Building games give us the opportunity to explore the unique creativity that lives within all of us. They give us a chance to express ourselves in a very unique way. It’s almost like freedom.
Often in everyday life, we aren’t given the opportunity to express our inner creativity. Whether you’re in school or at work, most tasks don’t require creativity. They require functional analysis, or systematic problem solving. But life requires creativity.
That’s where these video games come into play. They offer us a unique way to fully embrace the creativity within us all, and build something to be proud of. To do something your way, and have no one else tell you how to do it. Something to show off to your friends.
Throughout this list, I’ve provided you with 25 different building games, each with their own building style. I hope you find a few games that allow you to truly embrace the freedom of creativity. Go wild.
25. Oxygen Not Included
PC
Oxygen Not Included is a building/survival game that’s centered around space, and mining. The survival aspect of the game being that oxygen and comfortable warmth are becoming scarce commodities. Your only solution is to expand and build.
Use the resources that you collect as you explore asteroids, to hollow out a section of the asteroid, and build your colony. Build your base your way, and command it however you see fit. But you better build it fast, because each breath you take means that you’re that much closer to your untimely demise.
It’s not as simple as just building a base, you have to always watch the temperature, so that you don’t melt, or freeze to death. You have to keep the crew happy, so that they don’t start a riot. You have to keep yourself entertained too, by enjoying the countless activities available to you around your base.
Learn to explore your creativity, while also learning how to preserve and improve a functioning environment. This is where creativity and strategy come together.
Oxygen Not Included gameplay
24. Kenshi
PC
A world covered in sand. Does the desert ever end? It seems like sunburns and scorching heat are just about the only thing available for miles. That is until you realise that it gets much worse.
Kenshi is a survival game set in a harsh environment. A slave world full of evil humans, and rabid creatures. The only way to survive is to build your power.
Build up your loyal army on your journey to power, and ensure that you all have a safe space to live in. Buy and upgrade buildings however you see fit. Turn them into your safe haven by arming them with defenses.
Kenshi is an equal opportunity game. You’re not a god, you have no special powers. You’re just like everyone else. If you hope to make it big in the world, you better be prepared to work for it. Build up your power, your army, and your base, piece at a time.
Kenshi gameplay
23. Project Zomboid
PC
Welcome back to another classic version of the end of the world. The apocalypse is upon us, and for all you know, you’re the only survivor. But that can change very quickly.
Project Zomboid is a strategy based zombie game that runs on multiple levels. You must be capable of being incredibly stealthy, as zombies will be travelling in massive herds, and it only takes one to ruin your run.
Just like any classic zombie game, you need to loot abandoned settlements, and collect any food and weapons that you possibly can.
But unique to Project Zomboid, is its building system. You get to build your base however you see fit. Build it in a way that you know will ensure your survival, while also adding a bit of class.
You can surround yourself with sturdy wooden walls, build it multiple floors high so that you don’t need to worry about the hungry zombies, you can decorate your base with your favourite collectibles, etc. Explore opportunities your way.
Project Zomboid gameplay
22. Against the Storm
PC, XBOX
In Against the Storm, your only job is to rebuild the world. That’s right, it’s not like most building games where you only focus on one house, or one community. This time, you have a lot more responsibility.
The world as you knew it was destroyed. In the process, civilization left behind riches, ready to be claimed by the brave and adventurous.
You’re a leader sent by the Scorched Queen to take advantage of the big wide world around you. Each settlement you build allows your people to be that much more prosperous.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. You’re in charge here. Much can go wrong, but much can also go right. It’s the only way to learn. Learn what works and what doesn’t, as you face the consequences of your mistakes, and embrace the fortunes of your successful experiments.
Against the Storm gameplay
21. Enshrouded
PC
Another classic tale of having to correct the mistakes that your ancestors left behind. In their greed, they unleashed a mighty pestilence unto this world. You must be the cure.
Enshrouded is a survival game with an extensive combat system. You must use unique and powerful weapons to slaughter the corrupted beings that plague this world. There will be epic boss fights where you barely walk out alive. It’s a constant thrill.
However, slaughtering monsters isn’t the only way to cure these lands. By creating awesome buildings, you’re showing the world that creativity, goodness, and spirit is not lost from this world.
