iRank90
StrategyCity Builder
SoloMeleeCozyProceduralFantasy
Steam👍 96%· 124KRAWG👍 86%· 447OC84· 141
Year 2022Dev Massive Monster · Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~10hOn PC · PS · Xbox
Best City Builder Games
Ranking of the city builder games sorted by iRank score — a 0-100 metric blending Steam, IGDB, OpenCritic, Metacritic reviews and the iRankGames community. Cult of the Lamb, Dyson Sphere Program and Dorfromantik lead the chart. Top-25 average iRank: 82/100. Total catalogued: 30 games.
Top 3
The best city builder games game is Cult of the Lamb (90.2/100). Close behind: Dyson Sphere Program and Dorfromantik.
Full ranking
30 games cataloguedRanked by iRank Score
iRank93
StrategyCity Builder
SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldSpaceSci-Fi
Steam👍 98%· 91KRAWG👍 85%· 84
Year 2021Dev Youthcat Studio · Gamera GamePlaytime ~8hOn PC
iRank88
StrategyCity Builder
SoloTacticalCasualRelaxingSandbox World
Steam👍 96%· 29KRAWG👍 80%· 220OC83· 30
Year 2022Dev Toukana InteractivePlaytime ~3hOn PC · Nintendo
iRank90
StrategyCity Builder
SoloCasualRelaxingManagementBase Building
Steam👍 96%· 24KRAWG👍 92%· 132MC83OC81· 30
Year 2021Dev Dinosaur Polo ClubPlaytime ~5hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh
iRank85
StrategyCity Builder
SoloCasualSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagement
Steam👍 93%· 289KRAWG👍 87%· 1.5KMC85IGDB76· 13OC83· 91
Year 2015Dev Colossal Order · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~9hOn PC · PS · Xbox
iRank85
StrategyCity Builder
SoloMultiplayerCasualCozyRelaxing
Steam👍 91%· 95KRAWG👍 82%· 135MC81OC81· 67
Year 2019Dev Frontier DevelopmentsPlaytime ~5hOn PC
iRank83
StrategyCity Builder
SoloMultiplayerCasualRelaxingNarrative
Steam👍 91%· 72KRAWG👍 74%· 294MC83IGDB83· 12OC85· 58
Year 2016Dev Frontier DevelopmentsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox
iRank90
StrategyCity Builder
MultiplayerPvPCasualSandbox WorldCartoon
Steam👍 94%· 7.6KRAWG👍 85%· 33
Year 2021Dev EggcodePlaytime ~14hOn PC
iRank84
StrategyCity Builder
SoloCasualNarrativeSandbox WorldCartoon
Steam👍 91%· 4.4KRAWG👍 79%· 70IGDB90· 1
Year 2016Dev Raylight Games · Toplitz ProductionsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox
#10shapez
iRank89
StrategyCity Builder
SoloCasualSandbox WorldOpen WorldProcedural
Steam👍 96%· 15K
Year 2020Dev Tobias Springer · PrismatikaOn PC · iOS · Android
iRank89
StrategyCity Builder
SoloCozyCasualRelaxingSandbox World
Steam👍 97%· 15K
Year 2024Dev Mister Morris GamesPlaytime ~18hOn PC · Apple Macintosh
iRank86
StrategyCity Builder
SoloCasualSandbox WorldManagementBase Building
Steam👍 92%· 35KIGDB87· 10OC84· 127
Year 2018Dev Two Point Studios · SegaOn PS4 · Linux · PC
iRank81
StrategyCity Builder
SoloMultiplayerCasualSandbox WorldManagement
Steam👍 89%· 73KRAWG👍 72%· 587MC83IGDB81· 12OC80· 62
Year 2015Dev Double Eleven · Introversion SoftwarePlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox
iRank82
StrategyCity Builder
SoloCozyCasualRelaxingOpen World
Steam👍 92%· 44KIGDB70· 10OC75· 70
Year 2019Dev Pathea Games · Team17On PS4 · Android · PC
iRank78
StrategyCity Builder
SoloMeleeNarrativeDarkSandbox World
Steam👍 87%· 55KIGDB74· 13OC71· 99
Year 2018Dev Frontier Developments · Universal PicturesOn PS4 · PC · Xbox
iRank77
StrategyCity Builder
SoloSandbox WorldHistoricalBase BuildingManagement
Steam👍 85%· 465MC75IGDB75· 2
Year 2008Dev Tilted Mill EntertainmentPlaytime ~2hOn PC
iRank76
StrategyCity Builder
SoloBase Building
Steam👍 81%· 245MC66IGDB75· 2
Year 2007Dev Monte Cristo · Focus Home InteractivePlaytime ~1hOn PC
#18Tropico 5
iRank76
StrategyCity Builder
SoloMultiplayerCo-opSandbox WorldHistorical
Steam👍 79%· 14KIGDB72· 14OC76· 52
Year 2014Dev Haemimont Games · Kalypso MediaOn PS4 · Linux · PC
iRank79
StrategyCity Builder
SoloTacticalMeleeDarkHardcore
Steam👍 91%· 925RAWG👍 62%· 128
Year 1995Dev MicroProse Software · 2K GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · PS
iRank78
StrategyCity Builder
SoloSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagementIsometric
Steam👍 88%· 971RAWG👍 57%· 47IGDB82· 2
Year 2003Dev Frog City Software · Kalypso MediaPlaytime ~1hOn PC
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71#24
76#25
65#26
59#27
68#28
74#29
69#30
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Simulation · Puzzle
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Simulation · Sandbox
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Turn-Based Strategy · Card Game
Related rankings
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best city builder game?
- According to the iRankGames ranking, Cult of the Lamb (90.2/100) tops the list. Close behind are Dyson Sphere Program and Dorfromantik.
- How is this ranking calculated?
- Each game receives an iRank score (0-100) blending several weighted sources: Steam reviews, IGDB community + critic ratings, Metacritic, OpenCritic and the iRankGames community votes. The sort order additionally applies a Bayesian shrinkage adjustment: games with few reviews get pulled toward the genre average so small samples can't game the top of the chart.
- How many city builder games are in this ranking?
- 29 games appear in this list (filtered by minimum popularity, excluding DLC, expansions and unclassified shovelware).
- What makes a good city builder game?
- The highest-rated entries in this genre tend to share design coherent with subgenre conventions, tight controls, balanced challenge-and-reward loops, and an active player base that sustains their reception across multiple platforms. Examples in this ranking: Cult of the Lamb, Dyson Sphere Program and Dorfromantik.