Best City Building Games in 2023

City building games have been around for decades, providing players with a sense of control and satisfaction as they construct their own virtual worlds. These games allow players to start with nothing but a small plot of land and slowly build up their city, managing resources, infrastructure, and the needs of their citizens along the way.

One of the earliest and most iconic city building games is SimCity, which was first released in 1989. SimCity allows players to design and build their own city, managing everything from zoning laws to taxes to public transportation. The game has since spawned numerous sequels and spin-offs, including SimCity 2000, SimCity 4, and SimCity BuildIt for mobile devices.

Another classic city builder is the Civilization series, which allows players to not only build cities but also manage entire civilizations throughout history. Players must balance their military might, scientific progress, and cultural achievements to lead their civilization to victory.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in city building games, with new titles that offer fresh takes on the genre. Cities: Skylines, for example, is a modern city builder that has received widespread acclaim for its realistic simulation of city management. Players can create their own city from scratch or modify existing maps, with features like traffic management and natural disasters adding to the challenge.

Another popular city builder is Tropico, which puts players in the role of a dictator in a small tropical island nation. Players must balance the needs of their citizens with the desires of their foreign allies and enemies, all while maintaining their grip on power.

And for a more unique and immersive experience, there’s VR game Cityscape Repairman, where players must explore a desolate city and repair its infrastructure to restore life to the area.

Whether you prefer a classic city builder or a modern take on the genre, there’s a city building game out there for everyone. So why not take a break from the real world and create your own utopia?

Little Cities VR

One of the most appealing aspects of city-building games is the ability to create expansive metropolises that you would love to inhabit. Little Cities takes this captivating gameplay to the next level by immersing you in the very city you construct, thanks to the marvels of virtual reality technology. It allows you to experience up-close the inner workings of your bustling metropolis. While the game has all the familiar features of a typical city-builder such as designing roads and positioning buildings, it elevates the gameplay to a whole new level of immersion.

With the Little Citizens update, the level of immersion is intensified tenfold as you get to engage with the citizens that inhabit your city. You can wave at them and observe as they carry out their daily activities, whether they’re indulging in exciting activities such as skiing or hot air ballooning or just taking a breather to savor their lunch. This feature adds more life to the game world and takes advantage of the unique capabilities of virtual reality technology. Moreover, the charming soundtrack accentuates the game’s cozy and calming atmosphere. It’s a refreshing change of pace from other games in the genre that often bombard you with challenging scenarios and resource management tasks.

It is important to note that Little Cities is only available for the Quest line of virtual reality headsets. However, if you own one of these headsets, you are in for a delightful and immersive experience that will leave you wanting more.

Timberborn

Timberborn is a unique city-building game that offers players a refreshing twist on the genre. Unlike traditional city-building games, Timberborn puts you in control of a group of industrious beavers who are responsible for building settlements and managing resources.

As the player, your job is to direct these furry critters around as they construct houses, gather resources, and build dams. The game revolves around water, which plays a vital role in the beavers’ daily lives. It is through the construction of dams that the beavers are able to control the flow of water, allowing them to irrigate their crops, create new areas for settlement, and even generate power.

The game’s unique premise and mechanics have garnered it a dedicated fanbase, even in its Early Access state. Reviews of Timberborn have been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the game’s charming visuals, intuitive gameplay, and delightful beaver-centric world.

One of the most exciting aspects of Timberborn is the opportunity to build a truly sustainable society. Players must balance the needs of their beaver inhabitants with the finite resources available in their environment. By carefully managing their resources and infrastructure, players can create a thriving society that will stand the test of time.

In conclusion, Timberborn is a game that offers a fresh and delightful take on the city-building genre. With its charming beaver characters, unique mechanics, and focus on sustainability, it’s a game that is sure to captivate and entertain players for hours on end. Whether you’re a longtime fan of city-building games or just looking for something new and exciting to try, Timberborn is definitely worth checking out.

The Architect: Paris

The Architect: Paris is a game that stands out in the city building genre due to its focus on design and customization. While other city building games may prioritize resource management and population growth, The Architect: Paris places a greater emphasis on the aesthetic aspects of city planning.

One of the unique features of The Architect: Paris is the level of detail it allows players to customize. Gamers can design buildings down to the minutiae, including height, awnings, and foliage. This level of customization allows players to create truly unique and personalized cities that reflect their individual style and vision.

