Highlights
- RPG city builders offer a combination of cognitive skill improvement and immersive gameplay in magical and futuristic worlds.
- Games like Ninja Village and Littlewood provide entertaining and customizable experiences for beginners and experienced players.
- Medieval Dynasty and Kenshi offer historical accuracy and the freedom to explore and create unique narratives in a richly detailed gaming world.
RPG city builders are the best choices for players who are looking for games that help them improve their cognitive skills while also expanding their understanding of socio-cultural dynamics. While these games can teach players important skills they're far from boring and are often set in magical fantasy and futuristic sci-fi worlds. Thanks to these creative and complex city builder games, players can enjoy beautiful designs while they explore stunning gaming worlds and richly detailed narratives.
However, players can also explore and build their cities in historically accurate worlds and travel back in time and learn about how people lived in different centuries. Gamers can try challenging and easier but fun city builders for beginners and become warriors, dwarfs, and heroes of all types as they embark on their unforgettable adventures and build their very own empires.
Updated on September 15th, 2023 by Geoffrey Martin: This List has been updated to include a video version of the article. The video version details every entry in the piece, showing off each game for readers who have never seen the gameplay in action.
7 Ninja Village
Ninja Village is one of the lesser-known games on Steam that brilliantly blends the RPG and city-building genres. This colorful city builder transports its players back in time, where they have to unify feudal Japan. Among other things, players have to train their ninja warriors, hone their skills, and allocate them to various units for strategic warfare.
However, the game is not only about battles, so gamers will have to focus on their village's economy and make sure it's thriving. As players conquer regional warlords they'll have to expand their territories as well as attract more villagers. Ninja Village is an entertaining RPG city builder that's a great choice for beginners and experienced players who love games set in Japan.
6 Littlewood
Littlewood is one of the most serene life sim games that immerses its players in the post-heroic world of Solemn. Players will have to help the amnesiac heroes as they venture through picturesque forests, vibrant fishing towns, and mysterious mines. During their adventures, they'll meet townsfolk as well as unravel the hero's past.
This RPG city builder is a great choice for players who love games that encourage creativity with their customizable town layouts and a variety of structures. Players can try all kinds of fun hobbies like bug-catching, fishing, and farming. Littlewood also has a wide range of engaging characters that further immerse players in the game's charming world.
5 Aground
Aground is one of the most compelling Mining/Crafting RPGs on Steam with charming pixel graphics and a creative open world. This fantasy-inspired RPG is more than a mere survival game since players will also have to focus on crafting and building while getting to know a fun story. During their journey players will meet a wide variety of NPCs, unlock advanced technology, and even magic.
Players will also be able to raise dragons, farm, cook, travel, as well as do some space exploration. Thanks to Aground's multi-faceted gameplay players can feel fully immersed in a unique and fun gaming world where they can explore a charming fantasy and sci-fi-inspired environment.
4 Craft The World
Craft The World is one of the most popular sandbox games on Steam that merges sandbox strategy with RPG elements. This visually beautiful game is also story rich and players will get to establish their very own thriving dwarf fortress in a randomly generated, danger-filled world.
Players must guide their dwarf tribe, while also fulfilling their needs and ensuring survival against a wide variety of creatures inspired by fantasy. Craft The World isn't solely about survival since resource acquisition and crafting are also equally important as players will have to create essentials, weapons, and armor too. As players expand their territories, and grow their dwarf tribe they'll have to face new challenges and threats, which makes the gameplay even more entertaining.
3 Medieval Dynasty
Medieval Dynasty is one of the most beautifully designed strategy open-world games. This immersive sim takes players back to Europe's Middle Ages, where they get to establish their prosperous dynasty. Players start their journeys as humble and inexperienced individuals and will have to become skilled leaders who can manage their bustling communities.
Players will have to make sure that they maintain a thriving village while also expanding territories and exploring a beautiful world while also doing some hunting, farming, and crafting. As players grow their power, they'll also attract more settlers and can turn their small settlement into a grand city. What makes Medieval Dynasty one of the best RPG city builders is its historical accuracy, which means gamers can also learn about the Middle Ages as they go on their adventures.
2 Kenshi
Kenshi is set in a ruthless desert world in which players can freely explore and follow many paths. Players can choose to be traders, rebels, warlords, or thieves as they explore the game's dangerous but beautiful open world. This sandbox survival game also lets players use their creativity and craft their own unique narratives.
During their journeys players will have to develop and train their squad while turning them into powerful warriors from helpless victims. Gamers will also have to manage their base, research technologies, and initiate trade. Kenshi offers a uniquely immersive and unscripted gaming experience that helps both newcomers and seasoned RPG players fully enjoy their adventures.
1 Dwarf Fortress
Dwarf Fortress is known to be one of the most detailed RPG city-builder games in which players manage a bustling dwarf colony within an intricately simulated world that's uniquely generated each time, offering endless gameplay. However, it's more than just about building. Gamers also have to gather resources, train their dwarves, craft treasures, and face a myriad of challenges, including starvation and enemy invasions.
Dwarf Fortress will surely keep even seasoned players entertained thanks to its highly complex combat models, hundreds of animals, monsters, dynamic weather, and geological environments. Dwarf Fortress' beautiful pixel graphics and music further amplify the experience.