The 8 best construction games

In this guide to the best construction games you will learn:

  • Which titles are the best in the genre
  • What makes the games stand out
  • Which classic construction games you should know about

Whether you call the genre a building game, a building simulation or a building strategy, it's all the same, because the game principle is identical in all of them. You have to build up and expand a settlement, a theme park or a whole world. You usually play alone, competitive game modes are rarely available or only as an add-on. It' s about "city building, resource management or diplomacy", as the USK defines it. You want to know which are the best building games? Here we go.

Anno 1800: The best building game

The list starts with Anno 1800 (), of course. It is probably the building game par excellence. And although it was already released in April 2019, it is still one of the best games in the genre. In the seventh part of the series, the studio BlueByte takes us to the time of the Industrial Revolution. In addition to the usual production facilities, you will now have to supply your island with electricity and lay railroad tracks. This poses new challenges even for Anno veterans, because it affects the entire infrastructure.

Anno 1800 has another big innovation compared to its predecessors: For the first time, you can stroll through your growing empire in first-person perspective and see for yourself what it's like to visit your zoo or party with the other islanders.

Our recommendation: Be sure to treat yourself to the Season Pass, as the expansions it contains add even more depth to the game.

  • Platform: PC
  • Addons:
    • Season 1: Sunken Treasures, Botanica, The Passage
    • Season 2: Palaces of Power, Land of Lions, Rich Harvest
    • Season 3: Warehouse City, Travel Time, Roofs of the City
  • Game modes: Singleplayer, Multiplayer, Co-op mode

Who is Anno 1800 suitable for?

  • Anno veterans who can't get enough of the series and were as disappointed by Anno 2070 and 2205 as I was
  • Newcomers to building games who want to get to know the charm of the genre
  • Perfectionist city architects who are looking for a challenge

Frostpunk or: Do you have what it takes to be a leader?

In Frostpunk (), not only do you have to make do with few resources at the beginning like in other construction games, you also have to do this in an absolutely inhospitable world! Outside, the temperatures are below zero, and your settlers can only survive by building shelters right next to the main generator that provides warmth. But the space is limited ..

You can't avoid making morally serious decisions that will lead, for example, to some settlers being banished for the good of all - and thus doomed to die. Advance research to develop new technologies that will ensure your survival.

  • Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • Addons: none
  • Game mode: Singleplayer

Who is Frostpunk suitable for?

  • Fans of Snowpiercer (movie or series, it doesn't matter), who like the dystopian setting in icy cold weather
  • All those who want to put their morals to the test

Planet Zoo: management simulation for animal lovers

City planning is too boring for you? Then just open an animal park. In Planet Zoo () you'll see for yourself that it's not that easy to manage such an operation. Here you'll have to do much more than simply build a few enclosures and place animals in them. Of course, you'll also have to make sure that the exotic inhabitants want for nothing and are completely satisfied.

You'll also have to take care of offspring: Find the right pairings to ensure the population in your zoo. Don't forget the visitors: they want a beautiful and clean park, but not too expensive.

In addition, you don 't have to commit to one game mode: In addition to a classic story mode, there is of course also a sandbox mode, in which unlimited resources and funds are available to you and you can completely let off steam. Using the online function, you can sell animals from your zoo to strengthen the populations in other zoos - or simply make money with them and improve your balance sheet.

  • Platform: PC
  • Addons:
    • Arctic Pack
    • South America Pack
    • Australia Pack
    • Aquatics Pack
    • Soutneast Asia Pack
    • Africa Pack
  • Game modes: Singleplayer, Sandbox mode, Online mode for animal trading

Who is Planet Zoo for?

  • Animal lovers with a strong penchant for management activities
  • Planning geniuses who want to build an animal park with species-appropriate husbandry

Tropico 6: For would-be dictators

Tropico 6 () is far more political than most construction games. You don't play an animal-loving zoo keeper, but a head of state who loves to oppress his citizens. Are you ready to run your islands with a hard dictator's hand and earn a golden nose with arms deals and drugs, after you have hung up your moral values?

Build banks, lure rich residents to your islands and lock up the unemployed. And because that's not enough, you'll mess with the most powerful states in the world, plunder other countries and steal monuments.

  • Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
  • Updates:
    • El Prez Edition Upgrade
    • The Llama of Wall Street
    • Spitter
    • Lobbyistico
    • Carribean Skies
  • Game modes: Singleplayer, Multiplayer

Who is Tropico 6 for?