Building is not only a sign of your unwillingness to abide by the rules. It’s also a great way to get ahead in the game. As you build your towering house, NPCs will move in completely at your expense, and will refuse to pay rent. However, having them at your disposal will unlock advanced workshops, and the ability to craft even greater weapons and gear.
Enshrouded gameplay
20. Medieval Dynasty
PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX
Medieval Dynasty takes you back. To a time before civilization as we currently know it existed. You’re in the early days of society. It’s time for you to build the future.
In medieval Dynasty, you’re the leader of a growing town. A town with a community of people who all work together to ensure the future of society. Your most important job is to protect what’s yours, and teach your son how to take over once you’re gone.
The building mechanics in this game allow you to build structures that you would expect to see way back in the day, while also adding a bit of personal creativity.
You get the freedom to build your village your way, while also following the medieval theme.
Medieval Dynasty gameplay
19. Jurassic World Evolution 2
PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX
The Jurassic Park/World franchise is the most popular dinosaur movie franchise available. No one has ever created what they have. Now it’s your turn to create the park.
Even though this has never once gone well in the movies, it’s your turn to repeat the obvious mistakes of humanity, and attempt to play god, while profiting from each ticket. Build your park, and thrive until you get sued by the parents whose kid is being digested by a velociraptor.
Since there’s no hope of leaving the survival or extinction of dinosaurs to mother nature, you might as well profit off of them. Your job is to build sanctuaries that both keep the dinosaurs contained, but also give the dinosaurs a healthy life.
Build a giant underwater viewing area, and set your mosasaur to roam free, and dominate the food chain. Build a massive bird exhibit. Build a petting zoo (because that can only go well). Build a place where herbivores can roam free. And a place where carnivores can hunt as they wish.
Just make sure that you contain everything to the best of your abilities. Jurassic Park really can’t take any more lawsuits.
Jurassic World Evolution 2 gameplay
18. My Time at Sandrock
PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, XBOX
The apocalypse happened, but don’t worry. It was long ago, and the most difficult part is behind us. But even after 330 years, there’s work to be done.
Welcome to Sandrock, where you’ve just agreed to become the town’s trusty builder. With your help, the community can thrive, and transform into a growing economy.
Everyone placed their faith in you to transform this ruddy old town, back into its former glory. I hope you have what it takes, because the future is riding on this.
Gather resources, and grab your mighty hammer. It’s time to thrive. Use your resources and tools to create luxurious houses, beautiful work stations, farm land, animal pens, and anything else that a powerful economy needs.
My Time at Sandrock gameplay
17. Conan Exiles
PC, PS4, XBOX
If you enjoyed the movie: Conan The Barbarian, then you’ll probably enjoy this game.
After being saved by Conan himself, you must learn how to survive. Clashing swords and waging war against enemies is one way to ensure your survival, but nothing compares to the power you can wield across these lands if you own the greatest and most heavily defended base.
As you can see in the image above, there’s a lot of possibility to build some insane looking buildings, and run with your heart's creativity. But you’ll have to be tactical about it, as beauty without defense means nothing.
There are many different unique ways to strategically defend your structures. Run with the wind, build your empire, and enjoy a good night sleep in a fortress that you know you and your riches are safe in.
Conan Exiles trailer
16. Space Engineers
PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX
With a title like “Space Engineers”, it’s pretty obvious how this game will be played out. Imagine life as we know it today, but with the ability to travel to mars for a vacation, and visit Jupiter on your honeymoon.
Interstellar travel is easier than ever, and your job is to keep pushing the limits of technology forward. There are no more politics and petty disagreements slowing down the human race. Now it’s just work, work, work.
Build an unimaginable future from your wildest dreams. Play with incredibly advanced technology, and do whatever you want with it. Defend it with your life, and improve it with your every breath. Your life is designated to the mission. There’s no going back now.
Space Engineers gameplay
15. Necesse
PC
Necesse is a two dimensional building/survival game that’ll test your ability to think on your feet, your ability to be creative, and your computer's ability to process absurd boss fights.
Your goal in Necesse is to explore, and build up your power/arsenal as you go. Gathering materials and looting whatever you can, is your key to unlocking your true potential. With a massive list of items available, there are countless playing styles awaiting you.
