From classics like SimCity to the latest and greatest city building games, these are the best of the best.

City life isn’t always a walk in the park (unless you’re actually walking through a park, that is). It’s noisy, crowded, and commutes can be frustrating. If only there was a way to design the perfect city to end all your urban woes…

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Luckily, game designers feel your pain and for years they have provided us with an outlet to play God and construct our very own utopias. Why brave the real streets when you can just build your own to go anywhere your heart desires? We’ve constructed our very own list of the Best City Building Games of All Time so that you can find the ideal way to create a world of your very own.

Updated August 21, 2022 by Ryan Bamsey: City builders are extremely satisfying games. Seeing a settlement that you built from the ground up, especially in games where you start with almost nothing, is a wonderful achievement and fills you with great fuzzy feelings. You’re taking care of so many digital souls, after all! We’ve added some more of our favorites to this list to keep you busy for many more hundreds of hours.

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22/22

Cities XL
Developer: Monte Cristo Publisher: Monte Cristo Platform(s): PC Initial Release Date: October 9, 2009 Era(s): Modern Metacritic Rating: 69 User Score: 4.1

Cities XL deserves a spot on this list alone for how ambitious it was back at the time it was released. On the surface, it appeared to be a simple city-building game but it had an online multiplayer component which was interesting, to say the least. Cities XL also allowed players to interact with one another in a persistent planet. Each city belongs to a player and each player can even trade with others, basically running a simulated world.

Sadly this online service was closed several months later and Cities XL became just a single-player game instead of an MMO based around city-building. Even so, it was a big deal back in its time and was one of the best city-building games back then before SimCity and Cities: Skylines improved on the 3D city-builder formula.

21/22

Kingdoms Reborn
Developer: Earthshine Publisher: Earthshine Platform(s): PC Initial Release Date: November, 2020 Era(s): Early to Industrial

Kingdoms Reborn is a city builder that mostly revolves around resource management and the betterment of your residents’ lives. You’re responsible for choosing their location, providing them with food and luxuries, and expanding your territory to attract more people.

Interestingly, Kingdoms Reborn can be played online with other players in real-time on the same map. You can play cooperatively with gifts and planning to share resources or competitively by cornering the global markets or using the game’s basic military mechanics to flex your might. It’s a very interesting game that shines when you play with a pal.

20/22

Songs Of Syx
Developer: Gamatron AB Publisher: Gamatron AB Platform(s): PC Initial Release Date: September 21, 2020 Era(s): Fantasy

If incredibly complex colony simulators are what you enjoy, Songs of Syx might scratch the eternal itch. Less a city builder and more a city-state builder, Songs of Syx lets you dive into the minutiae of your residents’ lives and encourages micromanagement.

It cannot be understated that the scale of this game is immense, and it’s a truly impressive feeling to watch your tiny colony grow into an empire capable of defending itself.

19/22

Ostriv
Developer: yevhen8 Publisher: yevhen8 Platform(s): PC Initial Release Date: March 19, 2020 Era(s): Early Modern

If you’re looking for a relaxing yet still compelling experience, Ostriv might be exactly what you need. In this game, you build a village in the countryside of Ukraine, tending to the needs of your villagers and becoming prosperous.

The attention to detail in Ostriv is very impressive. Of particular note is the way that your residents will make use of their land to grow crops or keep livestock, which they can then use to make money or simply survive.

18/22

Going Medieval
Developer: Foxy Voxel Publisher: The Irregular Corporation Platform(s): PC Initial Release Date: June 1, 2021 Era(s): Middle Ages

Going Medieval is a colony sim game that follows a small group of people who find themselves without a home thanks to the Black Death. You’ll start out with a handful of raw material and eventually work your way towards building a whole settlement.

While the game is still in Early Access, Going Medieval boasts a great deal of content, consistent updates, and the capability to pull of some really impressive building projects, if you have the time and patience to pursue such a thing.

17/22

Townscaper
Developer: Oskar Stålberg Publisher: Raw Fury Platform(s): PC, Mobile, Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date: August 26, 2021 Era(s): Modern Metacritic Rating: 86 User Score: 8.2

While Townscaper isn’t a city builder in the traditional sense, there is no doubt that the whole purpose of this game is to build a settlement. You have many options for colors and styles, and it’s a very calming experience overall.

Townscaper has come into its own as a tool for those who wish to use their manufactured towns as set pieces in their tabletop games. It lets you make a town exactly as you need it in exactly the configurations you need.

