Best City Building Games to Play in 2025
From a young age, building comes naturally. Whether it was stacking wooden blocks or snapping together colorful LEGO pieces, many of us began designing long before we could even chew solid food. That instinct to create, plan, and play never really leaves us. The below list have different best city building games that you should be play.
If you’re like many of us, that childlike love for building towns and managing systems is still going strong. Today’s city-building and construction games may be more complex, often leaning into strategy and management, but they never lose their playful core.
No matter your age or experience, building games continue to capture that pure joy of creation. If you’re looking for the best building games on PC, this list is made just for you.
Frostpunk: Console Edition
Frostpunk is unique if you want a city builder that’s emotional and high-stakes. You’re in a cold, post-apocalyptic world, and you’re managing the last city on Earth. You’re not just building; you’re trying to survive.
You’ll slide into some brutal moral decisions and have to manage on a balance of resources, laws, and citizens’ happiness. Very few games will put you under pressure of leadership like this game does.
The console edition usually comes with all of the content included in the original PC game and expansions, with controls and interface designed for the attempt to have a better experience on the PS4, Xbox One, and the Switch; the game asks the player to balance survival against hope against sacrifice, meaning every decision you make matters. If you like strategy and survival games, Frostpunk Console Edition will give you a captivating atmospheric experience on a console.
Cities: Skylines – Remastered
Cities: Skylines – Remastered is an updated version of the award-winning city-building simulation for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Released on February 15, 2023, the remaster improves upon the original experience through substantial performance upgrades, visual improvements, and a refined user interface, making it the best version available for console city citing fans.
The definitive modern city-building game just keeps getting better. Cities: Skylines – Remastered improves on its original with better performance and user experience enhancements, especially for console players.
This title is perfect if you love full control over city layout, traffic systems, taxes, and zoning. It’s a playground for creative urban designers and strategic thinkers alike.
Tropico 6 – Next Gen Edition
Tropico 6 – Next Gen Edition is a new version of the award-winning city-building simulation game developed for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Released on March 31, 2022, it uses the unique attributes of next-gen consoles to improve the already great experience for both new players and returning fans.
If city management sounds like a good time, how about running an entire country? In Tropico 6, you’ll take on the role of “El Presidente” as you build throughout archipelagos, manipulate elections, and balance international relations.
It’s a silly and satirical approach to city-building that combines humor and deep management systems.
Anno 1800 Console Edition
Anno 1800 Console Edition brings the award-winning city-building strategy game to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S as an engaging and immersive experience with functionality similar to that of PC. Anno 1800 Console Edition was released on March 16, 2023 and has been designed around all the functionality of a next-gen console, so players can enjoy smoother gameplay and better visuals.
Anno 1800 takes you back to the Industrial Age, where trade routes, technological progress, and growing city demands keep you constantly engaged.
Whether you want a structured campaign or the freedom of a sandbox mode, Anno 1800 delivers rich gameplay with historical flavor.
Against the Storm (PC)
For players wanting something a bit different, Against the Storm offers a dark fantasy setting where you build settlements across a cursed world. Unlike traditional games in the genre, this one embraces roguelike elements, giving you short-term cities that reset after each cycle.
It’s fast-paced, deeply strategic, and full of replayability.
Manor Lords
One of the most anticipated city builders of recent years, Manor Lords focuses on realism and immersion. Set in medieval times, you’ll be growing settlements that reflect natural terrain, managing resources carefully, and even handling real-time battles.
It’s an ambitious blend of builder and strategy with a loyal fanbase already forming.
The Wandering Village
This unique title lets you build on the back of a giant creature named Onbu, who wanders through a toxic world. You’ll need to manage resources and build efficiently, all while maintaining a good relationship with your living platform.
The concept is fresh and the visuals are beautifully crafted, offering something truly different in the genre.
Surviving Mars
Building a city is hard. Building one on Mars is harder. Surviving Mars challenges you to create sustainable life on the Red Planet, managing oxygen, food, shelter, and scientific research—all while dodging deadly Martian weather.
It’s perfect for players who want a hardcore survival twist in their builder.
Aven Colony
Set on a distant alien world, Aven Colony is another great sci-fi city-builder. It’s more forgiving than Surviving Mars but still gives you the thrill of managing unfamiliar terrain, unusual hazards, and alien ecosystems.
The progression system is rewarding, and the atmosphere is engaging from the start.
Civilization VI
While not strictly a city-building game, Civ VI offers a broad view of managing cities as part of an expanding empire. With deep strategic systems and historical depth, it’s a great pick for players who love long-term planning and competition.
| Game | Best For | Setting | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frostpunk | Moral decision-making & survival | Post-apocalyptic | PC, Xbox |
| Cities: Skylines Remastered | Modern city planning | Contemporary | PC, Xbox Series X |
| Tropico 6 | Humor & political management | Caribbean dictatorship | PC, Console |
| Anno 1800 | Industrial-era strategy & trade | 19th Century | Xbox, PlayStation |
| Against the Storm | Fantasy & roguelike progression | Dark fantasy | PC |
| Manor Lords | Historical realism & warfare | Medieval Europe | PC |
| The Wandering Village | Unique setting & survival mechanics | Post-apocalyptic/fantasy | PC |
| Surviving Mars | Sci-fi survival & logistics | Mars | PC, Console |
| Aven Colony | Light sci-fi builder | Alien planet | PC, Console |
| Civilization VI | Strategy & empire expansion | Global/Historical | PC, Console |
City-building games continue to evolve, blending strategy, aesthetics, and storytelling into compelling experiences. Whether you’re a meticulous planner, a survival enthusiast, or someone who enjoys watching digital citizens thrive (or revolt), there’s a perfect title waiting for you.
So pick your setting—be it a frozen wasteland, the Red Planet, or a medieval countryside—and start building your legacy today.