Cities: Skylines

25 Sandbox games like Cities: Skylines that you should try

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We filtered the 38 games similar to Cities: Skylines down to the 25 that fit the “Sandbox” category. Two Point Hospital, Children of the Nile and Tropico 3 top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Cities: Skylines.

iRank86/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

Tags

CasualSolo

Year 2015Dev Colossal Order

Stores

Steam ↗Epic ↗Xbox ↗PS ↗Nintendo ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Sandbox” category, the closest game to Cities: Skylines is Two Point Hospital — scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. Children of the Nile and Tropico 3 follow close behind.

#1Two Point Hospital97 #2Children of the Nile97 #3Tropico 397 #4Tropico Reloaded97 #5Cities in Motion97

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The best sandbox games like Cities: Skylines

25 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Cities: Skylines. Each one has been evaluated across 8 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Two Point Hospital

97

Two Point Hospital

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualSandbox WorldManagementBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 92%· 35KIGDB87· 10OC84· 127

Year 2018Dev Two Point Studios · SegaOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Nearly identical: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual.

#2Children of the Nile

97

Children of the Nile

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 85%· 465MC75IGDB75· 2

Year 2008Dev Tilted Mill EntertainmentPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Where it differs: brings historical setting, while skipping vibe casual

97

Tropico 3

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagement

Steam👍 89%· 1.9KRAWG👍 60%· 273MC79

Year 2009Dev Haemimont Games · Kalypso MediaPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Xbox

✓ Nearly identical: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world.

≠ Missing: vibe casual.

#4Tropico Reloaded

97

Tropico Reloaded

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 88%· 971RAWG👍 57%· 47IGDB82· 2

Year 2003Dev Frog City Software · Kalypso MediaPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Nearly identical: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world.

≠ Missing: vibe casual.

#5Cities in Motion

97

Cities in Motion

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloSandbox WorldManagementBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 77%· 1.1KRAWG👍 57%· 47MC70IGDB67· 1

Year 2011Dev Colossal Order · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Nearly identical: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world.

≠ Missing: vibe casual.

#6Tycoon City: New York

97

Tycoon City: New York

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 42%· 285MC67IGDB73· 2

Year 2006Playtime ~2hOn PC

✓ Nearly identical: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world.

≠ Missing: vibe casual.

#7Mad Games Tycoon

95

Mad Games Tycoon

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualSandbox WorldManagementBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 91%· 4.4KRAWG👍 79%· 70IGDB90· 1

Year 2016Dev Raylight Games · Toplitz ProductionsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of city builders: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Where it differs: brings strong narrative focus, setting cartoon and crafting mechanics

94

shapez

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 15K

Year 2020Dev Tobias Springer · PrismatikaOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Same family of city builders: sandbox freedom, deep simulation and vibe casual

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, open world exploration and procedural generation

#9Dyson Sphere Program

94

Dyson Sphere Program

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagementOpen World

Steam👍 98%· 91KRAWG👍 85%· 84

Year 2021Dev Youthcat Studio · Gamera GamePlaytime ~8hOn PC

✓ Same family of city builders: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Stands apart with open world exploration, setting space and setting scifi, while skipping vibe casual

#10Rusty's Retirement

91

Rusty's Retirement

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualSandbox WorldManagementBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 97%· 15K

Year 2024Dev Mister Morris GamesPlaytime ~18hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Stands apart with cozy, relaxing feel, vibe relaxing and fantasy world

#11shapez 2 - Factory

91

shapez 2 - Factory

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualSandbox WorldManagementBase Building

Steam👍 97%· 14K

Dev tobspr Games · Gamera GamesPlaytime ~6hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are city builders — sharing deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, vibe relaxing and procedural generation, while skipping visual isometric

#12Dorfromantik

90

Dorfromantik

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagement

Steam👍 96%· 29KRAWG👍 80%· 220OC83· 30

Year 2022Dev Toukana InteractivePlaytime ~3hOn PC · Nintendo

✓ Both are city builders — sharing deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, turn-based strategy and card game strategy, while skipping visual isometric

Steam GOG Nintendo

#13Planet Coaster

89

Planet Coaster

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualSandbox WorldManagementBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 91%· 72KRAWG👍 74%· 294MC83IGDB83· 12OC85· 58

Year 2016Dev Frontier DevelopmentsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of city builders: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, vibe relaxing and strong narrative focus

#14Prison Architect

89

Prison Architect

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualSandbox WorldManagementBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 89%· 73KRAWG👍 72%· 587MC83IGDB81· 12OC80· 62

Year 2015Dev Double Eleven · Introversion SoftwarePlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, multiplayer gameplay and visual 2d

#15Jurassic World Evolution

88

Jurassic World Evolution

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloSandbox WorldManagementBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 87%· 55KIGDB74· 13OC71· 99

Year 2018Dev Frontier Developments · Universal PicturesOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Where it differs: brings strong narrative focus, dark, oppressive atmosphere and open world exploration, while skipping vibe casual

Complete list of sandbox games like Cities: Skylines

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Cities: Skylines, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

SimCity

SimCity

Simulation · Sandbox

Townscaper

Townscaper

Sandbox · Simulation

My Time at Portia

My Time at Portia

Simulation · RPG

WorldBox

WorldBox

Sandbox · Simulation

Planet Zoo

Planet Zoo

Simulation · Sandbox

Space Colony: Steam Edition

Space Colony: Steam Edition

Simulation · Sandbox

Tropico 5

Tropico 5

Simulation · RPG

House Flipper

House Flipper

Simulation · Sandbox

Mad Games Tycoon 2

Mad Games Tycoon 2

Simulation · Sandbox

Songs of Syx

Songs of Syx

Simulation · Sandbox

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