2024's top city builder games
We've compiled a list of the top city builder games for Switch and mobile devices so you can get started on creating your next architectural marvel right now. We have the game for you whether you're just getting started in constructing or are an expert in zoning regulations and obtaining planning clearance.
Check out our guides for the topSwitch racing games,horror games,best Switch role-playing games, andtactics games while you're here. Visit our build instructions for Xiangling from Genshin Impact, Black Swan from Honkai Star Rail, Nicole from Zenless Zone Zero, and Mortefi from Wuthering Waves for builds of a different type.
Now let's get started with our list of the top city building games available on Switch and mobile devices.
Cities: Switch
SkylinesYes, this seems a little too literal, don't you think? Cities: With Skyline, you may create the magnificent metropolis of your dreams in this profound and very addicting city-building game. With the immense power this detailed simulation game offers, you may adjust and improve healthcare, education, and many other aspects of your city's economy.
Although there is some visual clarity loss in the Switch version, it is still well worth it to be able to play this immensely detailed simulation on the move. The UI has been expertly optimised for the Switch by developer Colossal Order, and Pro Controller support is included so you can feel the rumble of machinery when you construct your newest towers. The Switch version of Cities: Skylines comes with the After Dark and Snowfall DLC packs. Thus, you get a lot of construction value for your money. All we can do is hope that Cities Skylines 2 will soon be available on a portable device.
Steamworld Build - Switch
Okay, so this is a little preemptive, but in our Steamworld Build review, we really played and really enjoyed this entry. Developer Thunderful (formerly Image & Form) is known for taking ideas and giving them a unique, individual touch, all the while creating an amazing game. They're all amazing: Steamworld Dig 1 and 2, Steamworld Heist, and Steamworld Quest. They are, in our opinion.
All of the richness, charm, and astute optimisation for which the Steamworld brand is renowned are there in Steamworld Build. As you send forces to explore the depths and get the precise materials you need to continue constructing above ground, you strike a balance between your powers to create cities above ground and the shockingly deep (sorry) mining aspect of the game. Check out ourSteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech mobile review if you like what you see. along with our SteamWorld Build interview. 
Switch version of Dragon Quest Builders 2
Just as you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, Dragon Quest Builders 2 shouldn't be mistaken for Minecraft dressed up in ridiculous JRPG fashion. Yes, it is that, but it's also much more than that. Going back to Minecraft seems like a hassle with DQB2's ingenious quality-of-life additions added to the mining method. In addition, a charming plot advances the game while gradually introducing new objectives, construction materials, and exploration regions. You can know it's excellent since this list and our selection for the top Dragon Quest games both point to it.
In addition to being able to construct your standard blocky barrack, you can also make friends with individuals you see along the journey and invite them back to your house, creating a sweet little community as you go through the story and visit other islands. You get a lot of various building kinds, farm animals, amusing furnishings with Dragon Quest themes, and the heartwarming sense of giving some homeless dogs and cats a place to live. Check out Dragon Quest Builders 2's extensive demo to discover whether it's right for you. We apologise for the slow start, but it really opens up quite shortly!
Civilization VI: Mobile and Switch
The G.O.A.T. of city-building simulation games, the monarch, the myth. "Civilization," as the French band Justice once sung. Justice, you're correct. What more is there to say? As the most recent installment of the venerable series, Civ 6 offers years' worth of astute advancements, difficulties, and meticulous attention to detail that many other simulation games can never hope to equal.
Construct your own private empire and attempt to repel the armies of other nations. Gain resources and tools fast, and before long you'll be able to use green flames on some pirate boats to overwhelm your enemies with the most cunning weaponry this side of Tyrion. Furthermore, scenario packs centred on the Vikings, Australia, Persia, and Poland (dobry, dobry!) are included in the complete Switch version. Make sure to go over our Civ 6 tier list before attempting to conquer in the near future.
Townscaper - Mobile and Switch
Let's take it easy with a minimalist city builder that prioritises atmosphere over dynamic architectural design. There aren't any objectives, tasks, deadlines, or adversaries in Townscaper. All you have to do is construct. Quickly create the charming city of your dreams by placing structures into an empty water-based vacuum using a controller or by tapping the screen.
