Let’s face the truth here we have always wanted to build our own cities and we have always dreamt of building castles, malls and owning the whole city, haven’t we? At least I always have had this dream and guess what the happiness couldn’t have been more when I got to know that you can build your own cities not in reality of course but virtually and that got me pretty excited. Honestly, it is not a new thing the city building games are here since a long time and there are a lot of them that allows us gamers to put our creativity to use and construct our own amazingly beautiful city. In fact tell you what these types of games are the architecture nerds’ favorite and they are extremely popular among them.
The city building games do not just involve the construction but also a virtual builder has to take care of the residents and all the aspects of life such as political, social and economic. One must plan the construction of a city strategically and must know how to manage it well. Let’s take a look at the ten best city building games of 2018.
#1. SimCity
Well, there is no gamer who loves city building games and isn’t acquainted with SimCity. This game allows the gamers to construct and fabricate a living world where each and every choice of yours matter and they are really important. You can also be the mayor of the city and pull all the threads to control the city. You start from the scratch that is a blank map and you can go on expanding the city with a predetermined budget. As time goes by you can place the government in the city and other constitutional buildings as well. The game is quite relevant and similar to real life and you will see that even in this game the prime income is taxation just like any other city in the world.
#2. Anno 2205
In this game a player has to compete with other corporations. Here in this game you can take your own measured steps and build a better future. In fact it is not just based on the earth but you can also conquer earth and establish prosperous developing cities everywhere. You being the leader of the corporations you can safeguard the prosperity of your people. In this game you get a chance to travel in to the space and you can expand your corporation to the moon. You get to experience the future in this game and witness flying cars and space travels. Could it be any more exciting?
#3. Skyline
This game throws challenges at you; you will be facing the thrill of hardships that comes with maintaining a city. It comes with fully grasped transport system. You can mod the gameplay as per your style of playing and find the balance between complex and exciting game simulation. In this game you get to engross yourself completely with urban planning such as placement of roads, buildings, bridges and everything else. You can play with your imagination as much as you want.
#4. Banished
I personally find this game very interesting and unique and I am sure you will too if you play it once. This game doesn’t only allow you to plan and construct a city but rather than doing that you can control a small group of banished travelers and start a new settlement. Initially, the ‘banished’ travelers with whom you start the game have nothing other than the clothes they are wearing and some extremely basic supplies to start their settlement. You can assign tasks to each citizen and develop your settlement with time. As time passes by and the game proceeds, the settlement grows and you can find new citizens joining your once small and new settlement.
#5. Urban empire
In this game you start playing it as a city mayor and you belong to one of the four major ruling family. This game is pretty new and amazing; it was launched just the last year and has already become a popular choice. The game play needs you to prove your skills and make sure that you use them properly against the opposing parties. You also have to guide your city through technological and ideological advancements. Although the game has been launched recently but it begins in the early 1800s and advances through five eras. This game has a perfect blend of politics and city building. So if politics is your thing I suggest you must definitely give this game a try.
#6. Prison architect
Alright, this game doesn’t really allow you to build a city specifically but what you get to build is a prison with maximum security and who wouldn’t love that? I mean we are generation that grew up watching ‘Prison Break’! In this game you can supervise and direct your workers to build the cells before prisoners start to come in. You can build canteen, guard room and everything else that a prison in reality has. Once you are done building the whole thing guess what you can do? You can be an escaping prisoner, can you imagine the thrill? You can start a riot or build a tunnel, whatever suits you, and you can do it.
#7. Planetbase
This is an indie game and here you need strategy as well as management for the construction of the city. You being a player you will have to get along with other payers and manage a group of space settlers who have been trying to build a colony on a distant planet. You don’t just build structures but you also have to take care of some additional activities such as collection of energy, water, metal and food and so on and so forth.
#8. Tropico 5
Tropico5 is probably the most renowned name with respect to city building games because the game Tropico has been doing rounds since a long time and Tropico5 is the fifth installment in the Tropico series. The setting and premises are almost same as the previous ones and in this game, player can take the role of the president of a small tropical island. One must manage the tropical island or the small nation and guide the nation through city-building, growth, diplomacy and trade. In short develop the city and make it grow.
#9. Cities in Motion 2
Call me a fanatic but I have been waiting for this sequel eagerly and couldn’t keep my calm when it was launched. It is constructed in the same backdrop as the previous one and in this game along with constructing the city you must also direct the network of transportation in the city. This game comes with multiplayer modes and timetables and dynamic movement in cities. You have the power to facilitate the transportation needs and create an efficient public means of transport.
#10. Caesar III
In this game you can assume the role of a provincial governor and you can build cities and trade. You will have a city construction kit that you can use to build the perfect city and gain an upper hand in the roman politics. You can interact with the residents of your city and know what will make their current situation better, based on that you can construct your city and develop it. You will also have to take care of the religious values and temples and festivals.
Now that you know the top ten city building games of this year. Is your favorite in the list? And if you haven’t ever played this kind of game what are you waiting for? Go on get your computer turned on and start with your own city.
