Byte | Fantasy | AMI, DOS | First title in the series. |
1994 | Outpost | Sierra | Sci-fi | MAC, WIN3X | Sci-fi version of SimCity. |
1995 | SimIsle: Missions in the Rainforest | Intelligent | Contemporary | DOS, MAC, WIN3X | |
1995 | SimTown | Maxis | Contemporary | MAC, WIN, WIN3X | |
1995 | Caesar II | Impressions | Historical | MAC, WIN | Sequel to Caesar. |
1996 | Afterlife | LucasArts | Fantasy | DOS, MAC, WIN9X | |
1996 | Holiday Island | Sunflowers | Contemporary | WIN9X | |
1996 | Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici, The | Blue Byte | Fantasy | DOS, DS, MAC | Sequel to The Settlers. Nintendo DS port was released in 2007. |
1996 | Settlers II Mission CD, The | Blue Byte | Fantasy | DOS | Expansion to The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici. |
1997 | Constructor | System 3 | Contemporary | PS1, WIN | |
1998 | Anno 1602: Creation of a New World | Max | Historical | WIN9X | First title in the series. Hybrid with RTS elements. |
1998 | Settlers III, The | Blue Byte | Fantasy | WIN9X | Sequel to The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici. |
1998 | Caesar III | Impressions | Historical | MAC, WIN9X, Not | Sequel to Caesar II. |
1999 | Lincity | Various | Contemporary | CROSS | Open source clone of Sim City. |
1999 | Pharaoh | Impressions | Historical | WIN9X | |
1999 | SimCity 3000 | Maxis | Contemporary | DS, iPhone, LIN, MAC, WIN | Sequel to SimCity 2000. |
2000 | Cleopatra: Queen of the Nile | Impressions | Historical | WIN9X | Expansion to Pharaoh. |
2000 | Master of Olympus: Zeus | Impressions | Fantasy | WIN | |
2000 | SimCity 64 | HAL | Contemporary | N64 | Spin-off of the SimCity series. |
2000 | SimCity 3000 Unlimited | Maxis | Contemporary | LIN, WIN | Re-release of SimCity 3000. |
2000 | StarPeace | Oceanus | Sci-fi | WIN | MMOG. |
2001 | StarTopia | Mucky Foot | Sci-fi | WIN | |
2001 | Mobility | Glamus | Contemporary | WIN, LIN | |
2001 | Master of Atlantis: Poseidon | Impressions | Fantasy | WIN | Expansion to Master of Olympus: Zeus. |
2001 | Tropico | PopTop | Contemporary | MAC, OSX, WIN, WIN9X | |
2001 | Stronghold | Firefly Studios | Fantasy | WIN | Hybrid with RTS elements. |
2001 | Settlers IV, The | Blue Byte | Fantasy | WIN | Sequel to The Settlers III. |
2002 | Metropolismania | Media Factory | Contemporary | PS2 | First title in the series. |
2002 | Tropico: Paradise Island | BreakAway | Contemporary | WIN, WIN9X | Expansion to Tropico. |
2002 | Moonbase Commander | Humongous | Sci-fi | WIN | |
2002 | Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom | BreakAway, Impressions | Historical | WIN | |
2003 | SimCity 4 | Maxis | Contemporary | OSX, WIN | Sequel to SimCity 3000. |
2003 | SimCity 4: Rush Hour | Maxis | Contemporary | OSX, WIN | Expansion to SimCity 4. |
2003 | Anno 1503: The New World | Max | Historical | WIN9X, WIN | Sequel to Anno 1602: Creation of a New World. Hybrid with RTS elements. |
2003 | Tropico 2: Pirate Cove | Frog City | Historical | OSX, WIN | |
2003 | Anno 1503: Treasures, Monsters and Pirates | Max | Historical | WIN | Expansion to Anno 1503: The New World. |
2004 | Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile | Tilted Mill | Historical | WIN | |
2004 | Outpost Kaloki X | NinjaBee | Sci-fi | WIN, X360 | |
2005 | Settlers: Heritage of Kings, The | Blue Byte | Fantasy | WIN | Sequel to The Settlers IV. |
2005 | Medieval Lords: Build, Defend, Expand | Monte Cristo | Historical | WIN | |
2005 | Stronghold 2 | Firefly Studios | Fantasy | WIN | Hybrid with RTS elements. |
2005 | Settlers: Heritage of Kings - Expansion Disk, The | Blue Byte | Fantasy | WIN | Expansion to The Settlers: Heritage of Kings. |
2005 | Settlers: Heritage of Kings - Legends Expansion Disk, The | Blue Byte | Fantasy | WIN | Expansion to The Settlers: Heritage of Kings. |
2006 | CivCity: Rome | Firefly, Firaxis | Historical | WIN | |
2006 | Caesar IV | Tilted Mill | Historical | WIN | Sequel to Caesar III. |
2006 | Tycoon City: New York | Deep Red | Contemporary | WIN | |
2006 | Dwarf Fortress | Bay 12 Games | Fantasy | WIN, LIN, MAC | |
2006 | City Life | Monte Cristo | Contemporary | WIN | |
