Cities-building games keep popping in every year, and 2022 isn’t a different case to the trend. Each game we’ve listed provides thousands of hours worth of gameplay, no matter whether you’re looking to construct small towns in the mountains or a futuristic technology mecca or an ancient civilization, or even terraform an entire Red Planet.
Create massive cityscapes and apply your style to them. To help you, we’ve compiled the most popular games in this zone, We are pretty sure that you’ll find what you’re looking for in the following list.
Best City Building Games
1. Tropico 6
- Publisher: Kalypso Media
- Developer: Limbic Entertainment
- Platforms: Mac, PlayStation 4, Linux, PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Release: 29th March 2019
Tropico 6 topped the list to be one of the best city-building games in 2022. As the supreme leader of your island, your task is to deliver a grand speech to ensure that your people are the main characters of your city.
Still, the game is struggling to keep gamers busy for hours with their gameplay. The world will know your city if it stands to be that good.
2. ISLANDERS
- Publisher: GrizzlyGames
- Developer: GrizzlyGames
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC
- Release: 4th April 2019
Islanders is described as a “minimalist city builder” by the company, as it offers a whole new experience when you begin to play. It is an asymmetrical board game, the city-builder makes use of a point system and the creation of land using procedurally generated to move forward in the game.
If you’re looking for a great city builder that’s not tangled up by menus and systems, Islanders is the game for those who want to play.
3. SIMCITY 4
- Publisher: Aspyr Media, Electronic Arts
- Developer: Maxis
- Platforms: PC, Mac
- Release: 12th January 2003
SimCity 4 lets you build cities that are connected via public transportation as well as summon natural disasters as you please and meet the various demands of your inhabitants when you create an expansive city. SimCity 4 is 18 years old but hasn’t got the recognition it deserves.
4. Cities: Skylines
- Publisher: Paradox Interactive
- Developer: Colossal Order
- Platforms: Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4
- Release: 10th March 2015
Cities: Skylines is one of the most enjoyable city-building games for any player. In this game, you won’t be overwhelmed at the thought of having to start all over again, and you’ll end up having to spend a lot of time trying to make sure your residents are moving as effortlessly and as smoothly as possible. It’s certainly a great choice, to begin with.
5. Banished
- Publisher: Shining Rock Software
- Developer: Shining Rock Software
- Platforms: PC
- Release: 18th February 2014
If you’re looking for a straightforward city survival then Banished delivers without too much of the story or bells.
In this gameplay as the head of a group of dispossessed people, your task is to assign tasks to your citizens including building and fishing, all while making sure that you balance the expansion of the city against the available resources.
6. Frostpunk
- Publisher: 11 bit studios
- Developer: 11 bit studios
- Platforms: Xbox One, PC, Mobile, PS4
- Release: April 24th April 2018
Frostpunk is the type of city-building game that makes you question your morals over and over. Your task is to get through the ice age of the past so you’ve to build your city on top of a huge heater that requires fuel constantly to ensure that your inhabitants are secure and healthy.
Frostpunk is about survival rather than dominating in a constant task to keep your newly arrived citizens satisfied while ensuring that your city is fully stocked with food and that the furnace is running.
7. Surviving Mars
- Publisher: Paradox Interactive
- Developer: Haemimont Games
- Platforms: Xbox One, PC, PS4
- Release: 15th March 2018
If you’re seeking to break out of the cities of our planet, Surviving Mars gives you the chance to fly away from Earth and establish healthy domes on this Red Planet.
It’s based upon real-life information from Mars Domes as well as oxygen and other rare Earth materials providing an entirely different feel to the traditional builder.
This game is very realistic and is a great city-building game to rank in the list of the top 15 city-building games.
8. Aven Colony
- Publisher: Team17
- Developer: Mothership Entertainment
- Platforms: Xbox One, PC, PS4
- Release: 25th July 2017
Aven Colony is eighth on the list and can stand to be a very good choice for you in terms of city-building games. If you’ve ever dreamed of the possibility of a space elevator, Aven Colony may be the perfect city-building game for you.
