Simcity is a beloved city-building simulation game that has captivated players for decades. However, if you’re a fan of the genre and looking for more games like Simcity to expand your city-building horizons, you’re in luck.
In this article, we will explore 20 similar city building games that offer unique experiences and challenges. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the genre, there’s bound to be a game on this list that will satisfy your city-building cravings.
Cities: Skylines
Cities: Skylines is often hailed as the modern-day successor to Sim City. This game allows you to create and manage your own sprawling metropolis with intricate detail. From road construction to zoning regulations, every decision you make will impact the growth and well-being of your city.
With a robust modding community and endless possibilities, Cities: Skylines is a must-play for any Sim City fan.
One of the standout features of Cities: Skylines is its realistic simulation of urban planning. Unlike other city-building games, Cities: Skylines takes into account factors such as traffic flow, population density, and resource management. This attention to detail makes the game a true test of strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
When it comes to road construction, Cities: Skylines offers a wide range of options. You can design intricate road networks, complete with highways, roundabouts, and intersections. The game even allows you to customize the placement of bus stops and tram lines, ensuring efficient public transportation for your citizens.
Whether you’re a seasoned city-building veteran or a newcomer to the genre, Cities: Skylines offers a rewarding and immersive experience.
Anno 1800
If you’re looking for a city-building game with a historical twist, look no further than Anno 1800. Set in the 19th century, this game lets you build and manage your own industrial empire. From trading goods to navigating political landscapes, Anno 1800 offers a unique blend of city-building and strategy gameplay. Immerse yourself in the industrial revolution and see if you have what it takes to build a thriving city in this challenging game.
Step into the shoes of a 19th-century city planner and embark on a journey through time. Anno 1800 takes you back to an era of rapid industrialization, where steam engines and factories revolutionized the world.
As you dive into the game, you’ll be greeted with a stunningly detailed world, complete with bustling streets, towering buildings, and intricate infrastructure.
But building a city is not just about placing structures and watching them grow. In Anno 1800, you’ll need to carefully manage resources and make strategic decisions to ensure the prosperity of your city. From mining coal and iron to harvesting crops and manufacturing goods, every aspect of your city’s economy is in your hands.
With its stunning visuals, deep gameplay mechanics, and historical accuracy, Anno 1800 offers an unparalleled city-building experience.
Tropico Series
The Tropico series puts you in the shoes of a charismatic dictator ruling over a tropical island paradise. With a delightful blend of city-building, political maneuvering, and witty humor, these games offer a refreshing take on the genre.
Imagine yourself as El Presidente, the beloved leader of a vibrant and thriving island nation. As you step into the shoes of this charismatic dictator, you are tasked with building and managing your own utopia. The lush tropical landscape stretches out before you, offering endless possibilities for development and growth.
But being a dictator is not just about constructing beautiful cities and basking in the glory of power. You must also navigate the complex world of politics, making shrewd decisions to maintain your position of authority. Elections loom on the horizon, and it is up to you to ensure that they go smoothly and in your favor.
Resource management is another crucial aspect of the Tropico series. As El Presidente, you must carefully allocate resources to meet the needs of your people while also fueling the growth of your nation.
With its immersive gameplay, engaging storyline, and vibrant tropical setting, the Tropico series offers a unique and captivating experience for players.
Banished
Banished takes a different approach to city-building, focusing on survival and resource management in a harsh wilderness setting. In this game, you must guide a group of outcast settlers as they build a new community from scratch. With limited resources and unforgiving conditions, every decision counts in your quest for survival. Test your strategic skills and see if you can lead your people to prosperity in this challenging and addictive game.
In Banished, you are not just a mere city planner, but a true leader. Your settlers have been banished from their previous homes and are now relying on you to provide them with a new place to call home. As you start the game, you are presented with a vast, untamed wilderness, waiting to be transformed into a thriving community.
The first challenge you’ll face is finding a suitable location for your settlement. You’ll need to consider factors such as proximity to natural resources like water and forests, as well as the availability of fertile land for farming. Once you’ve chosen the perfect spot, it’s time to start building.
