Video games are all about creativity, and there is no better way of expressing that creative spirit than by building structures. It doesn't matter if players are making a home to survive in or constructing entire cities to govern; there is a palpable sense of satisfaction that comes from finally completing a lengthy build and stepping back to admire the creation.
Best Games With Base-Building & Combat
These games manage to create a harmonious marriage between excellent base-building mechanics and engaging combat gameplay.
When it comes to the future of gaming, there are several interesting games on the horizon that fans of building should keep an eye on. Whether it's strategy games with unlimited steps for automation, survival games where building is the only way forward, or simulators that give players a huge amount of tools to craft anything they can imagine, the future of construction in gaming is looking pretty damn stacked.
Whiskerwood
Adorable Critters Working Day And Night
Whiskerwood
- Released
- November 6, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Minakata Dynamics
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, City Builder, Simulation, Management
Whiskerwood is the perfect blend of cuteness and city management, thrusting players into a world where cats rule and mice are forced to work to please their masters. The game borrows a lot of elements from the strategy genre, like production priorities and citizen morale, and flips them on their head by replacing ordinary people with furry workers.
This change in setting and dynamic makes Whiskerwood stand out from other city builders, and players who enjoy in-depth construction mechanics will have a lot to do across the various islands waiting to be explored. Players can quickly build entire empires out of nothing, with complex machinery and seaports allowing them to set off to uncharted waters and defend against the evils that sail the seas.
Alchemy Factory
High-Tech Production Lines In A Medieval World
- Release Date: November 2025
- Developer: D5 Copperhead
- Platforms: PC
Alchemy Workshop is an automated playground where the goal is to brew and sell alchemical goods of all kinds by creating the most complex and optimized production line possible. The hook comes from how intuitive the systems are, as players can quickly turn a simple conveyor belt into a network of lanes, each helping to produce goods at high speed.
8 Most Fun Base Building Games, Ranked
The base-building subgenre has grown a lot in recent years, but nothing beats the fun factor in these base builders in particular.
With no combat (unlike some other similar games), players can focus entirely on their construction plans and are constrained by very few limits on how crazy they can make things. Flying potions and expansive factory layouts are just the tip of the iceberg; the only real restriction is how imaginative players are willing to get.
Railborn
Surviving On The Move
Railborn
- Developer(s)
- Washbear Studio
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Survival, Crafting, Base Building, Exploration
Railborn takes players to a desolate world where their only hope for survival is to follow the tracks. They'll need to slowly construct a movable base that they can ride through valleys and over mountains, all while attempting to survive in the hostile world that lies just outside the walls of their base.
Those bases can get pretty silly as players progress, stretching far above the ground and extending several cars up the tracks for as far as players can build them. Everything from food to energy needs to be carried on board; if players can't bring a particular resource with them, there is no guarantee they will find it in the wilderness.
Fantasy World Manager
Simulating Entire Kingdoms On A Massive Scale
- Release Date: Q1 2026
- Developer: Florian Alushaj
- Platforms: PC
Fantasy World Builder is an interesting sandbox game that gives players all the power they need to create their very own fantasy world. Starting with a virtually blank canvas, players can grow trees and carve out rivers in the environment, then add kingdoms full of citizens with jobs and needs, and even build structures with detailed interiors that give every building more character.
The level of depth is pretty incredible. Just about anything that anyone could want is possible, down to the finest pieces of customization, like individual tile placements. It's a fantasy builder's dream just waiting to be experienced, and once players are done with the actual construction process, they can sit back and watch as NPC adventurers take on the challenges that have been hand-picked just for them.
Metropolis 1998
Fully Customizable Cities
- Release Date: 2026
- Developer: Yesbox Studios
- Platforms: PC
Metropolis 1998 is a laid-back city builder all about making the ideal city of the player's own invention. Things start small, with individual layers being carved out with specific roles and purposes, but players can quickly add several floors, turning a single office space into a huge skyscraper.
Detail is everything, and the focus is less on simply building a blank cityscape and more on creating a functioning civilization. Citizens will live out their lives, going to work and enjoying the scenery, and players have complete control over how people experience the world, right down to the individual pieces of furniture within their homes.
Generation Exile
Rebuilding Society On An Alien World
Generation Exile
- Released
- 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Sonderlust Studios
- Genre(s)
- City Builder, Colony Sim, Building, Survival
Generation Exile is a game about Earth's final hope: a mission to give humans one last shot at life. Players start with a barren world full of nothing but empty fields and forests, and are tasked with constructing a new home for the remaining people to live and thrive in, with everything from waste to the economy being factored into the building process.
The Best Games With Deep Base-Building Mechanics, Ranked
There are a lot of great base-building games out there, but some have much better mechanics than others. Here's a look at some of the best, ranked.
The game has a fresh feel that is helped by its vibrant visuals, but in terms of gameplay, players also have a lot of extra steps to think about that other building games often omit. Things even zoom in on a personal level, with individual characters carrying out entire storylines that are unique in every single playthrough, giving each decision even more meaning.
Sintopia
A Management Game Straight From Hell
Sintopia
- Developer(s)
- Piraknights Games
WHERE TO PLAY
- Early Access Release
- October 31, 2024
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, City Builder, Strategy
Sintopia takes the hellish underworld and brings it to the surface, charging players with the management and punishment of sinners. The game has a humorous feel that turns simple construction loops into hilarious projects, as everything from wreaking havoc on the surface to dealing with corrupted individuals is fully tailored to how players want to play.
The architectural aspects allow players to build and upgrade their many devious structures in the pits below, with each serving a purpose to either punish or encourage sin. The network of buildings can become quite elaborate, as players also need to route souls to the correct destinations, whether their destiny is to be resurrected or live in damnation for eternity.
Nova Roma
Building Cities To Appease The Gods
- Release Date: 22 Jan, 2026
- Developer: Lion Shield
- Platforms: PC, macOS, Linux
Nova Roma is an old-school building sim that puts players in the shoes of a grand architect whose job it is to create a new city in Rome. Players need to enact laws and develop supply chains that extend across the entire city, while also paying attention to the needs and demands of the deities watching over the island.
The game takes a more macroscopic approach to its building gameplay. Although players can manage individual sectors and the needs of the people, Nove Roma is more interested in seeing just how far players can push the limits of construction. From colosseums to huge viaducts, the future of the Roman Empire is waiting to be created.
Upcoming Games with Deep Crafting and Base Building Systems
For players who love crafting and base-building, keep an eye out for these upcoming games.