City building games are a beloved genre among gamers, with SimCity being one of the pioneers of this style of gameplay. However, with the advancement of technology, developers have created many other exciting city building games that are just as engaging as SimCity. Each game provides a different background concept for the city-building premise, such as constructing a city on another planet or dealing with issues like survival, politics, and strategy. To experience these challenges, here are five must-play city building games for PC.
1. Frostpunk (2018)
Hailed as a city-building survival game set in 1886 amidst the aftermath of Krakatoa and Tambora volcanic eruptions, Frostpunk’s storytelling dynamic sets it apart. In it, players must search for a new place to shelter and build civilization to survive a dangerous world. They are part of a survival group composed of workers, engineers, and children. Initially, players have limited resources to build their city. As the game progresses, they must gather resources like wood, coal, steel, and food to keep everyone alive and warm. Along the way, players can use either the Order or Faith options to get support from citizens, depending on how they want to rule. They can also build a workshop to construct the city more efficiently with their limited resources.
2. Aven Colony (2017)
In Aven Colony, players must participate in building a new human settlement on a faraway alien planet called Aven Prime. They oversee all construction work, resources, and people living in the colony, including skyscrapers, space lifts, settlements, and other buildings that meet their citizens’ needs, such as creating oxygen, farming food and resources, and providing protection against extreme weather, toxic gas, and offensive alien attacks.
3. Tropico 6 (2019)
Tropico 6 stands out as players assume the role of El Presidente, the leader of the Caribbean island nation of Tropico, building cities in all the territories of the archipelago. They may even want to construct bridges to link islands. However, as the president, they can govern however they want. They must balance governing their people fairly, as opposing them may result in riots and decreased productivity within their cities. Critics and players positively received Tropico 6 for its in-depth strategic gameplay and new innovations, and even nominated for Best Strategy Game awards.
4. Surviving Mars (2018)
As the name suggests, Surviving Mars is mainly focused on building and managing a city on the Red Planet. Players must create their civilization by managing every imaginable need of their colony, including maintenance, production, and the people comprising it. Along the way, players may encounter various challenges such as epidemics, wars, company rivalries, and alien uprisings to overcome. Players can even send their newly found rare resources back to Earth to ensure their survival.
5. Anno 1800 (2019)
Anno 1800 offers a unique twist to city-building games set during the Industrial Age. Its core gameplay includes managing resources and multiple systems, including how goods are moved and distributed, allowing players to accommodate citizen and worker demands. The game includes design blueprints to help players plan their cities effectively, trading and military routes, and a lot more.
In conclusion, these five city-building games are must-play, offering plenty of challenges and enjoyable gameplay, and chances are there is something for everyone among them.
