Games like 1980 on Steam
For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free games like 1980 are available at the bottom of the page.
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United Penguin Kingdom
A city-building game where you build a penguin settlement and satisfy the various needs of your penguins while dealing with seals and killer whales. Enjoy the growth of your settlement, become the king, and lead the United Penguin Kingdom.
Bronze Age - HD Edition
What was it like to be a chief of a tribe in 6000 year B.C.? Oh, you know, the usual - feed your people, build them shelters, defend them from raids of neighbors. And if you are lucky, sooner or later you will build a kingdom and become their king!
Predynastic Egypt
Do you know how did Ancient Egypt looked like before the Great Pyramids? Lead the future Egyptian citizens all the way through the historical hardships to the Unification of Lower and Upper Egypt, and you will find out!
Marble Age: Remastered
Marble Age is a turn-based historical strategy where your task is to turn a small Ancient Greek village into a flourishing Polis, powerful enough to conquer the known world!
Marble Age
Turn-based historical simulation strategy. Develop the Greek civilization from the small village to the great city-state when it will dominate the world!
OpenTTD
OpenTTD is a business simulation game in which players earn money by transporting passengers and cargo via road, rail, water, and air. It is an open-source remake and expansion of the 1995 Chris Sawyer video game Transport Tycoon Deluxe.
Farlanders
Terraform, strategize, and construct a Martian colony in this retro-inspired turn-based city builder. Create a comfortable living for your citizens, research alien artifacts, and uncover the secrets of the Red Planet.
SimAirport
Build & Manage Your Airport. An International Hub or a Regional Masterpiece -- it's up to you. Buy more land to scale out, or escalators to scale up with MULTIPLE FLOORS. You're in full control in this modern business management tycoon!
Simutrans
Simutrans is a freeware and open-source transportation simulator. Your goal is to establish a successful transport company. Transport passengers, mail and goods by rail, road, ship, and even air. Interconnect districts, cities, public buildings, industries and tourist attractions.
Kingdom: Classic
Kingdom is a 2D sidescrolling strategy/resource management hybrid with a minimalist feel wrapped in a beautiful, modern pixel art aesthetic.
Minami Lane
Welcome to Minami Lane! Build your own street in this tiny cozy, casual management sim! Unlock and customize buildings, manage your shops, and maximize the happiness of your villagers to complete quests and fill your street with love!
Nebuchadnezzar
Create and customize cities in Nebuchadnezzar, a classic isometric city-builder where careful planning and define your rise as a ruler in ancient Mesopotamia.
1849
1849 is a city management game set during the California Gold Rush. Your task is to build towns, populate them with workers, and make sure that they are housed, fed, and entertained. You’ll have to manage and coordinate extensive production and trade networks to make sure your towns thrive.
California Escapades
In this simulation and adventure game, explore 19th-century Gold Rush California. Join Jim and Emma to build and manage your farm and city. Plant crops, raise animals, construct buildings, complete missions, uncover secrets, and collect treasures. Start your adventure now!
Soul Academy
"Soul Academy" is an academy simulator with automatic battle MOBA. You will manage a shabby soul academy, recruiting and training students. Your ultimate goal is to challenge various academies across the continent and reach the top.
Cardboard Town
Cardboard Town is a city-building card game. Manage your resources, obtain upgrades, draw your cards and thrive! Random events, quest cards, and game modes make each run different.
Diluvian Winds
Diluvian Winds is a relaxing management game set in a small hamlet at the foot of a lighthouse. Welcome weary travelers and work together to expand your hamlet on land, under the sea, or among the clouds.
Rebuild 3: Gangs of Deadsville
Rebuild a ruined city in this post-apocalyptic mix of strategy and simulation. Manage survivors, scavenge for food and supplies, deal with rival gangs, illness, interpersonal strife and zombie attacks.
Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim
Build an empire in a single sitting. All the strategy of a classic 4X in a faster format, which also shines in multiplayer.
My Free Zoo
A small zoo needs your help! As the new manager, it's your job to boost business. Design the zoo of your dreams. From wolves and polar bears all the way to prehistoric beasts – the further you progress in the game, the more exotic the animals you'll be able to keep in your zoo. Play now and save the zoo!
Gladiator Guild Manager
A strategic autobattler sim where you build a team of gladiators, compete in arenas, plan fight tactics, and form alliances. Combine fighters, beasts, and mages, develop and equip them to optimize your well-oiled fighting machine, dominate the championships, and leave your mark on the world.
Egypt: Old Kingdom
Strategy simulator of the Great Pyramids period, where you take your path from the unification of Egyptian tribes to the foundation of The First Empire. Developed with the assistance of Egyptologists.
Unholy Heights
Welcome to Unholy Heights, a mashup of Tower Defense and Apartment Management Simulation!Most played games like 1980 on Steam
Take a look at the top games like 1980 that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of April 30th 2025.