In this game, you have to take responsibility for the survival of the citizens in your city. And you have to plan for hospitals, mineral mines, and other lost things accordingly. After completion of the easy stages, there will be the tougher stages in which you have to build up a strong military and send them for military operations, etc.
9. Anno 1800
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Developer: Ubisoft Blue Byte
- Platforms: PC
- Release: 16th April 2019
Anno 1800 places you at the dawn of the Industrial Age. Beginning with a port for trade and a small piece that you can use to be able to attract workers and farmers to transform your town from a rural village into a modern industrial powerhouse.
Then, you’ll be able to make your mark in the world by establishing a network that includes trade routes and diplomatic agreements, and expeditions around the world. We included Anno 1800 not only because it’s the latest, but also because the atmosphere of the game embodies the essence of the game.
10. RimWorld
- Publisher: Ludeon Studios
- Developer: Ludeon Studios
- Platforms: Linux, Mac, PC
- Release: 17th October 2018
RimWorld is a game for colonies in which anything can occur. In this game, you’re the one to establish the first colony, and the colonists you choose to have come with an assortment of randomly-rolled characteristics that determine the way they act.
There may be an exceptional mind who is quick to learn but is susceptible to a mental break, or one with bloodlust that is energised by killing people and creating clothes from their skin.
RimWorld is an engine that creates an unforgettable and unique experience and is one of the top simulation games currently available.
11. Pharaoh: A New Era
- Publisher: Sierra Studios
- Developer: Impressions Games
- Platforms: PC
- Release: 31st October 1999
Pharaoh: A New Era is a complete overhaul of the game. Players will play the role of a Pharaoh who is required to protect his people and the land. This involves constructing structures that range from the famous Pyramids to the Sphinx and mausoleums.
While doing this you’re building your kingdom, and making sure your people are taken care of. However, there are additional risks to be aware of.
12. Caesar III
- Publisher: Sierra Studios
- Developer: Impressions Games
- Platforms: PC
- Release: 30th September 1998
With Caesar III, the players are given the responsibility of running the old Roman empire. Caesar III is one of the most popular city-building games for PC that will provide hours of entertainment and excitement.
It is your responsibility to maintain the city and defend it from threats from barbarians as well as internal political intrigue. You must be aware of everything from the water supply to taxation.
Although the graphics in the game are older than the modern-day graphics games, it has everything needed to entice anyone who is a fan of city-building games.
13. Anno 2070
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Developer: Related Designs
- Platforms: PC
- Release: 17th November 2011
Few games can be as addictive as Anno 2070. The game is captivating to players as it keeps rewarding you for the longer you play.
Also soon Anno 2070 provides players the chance to change the course of history after catastrophes have destroyed a large portion of the earth. You can even construct a city underwater. Leap into the future and create the future of our world.
14. PLANET BASE
- Publisher: Madruga Works
- Developer: Madruga Works
- Platforms: PS4, PC, Xbox One
- Release: 16th October 2015
Planet Base is an open-world city-building game. In this game, the planet base is filled with adventure and challenges to take on. When compared to the free or cheap city-building games, surely Planet Base is worthy of your cash.
There are four planets that you can choose for your base, there you must start from scratch and create an eco-friendly city in the harsh surroundings. Different planets pose diverse problems so it is important to plan your city accordingly.
15. Urban Empire
- Publisher: Kalypso Media Digital
- Developer: Reborn Games
- Platforms: PC
- Release: 21st January 2017
If you’re in the Urban Empire, your time will be spent planning the city, as well as arranging elections and the parliament. It is important to concentrate on developing relationships with people who are not in society as well as the aristocrats in society.
If you are a gamer you need to think extensively during this Urban Empire. It is sort of a historical drama, and not only entertainment. Surely the plot of Urban Empire will amuse you.
The above mentioned are some of the best and most popular City Building Games. Let us know your favourite City Building Game in the comment section.
Also Read:
