Top 10 Settlement Building Games for Avid Gamers

Settlement building games have soared in popularity among strategy lovers, offering a unique blend of creativity, management, and challenge. These games allow players to construct and manage their virtual communities, ensuring both their survival and prosperity. Whether set in the far reaches of space, amidst the sprawling urban landscapes, or on remote, uncharted islands, these titles promise hours of immersive gameplay. Ideal for those who relish in the art of planning and strategizing, here's a breakdown of the top 10 settlement building games for avid gamers.

Explore the Best Settlement Building Games

In the world of video games, few genres offer as much satisfaction as settlement building games. From managing resources to protecting your creation against various threats, these games test your ability to plan, strategize, and overcome challenges. Each game in this category brings something unique to the table, ensuring players of all tastes find something to enjoy. Let's embark on a journey through some of the best games that make building and managing settlements a thrilling endeavor.

List of Top Choices

• Cities: Skylines (2015)
• RimWorld (2018)
• Anno 1800 (2019)
• They Are Billions (2019)
• Dwarf Fortress (2006)
• Banished (2014)
• Oxygen Not Included (2017)
• Surviving Mars (2018)
• Townscaper (2019)
• Stellaris (2016)

Cities: Skylines (2015)

• Comprehensive city-building mechanics
• Advanced traffic simulation
• Dynamic weather system

Cities: Skylines revolutionized the city builder genre with its intricate gameplay and realistic city management features. Released in 2015, the game challenges players to create and manage a sprawling metropolis. From zoning laws and road placement to public services and taxation, every decision impacts your city's growth and character. The advanced traffic simulation pushes you to think strategically about transportation networks to avoid bottlenecks and ensure smooth transit for citizens. With a dynamic weather system and day-night cycle, Cities: Skylines offers a deeply engaging experience where every city tells its unique story.

RimWorld (2018)

• Story generator AI
• Diverse biomes
• Psychology and interaction system

If you yearn for a game that combines strategy with storytelling, RimWorld is an excellent choice. This colony sim not only places your settlers on a distant planet, it also entrusts their fate to a story generator AI, creating a unique tale of survival with each playthrough. Players must manage their colonists' needs, defend against threats, and navigate the challenges introduced by the game's diverse biomes. The psychology and interaction system adds depth, affecting colonists' moods and relationships based on their experiences and surroundings. In RimWorld, every decision can lead to impactful narratives, making this game a masterpiece of emergent storytelling.

Anno 1800 (2019)

• Historical city-building experience
• Complex production chains
• Naval and trade mechanics

Anno 1800 takes you back to the dawn of the Industrial Age, offering a mix of city-building, exploration, and strategy. This game stands out for its attention to historical detail and complex economy simulation. Players must master production chains and manage trade routes to ensure their city's prosperity. Additionally, the naval and trade mechanics introduce an element of adventure as you explore new lands and defend your fleet against rivals. With its blend of strategy, management, and historical context, Anno 1800 provides a rich and rewarding experience for fans of settlement building games.

They Are Billions (2019)

• Steampunk post-apocalyptic setting
• Real-time strategy with pause option
• Survival against massive hordes

In a world teeming with infected, They Are Billions offers a unique blend of survival, strategy, and city-building. This game sets itself apart with its steampunk post-apocalyptic theme and the ever-present threat of being overrun by billions of zombies. Players must build and fortify their base, research new technologies, and manage resources to withstand waves of infected. The inclusion of a pause option allows for strategic planning, ensuring that the game remains accessible to newcomers and challenging for veterans. They Are Billions is a thrilling testament to the survival spirit, where every moment counts.

