11 Best City-Building Games for Creatives [2024]

City-building games are one of the top genres because they blend strategy, creativity, and world-building while keeping players engaged for hours. There are also tons of styles to choose from. Whether you enjoy trying to survive harsh environments, solving puzzles, managing economies, or being politically savvy, we’ve compiled 11 of the best city-building games to scratch every itch.

We should also note that these games aren’t in any ranked order. Every gamer has different tastes when it comes to gameplay mechanics, environment, and features. This list includes the best and most popular city-building games, and we provided an overview of each one so you can find the options that suit your preferences.

The Best City-Building Games

1. Manor Lords

2. Banished

3. Cities: Skylines

4. Tropico 6

5. Timberborn

6. Surviving Mars

7. Farthest Frontier

8. Dorfromantik

9. Frostpunk

10. Anno 1800

11. Jurassic World Evolution 2

1. Manor Lords

• Genre: Real-time strategy and medieval
• Release date: 2024 
• Platforms: PC (Steam), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S 
• Gameplay features: Realistic medieval combat, a dynamic world, resource management, warfare, and diplomacy
• Developer: Slavic Magic
• Payment model: One-time purchase
• Best for: Fans of medieval history and players who enjoy a challenging and immersive experience

When you play Manor Lords, you get to transform your settlement from a small village to a thriving medieval city. This game blends real-time battles with intricate city planning that’s influenced by your settlement’s surrounding environment. It uses a gridless city-building system, which allows you to build your town seamlessly to fit the area’s terrain.

Manor Lords is a top pick for best city builder games because it provides players with great visuals and deep gameplay mechanics, like creating citizen professions that receive approval ratings from the populace. You’ll need to strategically manage your resources and develop your economy while also preparing for enemy attacks. You’ll transition from building mode to battle mode as you defend your settlement so it can transform into a thriving medieval kingdom.

2. Banished

• Genre: Survival
• Release date: 2014
• Platforms: PC (Steam) and macOS
• Gameplay features: Resource management, population growth, and survival in a harsh environment
• Developer: Shining Rock Software
• Payment model: One-time purchase
• Best for: Players who enjoy challenging simulation games, historical settings, and a focus on survival and resource management

Those who love challenging city-building games will have a blast playing Banished. This game is also a unique survival game that’s unlike other city builders because you focus on individual citizens for the entirety of their lives.

Banished gives you indirect control of the villagers, meaning they do tasks autonomously once you build the structures and assign workers. In addition to managing resources, the game challenges you by having you strategize to help your city survive harsh winters, disease outbreaks, and other obstacles that can halt your progress.

Since launching in 2014, Banished is one of the best city-building games on PC with over 36,000 very positive reviews on Steam. This game is perfect for those who enjoy long-term planning and making difficult decisions during unexpected setbacks.

3. Cities: Skylines

• Genre: Simulation and management
• Release date: 2015
• Platforms: PC (Steam), macOS, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Google Stadia
• Gameplay features: Traffic and disaster management, public transportation, zoning, economy simulation, and modding support
• Developer: Colossal Order
• Payment model: One-time purchase with DLC expansions available
• Best for: Players who enjoy complex simulations and those looking for a game with long-term replayability

Gamers looking for a more modern city builder can manage a bustling metropolis in Cities: Skylines. This top-rated city-building game has players managing zoning for commercial, residential, and industrial areas. You’ll also need to provide these areas with transportation, water, electricity, and other essential services. Each of these aspects provides you with a realistic urban-planning experience.

The challenges in this game are those you’d face in any major city, and that’s where the strategic decision-making lies. To succeed, you have to navigate solutions for pollution and congested traffic to ensure a happy population. The depth of this game offers endless replayability while you’re challenged to build the best city possible.

4. Tropico 6

• Genre: Simulation, management, and political satire
• Release date: 2019
• Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Gameplay features: Resource, population, and disaster management, politics,  construction, and exploration
• Developer: Kalypso Media
• Payment model: One-time purchase with DLC expansions available
• Best for: Fans of city-building with a comedic twist, players who enjoy political satire, and those who enjoy the art of persuasion

You’ll never be bored playing Tropico 6 because it’s the perfect city-building game for those looking for some humor while you play. This is a political satire game where you rule over an island as a Caribbean dictator. As you focus on your ambitions of ultimate power, you also need to meet the demands of other powerful countries while keeping your citizens happy in the process. In this game, you can choose to make your island a utopia for all or a ruthless dictatorship.

The strategy of this game comes from resource management while also being politically savvy. In addition to establishing industries across your island and a solid infrastructure, you also have to navigate tricky political challenges while maintaining your reputation. If you’re looking for a city-building game where bribery and propaganda can go a long way, Tropico 6 may be the one for you.

5. Timberborn

• Genre: Survival and simulation
• Release date: 2021
• Platforms: PC (Steam)
• Gameplay features: Beaver-themed city-building, resource management, vertical city construction, survival in a harsh environment, and dynamic seasons
• Developer: Mechanistry
• Payment model: One-time purchase
• Best for: Players looking for a unique city-building experience, fans of survival games, and those looking for a challenging and rewarding experience

If you’ve ever wanted to see what it’s like surviving as a beaver in a post-apocalyptic world, Timberborn has you covered. In this city builder, you guide a colony of beavers who must survive through toxic floods, droughts, and other environmental challenges. Wood is your primary resource, of course, and you’ll use it to construct massive multi-level settlements (rather than only building on the ground level as you do in many other city builders).

In addition to the vertical building of Timberborn, you’ll also need to manage irrigation systems, dams, and aqueducts so your colony of beavers has a stray water supply. The gameplay has seasonal changes and day-to-night cycles, providing more challenges along the way. Timberborn’s story and gameplay provide fans of city-building games with a truly distinctive experience.

6. Surviving Mars

• Genre: Survival, simulation, and sci-fi
• Release date: 2018
• Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Gameplay features: Colony-building on Mars, resource management, research, terraforming, and survival challenges
• Developer: Haemimont Games
• Payment model: One-time purchase with DLC expansions available
• Best for: Fans of sci-fi games, players who enjoy challenging survival elements, and those interested in the idea of colonizing Mars

For years, humans have talked about plans to colonize Mars, and this off-planet city-building game gives you the opportunity to do just that. Set on the Red Planet, you oversee a Mars colony as you try to create a self-sustaining settlement in an unforgiving environment. You’ll need to construct domes to protect your colonists as they research new technologies to evolve your colony’s capabilities.

Surviving Mars is a great game for those who love science fiction and city-building games. This game offers a realistic portrayal of what it’d truly be like to try to colonize Mars. Its unique setting has challenges like managing the psychological distress of your colonists as well as dust storms, radiation, and city-planning challenges. If successful, you’ll build humanity’s first Martian colony.

7. Farthest Frontier

• Genre: Survival and simulation
• Release date: 2023
• Platforms: PC (Steam, Epic Games Store)
• Gameplay features: Resource management, population growth, survival in a harsh environment, agriculture, trade, defense, and exploration
• Developer: Crate Entertainment
• Payment model: One-time purchase
• Best for: Players who enjoy games in a historical setting and challenging simulation games with a focus on survival and resource management

This medieval city-building game has players attempt to create a thriving settlement at the edge of a harsh wilderness that has unforgiving weather and dangerous wildlife. You start with a small group of pioneers and guide them through the process of building a self-sufficient town. Your settlers will need to gather resources to construct buildings, but the threats of disease and starvation try to stop your progress.

Farthest Frontier gives you the options of developing a peaceful settlement or taking a more combative approach. Like other games, you’ll also need to manage your resources and create efficient production chains while surviving the elements. Along with its realistic simulation and various ways to approach challenges, this game has stunning visuals.

8. Dorfromantik

• Genre: Tile-laying and puzzle
• Release date: 2022 
• Platforms: PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• Gameplay features: Tile-based world-building, relaxation, strategy, landscape generation, and various biomes
• Developer: Toukana Interactive
• Payment model: One-time purchase
• Best for: Fans of puzzles and relaxing games, players who enjoy creative world-building, and those looking for a calming and satisfying experience

Dorfromantik is another unique city-building game that takes a unique approach to the genre. This game has players create landscapes with tiles — perfect for those who love puzzles. As you place each tile, you watch your world grow and transform the vibrant ecosystem of meadows and forests as well as the bustling cities. Through your progression, you’ll unlock new tiles that create new challenges and allow you to experiment along the way.

For those who enjoy a more calming gameplay experience, Dorfromantik has a satisfying gameplay loop that’s the perfect blend of relaxing and challenging. Fans of city-building games love this game because it’s perfect for players of all ages while also offering the freedom to get a little creative. There are no pressures or time limits when playing Dorfromantik, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the hand-painted visuals as you create your own city.

9. Frostpunk

• Genre: Survival, strategy, and society simulation
• Release date: April 24, 2018
• Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Gameplay features: Resource management, survival, societal law creation, exploration, and difficult moral choices
• Developer: 11 bit studios
• Payment model: One-time purchase with DLC expansions available
• Best for: Players who enjoy challenging strategy games with a strong narrative and those who like solving moral dilemmas

In Frostpunk, you’re managing the last surviving city in a post-apocalyptic world that’s experiencing a perpetual winter. As you lead the last of humanity, you’ll have to build a city that can survive the severe cold weather. To do this, you must test your skills of resource management and technological advancements while also ensuring the well-being of your citizens.

What makes this game unique is that it introduces a variety of moral dilemmas that impact the lives of those who live in your city. You’ll have to consider the ethical implications of each of your choices as you try to survive in this harsh, frozen world. Although the weather is in a constant state of cold, Forstpunk’s world is ever-changing, giving you unpredictable events to navigate.

10. Anno 1800

• Genre: Economic simulation and historical
• Release date: 2019
• Platforms: PC (Steam)
• Gameplay features: Resource management, trade, exploration, diplomacy, industrialization, and naval warfare
• Developer: Ubisoft Blue Byte
• Payment model: One-time purchase with DLC expansions available
• Best for: Fans of economic simulation games, players interested in historical settings, and those who enjoy complex gameplay with multiple layers of strategy

Anno 1800 puts you in the middle of the Industrial Revolution as a rising entrepreneur who is trying to build an empire. You start with humble beginnings, then navigate the complexities of what it takes to succeed as an industrialist in the 19th century. This city builder focuses on economic strategy as you manage resources, diplomacy, and trade and expand your influence.

Players who enjoy economic simulations and creating intricate production chains will love Anno 1800. In addition to building bustling cities, you will also explore distant islands and take part in naval warfare. While playing, you’ll experience a rich historical setting as you become a titan of business during one of the most important times in modern history.

11. Jurassic World Evolution 2

• Genre: Construction and management simulation
• Release date: 2021
• Platforms: PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC (Steam)
• Gameplay features: Dinosaur park management, research, breeding, containment, and dynamic environmental challenges
• Developer: Frontier Developments
• Payment model: One-time purchase with DLC expansions available
• Best for: Fans of the “Jurassic World” movies and management simulations

If you’re a fan of the “Jurassic Park” and “Jurassic World” movies, or you just want to manage a thriving dinosaur park, this is the game for you. Influenced by the movies, Jurassic World Evolution 2 is a sequel that lets you manage a dinosaur park while also facing the challenges of these unpredictable prehistoric creatures along with constant threats of chaos. Compared to its predecessor, this game provides a much deeper, immersive experience for players.

As the owner of this dinosaur park, you’ll construct various buildings like research facilities, where you discover new technologies to help your park thrive. You must also create enclosures for your dinosaurs and provide them with the resources they need to be happy and healthy. Jurassic World Evolution 2 has a captivating story with challenging gameplay and advanced AI systems that create realistic, unpredictable behaviors from your dinosaurs.

The Best City-Building Games at a Glance

There’s no shortage of city-building games, and there are different types that fit any type of player. Whether you enjoy difficult challenges, survival aspects, and puzzle-solving or a relaxing experience, there's a game out there for you. Below, we’ve provided an at-a-glance look at our top picks.

What To Look for in the Best City-Building Games

It can be difficult to choose which city-building game is right for you. Here are some criteria to take into consideration:

• Gameplay style: Some city-building games offer a more laid-back experience, while others involve survival and combat, and there are others that blend of both. Consider what type of play style you enjoy to help narrow down your options.
• Setting and atmosphere: Do you want to escape to a far-away planet or stay grounded in the modern world? Are you drawn to the cold, or do you prefer a warm, tropical environment? City-building games can take you anywhere you want to go.
• Gameplay mechanics: City-building games have you managing resources, but each game has different mechanics. These games might focus on the economy, survival, or puzzles, and some may provide you with more freedom than others.
• Replayability: Whenever you buy a game, you want to ensure you get your money’s worth. This may mean that you can play the game for hundreds of hours, or it may mean a great single play-through.

There is a wide range of city-building games, and if you’re new to the genre, there is an abundance of games to choose from. You’ll find games that allow you to be strategic as you build cities and create the best environments possible for your citizens. The important thing is that you find the ones that are right for you.

Still deciding your game genre of choice? Whether you prefer to play games on your smartphone, Mac, or PC, we have plenty of games to choose from. Explore our library of games today.

City-Building Games FAQ

If you’re new to city-building games, you may have some additional questions about the mechanics and other aspects of these games. Below, we answer some of the most common questions.

What Makes a Good City-Building Game?

A good city-building game depends on the gamer playing it. Each gamer is looking for something different — fortunately, there are many city-building games with elements that appeal to different players. Some of the best games have engaging challenges and give you with a lot of freedom while providing a sense of progression.

What Are the Most Common Subgenres Within City-Building Games?

One of the great features of the city-building game genre is that there are many subgenres. Simulation games provide you with a realistic experience that often incorporates in-depth ecosystem and infrastructure planning. For those who like history, there are historical games set in a specific time period. For gameplay, common styles include survival, puzzle, and strategy.

What Makes City-Building Games Distinct From Other Types of Games?

In addition to a top-down view allowing you to build and manage a city, these games are unique because they have an emphasis on long-term planning. Many games focus on immediate decisions, combat, and problem-solving. City-building games, on the other hand, simulate real-world challenges and require you to think in advance as you manage resources and work with complex systems.