Necesse also heavily relies on building. For a two dimensional game, the building aspect of the game is pretty solid. If you look at the picture above, you can see that there’s a lot of furniture for you to play around with, and a really cool design on the wooden planks for you to mess around with. Have at it.
Necesse gameplay
14. ASTRONEER
PC, PS4, Switch, XBOX
Power, freedom, and independence has never before been this amazing. Find yourself stranded on an entirely abandoned planet, and enjoy.
The entire world is your canvas. A canvas to sculpt and renovate as you see fit. Become the pioneer and the visionary of your own world. Build it to ensure that it’s safe for you and the future.
Work towards creating advanced technology, so that you can reconnect with your friends who you were separated from when your ship went down.
Create rocket ships to travel to other planets, and regroup with your people.
Build dune buggies and jump pads, and race around the planet in style as you search for more resources to collect. Enjoy the benefits of varying gravity, etc. Like I said, the world is your canvas.
ASTRONEER gameplay
13. Coral Island
PC, PS5, XBOX
Your life as a big city dweller is over. You’re part of a smaller, and much more humble community now.
As a proud member of Coral Island, you’re proud to build farms and contribute to the growth and well being of your close neighbours. It’s a peaceful place with no heavy machinery to wake you up in the morning, and no chaos going rampant on the streets.
No, this isn’t the big city. This is the life. Be whoever you want to be, and never look back.
Your only goal is to build a thriving farm that allows you to be self-sufficient, and independent. Constantly improve your farm, and use what you have to build the life of your dreams.
While you’re at it, you might as well go fishing, and take some diving lessons so that you can deep dive into the mysterious ocean, accompanied by mermaids. You might even find that special someone while you’re at it.
Coral Island gameplay
12. Satisfactory
PC
Satisfactory is an incredibly expansive building game that takes a lot of strategy. The perfect game for people with OCD.
It’s a game about automation and systems. Everything works in sync to create your vision.
Your job is to travel to foreign planets, and build factories that gut the planet's resources, and make you rich. To make this happen, you get access to futuristic and advanced technology.
Use technology to create towering factories that claim the planet's resources for you while you sit back and enjoy a cold one with your friends. Don’t worry though, it’s not just a bunch of boring technical mumbo jumbo. Style is very important when building a shiny new factory.
Satisfactory gameplay
11. Sons Of The Forest
PC
Sons of the Forest is the sequel to the hit game: The Forest. Both games are absolutely incredible, and follow a horrifying, yet incredibly entertaining story.
Sons of the Forest is an open world adventure/survival/horror game. Everything from the sounds, to the building potential, to the details included in the game design, is nearly perfect.
As you go through the game, cannibals, monsters, and mutants will roam the lands more frequently. It’ll be incredibly common to see a freaky pink mutant with four legs and no face, waltzing around your backyard.
The only way to ensure your survival is to build a house that nothing could possibly get into except you (and your friends).
Sons of the Forest really makes you work for your house though. It’s a long and rewarding journey that makes you feel like you’re working towards something big.
Look at the image above. Each and every single log that makes up that house was placed by hand. The process goes like this: you chop down multiple trees, carry each log over a few at a time, place each and every single log down where it goes, and repeat the process until you’re done.
It’s a long and rewarding process. The possibilities are endless, and there are no limits to what you can build in this game, but you’ll have to earn it.
Sons Of The Forest trailer
10. Raft
PC, Switch
Raft is an incredible game for anyone who’s fascinated by a good mystery. Anyone who wants to unlock the secrets of the ocean.
When you spawn in, you have nothing but a tiny little raft, floating in the middle of the vast ocean. All you have is a little plastic hook that you can use to gather floating materials as you pass by them.
Throughout a long and grueling journey, you’ll be able to grow from a man on a tiny slab of wood, to the owner of a thriving empire that leads the search for the secrets of the ocean.
Building is the key to survival in this game. From the moment you spawn, you’re building. Starting by upgrading your raft, and ending once you’ve successfully built a thriving economy. It’s the only way.
Raft trailer
9. Factorio
PC, Switch
Welcome to Conveyer Belt Heaven, or Hell, depending on your computer’s processing abilities.
You’ve just found yourself stranded on a foreign and resource rich planet. Your only way to survive is to use your knowledge of advanced technology that you learned as an engineer, and automate production.
