City-building games hold a unique kind of magic. Whether you’re crafting a sprawling metropolis, managing a struggling colony, or leading a medieval village, there’s something incredibly satisfying about watching your city come to life. Some games focus on deep economic simulation, while others challenge you with harsh survival mechanics.
But with so many city-builders out there, which ones truly stand out? We’ve compiled a list of 15 of the best city-building games that offer everything from historical realism to futuristic survival. Whether you love optimizing road layouts, balancing resources, or just watching tiny people go about their day, there’s something here for you.
1. Cities: Skylines
If you’ve ever wanted to design and run your own city without the restrictions of older SimCity games, Cities: Skylines is the perfect choice. It gives you complete control over everything, from zoning and infrastructure to transportation and public services. Want to create a realistic highway system with perfect traffic flow? You can. Want to build an entire city with only roundabouts? Go for it.
One of the game’s biggest strengths is its modding community. With thousands of mods, assets, and expansions available, you can customize the game endlessly. Whether it’s adding real-world landmarks, improving AI behavior, or completely overhauling the game, the possibilities are limitless.
Traffic management is a huge part of Cities: Skylines, and poor planning can quickly turn your roads into a nightmare. The game challenges you to think ahead, balancing growth with efficiency. And with expansions introducing things like natural disasters, mass transit, and industry specialization, there’s always something new to master.
Even with the release of Cities: Skylines 2, many fans still swear by the original. It remains the definitive modern city-builder, offering both creative freedom and deep simulation mechanics.
2. Frostpunk
Frostpunk is a city-builder, but it’s also a brutal survival game. Set in an alternate history where the world has frozen over, you must lead the last remnants of humanity, building a city around a massive generator that provides heat.
Unlike traditional city-builders, Frostpunk forces you to make tough moral decisions. Will you implement child labor to keep production going? Will you establish strict laws to prevent chaos, or will you let people have their freedoms and risk instability?
Survival isn’t easy. Resources are scarce, and every choice has consequences. Fail to stockpile enough coal, and your people will freeze. Ignore their needs, and they might revolt. And just when you think you’ve stabilized things, the temperature drops even lower.
The emotional weight of Frostpunk is what makes it unforgettable. It’s not just about building a city—it’s about leading people through impossible circumstances.
3. Tropico 6
Want a city-builder with personality? Tropico 6 lets you step into the shoes of El Presidente, the leader of a tropical island nation. But whether you rule as a beloved leader or a ruthless dictator is up to you.
Balancing politics, trade, and citizen happiness is key. You’ll need to manage elections (or, you know, rig them), build a strong economy, and keep your citizens from revolting. The game’s humor and over-the-top satire make it stand out from other city-builders.
Tropico 6 also introduces the ability to manage multiple islands, expanding your control beyond a single landmass. With deep trade systems, tourism management, and a variety of ways to govern, this is a game that lets you experiment with different leadership styles.
If you’ve ever wanted to run your own Caribbean dictatorship (or paradise), Tropico 6 is the perfect game.
4. Anno 1800
Anno 1800 is a masterpiece of economic city-building. Set during the Industrial Revolution, it blends deep economic simulation with gorgeous city design.
Unlike most city-builders, Anno 1800 focuses heavily on supply chains. You’ll need to gather raw materials, refine them, and transport them to where they’re needed. Expanding your city requires careful planning, and failing to provide enough goods can lead to worker strikes or economic collapse.
One of the game’s most exciting features is its multiplayer mode, where players compete or cooperate to build thriving economies. With stunning visuals, a rich campaign, and deep mechanics, Anno 1800 is one of the best strategy-focused city-builders ever made.
5. Banished
If you like punishing difficulty, Banished is for you. This game puts you in charge of a small group of exiles starting fresh in the wilderness. There’s no money—only resources. Fail to prepare for winter, and your people will freeze to death.
Unlike many city-builders, Banished forces you to think long-term. Expanding too fast can be deadly, as resources deplete quickly. Keeping your population balanced is crucial, as too few workers can lead to stagnation, while too many mouths to feed can result in starvation.
It’s a slow, methodical game, but that’s part of its charm. Watching a small village survive against the odds is deeply rewarding.
6. Manor Lords
Manor Lords is an upcoming game that blends medieval city-building with real-time battles. Unlike traditional grid-based city-builders, settlements in Manor Lords grow organically, adapting to terrain and resource availability.
The game places a heavy emphasis on historical accuracy, meaning no unrealistic building placement or infinite resources. And when conflict arises, you’ll have to command your army in battles that feel straight out of Total War.
With its gorgeous visuals and promising mechanics, Manor Lords is shaping up to be a game-changer in the medieval city-building genre.
7. Pharaoh: A New Era
A remake of the classic Pharaoh, this game lets you build an ancient Egyptian city, managing everything from resources and trade to religious ceremonies. You’ll deal with the Nile’s flooding cycles, build massive monuments, and keep your citizens happy.
The game retains its deep strategy but updates the visuals and user interface, making it more accessible to modern players.
If you love historical city-builders, this is one of the best.
8. SimCity
Before Cities: Skylines, there was SimCity. It defined the genre, with SimCity 4 still being a fan favorite. While the 2013 reboot disappointed many, older entries still hold up.
If you want a taste of classic city-building, SimCity 4 remains one of the best ever made.
9. Aven Colony
Ever wondered what it would be like to build a city on another planet? Aven Colony puts you in charge of a human settlement on an alien world, where survival is just as important as expansion. Unlike traditional city-builders, you’re dealing with hostile environments, strange alien lifeforms, and extreme weather conditions that can wipe out entire sections of your colony. Oxygen levels must be carefully maintained, food production needs to be efficient, and power sources must be adapted to the planet’s unusual climate.
