The base-building genre is one with many standout games, some of which focus on the stresses and challenges of building, some with an extreme survival focus, and others that are much more relaxed and chilled out. With such a wide range of games to choose from, base builder fans are almost spoiled for choice. The choice paralysis is real.

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This is a genre with something for everyone, from total genre newbies to jaded and cynical veterans. Whether fans of historical settings, whacky and unique locales, or sci-fi vastness, there's a base builder that fits. But sometimes gamers are just looking for something cozy and low-stress. Here are some of the most chilled-out and relaxing base builder games available.

10 Medieval Dynasty

Base-Builder with RPG elements

Medieval Dynasty is a fully 3D, first-person medieval base builder game with RPG elements. Players can complete quests for NPCs, get married, and also build their own medieval settlement.

The main gameplay loop involves finding resources to use to construct various kinds of building, from basic shacks for housing to more complex resource processing and production. For players more focused on the building aspects, Medieval Dynasty can be a very relaxed, very chilled out base building game.

9 Airborne Kingdom

Unique Flying City

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Airborne Kingdom is a fun little base-builder game with a difference - the player is tasked with building a mobile, aerial settlement. Airborne Kingdom game play is interesting because the player needs to balance the city structure so it doesn't topple over.

But outside of the normal resource management, Airborne Kingdom has a very chilled out feel and is perfect for gamers looking for a more relaxing base builder experience with a unique setting.

8 Banished

A Real Classic

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Banished is a classic base-builder game that's spawned a whole genre of games inspired by its success. But despite the competition, Banished holds up, and it's a fantastic choice of relaxing base-building game.

Banished does have disasters and problems, but there are no enemies and the overall vibe of the game is pretty chilled. Players get to manage their own sprawling settlement and its resources in a charming late medieval, early colonial setting. Well worth a play.

7 No Man's Sky

Endless Exploration

No Man's Sky is a game that initially failed to meet expectations, but after years of dedicated and free updates, offers players a fantastic space experience with rich exploration and even a story.

But No Man's Sky also lets players build pretty cool bases on any planet they encounter. Depending on the game mode, No Man's Sky can be the ultimate relaxing base building experience with a sci-fi twist.

6 Astroneer

Space Base Builder with Optional Co-op

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Astroneer is a fun little game where players can build a base on an alien world, complete with landscape modification. With good exploration, Astroneer rewards creativity without turning the game into a slog.

Players get to build a variety of kinds of base in different locations, and the optional co-op gives Astroneer a nice social feel that allows players to build sprawling bases with their friends.

5 Foundation

Chilled Out Resource Management

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Foundation is a nice, chilled out resource management settlement builder game set in a medieval world. Players get to manage their citizens and their access to various kinds of resource in a gridless world where the citizens even make their own roads.

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Foundation has a neat monument building system where players can choose from various building pieces to build unique structures in various categories, from churches and taverns to monasteries and sprawling manor houses. With no enemies or major disasters, Foundation is an excellent and relaxing base builder game.

4 Minecraft

Building with Blocks

Massively popular, Minecraft has a little something to offer everyone - especially those gamers looking for a nice, relaxing base building experience. Although some modes of Minecraft can have brutal difficulty, others rewards players looking to stretch their creative muscles.

Especially in its creative sandbox mode, Minecraft offers almost unparalleled freedom to build structures of every kind for the dedicated player. Minecraft's versatility allows players to really get their creative juices flowing, making it an excellent relaxing base builder.

3 Townscaper

Endless Building

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Townscaper is a great little game without any resources or hazards, allowing players to scratch the base-building itch without any fuss or difficulty to ruin the mood. This is a cozy, relaxing base-builder game where the focus is simply on building something the player enjoys.

Townscaper is a sandbox game with no goal or objective - it's all about the building. Players plop down buildings, choose a color, and the algorithm turns them into gardens, bridges and so on. Definitely a game to play for players who want the ultimate in relaxing base-builder gameplay.

2 Dorfromantik

Building With Tiles

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Dorfromantik is a cute, chilled-out builder game where the player gets to build villages and the surrounding environment using randomly chosen tiles. There are no resources, so resource management outside of the tile system is non-existent, making Dorfromantik a charming and low-stress game.

There's a little bit of intrigue given how the game hands out new tiles, requiring combos of tiles which makes placement of tiles a little more interesting, but the overall stress is low.

1 Islanders

The Ultimate Minimalist Base Builder

• Released: 04/04/2019
• Developer: Coatskink, GrizzlyGames, Stage Clear Studios
• Genre: City builder

The entire conceit of Islanders is that it's a minimalist city-builder game set wholly on visually appealing, colorful islands. The minimalist approach to Islanders gives it a very low-stress, cozy vibe.

Islanders was designed with replayability in mind, featuring an infinite number of procedurally spawned environments, and was developed specifically to have a relaxing atmosphere and cozy vibes. Islanders is a perfect relaxing base builder for players looking for maximum base-building fun with minimal resource management stress.

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