Dwarf Fortress (2006)

• In-depth world generation
• Complex management simulation
• Dynamic storytelling elements

For those who relish in complexity and detail, Dwarf Fortress is a legendary title. Known for its steep learning curve, this game offers unparalleled depth in simulation and world generation. Players undertake the daunting task of building a fortress while managing a community of dwarves, each with unique personalities and skills. The game's dynamic storytelling elements ensure that no two playthroughs are the same, as players contend with hostile creatures, changing seasons, and the dwarves' own needs and desires. Despite its outdated graphics, Dwarf Fortress remains a cult classic, celebrated for its intricate gameplay and endless possibilities.

Banished (2014)

• Focus on city survival
• Resource management in harsh conditions
• Non-linear gameplay

Banished is a city-builder that tests your ability to survive. Set in a rugged environment, it focuses on managing a group of exiled travelers who decide to restart their lives in a new land. You have to ensure their survival by managing resources, building infrastructure, and expanding your settlement, all while facing the challenges of changing seasons and harsh weather. Unlike typical city-building games that focus on expansion and wealth, Banished emphasizes resource conservation and population management in a world that is indifferent to your survival. It's a game that rewards careful planning and provides a deeply satisfying experience to those who persevere.

Oxygen Not Included (2017)

• Underground colony simulation
• Resource management and sustainability
• Physics-based gameplay mechanics

With a unique setting and challenging gameplay, Oxygen Not Included sets you in charge of maintaining an underground asteroid base. This colony survival game combines science-fiction with survival elements, where managing your colonists' air, warmth, food, and sanity becomes a complex juggling act. The game's physics-based mechanics require you to think about gas and liquid dynamics, adding layers to the gameplay. Building a self-sustaining underground colony involves a steep learning curve, but mastering its intricacies is incredibly rewarding, making Oxygen Not Included a standout game for fans of detailed management sims.

Surviving Mars (2018)

• Space colonization theme
• Resource management for habitat construction
• Mystery narratives

Surviving Mars challenges you to establish the first colony on the Red Planet. It combines traditional city-building elements with the unique challenges of creating a sustainable life on Mars. From choosing a space agency for resources and funding to building domes and infrastructure to sustain human life, every decision has an impact on your colony's success. The game introduces "mystery" narratives that unfold as you progress, adding unexpected twists and additional objectives. With its blend of strategy, survival, and science fiction, Surviving Mars delivers a captivating experience for those intrigued by the prospect of space colonization.

Townscaper (2019)

• Creative freedom in building
• Intuitive click-and-drag interface
• No predetermined goals

For those who find joy in the art of creation, Townscaper offers a refreshing departure from the complexity of traditional settlement building games. With its intuitive click-and-drag interface, players can effortlessly construct whimsical towns on picturesque islands. The game eschews objectives, resources, and gameplay mechanics in favor of pure design freedom. Buildings morph and adapt to their surroundings, creating visually stunning landscapes. Although Townscaper lacks the depth of strategy found in other games on this list, its charm and simplicity provide a relaxing and satisfying experience for those looking to unleash their creativity without limitations.

Stellaris (2016)

• Galactic empire building
• Diplomacy and warfare with alien civilizations
• Expansive modding support

While not solely a settlement building game, Stellaris offers an expansive, grand strategy experience that spans entire galaxies. As players build a space empire, they encounter diverse alien species, forge alliances, engage in diplomacy, or wage war to expand their dominion. The game's detailed empire management and vast procedural galaxies ensure that no two campaigns are ever the same. With extensive modding support, players can also tailor their experience with countless mods and community-created content. Stellaris is an epic journey through the cosmos, combining strategy, exploration, and sci-fi in a universe where every playthrough unveils new challenges and possibilities.

From managing a medieval village to constructing an interstellar empire, settlement building games offer a diverse array of experiences that cater to various tastes and gameplay preferences. Each game on this list challenges players in unique ways, whether through resource management, strategic planning, or creative design. What unites them is the satisfaction derived from watching your small settlement grow into a thriving community or empire. Whether you're a veteran gamer or new to the genre, these games promise hours of engaging gameplay. Dive into any of these top settlement building games and start crafting your own story of survival, prosperity, and expansion.