Despite its focus on design, The Architect: Paris still offers players a level of challenge and complexity. Gamers must balance the aesthetic desires of their citizens with the practical considerations of running a successful city. They must manage resources, such as electricity and water, and ensure that their city is able to support its population.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of The Architect: Paris is the sense of creative freedom it provides. Players can experiment with different building styles and layouts, and create cities that are both functional and visually stunning. The game also encourages players to think outside the box and try new approaches to city planning.

For gamers who enjoy focusing on the details and aesthetics of city building, The Architect: Paris is a game that is sure to capture their attention. With its unique take on the city building genre and its emphasis on design, this game is a must-play for anyone looking for a creative and immersive gaming experience.

Cities XL

Cities XL was indeed a groundbreaking game when it was released, and its ambitious online multiplayer component was one of its most innovative features. The ability to interact with other players in a persistent planet, trading resources and competing for dominance, added a whole new level of depth to the city-building genre.

Players could build and manage their own cities, specializing in different industries and catering to different needs, while also collaborating and competing with other players to create a thriving economy and a bustling metropolis. The game’s 3D graphics and detailed simulation engine allowed for a level of realism and immersion that was unmatched at the time, and the sheer scope of the game was impressive in its own right.

Unfortunately, the online service for Cities XL was closed down after only a few months, leaving players to continue building and managing their cities in a single-player mode. Despite this setback, Cities XL remained a beloved game for many fans of the genre, and its legacy can still be seen in modern city-building games like SimCity and Cities: Skylines.

Overall, Cities XL was a groundbreaking game that pushed the boundaries of what was possible in the city-building genre, and its innovative online multiplayer component was a testament to the creativity and ambition of its developers. Even though it may not be as well-known as some of the other city-building games that have come since, it still deserves recognition for its contributions to the genre and its place in gaming history.

Kingdoms Reborn

Kingdoms Reborn is a captivating city-building game that challenges players to manage resources, improve their citizens’ quality of life, and expand their territories to attract more people. The game takes place in a beautifully rendered world, and players get to choose the location of their settlement, which could be a lush valley, a coastal plain, or a fertile plain. Once you have found your perfect spot, you must start building your city from the ground up.

One of the most impressive features of Kingdoms Reborn is the emphasis it places on resource management. Players must ensure that their citizens have access to essential resources such as food, water, and shelter, as well as non-essential items such as luxury goods. As the city grows, you’ll need to allocate more resources to different areas and upgrade your infrastructure to keep up with demand.

Another exciting aspect of Kingdoms Reborn is its multiplayer component. Players can team up with others to play cooperatively, share resources, and plan together to build the ultimate kingdom. Alternatively, players can compete against each other, using military tactics to capture resources and establish dominance over other cities. The game’s online multiplayer feature allows players to interact in real-time, making the gameplay experience even more engaging and dynamic.

Whether you prefer to play alone or with friends, Kingdoms Reborn is a game that promises endless hours of entertainment. With its immersive gameplay, stunning graphics, and challenging resource management mechanics, it’s no wonder that this game has become a fan favorite among city-building enthusiasts. So why not give it a try and see if you have what it takes to build the ultimate kingdom?

Going Medieval

Going Medieval is an engaging colony simulation game that immerses you in a world that’s ravaged by the Black Death. In this game, you’ll play as a group of survivors who have lost their homes to the deadly pandemic. With only a handful of raw materials at your disposal, your task is to create a new settlement from scratch.

As you progress through the game, you’ll need to manage your resources, gather supplies, and create a sustainable community that can thrive in a hostile environment. You’ll need to think strategically and plan ahead to ensure that your settlement is well-protected, well-fed, and well-equipped to face any challenges that come its way.

One of the most impressive features of Going Medieval is its vast amount of content, despite being in Early Access. The game offers a wide range of building options, resources, and tools that allow you to create a unique settlement that reflects your personality and creativity. You can construct intricate buildings, create intricate farming systems, and develop a variety of defenses to keep your colony safe from marauding enemies and raiders.

Additionally, the developers behind Going Medieval are dedicated to delivering consistent updates to the game, adding new content and fixing any bugs that may arise. This means that there’s always something new to discover and explore, making each playthrough of the game feel fresh and exciting.

However, it’s worth noting that Going Medieval can be a challenging game that requires a lot of patience and time to master. Building impressive structures and maintaining a thriving community takes time and effort, but the sense of satisfaction that comes from creating something truly impressive is well worth the effort.

