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Simulation video games
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History

This is a comprehensive index of city-building games, sorted chronologically. Information regarding date of release, developer, platform, setting and notability is provided when available. The table can be sorted by clicking on the small boxes next to the column headings.


Legend

Video game platforms
AMI Amiga
AMI32 Amiga CD32
AQUA Mattel Aquarius
ARC Acorn Archimedes
BBC BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, BBC Master
C64 Commodore 64
CDTV Commodore CDTV
CPC Amstrad CPC
CROSS Cross-platform
DESQ DESQview
DOS MS-DOS
DS Nintendo DS
EPOC32 EPOC32
FMT FM Towns
GBA Game Boy Advance
GBC Game Boy Color
INT Intellivision
JAVAME Java Platform, Micro Edition
iPhone iPhone
iPod iPod
LIN Linux
MAC Mac
MAIN Mainframe computer
MOBI Mobile phone
N64 Nintendo 64
NeWS NeWS
OS2 OS/2
OSX macOS / OS X
PC98 PC-9800 series
PS1 PlayStation / PSone
PS2 PlayStation 2
PS3 PlayStation 3
PS4 PlayStation 4
PSP PlayStation Portable
SAT Sega Saturn
SNES Super NES / Super Famicom
ST Atari ST
SYB Symbian OS
Tk Tk
UNIX Unix
VC Virtual Console (Wii)
Wii Wii
WIN Microsoft Windows
WIN3X Windows 3.x
WIN9X Windows 9x
X01 OLPC XO-1
X11 X Window System
X360 Xbox 360
XOne Xbox One
ZX ZX Spectrum