Start by manually mining resources, until you have enough to set up your first automated system. Such as an automatic coal miner, to power your set up.
The more you automate, the less you have to do. But it’s going to take hard work to get there. You’ll need to strip the world of its resources, and create complex systems that all work in harmony towards one goal. Ensuring your survival.
You’ll build complex railroad systems for transporting goods, you’ll create conveyor belts that transport materials to their designated locations, etc.
However, you’re not alone. You’ve just invaded the home of countless creatures on this planet, and have started destroying their ecosystem. They’re not going to take kindly to that.
But hey, this is your planet now. You’re going to slaughter them all as they attempt to destroy what you’ve created. It’s just the new way of the world.
Factorio trailer
8. Valheim
PC, XBOX
Valheim is based around Norse Mythology. The same mythology that gave us Thor, Odin, Loki, etc. It’s time to become worthy to the gods.
Gear up and join in battle with the toughest of soldiers and Vikings around. Gear up with swords that strike fear in the hearts of your enemies, and armour that reflects both your power, and your massive wealth.
Of course, with this much power and wealth at your disposal, you need a place to keep it. You also need a workshop so that you can keep upgrading your stuff.
While you’re at it, you might as well build a big community for you and your fellow soldiers to thrive in.
Explore a unique building system that’s themed after gods and Vikings. Build to your heart’s content, and create an empire that specializes in only one thing. Deciding who lives, and who dies.
Valheim trailer
7. Green Hell
PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, XBOX
In the jungle, the mighty jungle, who sleeps here? Who knows? For copyright sake, we’ll move on.
What would you do if you got stranded in the jungle? A place infested with the worst of the worst creatures. From deadly snakes, to crocodiles, to parasites, to deadly conditions, etc. There’s only one thing you can do. Adapt and survive.
Use real life techniques to survive. This is the perfect training grounds for if you’re planning a personal vacation to the amazon jungle.
You start with no food and no equipment, and you’re left there to survive, or die trying. Gather common materials, and forge them into weapons that will help you stay alive.
Chop down some trees, and build yourself a home base, where you can be protected from harsh weather conditions, and the creatures that lurk about.
Follow the theme of the jungle, and build to your heart's content. Using primitive materials to build secure buildings.
Green Hell gameplay
6. 7 Days to Die
PC, PlayStation, XBOX
Welcome back to another version of the zombie apocalypse. But this time, there’s a twist.
As the title implies, after seven days, you will probably die. Just like any zombie game, your goal is to loot the abandoned world, look for food and weaponry, locate other survivors, and fortify yourself wherever you can.
It’s a hardcore game, meaning that when you die, you start over. So you better last for as long as you can. Every seven days, a massive wave of zombies attempt to take your life, and enjoy your flesh for dinner.
Building is incredibly important, because if you can’t fortify your location, you are as sure as dead. There are countless possibilities for making creative defense systems that do most of the work for you. Barricade the windows, lay out spikes around your base, strategically craft your survival.
Style isn’t really your main focus, but if you really want to live in luxury, have at it. Just know that it might mean the difference between living and dying.
7 Days to Die trailer
5. Minecraft
PC, XBOX, Switch, IOS, Android, PS4
There’s a reason that Minecraft is the highest selling game in the world even after all these years. It’s because it just gets everything right.
Minecraft is a building/survival game that plays both roles perfectly. In minecraft, you get the choice to play either survival mode, or creative mode. But no matter what mode you play, building plays an essential role, and the possibilities for creativity are endless.
Sure you could just hop onto a survival world, build a dirt house, slap a crafting table in there, and call it a day. But there’s no fun in that.
Minecraft has a MASSIVE variety of building blocks to choose from. There’s a colour and a texture for every occasion. You can build practically anything you could possibly imagine in minecraft. Consider the game to be a blank canvas for your creative vision.
A Historical Minecraft Build Challenge
4. ARK: Survival Evolved
PC, PS4, XBOX, Switch
Welcome back to the Jurassic era. The world is flooded with dinosaurs. Some friendly, some hungry. You’re at the bottom of the food chain, what will you do?