But building a community from scratch is no easy task. You’ll need to construct various buildings to meet the needs of your settlers. From houses to provide shelter, to farms to grow food, to workshops to produce tools and clothing, each structure plays a crucial role in the survival and growth of your settlement.
Banished is not just a game about building cities; it’s a game about resilience, adaptability, and the human spirit. It challenges you to think strategically, make tough decisions, and overcome adversity. So, gather your courage, sharpen your wits, and embark on a journey to build the ultimate wilderness settlement in Banished.
Citystate
Citystate is a minimalist city-building game that offers a unique take on the genre. In this game, you must balance various aspects of your city, including economy, environment, and politics. With its simple yet deep gameplay mechanics, Citystate challenges players to think strategically and make tough decisions that will shape the destiny of their city. If you’re looking for a fresh take on city-building, Citystate is definitely worth a try.
The Settlers Series
The Settlers series has been a staple in the city-building genre for decades. With its charming graphics and addictive gameplay, these games allow players to create and manage their own medieval settlements.
From resource gathering to military conquest, The Settlers series offers a rich and immersive experience. Dive into the world of knights and castles and see if you have what it takes to build a thriving medieval kingdom.
Surviving Mars
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to colonize the Red Planet, Surviving Mars is the game for you. In this city-building simulation, you must establish a self-sustaining colony on Mars.
From managing oxygen and water supplies to researching new technologies, every decision you make will impact the survival of your colonists.
Surviving Mars offers a unique blend of city-building and survival gameplay, providing a thrilling and challenging experience for players.
Planetbase
Planetbase takes the city-building genre to new frontiers by placing you in charge of a colony on an alien planet. In this game, you must carefully manage resources, build structures, and ensure the well-being of your colonists.
From asteroid impacts to alien attacks, Planetbase offers a challenging and immersive city-building experience that will keep you hooked for hours.
SimCity Societies
If you’re a fan of Sim City, you can’t miss out on SimCity Societies. This game offers a fresh take on the franchise by focusing on the social and cultural aspects of city-building.
From creating a utopian society to embracing a dystopian future, SimCity Societies allows players to shape the personality of their city like never before.
Explore the different societal paths and see how your choices impact the development of your city in this innovative game.
Aven Colony
Travel to another planet and build a futuristic city in Aven Colony. This game challenges players to create a thriving colony on an alien planet, facing challenges such as extreme weather conditions and hostile alien creatures.
From managing resources to exploring the unknown, Aven Colony offers a unique and immersive city-building experience that will keep you engaged for hours on end.
Tycoon City: New York
Tycoon City: New York takes players to the bustling streets of the Big Apple. As the mayor, you have the power to shape the city’s skyline and create a thriving metropolis. Build iconic landmarks, attract tourists, and manage your budget to keep the city running smoothly. With its realistic graphics and challenging gameplay, Tycoon City: New York offers a refreshing take on the city building genre.
But that’s not all! If you’re craving more city building adventures, keep reading to discover other amazing games that will keep you entertained for hours on end.
City building games have always been a popular genre among gamers. The thrill of constructing and managing your own virtual city is unmatched. Tycoon City: New York takes this experience to a whole new level by immersing players in the vibrant and dynamic environment of New York City.
Imagine being able to build your own version of Times Square, complete with its iconic billboards and bustling crowds. You can design and construct the Empire State Building, making it a symbol of your city’s progress and success. The possibilities are endless, and the sense of achievement you’ll feel when you see your cityscape come to life is truly exhilarating.
Whether you choose to explore the streets of New York in Tycoon City: New York or venture into other city building games, one thing is certain – you’ll never run out of things to do.
Caesar III
Step back in time and become a mighty Roman emperor in Caesar III. This classic city building game allows you to oversee the construction of ancient Roman cities. From building temples to organizing trade routes, you’ll have your hands full as you strive to create a prosperous empire.
Immerse yourself in the rich and vibrant world of ancient Rome as you navigate the challenges and complexities of city planning. As the ruler, you’ll face a range of decisions, from managing limited resources to maintaining the happiness and well-being of your citizens. Will you focus on expanding your military might or prioritize cultural advancements? The choice is yours.