16/22

SimCity
Developer: Maxis Emeryville Publisher: Electronic Arts Platform(s): PC Initial Release Date: March 6, 2013 Era(s): Modern Metacritic Rating: 64 User Score: 2.2

The SimCity franchise has been around a long time. The first entry in the series dates back almost 30 years. It is essentially the grandfather of all city-building games and paved the way (no pun intended) for many games to come. These titles are still relevant in the gaming sphere, extending from PC and consoles to find a new home on mobile devices.

It may not be the most innovative title on this list, but the formula they created is still solid today and definitely worth your time. You can even check out the final entry in the series, SimCity: Buildit, for free on your favorite mobile device.

15/22

Medieval Dynasty
Developer: Render Cube Publisher: Toplitz Productions Platform(s): PC Initial Release Date: September 23, 2021 Era(s): Medieval Metacritic Rating: 73 User Score: 7.5

Medieval Dynasty is an odd one where rather than being some omniscient figure dictating where buildings are built and what your residents do, you are instead just some guy who dictates where buildings are built and what your residents do.

The settlement building features of this game are incredibly fun to interact with and they turn the game from a simple survival game with a generations system into something far grander.

14/22

Foundation
Developer: Polymorph Games Publisher: Polymorph Games Platform(s): PC Initial Release Date: February 1, 2019 Era(s): Medieval

While this title is currently in Early Access, Foundation is a very promising medieval-era city builder from Polymorph Games who proudly advertise their game’s lack of a grid and focus on the procedural nature of settlement building.

The game is very good at emulating what it must have felt like to manage a medieval settlement, with many events being out of your hands and the enforcement of a reactive rather than proactive gameplay style. In addition to that, the game has a thriving modding community sure to extend the title’s lifespan many years.

13/22

Valhalla Hills
Developer: Funatics Software Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One & PC Initial Release Date: December 2, 2015 Era(s): Viking Metacritic Rating: 69 User Score: 6.9

If your greatest goal in life is to gain favor with a Nordic God and earn your place in Valhalla, have we got a game for you! Valhalla Hills is a throwback to the popular Settlers games in which players will build settlements in an attempt to earn favor with Odin. If you’re looking for a more laid-back city-building experience, this is one we highly recommend.

The colorful, cartoonish art style is appealing and there is less of a focus on combat than some of our other titles. You will need to fight for resources with the local Dwarven population and there are some monsters to contend with, but for the most part, you can focus on expanding your Nordic empire.

12/22

Urban Empire
Developer: Reborn Games Publisher: Kalypso Media Digital Platform(s): PC Initial Release Date: January 21, 2017 Era(s): Industrial, Nationalist, World War, Cold War & Modern Metacritic Rating: 62 User Score: 5.3

Urban Empire is a city-building sim that takes a slightly different approach. Rather than focusing on the building aspect, Urban Empire tasks you with furthering your civilization through diplomacy. You spend the bulk of your time competing for votes and favor among your citizen.

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You will build relationships as frequently as you destroy them, all the while researching ways to improve life in your empire. This entry is for players keen to witness the unraveling of a “historical family drama” rather than participate in a true strategy game.

11/22

Surviving Mars
Developer: Haemimont Games Publisher: Paradox Interactive Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One & PC Initial Release Date: March 15, 2018 Era(s): Future Metacritic Rating: 76 User Score: 6.4

If space colonies are more your thing, Surviving Mars is a great option to feed the explorer in you. You will begin your journey on Mars, which is currently a barren wasteland. Luckily, the game provides all the tools required to make it habitable. This title is not for the faint of heart, however.

You will be battling the deadly atmosphere, lack of oxygen, and infertile land, making your job all the more difficult. After you’ve established a livable settlement, you will start attracting humans to your colony. It is now your job to ensure their survival and trust us, it’s not easy. Get ready to micro-manage!

10/22

Aven Colony
Developer: Mothership Entertainment Publisher: Team17 Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One & PC Initial Release Date: July 25, 2017 Era(s): Future Metacritic Rating: 77 User Score: 7.9

In Aven Colony, players will face a barrage of alien abnormalities as they try to establish their otherworldly civilizations. Alien plagues, extreme weather, and hostile species await you as you attempt to carve out your own little corner of space.

Your job as overseer is to ensure the survival of your citizens. This involves mining minerals for resources, building hospitals, and maintaining order. Once your city is stable, the game then introduces bigger goals to entice you further. This may include large-scale military operations or exploration missions.

9/22

The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom
Developer: Blue Byte Publisher: Ubisoft Platform(s): PC Initial Release Date: March 25, 2010 Era(s): Middle Ages Metacritic Rating: 79 User Score: 5.2

The Settlers have always been one of the longest-running hybrid video games in modern history and it oddly combines city-building with real-time strategy (RTS) and many other elements from other genres. This depends on which Settler game we’re talking about but The Settlers: Paths to a Kingdom is one of the rare gems in the franchise.