2006 | Anno 1701 | Related | Historical | DS, WIN | Sequel to Anno 1503: The New World Hybrid with RTS elements. |
2006 | Glory of the Roman Empire | Haemimont | Historical | WIN | |
2006 | Settlers II 10th Anniversary, The | Blue Byte | Fantasy | WIN | Remake of The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici. |
2007 | Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery | Keen | Historical | DS | Hybrid with RTS elements. |
2007 | Settlers: Rise of an Empire, The | Blue Byte | Fantasy | WIN | Sequel to The Settlers: Heritage of Kings. |
2007 | Anno 1701: The Curse of the Dragon | Related | Historical | DS | Expansion to Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery Hybrid with RTS elements. |
2007 | SimCity Societies | Tilted Mill | Contemporary | MOBI, WIN | Spin-off of the SimCity series. |
2007 | Settlers II: 10th Anniversary - The Vikings, The | Blue Byte | Fantasy | WIN | Expansion to The Settlers II 10th Anniversary. |
2008 | A Kingdom for Keflings | Ninja Bee | Fantasy | X360 | |
2008 | Micropolis | Don Hopkins | Contemporary | CROSS | Open source version of SimCity. |
2008 | SimCity DS 2 | Contemporary | DS | . | |
2008 | SimCity Societies: Destinations | Tilted Mill | Contemporary | WIN | Expansion to SimCity Societies. |
2008 | Hinterland | Tilted Mill | Fantasy | WIN | Hybrid with RPG elements |
2008 | Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King | Square Enix | Fantasy | Wii | Hybrid with RPG elements |
2008 | Settlers: Rise of an Empire - The Eastern Realm, The | Blue Byte | Fantasy | WIN | Expansion to The Settlers: Rise of an Empire. |
2008 | Imperium Romanum | Haemimont | Historical | WIN | Sequel to Glory of the Roman Empire. |
2009 | Grand Ages: Rome | Haemimont | Historical | WIN | Sequel to Imperium Romanum. |
2009 | Anno 1404 | Related, Ubisoft, Blue Byte | Historical | WIN, OSX, DS, Wii | Sequel to Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery. Hybrid with RTS elements. |
2009 | Tropico 3 | Haemimont Games | Contemporary | OSX, WIN, X360 | Successor to Tropico. |
2009 | Cities XL | Monte Cristo | Contemporary | WIN | |
2009 | OpenCity | Duong-Khang Nguyen | Contemporary | CROSS | Open source. A development version is available. |
2010 | Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom, The | Blue Byte | Fantasy | OSX, WIN | Sequel to The Settlers: Rise of an Empire. |
2010 | A World of Keflings | Ninja Bee | Fantasy | X360 | |
2010 | Cities XL 2011 | Focus Home Interactive | Contemporary | WIN | |
2011 | Anno 2070 | Related Designs | Sci-fi | WIN | |
2011 | Tropico 4 | Haemimont Games | Contemporary | WIN, X360, OSX | |
2011 | Cities XL 2012 | Focus Home Interactive | Contemporary | WIN | |
2011 | Stronghold 3 | Firefly Studios | Fantasy | WIN, OSX, LIN | Hybrid with RTS elements. |
2013 | SimCity | Maxis | Contemporary | WIN, OSX | Relaunch of Simcity Series. |
2014 | Banished | Shining Rock Software | Historical | WIN | |
2014 | Tropico 5 | Haemimont Games | Contemporary | WIN, OSX, LIN, X360, PS4[3] | |
2014 | Stronghold Crusader 2 | Firefly Studios | Fantasy | WIN | Hybrid with RTS elements. |
2014 | Clockwork Empires | Gaslamp Games | Fantasy | WIN | |
2015 | Cities: Skylines | Colossal Order | Contemporary | WIN, OSX, LIN, PS4, XOne, NSW | Based on the engine used for Cities in Motion 2 |
2015 | Cities XXL | Focus Home Interactive | Contemporary | WIN | |
2015 | Anno 2205 | Blue Byte | Sci-Fi | WIN | Sequel to Anno 2070 |
2018 | Frostpunk | 11 bit studios | Sci-Fi | WIN | |
2019 | Dawn of Man | Madruga Works | Historical | WIN, OSX | Prehistoric city builder that takes place from the Paleolithic to the Iron Age. |
2019 | Tropico 6 | Limbic Entertainment | Contemporary | WIN, OSX, LIN, PS4, XOne | |
2019 | Islanders | Grizzly Games | Fantasy | WIN, OSX, LIN | Casual city builder with low-poly aesthetic |
2019 | Anno 1800 | Blue Byte | Historical | WIN | |
2020 | Builders of Egypt | Strategy Labs | Historical | WIN | Ancient Egypt city builder that will take place from the birth of Egyptian Civilization to the Ptolemaic Kingdom and Cleopatra's death. |