List

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Year Game Developer Setting Platform Notes
1964 The Sumerian Game Mabel Addis Historical MAIN Text-based game based on the ancient Sumerian city of Lagash.[1]
1969 The Sumer Game Richard Merrill Historical MAIN Adaptation of The Sumerian Game.[1]
1975 Hamurabi David H. Ahl Historical MAIN Expanded version of The Sumer Game. Published later as part of BASIC Computer Games.
1978 Santa Paravia en Fiumaccio Historical MAIN
1981 Kingdom (Also known as Yellow River Kingdom)[2] David Allen[3] Historical BBC A conversion of the game "Hamurabi", it was included as part of welcome package to BBC Microcomputers.
1982 Utopia Don Daglow Contemporary AQUA, INT
1989 SimCity Maxis, Nintendo EAD, Babaroga Contemporary AMI, ARC, BBC, C64, CDTV, CPC, DESQ, DOS, EPOC32, FMT, GBA, iPod, LIN, MAC, MOBI (iPhone, JAVAME, SYB), NeWS, OS2, PC98, SNES, ST, Tk, UNIX, VC, WIN, XO1, X11, ZX First title in the series.
1990 ActRaiser Quintet Fantasy MOBI, SNES, VC Hybrid with side-scrolling platform game.
1990 Moonbase Wesson Sci-fi AMI, DOS
1991 Utopia: The Creation of a Nation Celestial Sci-fi AMI, DOS, SNES, ST
1992 Caesar Impressions Historical AMI, DOS, ST First title in the series.
1993 Stronghold Stormfront Fantasy DOS Hybrid with RTS elements.
1993 SimCity 2000 Maxis, Full Fat Contemporary AMI, DOS, GBA, MAC, N64, PS1, PSP, SAT, SNES Sequel to SimCity.
1993 Lunar Command Wesson Sci-fi DOS Updated version of Moonbase.
1993 The Settlers (a.k.a. Serf City: Life is Feudal) Blue Byte Fantasy AMI, DOS First title in the series.
1994 Outpost Sierra Sci-fi MAC, WIN3X Sci-fi version of SimCity.
1995 SimIsle: Missions in the Rainforest Intelligent Contemporary DOS, MAC, WIN3X
1995 Lincity Various Contemporary CROSS Open source clone of Sim City.
1995 SimTown Maxis Contemporary MAC, WIN, WIN3X
1995 Caesar II Impressions Historical MAC, WIN Sequel to Caesar.
1996 Afterlife LucasArts Fantasy DOS, MAC, WIN9X
1996 Holiday Island Sunflowers Contemporary WIN9X
1996 Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici, The Blue Byte Fantasy DOS, DS, MAC Sequel to The Settlers. Nintendo DS port was released in 2007.
1996 Settlers II Mission CD, The Blue Byte Fantasy DOS Expansion to The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici.
1997 Constructor System 3 Contemporary PS1, WIN
1998 Anno 1602: Creation of a New World Max Historical WIN9X First title in the series. Hybrid with RTS elements.
1998 Settlers III, The Blue Byte Fantasy WIN9X Sequel to The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici.
1998 Caesar III Impressions Historical MAC, WIN9X, Not Sequel to Caesar II.
1999 Pharaoh Impressions Historical WIN9X
1999 SimCity 3000 Maxis Contemporary DS, iPhone, LIN, MAC, WIN Sequel to SimCity 2000.
2000 Cleopatra: Queen of the Nile Impressions Historical WIN9X Expansion to Pharaoh.
2000 Master of Olympus: Zeus Impressions Fantasy WIN
2000 SimCity 64 HAL Contemporary N64 Spin-off of the SimCity series.
2000 SimCity 3000 Unlimited Maxis Contemporary LIN, WIN Re-release of SimCity 3000.
2000 StarPeace Oceanus Sci-fi WIN MMOG.
2001 StarTopia Mucky Foot Sci-fi WIN
2001 Mobility Glamus Contemporary WIN, LIN
2001 Master of Atlantis: Poseidon Impressions Fantasy WIN Expansion to Master of Olympus: Zeus.
2001 Tropico PopTop Contemporary MAC, OSX, WIN, WIN9X
2001 Stronghold Firefly Studios Fantasy WIN Hybrid with RTS elements.
2001 Settlers IV, The Blue Byte Fantasy WIN Sequel to The Settlers III.
2002 Metropolismania Media Factory Contemporary PS2 First title in the series.
2002 Tropico: Paradise Island BreakAway Contemporary WIN, WIN9X Expansion to Tropico.
2002 Moonbase Commander Humongous Sci-fi WIN
2002 Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom BreakAway, Impressions Historical WIN
2003 SimCity 4 Maxis Contemporary OSX, WIN Sequel to SimCity 3000.
2003 SimCity 4: Rush Hour Maxis Contemporary OSX, WIN Expansion to SimCity 4.
2003 Anno 1503: The New World Max Historical WIN9X, WIN Sequel to Anno 1602: Creation of a New World. Hybrid with RTS elements.
2003 Tropico 2: Pirate Cove Frog City Historical OSX, WIN
2003 Anno 1503: Treasures, Monsters and Pirates Max Historical WIN Expansion to Anno 1503: The New World.
2004 Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile Tilted Mill Historical WIN
2004 Outpost Kaloki X NinjaBee Sci-fi WIN, X360
2005 Settlers: Heritage of Kings, The Blue Byte Fantasy WIN Sequel to The Settlers IV.
2005 Medieval Lords: Build, Defend, Expand Monte Cristo Historical WIN
2005 Stronghold 2 Firefly Studios Fantasy WIN Hybrid with RTS elements.
2005 Settlers: Heritage of Kings - Expansion Disk, The Blue Byte Fantasy WIN Expansion to The Settlers: Heritage of Kings.
2005 Settlers: Heritage of Kings - Legends Expansion Disk, The Blue Byte Fantasy WIN Expansion to The Settlers: Heritage of Kings.
2006 CivCity: Rome Firefly, Firaxis Historical WIN
2006 Caesar IV Tilted Mill Historical WIN Sequel to Caesar III.
2006 Tycoon City: New York Deep Red Contemporary WIN
2006 Dwarf Fortress Bay 12 Games Fantasy WIN, LIN, MAC
2006 City Life Monte Cristo Contemporary WIN
2006 Anno 1701 Related Historical DS, WIN Sequel to Anno 1503: The New World Hybrid with RTS elements.
2006 Glory of the Roman Empire Haemimont Historical WIN
2006 Settlers II 10th Anniversary, The Blue Byte Fantasy WIN Remake of The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici.
2007 Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery Keen Historical DS Hybrid with RTS elements.
2007 Settlers: Rise of an Empire, The Blue Byte Fantasy WIN Sequel to The Settlers: Heritage of Kings.
