The Ultimate City Building Games: Unveiling the Top 10 of All Time

Highlights

City-building games require planning and resource management to ensure the prosperity of cities and their inhabitants.

Players can experience different eras and settings in games like

Pharaoh

,

Caesar

, and

Anno

Every city has its own set of challenges that demand effective urban planning and resource management. City-building games allow players to unleash their creativity and design their dream towns and cities. However, it is crucial to remember that building a city is not limited to constructing residential and commercial areas, with the occasional addition of a mall or park. These games necessitate careful planning and strategic resource management to ensure the prosperity of both the cities and their inhabitants.

10 Tropico series

However, it is crucial to strike a balance between resource management and enjoyment in city building games, and fortunately, there are titles that successfully achieve this harmony, much to the satisfaction of their players. Here are a few recommended games that skillfully blend fun and fundamental aspects of city construction:

In the Tropico games, players are tasked with managing a tropical island, ensuring the happiness and economic prosperity of both the island and its inhabitants. Various factors, such as selecting the most suitable industry for the location, identifying available resources, and maintaining the community's morale, require the players' attention.

9 Townscaper

Players have the freedom to choose whether they want to explore the path of industrialization and expand their shipyards or concentrate on developing a specific agricultural product, or even a range of diverse agricultural products, to kickstart their island's economy. Alternatively, players can opt to utilize the island's natural assets and turn it into a popular tourist destination by constructing various attractions that allure visitors and generate capital.

Townscaper is a captivating sandbox city-building game that offers players a highly addictive experience. What sets it apart is the charming Swedish architecture that springs to life as players meticulously plan the layout of their towns within the expansive playing area.

Townscaper: Build your dream European town

The game allows players to unleash their creativity by stacking structures and constructing breathtaking towns that mirror the charm of brick-laden houses and picturesque streets found in European towns. With the ability to customize house colors, design stunning archways and lighthouses, and push the limits by stacking buildings to unprecedented heights, Townscaper offers a uniquely relaxing and captivating gaming experience that encourages players to tap into their artistic flair.

8 Surviving Mars

Looking for a change of scenery? Instead of sticking to city management on Earth, why not venture to Mars? Surviving Mars offers an exciting chance for players to establish a thriving colony on the red planet. In this game, you have the freedom to make the Martian settlement not only habitable but also self-sustaining. Achieving this goal is possible through the strategic utilization of either manpower or advanced machines, which can be employed for tasks like terraforming and constructing the settlement.

That said, colonizing Mars presents distinct obstacles: with the absence of breathable air, individuals must bear this in mind while devising their urban planning strategies. The presence of renewable energy sources and the exploration for water also hold paramount importance in sustaining the functioning of the city.

7 Aven Colony

Embark on an extraordinary gaming experience with Aven Colony as you undertake the mission to establish a thriving settlement on a captivating extraterrestrial planet. Each unique region presents its own set of obstacles, including a frozen tundra, an expansive jungle, and a parched desert, among others.

6 Pharaoh series

In addition, players must also confront hostile extraterrestrial creatures that pose a threat to their settlements, as well as unpredictable climatic conditions that can have a detrimental impact on their cities. Managing these hazards becomes crucial alongside the task of ensuring the sustenance and prosperity of their colonies.

The Ancient Egyptian era is shrouded in enigmatic allure and unparalleled grandeur: a period that sparks curiosity about the daily lives of those who thrived during this epoch, crafting remarkable marvels such as the awe-inspiring Great Pyramids and the enigmatic Sphinx. A unique opportunity presents itself to experience these wonders and beyond while delving into the captivating world of the Pharaoh games.

5 Caesar series

In order to successfully establish and develop Pharaoh's kingdom in Egypt, players must acquaint themselves with the resources utilized for constructing cities during ancient times. Their objective is to construct a thriving kingdom where the inhabitants are content, while also showcasing and earning admiration for the rich Egyptian culture.

The Caesar games offer players the chance to step into the shoes of a city planner in the Roman Empire. With an isometric view, players can meticulously design their city-state, aiming to bring prosperity to their domain.

4 Banished

It is vital to effectively manage the four ratings of Culture, Prosperity, Peace, and Favor in order to advance in the games. However, this task proves to be challenging as the decisions made by players play a crucial role in maintaining these ratings at their optimum levels.

In Banished, players embark on a unique challenge where they begin their city-building journey from scratch, but with a fascinating twist—transported back to the Medieval Era, they start with absolutely nothing. Stranded in the wilderness, individuals must showcase their resourcefulness by constructing a modest village and gradually transforming it into a bustling metropolis, attracting merchants from near and far who are eager to establish their businesses in this flourishing settlement.

3 Anno series

: In addition to ensuring the prosperity of their cities, players must also take care of their villagers. Villagers will age, fall ill, and pass on their ailments. It is the responsibility of players to monitor and control the population in their towns, ensuring the health and well-being of their townsfolk.

The Anno games have achieved remarkable success by combining elements of real-time strategy (RTS) and city building. By incorporating resource management and building mechanics across various historical eras, each title offers a distinct experience. Players must acquaint themselves with the available resources of each era and learn how to maximize their profitability.

From the Age of Sail to the distant future and everything in between, the Anno titles have successfully captivated players with their ability to navigate era-related challenges in city planning and resource management.

2 SimCity series

The SimCity titles revolutionized the world of city-building games, making the process of urban planning enjoyable and intriguing for a wide range of players. From designing residential areas to creating bustling business districts, these games offer a plethora of features that contribute to the overall excitement and enjoyment they provide.

Once players have either carefully strategized their metro or prefer to begin anew, they possess the alternative to simulate an array of calamities, both ecological and supernatural, that can decimate their cities. These catastrophes comprise hurricanes, typhoons, wildfires, and even a sudden incursion by extraterrestrial beings.

1 Cities: Skylines series

Cities: Skylines is widely regarded as the natural heir to SimCity due to its significant improvements in gameplay mechanics. It successfully enhances the elements found in traditional city builder games, making them more user-friendly and intuitive. In this game, players have the freedom to construct their own cities from the ground up, prioritizing the provision of various comforts to ensure the happiness of their residents.

As players reach more milestones, they unlock a wider range of new items that they can use to enhance and develop their expansive city. The experience of expanding the city limits becomes even more rewarding, particularly when players successfully purchase additional land and connect them through an intricate network of roads or highways. Making effective use of the natural resources available also plays a crucial role in fostering economic growth within their cities, ultimately making them desirable places to live.