Although it's not nearly as detailed as you would anticipate, you can still design adorable tiny awnings and balconies, change colours, and construct villages with different levels of tiers. This is an inexpensive and joyful way to pass a few hours, whether you play on a Switch or a mobile device. It's particularly a nice and extremely serene way to acquire some serenity and assert some control when the world seems a little too much at times. For further details, see our Townscaper review.
Switch and smartphone versions of Minecraft
Yes, I get that this isn't really a city-builder, but if you have a month to spare, you can theoretically create a city. You may build towns, nations, or even the whole continent of Westeros in Minecraft—the possibilities are only limited by your imagination (second Game of Thrones reference klaxon). If you want to endure the weather and take on the terrible creepers, you may pick the survival option. Building your first small, tiny house is an exciting experience.
But if all you want to do is boost my confidence, then put that bad boy on creative and spend that one week constructing like a god. Take use of an abundance of materials, tonnes of real estate, Redstone's amazing depth, and other interactive features. In addition, you may set up a server to play a shared game world with your friends and get some advice from the abundance of Minecraft tutorials on YouTube.
Tapped Out - The Simpsons - mobile
I will not even consider the possibility that The Simpsons doesn't make the world a better place. My old skateboard from childhood? It governed, and it had Bart on it. My shirt? You better believe it—there I am, looking beautiful thanks to The Simpsons. GTA? No, The Simpsons Hit & Run proves that Homer and the gang are capable of turning things around. The divorce of my parents? We made it through together, so cheers, Homer.
In any case, The Simpsons: Tapped Out is a free city builder that lets you design your own rough replica of Springfield. Build Moe's Tavern, Springfield School, the well-known tyre fire and many more things using the doughnuts as cash. We will warn you to proceed with caution, since while The Simpsons: Tapped Out is really enjoyable and addicting, it often seems to be meant to irritate you into making a purchase. The number of alternatives for purchases may reach hundreds, which is clearly an effort to lure in those elusive mobile gaming whales. There is a lot to enjoy about this place, however, if you can fight the impulse.
Switch and mobile in Terra Nil
While Terra Nil is more akin to an un-builder of cities, the gaming mechanics remain the same. You begin amid the wreckage of our world, which has become uninhabitable due to a climatic crisis. Enjoy the calming music and lovely pixel imagery while using eco-technology to cleanse the soil and create plains, wetlands, beaches, rainforests, wildflowers, and more.
The game Free Lives also deflects attention from endless growth, a problem that often surfaces in other city builders. Rather of trying to max out every system, your objective should be to bring back the animals and put the environment back into equilibrium. For further insider advice, see our Terra Nil review if this seems like the game for you.
Switch
- DorfromatikNo, Dorfromantik is not a romantic dwarven dating game; rather, it is a cosy but difficult puzzle and city-builder game combined into one. Try to beat your high score by methodically building your randomly produced lovely community, one hexagonal tile at a time.
Dorfromantik's procedural feature makes it very replayable, and as you advance, you may unlock a variety of additional tiles and biomes. It's also accessible as a board game if you like to play your games in real life.
Try Tropico 6 if you like city-builders with a lot of political features and a touch of the tropics. You take on the position of El Presidente of Tropico, much as in the previous entries in the series, but instead of controlling a single large island, you may now command an archipelago of smaller ones.
Tropico 6 allows you to see how your island changes over time as it spans four distinct historical periods, from the Colonial era to the present. This entry serves as a more laid-back introduction to the series for new players as well since it doesn't include a typical campaign.
Mobile Settlement Survival
As the name implies, Settlement Survival is a difficult, management-based gaming experience that blends the fundamentals of city-building with survival elements—perfect for on-the-go play. Create thriving communities for your citizens out of desolate wastelands, and strive for exponential development!
In addition to the typical issues like resource scarcity, you will also have to deal with an ageing population, baby boomers, and deadly diseases that may infect your colony from outside.
There you have it, people! That concludes our list of the top city building games available on Switch and mobile devices. You can also read our defence of the The Simpsons: Hit and Run remake right now if you just can't get enough of that amazing Duff (or video games).