2007 Anno 1701: The Curse of the Dragon Related Historical DS Expansion to Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery Hybrid with RTS elements.
2007 SimCity Societies Tilted Mill Contemporary MOBI, WIN Spin-off of the SimCity series.
2007 Settlers II: 10th Anniversary - The Vikings, The Blue Byte Fantasy WIN Expansion to The Settlers II (10th Anniversary).
2008 A Kingdom for Keflings Ninja Bee Fantasy X360
2008 Micropolis Don Hopkins Contemporary CROSS Open source version of SimCity.
2008 SimCity DS 2 Contemporary DS .
2008 SimCity Societies: Destinations Tilted Mill Contemporary WIN Expansion to SimCity Societies.
2008 Hinterland Tilted Mill Fantasy WIN Hybrid with RPG elements
2008 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King Square Enix Fantasy Wii Hybrid with RPG elements
2008 Settlers: Rise of an Empire - The Eastern Realm, The Blue Byte Fantasy WIN Expansion to The Settlers: Rise of an Empire.
2008 Imperium Romanum Haemimont Historical WIN Sequel to Glory of the Roman Empire.
2009 Grand Ages: Rome Haemimont Historical WIN Sequel to Imperium Romanum.
2009 Anno 1404 Related, Ubisoft, Blue Byte Historical WIN, OSX, DS, Wii Sequel to Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery. Hybrid with RTS elements.
2009 Tropico 3 Haemimont Games Contemporary OSX, WIN, X360 Successor to Tropico.
2009 Cities XL Monte Cristo Contemporary WIN
2009 OpenCity Duong-Khang Nguyen Contemporary CROSS Open source. A development version is available.
2010 Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom, The Blue Byte Fantasy OSX, WIN Sequel to The Settlers: Rise of an Empire.
2010 A World of Keflings Ninja Bee Fantasy X360
2010 Cities XL 2011 Focus Home Interactive Contemporary WIN
2011 Anno 2070 Related Designs Sci-fi WIN
2011 Tropico 4 Haemimont Games Contemporary WIN, X360, OSX
2011 Cities XL 2012 Focus Home Interactive Contemporary WIN
2011 Stronghold 3 Firefly Studios Fantasy WIN, OSX, LIN Hybrid with RTS elements.
2013 SimCity Maxis Contemporary WIN, OSX Relaunch of Simcity Series.
2014 Banished Shining Rock Software Historical WIN
2014 Tropico 5 Haemimont Games Contemporary WIN, OSX, LIN, X360, PS4[4]
2014 Stronghold Crusader 2 Firefly Studios Fantasy WIN Hybrid with RTS elements.
2014 Clockwork Empires Gaslamp Games Fantasy WIN
2015 Cities: Skylines Colossal Order Contemporary WIN, OSX, LIN, PS4, XOne, NSW Based on the engine used for Cities in Motion 2
2015 Cities XXL Focus Home Interactive Contemporary WIN
2015 Anno 2205 Blue Byte Sci-Fi WIN Sequel to Anno 2070
2017 Aven Colony Mothership Entertainment Sci-Fi WIN, PS4, XOne
2017 Kingdoms and Castles Lion Shield Fantasy WIN, OS, LIN
2018 Surviving Mars Haemimont Games Sci-Fi WIN, OSX, LIN, PS4, XOne
2018 Frostpunk 11 bit studios Sci-Fi WIN
2019 Dawn of Man Madruga Works Historical WIN, OSX Prehistoric city builder that takes place from the Paleolithic to the Iron Age.
2019 Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic 3Division Historical WIN City builder with a focus on a communist economic system
2019 Tropico 6 Limbic Entertainment Contemporary WIN, OSX, LIN, PS4, XOne
2019 Islanders Grizzly Games Fantasy WIN, OSX, LIN Casual city builder with low-poly aesthetic
2019 Anno 1800 Blue Byte Historical WIN Industrialization-age exploration building sim
2019 Rise to Ruins Raymond Doerr Fantasy WIN, OSX, LIN Indie city-builder with survival and god game elements
2019 Outlanders Pomelo Games Contemporary iOS, WIN [5]
2020 Per Aspera Tlön Industries Sci-fi WIN City-builder about terraforming Mars
2021 Nebuchadnezzar Nepos Games Historical WIN, LIN Ancient Mesopotamia city builder that takes place from the colonization of ancient lands to the conquest of Babylon by Persians in 6th Century BC.
2021 Townscaper Oskar Stålberg Fantasy WIN, OSX, MOB Indie city-builder with a specially intuitive gameplay and interface
2021 Airborne Kingdom The Wandering Band Sci-fi WIN, OSX, PS4, PS5, XONE, Xbox Series X/S, NSW Steampunk flying city[6]
2022 Urbek City Builder Estudios Kremlinois Contemporary WIN, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch Puzzle aspects[7][8]
2023 Cities: Skylines II Colossal Order Contemporary WIN, Xbox Series X/S, PS5 Sequel to popular city building game Cities: Skylines
TBA Builders of Egypt Strategy Labs Historical WIN Ancient Egypt city builder that takes place from the birth of Egyptian Civilization to the Ptolemaic Kingdom and Cleopatra's death.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Rollinger, Christian (9 January 2020). Classical Antiquity in Video Games: Playing with the Ancient World. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 29. ISBN 978-1-350-06664-9.
  2. ^ "Welcome for BBC Micro (1981) - MobyGames". Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  3. ^ http://bbc.nvg.org/doc/Welcome.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ "9 Ways To Dictate Like A Pro In Tropico 5 on PS4". Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  5. ^ Bell, Alice (2023-03-07). "Outlanders review: a charming town builder with a hidden sense of humour". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  6. ^ Crowley, Nate (2021-01-07). "Airborne Kingdom's arabesque steampunk is an absolute delight". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  7. ^ Smith, Graham (July 26, 2022). "Urbek City Builder demands efficient use of natural resources, not money". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  8. ^ Plunkett, Luke (July 24, 2022). "New City-Building Game Is All About The Voxels". Kotaku. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
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