It takes place in a medieval world, making it a unique title in this list as well for its ingenuity alone. It borrows mechanics from Civilization games where you get to pick a leader or faction and build your mere plot of land into your own empire through military actions, development, and many more aspects not present in other city builders.

8/22

Banished
Developer: Shining Rock Software Publisher: Shining Rock Software Platform(s): PC Initial Release Date: February 18, 2014 Era(s): Early Modern Metacritic Rating: 73 User Score: 8.1

Banished is one of the most unique takes on the city-building formula for this list since it delves into a setting that’s practically unexplored in its genre: medieval era. In that regard, you control a group of exiled travelers in Banished whereupon you’re forced to build your village and eventually city from scratch after being banished by a feudal lord.

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This also makes Banished a survival title on top of a city-builder– something you don’t usually experience in city-builder games. The game even makes it so that your primary resource is townspeople who get old, get sick, and even die, making managing them an important element of this game. It’s worth playing alone for its unique take.

7/22

Planetbase
Developer: Madruga Works Publisher: Madruga Works Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One & PC Initial Release Date: October 16, 2015 Era(s): Future Metacritic Rating: 70 User Score: 7.2

Continuing with our space theme, we have Madruga Works’ Planet Base. All the usual suspects are here: base building, resource management, and citizen satisfaction. Where Planet Base sets itself apart is its varying types of planets.

The game allows you to choose between four different planets, each with increasing difficulty and different environmental hazards to contend with. For instance, the frozen planet will pit you against sub-zero temperatures, while the Storm Planet will hit you with a deluge of storm effects. It is up to you to keep your pioneers alive long enough to create a stable and liveable colony.

6/22

Frostpunk
Developer: 11 bit studios Publisher: 11 bit studios Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC & Mobile Initial Release Date: April 24, 2018 Era(s): Late 19th Century Metacritic Rating: 84 User Score: 8.4

Frostpunk, as the title suggests, focuses on the importance of warmth and surviving the harsh cold. In an alternate version of history, humanity has been defeated by climate change and been forced to contend with extreme cold that has decimated most of the planet. The tale is a grim one, to be sure.

As the leader of humanity’s last hope, you must use what little resources are left to try and construct a haven to keep the dwindling population alive. Frostpunk is not for the weak-willed and will challenge you both technically and morally. As the story unfolds you will be faced with difficult choices that will ultimately change the world around you. The level of depth and storytelling in Frostpunk is rarely seen in this genre.

5/22

Anno 2070
Developer: Related Designs Publisher: Ubisoft Platform(s): PC Initial Release Date: November 17, 2011 Era(s): Future Metacritic Rating: 83 User Score: 7.1

Few games are as addictive in nature as Anno 2070. The game intrigues players by using the carrot-on-a-stick method that rewards you consistently the more you play. Set in the not-so-distant future, Anno 2070 provides players the opportunity to reshape civilization after disasters have decimated much of the planet (we’re sensing a common theme).

There is a little something for everyone here: large-scale economies to manage, warfare among other factions, and deep gameplay. No seriously, you can build a city underwater! Embrace the future and build a new world.

4/22

Tropico 6
Developer: Limbic Entertainment Publisher: Kalypso Media Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch & PC Initial Release Date: March 29, 2019 Era(s): Colonial, World Wars, Cold War & Modern Metacritic Rating: 78 User Score: 6.5

Tropico is a far lighter take on the city-building genre than our last few entries. That is to say, it is far more comedic in nature. The gameplay here is still complex enough to keep you busy for hours on end. In Tropico 6, you begin as a governor in the Colonial era, with aspirations of becoming “El Presidente” of your ever-evolving island nation.

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You will lead the inhabitants of your tropical paradise through the ages while trying to hold your seat in office. You must do whatever it takes to maintain your power, whether it’s rigging elections, bribing officials, or flexing your military muscle by issuing edicts. Politics will play a huge part in this game so get ready to get dirty.

3/22

Caesar 3
Developer: Impressions Games Publisher: Sierra Studios Platform(s): PC Initial Release Date: September 30, 1998 Era(s): Roman

Impressions Games have always been veterans of the city-builder genre as many old gamers will know. Back in their heyday, one of their finest games was Caesar 3 where the players take on the role of a classical Roman governor trying to improve their very own Roman city – or even Rome itself – amidst the turmoil and barbarian threats.

While the graphics are badly outdated by today’s standards, Caesar 3’s gameplay is enough to hook many players today, even the young ones. It introduces layer upon layer of mechanics and cause-and-effect gameplay designs where every improvement or building in your city can initiate a domino effect. Do note that it has a steep learning curve.