The top recommended city simulation games and why we love them.
City-building or world-building games are some of the most loved games to play, unlike “traditional” fighting games where your focus has to be on jamming those controls to win, simulation games are organisation games that you can take your time playing. Simulation games are usually aimed at all age groups, meaning anyone can enjoy them.
Most people play games as a form of escapism or a way to relax, city-building games are definitely games you’re meant to relax to and play whilst watching a show and texting your friends at the same time. And that’s why people love them, you get to create what you imagine your city to be if you were an overlord, whilst slouching in your bed eating nachos.
1. Cities: Skylines (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Linux, Macintosh operating systems)
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This game is an open-border, single-player city-building PEGI 3 simulation game where players engage in urban planning, building roads, building warehouses, taxing etc. You’re basically your own counsel governing over a city you’ve created. It’s your job to maintain and provide for the citizens of your city. You are the overlord and this is your city.
Cities: Skylines is a 2015 game developed by Colossal Order and published by Paradox Interactive.
Many reviews state that this is a game you could easily lose the day to but it needs mods to show its full potential.
Steam rating: https://store.steampowered.com/app/255710/Cities_Skylines/
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2. Frostpunk (PlayStation 4, Android, Xbox One, macOS, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh operating systems)
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Frostpunk is an apocalyptic survival and city-building game set in the 19th-century, where it’s your job as the leader to keep your people alive and sheltered. You’ll have different challenges, storylines and scenarios to deal with that will threaten your city’s survival. Doesn’t a snowstorm apocalypse sound fun?!
Frostpunk is a PEGI 16 2018 single-player game developed and published by 11 Bit Studios.
According to reviews on Steam, you have to work hard in order to get a good ending and this is not a game you can play nonchalantly. If you want a challenging city-builder, this is the one for you.
Steam rating: https://store.steampowered.com/app/323190/Frostpunk/
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3. Surviving Mars (PlayStation 4, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Xbox One, Macintosh operating systems, Classic Mac OS)
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Surviving Mars is actually a lot like Frostpunk, but instead of an apocalyptic snowstorm, you have a life-threatening red planet to cultivate and colonise. Ever dreamed of being a Martian, this game lets you be like Elon Musk and rule over your own planet.
Surviving Mars is a 2018 PEGI 7 single-player game developed by Haemimont Games and Abstraction and published by Paradox Interactive.
Reviews on Steam state that if you’re a fan of Mars and space this is the game for you, however, the game is noted to be a bit buggy.
Steam rating: https://store.steampowered.com/app/464920/Surviving_Mars/
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4. Age of Empires IV (Microsoft Windows)
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This is a real-time city builder game, which means time is of the essence whilst playing and protecting your fortress against enemies. Age of empire includes a tutorial that explains the factions, campaigns and setup of your city with a 90s style RTS system.
Age of Empires IV is a PEGI 12 2021 real-time strategy game developed by Relic Entertainment and World's Edge and published by Xbox Game Studios.
Reviews on Steam state that this is a fun tactical game where you get to outsmart the enemies and enjoy great campaigns with your kids.
Steam rating: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466860/Age_of_Empires_IV/
Age of Empire IV
5. Patron (Microsoft Windows)
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Patron is known for its unique social dynamics system where you have to grow your settlement whilst managing social tensions that could either make or break your potential city. So, it’s like real life city-building but with tiny simulated people that have to do what you say.
Patron is a PEGI 7 2021 single-player game developed and published by Overseer Game.
Reviewers on Steam state that this game is not fully polished but looks amazing, has lovely music and hits that aesthetic city-building craving.
Steam rating: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1538570/Patron/
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6. SimCity 4 (macOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Classic Mac OS)
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SimCity 4 is like The Sims but with buildings, landscapes and city management, instead of people, you’re playing a city. This is for people who like the creative side of The Sims but not the character development side.
SimCity 4 is a 2003 single-player PEGI 3 game developed by Maxis and published by EA Games and Aspyr.
Reviewers on Steam state that this game is a fun classic but it doesn’t run very smoothly on Windows 10 and newer systems because of the outdated software.
Steam rating: https://store.steampowered.com/app/24780/SimCity_4_Deluxe_Edition/
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7. Banished (Microsoft Windows)
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Banished is a resource management and survival game, with comparable features to sustainable living. It’s just one of those simple, fun, classic simulation games. It’s comparably similar to Patron.
Banished is a single-player 2014 PEGI 16 game developed and published by Shining Rock Software.
Reviewers on Steam state that this game is a game you can relax to, it’s not mentally taxing like some games and the elements of the game come together well.
Steam rating: https://store.steampowered.com/app/242920/Banished/
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8. Anno 2205 (Microsoft Windows)
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This game is an economic simulator where you can build futuristic cities as the leader of a corporation that is competing against other corporations. So, it’s like a simulation for business people.