1. RimWorld
Similarity 63% A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more. RimWorld is a colony sim, base-building and survival game developed and published by Ludeon Studios. Released on October 17th 2018 has received 208,163 reviews of which 203,940 were positive and 4,223 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.7 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played game like 1980, thanks to its 18,188 peak concurrent players over the last day.
9.7
203,940
4,223
18,188
players
2. Factorio
Similarity 67% Factorio is a game about building and creating automated factories to produce items of increasing complexity, within an infinite 2D world. Use your imagination to design your factory, combine simple elements into ingenious structures, and finally protect it from the creatures who don't really like you. Factorio is a automation, base-building and resource management game developed and published by Wube Software LTD.. Released on August 14th 2020 has received 213,390 reviews of which 206,974 were positive and 6,416 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. While seeing 13,456 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among games like 1980 based on player count.
9.6
206,974
6,416
13,456
players
3. Mr.Mine
Similarity 63% Explore the depths of the earth and uncover hidden treasures in this addictive idle mining game. Unlock the power of your drill with hundreds of upgrades, discover mysterious relics, and unearth priceless gems. Can you master the mines and reveal their deepest secrets? Dive in and dig deep! Mr.Mine is a idler, clicker and simulation game developed and published by Playsaurus. Released on September 30th 2020 has received 16,977 reviews of which 15,607 were positive and 1,370 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. While seeing 872 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among games like 1980 based on player count.
9.0
15,607
1,370
872
players
4. Prison Architect
Similarity 67% Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect. Prison Architect is a simulation, building and sandbox game developed by Double Eleven and Introversion Software and published by Paradox Interactive. Released on October 06th 2015 has received 72,107 reviews of which 64,262 were positive and 7,845 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. With 697 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played games like 1980.
8.8
64,262
7,845
697
players
5. Project Hospital
Similarity 65% Become an ace doctor, an aspiring architect and a successful manager at the same time. Design your very own hospital, tweak every detail or choose one of the prebuilt scenarios and just jump to the doctor’s duty. Project Hospital is a medical sim, city builder and management game developed and published by Oxymoron Games. Released on October 30th 2018 has received 8,206 reviews of which 7,263 were positive and 943 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. With 653 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played games like 1980.
8.6
7,263
943
653
players
6. Stronghold Crusader HD (2012)
Similarity 63% The highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling Stronghold, Stronghold Crusader HD throws you into historic battles and castle sieges from the Crusades with fiendish AI opponents, new units, 4 historical campaigns and over 100 unique skirmish missions. Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) is a military, city builder and real time tactics game developed and published by FireFly Studios. Released on October 21st 2013 has received 19,648 reviews of which 19,185 were positive and 463 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. With 604 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played games like 1980.
9.5
19,185
463
604
players
7. OpenTTD
Similarity 76% OpenTTD is a business simulation game in which players earn money by transporting passengers and cargo via road, rail, water, and air. It is an open-source remake and expansion of the 1995 Chris Sawyer video game Transport Tycoon Deluxe. OpenTTD is a simulation, building and free to play game developed and published by OpenTTD. Released on April 01st 2021 has received 14,214 reviews of which 13,670 were positive and 544 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. With 377 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played games like 1980.
9.4
13,670
544
377
players
8. Airport CEO
Similarity 64% Build and manage an international airport! Airport CEO is a flight, resource management and moddable game developed and published by Apog Labs. Released on March 04th 2021 has received 7,621 reviews of which 6,381 were positive and 1,240 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. With 233 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played games like 1980.
8.1
6,381
1,240
233
players
9. CivIdle
Similarity 65% CivIdle is an idle/incremental game that allows you to lead your own civilization through thousands of years from ancient times to the modern era. Expand your territory, explore a vast tech tree, build various wonders, and trade with global players: empire must grow and numbers must go up! CivIdle is a early access, idler and base building game developed by FishPond and published by Fish Pond Studio. Released on February 16th 2024 has received 606 reviews of which 456 were positive and 150 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. With 231 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played games like 1980.
7.2
456
150
231
players
10. Drill Core
Similarity 63% Corporate greed meets strategic planet-mining in Drill Core! Drill to the heart of planets while managing workers, researching cutting-edge tech, and fortifying against alien attacks. Will you prioritize efficiency and risk your workers' safety, or focus on defense for survival? Drill Core is a early access, strategy and colony sim game developed by Hungry Couch Games and published by tinyBuild. Released on September 12th 2024 has received 1,236 reviews of which 1,060 were positive and 176 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.2 out of 10. With 185 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played games like 1980.
8.2
1,060
176
185
players
Best deals on games like 1980 on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of games like 1980 available on Steam right now, updated on April 30th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted games like 1980.