One of the most interesting aspects of Aven Colony is the mystery surrounding the planet itself. As you expand, you’ll uncover ancient ruins and alien artifacts that hint at the world’s past. But your biggest challenge will always be keeping your colonists alive—a sudden sandstorm or toxic gas leak can easily turn your thriving settlement into a graveyard.
With a mix of sci-fi exploration and deep city management, Aven Colony is perfect for players who want a fresh take on the city-building genre. If you love Surviving Mars or SimCity but want something more otherworldly, this game is worth checking out.
10. Surviving Mars
If Aven Colony is about survival in an alien jungle, Surviving Mars is about the harsh, barren landscape of Mars. Developed by the creators of Tropico, this game challenges you to establish and expand a self-sustaining colony on the Red Planet.
The game’s biggest challenge? There’s no room for error. Every resource is precious, and a single miscalculation—whether it’s a lack of oxygen, food shortages, or power failures—can result in disaster. Unlike Earth-based city-builders, where you can always import goods or recover from mistakes, Surviving Mars forces you to think several steps ahead.
Researching new technologies is key, allowing you to develop better life-support systems, automated production, and even terraforming. But it’s not just about survival—your colonists have personalities, needs, and quirks that influence how well they adapt to life on Mars. Some may become depressed, while others might form strange cults (yes, really).
For anyone who loves space exploration and hardcore resource management, Surviving Mars is a must-play.
11. Caesar III
Before Cities: Skylines and Tropico, there was Caesar III—one of the greatest classic city-builders ever made. Released in 1998, it still holds up today, offering deep economic management, historical accuracy, and an addictive gameplay loop.
You play as a Roman governor tasked with building and managing cities across the empire. But it’s not just about placing buildings—you need to keep citizens happy, maintain a strong economy, and defend against barbarian attacks. Roads, aqueducts, and temples must be carefully planned to keep the city running smoothly.
Religion, entertainment, and crime management add extra layers of strategy, forcing you to balance different aspects of society. If your people become unhappy, riots can break out, leading to total collapse. And if you fail to meet Rome’s demands, the emperor might just replace you.
For fans of old-school strategy games, Caesar III is a masterpiece that still holds up today. If you love ancient history and deep city management, this is one you shouldn’t miss.
12. Townscaper
Unlike most city-building games, Townscaper has no goals, no objectives, and no pressure—just pure creativity. It’s more of a digital toy than a game, allowing you to build beautiful, colorful towns on water with just a few clicks.
The simplicity is what makes it so engaging. You don’t have to worry about resources, traffic, or population management—just click, and the city builds itself in organic, unpredictable ways. Buildings automatically adjust to fit their surroundings, resulting in charming villages, twisting alleyways, and towering cathedrals.
With its relaxing atmosphere and soothing sound design, Townscaper is perfect for when you want to unwind and create something beautiful. There’s no wrong way to play, making it great for both casual players and those who just love aesthetic city-building.
It’s a game that proves sometimes, simplicity is the ultimate form of creativity.
13. Going Medieval
If you’ve ever wanted a mix of Banished and RimWorld, Going Medieval delivers. This city-builder puts you in charge of a medieval settlement that must grow, survive, and defend itself against raiders.
Unlike other medieval city-builders, Going Medieval lets you build your town in full 3D, creating multi-story castles and underground storage areas. The construction system is incredibly flexible, allowing for detailed fortresses with walls, towers, and intricate defenses.
But building is only half the challenge—your people also need food, shelter, and protection from disease, cold weather, and invaders. Raiders attack frequently, forcing you to develop a strong militia and defensive structures. If you don’t prepare, your town could be wiped out in minutes.
With its rich simulation, deep customization, and survival mechanics, Going Medieval is a must-play for those who love challenging city-builders.
14. Farthest Frontier
If Banished was too easy for you, Farthest Frontier takes things to the next level. This game focuses on extreme realism, where even small mistakes can lead to disaster.
You start with a small group of settlers in an untamed wilderness, struggling to establish a town. But it’s not just about chopping wood and planting crops—you have to worry about soil fertility, disease outbreaks, and even rat infestations destroying your food supply.
Combat isn’t a primary focus, but bandits and raiders will occasionally attack, forcing you to build walls and train guards. However, the biggest threat isn’t violence—it’s the harshness of nature itself. If your crops fail or your wells dry up, your town could be doomed.
For players who love deep resource management and survival-focused city-building, Farthest Frontier offers one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences in the genre.
15. Kingdoms Reborn
What if Cities: Skylines and Civilization had a baby? Kingdoms Reborn is a city-builder with grand strategy elements, where you expand across a massive world while competing with AI or other players in multiplayer.
You start with a small medieval village, but as time passes, your city evolves through different eras, unlocking new technologies, buildings, and trade options. The game has a deep economy, requiring you to balance production, trade, and expansion to thrive.
Unlike many city-builders, Kingdoms Reborn has procedurally generated worlds, meaning every game feels different. AI opponents add an extra layer of challenge, as they expand and compete for resources just like you do.
The multiplayer aspect is a huge plus, letting you build alongside friends or compete for dominance in a shared world. If you love both city-building and 4X strategy, Kingdoms Reborn is a fantastic hybrid that offers the best of both worlds.
Final Thoughts
From deep economic simulations to survival-focused challenges and relaxing creative sandboxes, these 15 city-building games represent the best the genre has to offer. Whether you love historical settings, sci-fi worlds, or medieval struggles, there’s a game here for you.