Experience the thrill of watching your city come to life as you witness the hustle and bustle of daily Roman life. From bustling marketplaces to magnificent amphitheaters, every aspect of your city will reflect your leadership and vision. Marvel at the intricately designed buildings and marvel at the attention to detail that brings ancient Rome to life.
As you progress through the game, you’ll face various challenges and obstacles that will test your strategic thinking and decision-making skills. From natural disasters to political unrest, you’ll need to adapt and overcome these hurdles to ensure the survival and success of your empire.
Pharaoh + Cleopatra
If ancient Egypt fascinates you, then Pharaoh + Cleopatra is the perfect game for you. As the Pharaoh, you’ll build majestic pyramids, manage the economy, and navigate the complexities of ancient Egyptian society. With its rich historical setting and immersive gameplay, Pharaoh + Cleopatra will transport you back in time to the land of the pharaohs.
Step into the shoes of a mighty Pharaoh and embark on a grand journey through the ancient world. Immerse yourself in the vibrant and bustling streets of ancient Egyptian cities, where merchants barter for goods and artisans create exquisite works of art.
As you delve deeper into the game, you’ll encounter the various challenges faced by the Pharaohs of old. From managing scarce resources to dealing with political intrigues, you’ll need to make wise decisions to ensure the prosperity and stability of your kingdom. Command your loyal subjects and lead them to greatness, as you strive to leave a lasting legacy that will be remembered for millennia to come.
So whether you’re a history buff yearning to rule over ancient Egypt as a Pharaoh or a visionary urban planner eager to create the city of your dreams, Pharaoh + Cleopatra and other city building games await you.
Zeus: Master of Olympus
Do you have what it takes to be a god? In Zeus: Master of Olympus, you’ll assume the role of a Greek god and build magnificent cities.
From managing resources to appeasing the gods, every decision you make will shape the destiny of your city.
With its mythological twist and strategic gameplay, Zeus: Master of Olympus offers a unique city building experience.
Lethis – Path of Progress
If you’re a fan of steampunk aesthetics, then Lethis – Path of Progress is the game for you. Set in a Victorian-inspired world, Lethis offers a fresh take on city building.
Construct breathtaking structures, manage resources, and satisfy the needs of your citizens. With its charming visuals and addictive gameplay, Lethis – Path of Progress will keep you entertained for hours.
Ostriv
Experience the joys and challenges of building a city from scratch in Ostriv. This indie gem combines realistic graphics with complex mechanics to deliver a truly immersive city building experience.
From managing the economy to planning efficient road networks, you’ll have to think strategically to create a thriving city. Ostriv is a hidden gem that shouldn’t be missed by any city building enthusiast.
TheoTown
TheoTown offers a pixelated twist on the city building genre. Build and customize your city to your heart’s content, and watch as it comes to life. With its charming graphics and extensive modding community,
TheoTown offers endless possibilities and hours of fun. Whether you’re a casual player or a seasoned city builder, TheoTown has something for everyone.
Foundation
If you’re a fan of medieval cities, then Foundation is the game for you. Build and manage your own medieval settlement in this immersive city building game.
From constructing grand castles to tending to the needs of your citizens, every decision you make will impact the success of your city.
With its beautiful graphics and deep gameplay mechanics, Foundation is a must-play for any city building enthusiast.
Rise of Industry
Rise of Industry combines city building with economic simulation to create a unique gaming experience.
As an entrepreneur in the early 20th century, you’ll build and manage industrial complexes, optimize production chains, and keep an eye on market trends.
With its intricate gameplay and complex mechanics, Rise of Industry will put your business skills to the test.
Megaquarium
If you’re fascinated by marine life, then Megaquarium is the game for you. Build and manage your own aquarium in this delightful city building game. From designing exhibits to caring for exotic creatures, you’ll have a whale of a time as you create the ultimate aquatic paradise. With its charming visuals and addictive gameplay, Megaquarium is a must-play for fans of the genre.
Conclusion
And there you have it! 20 fantastic city building games that are similar to Sim City. Whether you’re a fan of ancient civilizations or futuristic metropolises, there’s something on this list for everyone. So go ahead and dive into the world of city building and create the city of your dreams.