1. Lords and Villeins
Similarity 67% Build a prosperous settlement in a unique simulation of a feudal economy - each family runs their shop, owns their goods, and trades with other villagers in a free market. You will manage the land, build houses, organise events, set taxes, and balance supply and demand while engaging in diplomacy! Lords and Villeins is a colony sim, strategy and city builder game developed by Honestly Games and published by Fulqrum Publishing. Released on November 10th 2022 has received 867 reviews of which 628 were positive and 239 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.0 out of 10. Featuring a massive 96% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for games like 1980.
7.0
628
239
-96%
27.50€
1.10€
2. Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim
Similarity 69% Build an empire in a single sitting. All the strategy of a classic 4X in a faster format, which also shines in multiplayer. Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim is a grand strategy, turn-based strategy and 4x game developed by The Secret Games Company and published by Goblinz Publishing and IndieArk. Released on October 11th 2022 has received 1,508 reviews of which 1,325 were positive and 183 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 93% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in games like 1980.
8.4
1,325
183
-93%
14.29€
1.00€
3. Prison Architect
Similarity 67% Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect. Prison Architect is a simulation, building and sandbox game developed by Double Eleven and Introversion Software and published by Paradox Interactive. Released on October 06th 2015 has received 72,107 reviews of which 64,262 were positive and 7,845 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 90% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in games like 1980.
8.8
64,262
7,845
-90%
24.80€
2.48€
4. As Far As The Eye
Similarity 65% Build a mobile village and travel with your tribe toward the center of the world, called The Eye. This roguelike turn-based resource-management game is made of procedural situations, natural events, skill-trees and hard choices. Ready to move? As Far As The Eye is a strategy, building and colony sim game developed by Unexpected and published by Unexpected, Goblinz Publishing and Maple Whispering Limited. Released on September 10th 2020 has received 2,078 reviews of which 1,507 were positive and 571 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.0 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 89% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for games like 1980.
7.0
1,507
571
-89%
20.73€
2.28€
5. Lethis - Path of Progress
Similarity 67% Lethis - Path of Progress is a city-builder in a victorian steampunk setting. Lethis - Path of Progress is a city builder, strategy and steampunk game developed and published by Triskell Interactive. Released on June 25th 2015 has received 1,182 reviews of which 808 were positive and 374 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.6 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 89% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for games like 1980.
6.6
808
374
-89%
19.73€
2.17€
6. Project Highrise
Similarity 63% Project Highrise is a skyscraper construction and management sim... Project Highrise is a simulation, management and building game developed by SomaSim and published by Kasedo Games. Released on September 08th 2016 has received 4,545 reviews of which 3,858 were positive and 687 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.2 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 87% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for games like 1980.
8.2
3,858
687
-87%
20.15€
2.62€
7. Cardboard Town
Similarity 72% Cardboard Town is a city-building card game. Manage your resources, obtain upgrades, draw your cards and thrive! Random events, quest cards, and game modes make each run different. Cardboard Town is a building, city builder and card game game developed by Stratera Games and cukuto and published by Rogue Duck Interactive and Gamersky Games. Released on August 18th 2023 has received 1,789 reviews of which 1,477 were positive and 312 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 80% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for games like 1980.
7.9
1,477
312
-80%
19.95€
3.99€
8. Airport CEO
Similarity 64% Build and manage an international airport! Airport CEO is a flight, resource management and moddable game developed and published by Apog Labs. Released on March 04th 2021 has received 7,621 reviews of which 6,381 were positive and 1,240 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 72% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for games like 1980.
8.1
6,381
1,240
-72%
24.39€
6.83€
9. Stronghold Crusader HD (2012)
Similarity 63% The highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling Stronghold, Stronghold Crusader HD throws you into historic battles and castle sieges from the Crusades with fiendish AI opponents, new units, 4 historical campaigns and over 100 unique skirmish missions. Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) is a military, city builder and real time tactics game developed and published by FireFly Studios. Released on October 21st 2013 has received 19,648 reviews of which 19,185 were positive and 463 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 70% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for games like 1980.
9.5
19,185
463
-70%
7.99€
2.39€
10. Cardboard Town
Similarity 72% Cardboard Town is a city-building card game. Manage your resources, obtain upgrades, draw your cards and thrive! Random events, quest cards, and game modes make each run different. Cardboard Town is a game developed and published by . Released on August 18th 2023 has received 1,789 reviews of which 1,477 were positive and 312 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 80% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for games like 1980.
7.9
1,477
312
-80%
19.95€
3.99€
Free games like 1980 on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play games like 1980 you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on April 30th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play games like 1980.
