City builders have been around for about as long as gaming has existed, and despite generations of consoles, graphical updates, and innovations, they remain one of the most popular genres out there. The core gameplay loop of starting out with a few humble structures and gradually building a giant civilization remains largely unchanged, but the nuances along the way have been refined and perfected to a point where player freedom is now at its highest peak yet.
8 Best Games That Let You Build Your Own Medieval City, Ranked
These games allow players to build and manage their own Medieval cities to become the Kings and Queens they deserve to be.
The genre has expanded significantly over the past few years. Developers are exploring new settings and ideas, providing players with more opportunities to construct entire cities in places and ways they've never seen before. As 2025 comes to an end, there are several exciting city-building games on the horizon for fans to get excited about, regardless of whether they are waiting for a hotly anticipated sequel or something entirely new.
Anno 117: Pax Romana
Building Out The Roman Empire
Anno 117: Pax Romana
- Released
- November 13, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Language, Mild Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft
- Genre(s)
- City Builder, Simulation, Strategy
Anno 117: Pax Romana is the next title in the iconic city-building series that has defined the genre for the majority of the last decade. This time, players are sent to the Roman era and tasked with constructing a glorious empire to govern and control, and every minute detail, from taxation to citizen morale, plays an important role in the development process. With every new game in the series, the visuals get better and better, and this time around, the trees flow with life, the seas beam with light, and individual structures come to life with realistic textures that really draw players into the world.
As always, there is a huge amount of gameplay depth that extends beyond just the basic build constructions. Players can progress down unlock trees that can have an impact on everything from production efficiency to military success, and they can even choose a deity to worship on each separate island, with bonuses granted depending on which allegiance is decided upon. The game looks to be a big step up from the previous games in the series, and thanks to upgrades in the visuals and the actual mechanics, it is poised to be the best and most complete Anno experience to date.
Drownlight
Protect The Light At All Costs
- Release Date: Coming Soon
- Developer: Fathomlight
- Platforms: PC
Drownlight is a super exciting city-building survival game that takes place in a flooded world where the only safety is a single lighthouse in the middle of the ocean. Players need to manage their resources and slowly expand their colony to serve as a final hope for humanity, all while pushing through unforgiving weather events and the constant threat of darkness that looms over the city. A lot of the gameplay revolves around decision-making related to the people living in the colony, as players can choose to save or sacrifice certain individuals to build the kind of world that best suits their interests.
Upcoming Games All About Building
For gamers who love to build massive cities and giant structures, these upcoming games should absolutely be on their radar.
Comparisons have been drawn to other great city-builders like Frostpunk, and with a main central building as the focus, those comparisons make sense. Players have to constantly think about how to build outward while maintaining cohesion within. It is as much a game about optimization as it is about choice, because players do need to carefully manage the scarce resources that are vital for humanity's survival. However, decisions do need to be made at times that could result in the deaths of citizens in order to secure a brighter future for the rest of the people.
Citystate Metropolis
Bigger, Better, And More Detail Than Ever
- Release Date: Q1 2026
- Developer: Andy Sztark
- Platforms: PC
Citystate Metropolis is the next installment in the Citystate series and looks to take away any previous limits and give players all the tools they need to build the city of their dreams. There are no barriers to what can be built; players can terraform mountains, construct miles of highway across oceans, and perfect the subtlest of details in every single structure. The level of customization is stunning. Not only can players choose colors and textures, but also specific road surfaces and materials, which then have an impact on things like upkeep and construction costs, adding even more layers to an already expansive game.
When it comes to the people inhabiting these cities, their AI is more realistic than ever, allowing the locations to come alive and not feel like empty husks with a few moving parts. With a greater emphasis on authentic simulation and more tools for creation than ever before, Citystate Metropolis looks to not only be the best game in the series, but also one of the most promising city builders on the horizon, and one that fans of the genre should definitely keep an eye on in the coming months.
Tropico 7
El Presidente Is Back At The Helm
Tropico 7
- Released
- 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Gaming Minds Studios
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Simulation
Tropico 7 returns players to one of the most beloved strategy games on the planet, this time with an island nation to build and control. It might be a game about ruling with an iron fist, but the gameplay is anything but a walk in the park. Players need to lead their nation to new heights by fulfilling the needs of their citizens and pushing forward with more ambition than ever before. There are more maps, more scenarios, and even more possibilities with a random map generator, giving players enough content and room to become the tropical dictator they always wanted to be.
Best Strategy Games Focused On Base Building
Some of the best strategy games also incorporate addictive base-building mechanics that keep players coming back for more.
The Tropico series has always had a unique satirical tone that sets it apart from other city-builders, and this entry is no different. Players will be able to meddle with political rivals and turn the election world into a playground for their schemes, controlling pretty much every facet of their role as leaders. Creativity is kind, both in the gameplay mechanics and customization, as players can not only alter the appearance of their capital and Presedente with a new list of options, but can also use that creative spirit in battle, with the game heavily leaning into the idea of being an off-the-wall dictator in a way that no other game has even tried to.
Beyond These Stars
Creating A Civilization On The Back Of A Space Whale
- Release Date: 2025
- Developer: Balancing Monkey Games
- Platforms: PC
Beyond These Stars is a beautiful and intricate simulator that sends players to the depths of outer space atop a gigantic whale that effortlessly glides through the cosmos. Starting with nothing but a vision to construct a new civilization, players need to build an efficient and sustainable city that can house people of all kinds, factoring in both their biological needs and social ones like work and housing. The Whale is a moldable canvas for players to paint their ideas on, as every tree, valley, mountain, and grassy plain can be changed to fit any goal the player has in mind.
What makes the game particularly interesting is how the city moves through space and unlocks new opportunities for the player to explore. Nearby planets can be unlocked to give them valuable resources, and entire outposts can be set up to create networks of transportation. Then, at a moment's notice, Kewa the Whale may move on, never to return, which means that players need to build a strong connection with the creature to have a better chance of surviving the unknown stretches of space itself.
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.