Anno 2205 is a 2015 PEGI 7 single-player real-time game developed by Ubisoft Blue Byte and Related Designs and published by Ubisoft and is the sixth game in the Anno series.
Reviewers on Steam state that this game is not like the other Anno games but is highly addictive and has amazing graphics, however, it’s known to have connection issues.
Steam rating: https://store.steampowered.com/app/375910/Anno_2205/
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9. Jurassic World Evolution 2 (PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows)
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Everyone should know about Jurassic Park, this is another Jurassic Park style game with dinosaurs, your own island, your own tourists to carnage and your own management system over your park. It’s just another Jurassic Park game but it’s always nice to have different options.
Jurassic World Evolution 2 is a 2021 single player PEGI 16 game developed and published by Frontier Developments.
Reviewers on Steam state that this game is basically like the first game but with more dinosaurs and maps, it’s as enjoyable as a dinosaur park game should be but the campaign is short.
Steam rating: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1244460/Jurassic_World_Evolution_2/
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10. Airborne Kingdom (PlayStation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X and Series, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Macintosh Operating System)
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This is a very beautiful, aesthetic game and it’s exactly how it sounds. You build and manage your own city on an airborne platform, continuously developing it whilst learning new technologies and forming alliances with terrestrial kingdoms. It’s a flying city, you can’t get any better than that.
Airborne Kingdom is a single-player 2020 PEGI 3 game developed by The Wandering Band LLC and published by The Wandering Band LLC, Freedom Games and Freedom Family Limited.
Reviewers on Metacritic say it’s a work of art and extremely unique and imaginative.
Nintendo Life rating: https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/airborne-kingdom
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11. Dorfromantik (Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch)
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This is another beautiful game and a highly recommended city-builder game. It’s the perfect blend of aesthetic and relaxing and yet so simple. You strategically place tiles to expand your map, unlocking biomes and quests until you’ve practically created your own world and not just a city.
Dorfromantik is a stunning 2021 PEGI 3 single-player puzzle game developed and published by Toukana Interactive.
Steam users absolutely love this game, stating it’s easy to learn, extremely relaxing and addictive.
Steam rating: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1455840/Dorfromantik/
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12. Foundation (Microsoft Windows)
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It’s not specified what age this is rated at but based on the nature of the game it’s either a PEGI 3 or 7. Foundation is a grid-less laidback game set in the medieval era, with an approach to resourceful, organic management. This game has comparable features to Banished and Patron.
Foundation is a 2019 single-player game developed and published by Polymorph Games and Polymorph Games Inc.
Reviewers on Steam state it’s fun, relaxing and engaging because of the organic way your city and villagers evolve because of their free will. Who knew free will could make a simulation game fun?
Steam rating: https://store.steampowered.com/app/690830/Foundation/
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13. RimWorld (macOS, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh operating systems)
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This is another highly recommended game. RimWorld is a top-down construction and management simulation where you begin with three survivors of a shipwreck on another world. The objective is to manage a colony and their needs, moods, illnesses, wounds and addictions. You make more people, build a habitable city and look after everyone like they’re your children.
RimWorld is a 2013 single-player PEGI 16 game developed by Ludeon Studios and Tynan Sylvester and published by Ludeon Studios.
Reviewers on Steam say it’s overwhelmingly addictive and is taking over their lives. High praise all around.
Steam rating: https://store.steampowered.com/app/294100/RimWorld/
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14. Dawn of Man (PlayStation 4, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh operating systems, Classic Mac OS, Xbox One)
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In this game you lead prehistoric settlers, trying to ensure their survival from the Paleolithic era until the Iron Age by providing food, water and shelter etc. You’re basically preventing the extinction of man.
Dawn of Man is a PEGI 16 2018 single-player game developed and published by Madruga Works.
Steam users state that it’s a great educational game about the difficulties of building a house and farming and a great way to pass the time.
Steam rating: https://store.steampowered.com/app/858810/Dawn_of_Man/
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15. Terraria (Android, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Google Stadia, Wii U, Xbox 360, Playstation Vita, Windows Phone, Playstation 3, Macintosh Operating System, Classic Mac OS)
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Terraria is an action-based side-scrolling survival game where you survive the monsters of the night by building castles and becoming wealthy. The wealthier and more resourceful you get the more NPC’s you get, you can collect them all!
Terraria is an awesome single-player and multiplayer 2011 PEGI 12 game developed by Re-Logic, 505 Mobile S.r.l, DR Studios, Pipeworks Studio, Codeglue, Engine Software and published by Re-Logic, 505 Mobile S.r.l, Spike Chunsoft, Heasup Games, 505 Games and Merge Games.
Reviewers on Steam state that Terraria is a game you can play over and over again and still find new things in the game.
Steam rating: https://store.steampowered.com/app/105600/Terraria/
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