Overall, if you’re a fan of colony simulation games or enjoy building and creating in sandbox-style games, Going Medieval is definitely worth checking out. With its immersive world, engaging gameplay, and impressive building tools, it’s a game that’s sure to keep you entertained for hours on end.

Medieval Dynasty

Medieval Dynasty is a unique game that sets itself apart from other city-building games in its approach to gameplay mechanics. Unlike other games in this genre where players take on the role of an all-powerful ruler dictating every aspect of their city’s development, Medieval Dynasty puts players in the shoes of an ordinary person who is tasked with building a settlement and ensuring the survival of their residents.

As the player, you have the ability to dictate where buildings are constructed and how your residents interact with their surroundings. You must balance the needs of your residents with the resources available to you, managing everything from food production to infrastructure development.

Despite its unique approach to gameplay, Medieval Dynasty is still a survival game at its core. Players must navigate the challenges of the medieval era, from harsh weather conditions to attacks from raiders and wild animals. The generations system adds another layer of complexity to the game, as players must ensure that their settlement survives and thrives for generations to come.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the game is the settlement-building feature, which allows players to create and customize their own settlement. From building homes for your residents to constructing resource-gathering structures and defenses, the settlement-building system is incredibly immersive and satisfying to interact with.

Overall, Medieval Dynasty is a game that offers a unique and engaging experience for players who enjoy city-building and survival games. With its detailed gameplay mechanics, immersive settlement-building feature, and challenging medieval setting, it is a game that is sure to keep players entertained for hours on end.

Foundation

Foundation, a medieval-era city builder from Polymorph Games, is currently in Early Access and showing great promise. One of the game’s most notable features is its lack of a grid system, which allows players to build settlements in a more organic and natural way. This, combined with the game’s procedural nature of settlement building, creates a unique and immersive gameplay experience.

Managing a medieval settlement in Foundation feels incredibly realistic, with many events occurring outside of the player’s control. This creates a reactive rather than proactive gameplay style, where the player must respond to the needs and challenges of their settlement as they arise. This level of unpredictability adds to the game’s challenge and replayability, as no two playthroughs will be exactly the same.

In addition to the game’s engaging mechanics, Foundation has a thriving modding community that is sure to extend the game’s lifespan for years to come. This allows players to customize and add new features to their game, further expanding on the already rich gameplay experience.

Overall, Foundation is a promising and unique addition to the city-building genre. Its focus on realism and procedural generation, combined with its lack of a grid system, creates a fresh and engaging gameplay experience. With a dedicated community of modders and ongoing development, Foundation is sure to continue to evolve and delight players for years to come.

Valhalla Hills

Valhalla Hills is a game that combines elements of city-building and strategy, and it is set in a Viking-themed world. The game’s objective is to earn favor with the Nordic God Odin by building a thriving settlement that can withstand the challenges of the harsh environment.

Players will have to manage resources such as food, wood, and stone, while also defending their settlement against monsters and rival Dwarven clans. The game’s cartoonish art style is visually pleasing and adds to the overall charm of the game. It also creates a less intense atmosphere compared to other strategy games, making it an excellent option for players who are looking for a more laid-back experience.

One of the game’s main strengths is its focus on city-building, which is reminiscent of the popular Settlers games. Players must build and expand their settlements, while also managing their resources and keeping their citizens happy. The game’s mechanics are intuitive and easy to learn, making it accessible to both new and experienced players.

Valhalla Hills is an excellent game for players who enjoy city-building and strategy games, but are looking for something that is not too demanding or stressful. The game’s focus on building a Nordic empire and earning favor with Odin adds an extra layer of excitement and motivation to the gameplay, making it an engaging and enjoyable experience overall.

Surviving Mars

Surviving Mars is an exciting strategy game that puts you in the shoes of a planetary pioneer, tasked with turning the barren red planet into a thriving human colony. As soon as you land on Mars, you’ll be presented with a daunting task: to create a sustainable and habitable environment for human life. But don’t worry – the game provides you with all the necessary tools and resources to help you accomplish this goal.

However, don’t be fooled by the game’s seemingly simple premise. Surviving Mars is a complex and challenging title that will test your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills to the limit. With a variety of unique challenges and obstacles to overcome, including a harsh atmosphere, lack of oxygen, and infertile land, you’ll need to carefully manage your resources and make smart decisions in order to keep your colony alive and thriving.