There’s only one option. Rise up. Use your intelligence and creativity to become the dominant species. Kill T-Rex’s and display their head on your trophy mount. Build up your arsenal with guns, swords, futuristic technology, and tamable dinosaurs.
The game offers so much adventure, from massive worlds with dangerous biomes, to artifact caves for you to fight through and conquer, to deep oceans, and high skies, all ready for you to explore.
There’s also a very extensive building system ready for you. You can build incredibly impressive buildings, with your choice of materials. You can build out of thatch (basically straw), wood, stone, metal, or tech. Depending on your point in the game, and willingness to spend time gathering thousands of materials.
Build yourself a cool house that has room for all of your heavy machinery that you use to craft everything. Build a war room for you and your friends to plan an attack on a rival tribe. Build a massive breeding room for your T-Rex’s, etc. The possibilities are endless.
It’s an incredibly lengthy journey, so while you’re working your way to the top of the food chain, you might as well get comfortable and build a base to be proud of.
ARK: Survival Evolved trailer
3. RimWorld
PC, PS4, XBOX
Welcome back to another classic story, revolving around a dysfunctional group of friends. After crash landing on a foreign planet, you’re forced to figure out how to survive with the worst castaways in the universe.
Following a story that’s directed by an AI storyteller, you must learn how to cooperate under the worst of conditions. Learn how to survive pirate invasions, massive hunger, tornado attacks, cheating spouses, laying down on the job, an unhealthy marriage, and more. Yes, it’s kinda weird. Anything for content.
Your primary objective is to survive. To do this, you must learn what the planet has to offer. Cut down the forest, loot the precious metals from their cave homes, venture over to distant biomes.
Craft weapons and structures from the materials you collect along the way. Do whatever it takes to survive in the most quirky of ways.
You’ll build up your base, and it’ll get invaded. You’ll build up again, and it’ll get destroyed by a tornado. You’ll build it up again, and your wife will cheat on you. Not sure how this destroyed the village, but nevertheless. Start again, and always learn from your mistakes, until your home base is flawless.
It’s just a fun and quirky story based adventure game that's bound to make you crack a smile while in the face of death.
RimWorld gameplay
2. Stardew Valley
PC, PS4, Switch, XBOX
Have you ever dreamed of becoming an independent farmer? A farmer that can do whatever you want, whenever you want, with enough power and resources to set up your family for generations? If so, this is the game for you.
Stardew Valley is a long and relaxing journey that revolves around freedom. Even from the very beginning, when you have nothing, you’re free. Free to do whatever you could possibly want.
Build a massive farm civilization, and enjoy days harvesting crops, making sure your pets and animals are loved and fed, checking in on your neighbours, processing the materials, etc.
Build cool designs, such as you’ll see in the image above. Build beautiful stone pathways that lead from your beautiful red barn, to your beautiful greenhouse, to your farm animal sanctuary, to whatever you could possibly want. There are no limits to your success and creative vision.
Stardew Valley gameplay
1. Terraria
PC, XBOX, PlayStation, IOS, Android, Switch
Terraria is an incredible adventure game with so much to offer. With hundreds of items, different class systems, multiple boss fights, a long and prosperous adventure, and rich biomes.
Starting the game in normal mode with nothing but a copper short sword, your job is to explore and gut the world’s resources and constantly fight bosses to unlock the next sections of the game.
Terraria screams creativity. Not even just with the building aspect, but even with the weapon capabilities. As I mentioned, there are multiple class systems. You can choose from Melee, Ranger, Mage, or Summoner. You’ll learn your style. Each class has so many different weapons to choose from, different ways to play them, unique armour sets, and your choice of unique accessories that boost your power in different ways. There’s more than one way to slaughter Cthulhu.
The building aspect of the game also offers much creativity, and is also completely necessary. It’s completely up to you if you want to take the time to build a beautiful home like the one in the image above, or if you want to just build a little shack, but either way, you’ll need to build something. Because you’ll need space for the NPC’s to move in and sell you stuff that you don’t need, while not contributing to the rent at all.
I’d say that more than half of the NPC’s are usually useless, but it’s the other half that’s the most important. Although NPC’s can get in the way, they’re a crucial part of the game.
Enjoy the process of building them a 5 star hotel, or creating little prison cells for them in a jail. A jail that’s being overlooked by your personal mansion.
Terraria trailer