  • Everyone who has always wanted to be a dictator
  • Build-up strategists, for whom their own wealth and prosperity is most important

Northgard: Building game tip for Viking fans

You just can't get enough of the Viking setting? Have you played the action adventure Assassin's Creed Valhalla and the survival game Valheim for countless hours and are looking for a change? Then definitely try Northgard () and lead your clan to the top of the Vikings. The gameplay is a bit reminiscent of the Settlers series, because you start with few resources, send scouts into unknown terrain, expand your military and take on your neighboring enemies.

In Northgard you can achieve your objective in three ways: By conquering a specific enemy territory, expanding trade, or earning enough glory. While the first levels are easy to master, the game quickly picks up speed, so that you will cut your teeth on one or the other level. You can find useful tips on the gameplay in our beginner's guide to Northgard.

  • Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
  • Addons: Faction packs
  • Game modes: PvP, co-op

Who is Northgard suitable for?

  • Fans of Assassin's Creed Valhalla or Valheim
  • Tactical foxes who want to use their brains to take the North and eliminate enemy clans
  • Gamers who love the mix of charming graphics and strategic challenges

The Settlers 2: Veni, Vidi, Vici: A classic in a new look

A true classicthe Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici () is already a few years old, but it should not be missing from the list of the best building games. You land as a castaway on a seemingly deserted island and, in typical genre fashion, have to make the best of the few resources at your disposal. Why does the game end up in our list despite its pixel graphics? Because after more than 25 years it is still as captivating as it was back then.

The animations, in which the buildings build up in rows of pixels, remain unforgotten. And at the same time it's exciting to see how BlueByte tried to create a 3D world with little graphical effort back then. If the graphics are too old-fashioned for you, you can pick up the remake "The Settlers 2 - The Next Generation", which was released in 2006. The game principle is the same, but with better graphics.

  • Platform: PC (via gog.com)
  • Addons: none
  • Game mode: Singleplayer

Who is The Settlers 2 suitable for?

  • Nostalgics who have lost their heart to The Settlers 2 and want to take another plunge into the building adventure - but with better graphics
  • Beginners of building games who want to get to know a classic and don't want to spend a lot of money on it

Dungeon Keeper 2: Oldie but Goldie

One of the somewhat different building games back then was Dungeon Keeper, or rather its successor. To this day, the game has lost none of its charm. Instead of roaming through dungeons as a hero, you switch sides and are suddenly the dungeon master who concocts the dungeons. You order your subordinates to build you a nasty dungeon out of a hole in the ground, which you mine accordingly so that enemies don't stand a chance.

Sure, the 3D graphics aren't exactly state of the art from today's point of view, but the gameplay is still great fun, so you can overlook that. If you haven't played Dungeon Keeper before, you should urgently do so.

With War of the Overworld, Brightrock Games has released a successor to Dungeon Keeper 2, which is considered the unofficial third part of the series. The game is from 2015 and the look is much more modern. As an alternative, a clear recommendation, but for former DK players a must!

  • Platform: PC (via gog.com)
  • Addons: none
  • Game modes: Singleplayer, Multiplayer

Who is Dungeon Keeper 2 suitable for?

  • For all those who wanted to act far away from their actual ethics and morals
  • Fans of black humor
  • Gamers who want to play a huge hit from decades past and don't mind the old-fashioned graphics

Going Medieval: A real insider tip

A little insider tip is Going Medieval, which is currently still in Early Access, but already offers great gaming fun. As the name suggests, you are in the Middle Ages. You are one of the five percent who have not been killed by the plague and now have to build a new existence.

You can completely adjust the difficulty level to your needs: Choose a starting area with lots of resources and no enemy attacks, or take the expert mode. There, it's not quite as easy to get hold of ores and co. and regular attacks are also the order of the day.

The special thing about Going Medieval is the complex field of activities. To penetrate it, you'll have to invest a bit of time, but it will pay off in the end. You'll also have to make sure that you store your food properly and build appropriate cellars. Otherwise, they'll be rotten faster than you can look, and your settlers will starve.

  • Platform: PC
  • Addons: none
  • Game mode: Singleplayer

Who is Going Medieval suitable for?

  • Medieval lovers who want to build their own settlement from scratch
  • Build-up game strategists who want to manage not only the minable resources, but also the task assignments of the settlers

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