Summary

• There are a variety of different city-building games that cover a diverse range of different topics and settings.
• Some city builders focus on survival aspects, while others offer unique challenges or opportunities for creativity.
• Certain city-building games, while having limited lore, also have a deeper message within the gameplay.

The city-building PC video game genre offers a depth of experience that includes a lot of forethought and strategy, as well as creativity. It is sometimes mixed with the general survival theme, as players take on the role of a great leader and are responsible for the welfare of their citizens. The imaginative processes that some can incorporate into laying out their cities can make for beautiful displays of creativity and give a very satisfying boost.

Over the years, many different takes on the city-building theme have been created. Whether leaning more into the survival aspects or making them more relaxing by focusing on a casual puzzle feel, players can pick and choose what type of experience they wish to have. Of course, the traditional Sim City type of experience is still one to be revered, and has been carried forward to today's technologies with Cities: Skylines and Cities: Skylines 2. Whichever format someone is looking for, here are a few of the best city-builders available today.

10 Factory Town (2021)

City-Builder & Factory Management Strategy Game

Factory Town is only available on Steam, and it blends the feeling of a city-builder with more of a factory feel, such as one would get from Factorio. Players build a village in the wilderness and construct buildings and markets while using workers to move goods around to further expand the city. Using conveyor belts, trains, chutes, and even airships, goods are easily transported and sold to nearby villages. Although there is no Metacritic score for the game, it has received Very Positive reviews on Steam and offers a fun planning experience.

9 Surviving Mars (2018)

Sci-Fi City-Builder Survival Game

Things get interplanetary for the city-builder Surviving Mars, where players get to plan and build a colony on Mars. Due to the unique requirements of being on a different planet, the survival aspect is an important one to pay attention to in this game. From running low on oxygen supplies to dealing with sandstorms, there are many unique challenges to overcome. Surviving Mars is available for PC, Xbox, and PS4 and has a Metacritic score of 76.

8 Terra Nil (2023)

Environmental Strategy Game

Terra Nil has been described by its developers as "a reverse city builder" as it is focused on saving the environment rather than building a sprawling metropolis. Using advanced technology, players build treatment buildings and machinery to help purify the soil, clean the pollution, and rebuild the landscape. Then, it is important to recycle the buildings and let nature reclaim the healed terrain. Screen Rant's review called Terra Nil a peaceful climate puzzler and gave it 3.5/5 stars, and it has a Metacritic rating of 79.

7 Tropico 6 (2019)

Construction, Management, And Political City-Builder

Tropico 6 takes city-building to a new level by spreading it out over extensive archipelagos, with the ability to build bridges to connect islands to help strengthen each. The series has a lot of political intrigue in it, as well as the ability to send Tropicans out to steal impressive wonders such as the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower. Becoming a dictator has never been so fun, and Tropico 6 received 4 out of 5 stars from Screen Rant's review, as well as a Metacritic score of 78, and is available for all major platforms.

6 Anno 1800 (2019)

City-Building Strategy Game

Anno 1800 blends deep strategic thinking with city-building in a story-based simulator set in the dawn of industrialization in the early 19th century. As a ruler, decisions can lead to being an innovator, exploiter, or simply focusing on conquering nations. There is also a multiplayer experience for those who wish to play against friends. Anno 1800 received 4.5 out of 5 stars from Screen Rant's review with the statement that it is "as strikingly beautiful as it is mechanically deep." The game has also been given a Metacritic score of 81 and is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

5 Frostpunk (2018)

City-Building Survival Game

Perhaps the darkest of the games in this list, Frostpunk provides a more serious look into the dangers of being the last city on Earth and needing to not only provide a well-designed city but also keep society and humanity alive. Set in a steampunk-style ice age where finding warmth and surviving dangerous situations can be incredibly stressful, Frostpunk is a captivating look at how important each choice can be. Available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, Frostpunk has a Metacritic score of 84, and its sequel is currently in development.

4 Dorfromantik (2022)

Puzzle City-Building Game

Designed as a virtual board game, and later made into an actual board game as well, the video game Dorfromantik provides a peaceful puzzle experience using tiles to create a village. Placing hexagonal tiles that represent different types of biomes makes an ever-expanding city in a calming setting. Players gain points for how well the tile fits with the surrounding areas, and some include special objects that provide little quests to work towards. Dorfromantik is available on PC and Nintendo Switch and has a Metacritic score of 82.

3 Timberborn (Early Access Since 2021)

Lumberpunk Beaver City-Building Game

Beavers have evolved in Timberborn and are reclaiming the world after humans all but destroyed it. Two beaver factions exist, the nature-friendly Folktails and the more industry-focused Iron Teeth, each offering different types of gameplay and a unique style. Buildings go far beyond simple dams, although those are still present, and the city-building experience is well-crafted with its furry twist. The game does not have a Metacritic rating yet but has Overwhelmingly Positive reviews on Steam.

Timberborn is currently still in Early Access.

2 Against The Storm (2023)

Roguelite City-Builder

Against The Storm is a newer entry to the city-building scene, having been released in December 2023 and was developed by a team of 5 friends. This beautiful fantasy city-builder is set in the aftermath of an apocalyptic Blightstorm that destroyed much of the world. With a network of settlements, players must defend against storms and keep going even when a city is lost, giving the game a roguelite feel. Populations aren't only human, as well, with Foxes, Beavers, Lizards, and even Harpies all looking to survive the Blightstorm. Against The Storm has a must-play Metacritic score of 92 and is available on PC.

1 Cities: Skylines (2015)

City-Builder

The sequel to Cities: Skylines was just launched in 2023, and although it is an excellent game, it also currently has many bugs that developers must sort out before it can top the original. The first Cities: Skylines is a wonderful example of a city-building game done right, with attention to many details that can satisfy those who like to dig deep into the spreadsheets, and an overall fun experience. Many DLCs are also available for this original game that are not yet in the sequel, which can add a lot to its experience. Cities: Skylines has a Metacritic score of 85.

Sources: Factory Town/Steam, Metacritic (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), Timberborn/Steam