As you progress through the game, you’ll be tasked with attracting new colonists to your settlement, each with their own unique needs and preferences. You’ll need to keep your colonists happy and healthy, provide them with the resources they need to survive, and ensure that your colony is growing and thriving. This is no easy feat, and you’ll need to be prepared to micro-manage every aspect of your colony in order to succeed.

Overall, Surviving Mars is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a challenging and immersive strategy game. With its detailed graphics, complex gameplay mechanics, and unique challenges, it’s sure to provide hours of entertainment for both casual and hardcore gamers alike. So what are you waiting for? Strap on your spacesuit and get ready to explore the mysteries of the Red Planet!

The Settlers 7: Paths To A Kingdom

The Settlers franchise has been a staple in the video game industry for over two decades, and its unique blend of city-building and real-time strategy gameplay has kept fans engaged and entertained for years. One of the standout titles in the series is The Settlers: Paths to a Kingdom, which takes place in a medieval world and offers players a truly unique gaming experience.

What sets Paths to a Kingdom apart from other city-building games is its incorporation of elements from other genres, such as the Civilization series. Players can choose a faction or leader and build their own empire, using military actions and development to expand their territory and gain power. This adds an additional layer of depth to the gameplay, making it more challenging and rewarding for players.

But Paths to a Kingdom isn’t just about conquering and expanding your empire. The game also offers a wide range of activities and tasks to keep players engaged, including resource management, diplomacy, and trade. Players must balance all of these elements in order to succeed, making for a truly immersive and engaging gaming experience.

The medieval setting of Paths to a Kingdom also adds to its appeal. The game’s graphics and design are stunning, and players will feel as though they have been transported back in time to a world of knights, castles, and dragons. The attention to detail is impressive, and every aspect of the game feels authentic and true to the time period.

Overall, The Settlers: Paths to a Kingdom is a truly unique gaming experience that combines elements from multiple genres into one cohesive and entertaining package. Its blend of city-building, real-time strategy, and other gameplay mechanics make it a standout title in the franchise, and its medieval setting and attention to detail only add to its appeal.

Cities: Skylines

Cities Skylines is a game that is known for its unparalleled scope and scale in comparison to other games in the city-building genre. Unlike other games that focus on destructive elements such as natural disasters or warfare, Cities Skylines is centered on the creation of a thriving and prosperous city.

In this game, players are tasked with the challenge of constructing a grandiose city that has a life of its own. This means that players will have to pay close attention to the level of micromanagement required to ensure that the city is functioning properly. The sheer amount of control that is given to players in this game is staggering, and there are plenty of great mods available for those who want even more customization options.

Creating a fully functional city requires players to manage taxes, establish businesses, and exploit resources in order to keep the city running. This involves building roads and transit systems, creating city zones, laying water pipes, and more. With every decision that is made, players must consider the impact that it will have on the city’s population and economy.

As the city grows, players will have to deal with the challenges that come with managing a large population. They will have to ensure that their citizens have access to the resources they need, including healthcare, education, and employment. At the same time, they will need to maintain the city’s infrastructure and address issues such as traffic congestion and pollution.

By the time players have completed their city, they will have created a sprawling metropolis with a population that lives, works, and functions much like a real-world city. The level of detail and depth in this game is unmatched, making it the best city-building game for those who want to truly immerse themselves in the art of city planning.

Planetbase

Let’s take a closer look at Madruga Works’ Planet Base. This innovative game takes the familiar concepts of base building, resource management, and citizen satisfaction and adds a new twist with its unique planetary environments.

Planet Base offers players the opportunity to build and manage a colony on one of four different planets, each with its own distinct set of challenges. As you progress through the game, you’ll encounter increasingly difficult environments, from the freezing temperatures of the ice planet to the harsh storms of the storm planet. It’s up to you to keep your pioneers alive and thriving by managing resources, constructing buildings, and ensuring their overall satisfaction.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Planet Base is the attention to detail that the developers have paid to each planet’s unique environmental hazards. On the frozen planet, for example, you’ll need to contend with extreme cold and find ways to keep your colonists warm and safe. Meanwhile, on the storm planet, you’ll need to build structures that can withstand powerful winds and other weather-related effects.

Despite the challenges, Planet Base is a rewarding and engaging game that offers hours of fun and entertainment. As you progress through each planet’s levels, you’ll discover new technologies and techniques that will help you build a successful and sustainable colony. With its combination of strategic planning, resource management, and dynamic environments, Planet Base is a must-play for any space exploration enthusiast.