Blink while playing one of the best city-building games, and you’ll lose countless hours expanding your city, refining your infrastructure, and focusing your trade. Every game on our list represents hundreds of hours of simulation gameplay, regardless of if you want to build a modern metropolis, conquer strange Viking lands, or terraform the Red Planet.
Although city-building games usually carry a steep learning curve and tons of content, beginners can dive into any option on our list and have a good time. We have a mix of hardcore survival experiences like Frostpunk and minimalist builders like Islanders, so there’s something for everyone.
Further reading
Cities: Skylines
Anno 1800: Pioneers Edition
Frostpunk
Surviving Mars
Tropico 6
Banished
RimWorld
ISLANDERS
Northgard
SimCity 4
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