In the mood to do some conquering and commanding? Then look no further than these 10 games!
In the mood to do some conquering and commanding? Then look no further than these 10 games!
If you’re looking for games with little to no story but lots of strategy and building, then the City & Settlement is the genre for you. Whether you want to build a zoo, factories run by beavers, or just a regular city there’s a good chance a game for your niche exists. We’ve compiled a list of the greats, some classics, and some pushing the boundaries of the genre.
Very Positive (92%) | Single Player | $29.99
Frost Punk is a post-apocalyptic city-builder with a realist art style.
The world is experiencing apocalyptic cooling and you are in charge of a town whose only heat source comes from a generator in the middle of the city. You’re tasked with maintaining citizen’s happiness while making sacrifices to ensure they survive.
Not only does the game allow you to make important decisions and sanction laws, but you’re also given the ability to research new technology and explore the world for resources and survivors.
With the September 20th release of Frost Punk 2 on Steam, there’s no better time to play the series’ first installment.
“A great escape from the real world issues, solving a fake world's issues” D.Owls on Steam.
You can buy Frost Punk on Steam here.
Overwhelmingly Positive (95%) | Single Player | $24.99
Ever wondered what would happen if humans had been killed off by droughts leaving beavers to take over the world? Well, there’s no need to wonder anymore because the city-builder Timberborn answers that question.
In this post-apocalyptic voxel-style game you’re given the option of choosing between two beaver factions, the Folktales or the Iron Teeth, one environmentally friendly and one not.
With building, crafting, resource collecting, robot beavers, days and nights, map editing, and citizens’ well-being, there’s plenty to keep you busy.
“Led here by Real Civil Engineer on YT, stayed for the beaver shenanigans. A very solid and enjoyable city builder that changes up the mold in a good way. Highly recommend” Sketch on Steam.
You can buy Timberborn on Steam here.
Overwhelmingly Positive (97%) | Single Player | $34.99
Are you looking for something more on the Sci-Fi side?
Inspired by Dune, Dwarf Fortress, and Firefly, RimWorld’s story generates as you play. Random events are tossed at you by three different AI Storytellers, each providing a different kind of gameplay.
This survival city and settlement game includes features like a freshly generated world at the start, tameable and trainable animals, relationships between your settlers, different types of settlers, and more.
“This is the game you can keep coming back to. Good DLC and hundreds of mods give it lots of replayability.” 7rex on Steam.
You can buy RimWorld on Steam here.
Overwhelmingly Positive (95%) | Single Player/Co-Op | $24.99
Playing as a possessed lamb saved from death by an anonymous stranger, you must repay that stranger by beginning a cult in his name. To succeed in the game you have to defeat rival cult leaders, build a thriving base, go on quests, and keep a close eye on your followers.
This game features a Twitch integration option allowing Twitch streamers to interact with their chat through the game.
“A top-tier example of what a roguelike can be when combined with a colony sim, Cult of the Lamb is pure addiction.” 9/10 n Steam.
You can buy Cult of the Lamb on Steam here.
Very Positive (93%) | Single Player | $29.99
If you’re here for a classic city and settlement-style game, Cities: Skylines is the game for you.
With no storyline, you’re free to focus on building and running the city of your dreams.
The game also has modern features like simulated city gameplay, traffic simulation, districts and policies, day and night cycles, and modding support.
“Through deep and rewarding gameplay, Colossal Order’s new simulation fills the increasingly noticeable void in the genre. Where others have failed, Cities: Skyline excels and delivers the new gold standard of modern city-builders.” 8.8/10 – n Steam.
You can buy Cities: Skylines on Steam here.
Very Positive (87%) | Single Player | $39.99
In more of a medieval mood?
With art and architecture inspired by the late 14th-century Franconia, Manor Lords is a strategy game where you live as a medieval lord.
Through simulated community and economic situations, seasons, weather, battles, and building, this city and settlement game allows you to build your empire from the ground up.
“Manor Lords is a gorgeous city builder with Total War-style battle." n Steam.
Manor Lords is available for purchase on Steam here.
Overwhelmingly Positive (96%) | Single Player | $24.99
Oxygen Not Included is a bit of a break away from what you’d typically expect from the city and settlement game genre.
With a colorful hand-drawn cartoon art style, this space colony simulation game takes place deep inside an alien rock. You have to guide your colonists to build bases, maintain sanity, regulate the temperature, create pipe systems, establish a power grid, explore, and more.
“Best base-building game I've ever played. The depth of the physics is insane, like PhD in engineering-level depth…” yosoyellogan on Steam.
You can buy Oxygen Not Included on Steam here.
Very Positive (82%) | Single Player | $59.99
Moving into the industrial age, Anno 1800 is a 19th-century city builder set during the Industrial Revolution.
In this game, you expand your empire from Europe to the Americas while navigating the political and technological landscape of the 1800s. With three different game modes, including story mode, sandbox mode, and multiplayer mode, you can play again and again.
Establish trade routes, defeat opponents, build factories, send crews on global expeditions, and attain fame and fortune to win.
Anno 1800 is part of the Anno franchise, a series of city-building games set in different places and times.
“I love this game its adventurous full of building and a certain realism of sorts to be even and adequately equipped across the whole board of the game.” makie2957 on Steam.
Anno 1800 can be purchased on Steam here.
Very Positive (90%) | Single Player | $44.99
Feeling a bit nostalgic for Zoo Tycoon but looking for better graphics?
From the developers of Zoo Tycoon, Planet Zoo is a bigger and better zoo builder. With two game modes, habitats tailored to each animal, 19 available DLCs, multiple themes, and land customization, the only limit is your creativity.
The animals’ lives and visitors’ experience relies on the choices you make and the research you conduct.
“The graphics are beautifully done and the architecture aspect is one of my favorites, especially with what can be done. I'm enjoying raising a zoo that seems more in-depth than other zoo games I've seen.” WhisperRavine on Steam.
Planet Zoo is available for purchase on Steam here.
Single Player | $8.99
As a bonus game for this list, Town Keeper, released in the fall, is a bunny city builder.
With a cute pixel art style and only bunny residents, you must grow your town while training a bunny army to ward off bunny attackers. Or if you prefer, you can keep the game in peaceful mode.
“I finish one round, I feel like the king of the world. Thanks to the dev for this cute little game. I'll keep playing more.” Tuangd on Steam.
You can purchase Town Keeper on Steam here.
No matter which game you choose, you’re definitely going to have a great time figuring out the logistics and tasks of your chosen story. Let us know if we missed any in the comments below.