1. Mr.Mine
Similarity 63% Explore the depths of the earth and uncover hidden treasures in this addictive idle mining game. Unlock the power of your drill with hundreds of upgrades, discover mysterious relics, and unearth priceless gems. Can you master the mines and reveal their deepest secrets? Dive in and dig deep! Mr.Mine is a idler, clicker and simulation game developed and published by Playsaurus. Released on September 30th 2020 has received 16,977 reviews of which 15,607 were positive and 1,370 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. With 872 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free games like 1980.
9.0
15,607
1,370
872
players
2. OpenTTD
Similarity 76% OpenTTD is a business simulation game in which players earn money by transporting passengers and cargo via road, rail, water, and air. It is an open-source remake and expansion of the 1995 Chris Sawyer video game Transport Tycoon Deluxe. OpenTTD is a simulation, building and free to play game developed and published by OpenTTD. Released on April 01st 2021 has received 14,214 reviews of which 13,670 were positive and 544 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 377, this game has secured the #2 spot in the ranking of free games like 1980.
9.4
13,670
544
377
players
3. CivIdle
Similarity 65% CivIdle is an idle/incremental game that allows you to lead your own civilization through thousands of years from ancient times to the modern era. Expand your territory, explore a vast tech tree, build various wonders, and trade with global players: empire must grow and numbers must go up! CivIdle is a early access, idler and base building game developed by FishPond and published by Fish Pond Studio. Released on February 16th 2024 has received 606 reviews of which 456 were positive and 150 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 231, this game has secured the #3 spot in the ranking of free games like 1980.
7.2
456
150
231
players
4. Global City
Similarity 63% Become the mayor and build the city of your dreams! In this game, anything is possible. Whatever you can imagine in a city-building and development simulator, you can do. Start from the very beginning and unlock new possibilities for developing your city in Global City! Global City is a city builder, strategy and building game developed by Red Brix Wall and published by MY.GAMES. Released on November 30th 2021 has received 1,169 reviews of which 823 were positive and 346 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.8 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 155 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #4 position in the best free games like 1980.
6.8
823
346
155
players
5. California Escapades
Similarity 73% In this simulation and adventure game, explore 19th-century Gold Rush California. Join Jim and Emma to build and manage your farm and city. Plant crops, raise animals, construct buildings, complete missions, uncover secrets, and collect treasures. Start your adventure now! California Escapades is a casual, simulation and strategy game developed and published by NUTS POWER ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED. Released on September 03rd 2024 has received 493 reviews of which 444 were positive and 49 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played free games like 1980.
8.4
444
49
78
players
6. Industry Idle
Similarity 63% Industry Idle is an idle game that combines factory building, resource management and market trading. Design & build your base, expand & scale up your productions, improve & optimize your economy. Plus all the incremental game goodies: offline earnings, prestige to unlock more powerful upgrades. Industry Idle is a automation, idler and resource management game developed by FishPond and published by Fish Pond Studio. Released on September 13th 2024 has received 1,354 reviews of which 1,054 were positive and 300 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played free games like 1980.
7.5
1,054
300
51
players
7. Kingdom: Classic
Similarity 76% Kingdom is a 2D sidescrolling strategy/resource management hybrid with a minimalist feel wrapped in a beautiful, modern pixel art aesthetic. Kingdom: Classic is a free to play, singleplayer and strategy game developed by Noio and Licorice and published by Raw Fury. Released on October 21st 2015 has received 22,020 reviews of which 19,963 were positive and 2,057 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played free games like 1980.
8.9
19,963
2,057
48
players
8. My Free Zoo
Similarity 69% A small zoo needs your help! As the new manager, it's your job to boost business. Design the zoo of your dreams. From wolves and polar bears all the way to prehistoric beasts – the further you progress in the game, the more exotic the animals you'll be able to keep in your zoo. Play now and save the zoo! My Free Zoo is a free to play, casual and simulation game developed and published by upjers. Released on November 28th 2017 has received 658 reviews of which 411 were positive and 247 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played free games like 1980.
6.1
411
247
41
players
9. Simutrans
Similarity 76% Simutrans is a freeware and open-source transportation simulator. Your goal is to establish a successful transport company. Transport passengers, mail and goods by rail, road, ship, and even air. Interconnect districts, cities, public buildings, industries and tourist attractions. Simutrans is a simulation, free to play and trains game developed and published by The Simutrans Team. Released on May 24th 2016 has received 616 reviews of which 465 were positive and 151 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played free games like 1980.
7.2
465
151
15
players
10. Cookard
Similarity 67% Cookard is a cooking game where you run a restaurant by stacking cards to prepare and serve dishes to customers. Cookard is a free to play, card game and cooking game developed and published by Panitia GameDev and Cliffbite Game. Released on May 10th 2024 has received 1,895 reviews of which 1,833 were positive and 62 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played free games like 1980.
9.2
1,833
62
14
players