8 Must-Play City Builder Games for 2025

City builder games let you craft sprawling metropolises or cozy villages, balancing resources and creativity to shape your vision. Whether you’re managing a futuristic colony or a medieval hamlet, these games spark your imagination with every road and building you place.

From surviving harsh winters to designing serene landscapes, the genre offers endless ways to build and strategize. I’ve rounded up eight standout titles that capture the thrill of creating your own world, each with unique twists to keep you hooked.

Frostpunk 2

‘Frostpunk 2’ throws you into a frozen, post-apocalyptic world where survival demands tough choices. Set 30 years after the original, you lead a city through endless winter, balancing factions and building districts to keep your people alive.

The game’s political depth and stark atmosphere make every decision feel heavy. With new maps and playstyles, it’s a gripping challenge for fans of intense management sims.

Manor Lords

‘Manor Lords’ blends city building with medieval strategy, letting you shape a settlement while feeling connected to its people. Its detailed mechanics make every building and task feel personal, from farms to fortifications.

The game’s cozy vibe and focus on regional growth set it apart. You’ll watch your town evolve against a backdrop of rolling hills and looming threats, perfect for relaxed yet strategic play.

Cities: Skylines 2

‘Cities: Skylines 2’ is the king of modern city builders, offering vast scale and deep infrastructure management. You’ll design roads, manage taxes, and watch your metropolis grow without getting bogged down in complex strategy.

Despite some launch hiccups, its detailed systems and freedom to create sprawling cities make it a must-play. It’s ideal for anyone who loves tweaking urban layouts to perfection.

Timberborn

‘Timberborn’ puts beavers in charge of your city, building dams and managing resources in a post-human world. Its unique water-focused mechanics and charming art style make every settlement feel alive.

You’ll guide these furry architects through seasonal challenges, balancing survival and expansion. The quirky premise and tight resource management keep you engaged for hours.

The Wandering Village

‘The Wandering Village’ has you build a city on the back of a giant, roaming creature named Onbu. You’ll manage resources and adapt to shifting biomes, creating a symbiotic bond to survive a post-apocalyptic world.

Its compact space and unique premise demand creative planning. The balance of nurturing Onbu and growing your village makes every choice visually and emotionally striking.

Kingdoms Reborn

‘Kingdoms Reborn’ mixes city building with resource management, letting you expand across islands and continents. Its multiplayer mode allows cooperative or competitive play, adding a social twist to your empire-building.

The game’s focus on improving citizens’ lives through food, luxuries, and territory growth feels rewarding. Its clean design and strategic depth make it a great pick for varied playstyles.

Dorfromantik

‘Dorfromantik’ is a chill city builder meets puzzle game, where you place hexagonal tiles to create serene landscapes. Matching forests, rivers, and villages feels like solving a peaceful puzzle with no pressure.

Its relaxing vibe and beautiful visuals make it perfect for unwinding. You can lose hours chasing high scores while crafting picturesque scenes with every tile.

Tiny Glade

‘Tiny Glade’ strips away management stress, letting you design medieval castles and cozy dioramas with no goals or threats. Its free-form building tools let you tweak every wall and tree to your liking.

The game’s enchanting art and calm pace make it a creative haven. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to build without worrying about survival or resources.

Which city builder is your go-to, or did I miss a gem you love? Drop your thoughts in the comments!