Games like Prison Architect on Steam
For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free games like Prison Architect are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
Startopia
A once thriving network of space stations and planets have been left lifeless, redundant scars of the apocalypse. Into this age of darkness comes light. You will lead the way in rebuilding the network of space stations to a standard accepted by the individual alien races, attracting them to harness their expertise and research new...
Parkasaurus
Parkasaurus is a dinosaur tycoon management simulation where you take care of your dinosaurs by constructing well-designed exhibits, researching specialized technologies, and maximizing profits to expand into the ultimate dinosaur theme park. Do you favor development for guests or your dinosaurs?
Surviving Mars
There will be challenges to overcome. Execute your strategy and improve your colony’s chances of survival while unlocking the mysteries of this alien world. Are you ready? Mars is waiting for you.
Imperium Romanum Gold Edition
The city builder strategy game Imperium Romanum is set in the time-honoured Roman Empire. As governor of a Roman province, you will devise a strategy to build a well organised, prosperous and commanding settlement. Its fortune very much lies in your own hands.
Train Fever
It’s the year 1850, and there are great times ahead! Establish a transport company and be its manager. Build infrastructure such as railways and stations, purchase transportation vehicles and manage lines. Fulfill the people’s needs and watch cities evolve dynamically.
As Far As The Eye
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?
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.
Mind Over Magic
Mind Over Magic is a colony sim set at the site of a cursed magic school. Build and optimize your own magical academy, train powerful Mages, and master mighty relics in order to battle through the Underschool, a mysterious underground dungeon that holds the key to liberation from a deadly curse.
Blueprint Tycoon
Build your settlement, gather goods, ensure maximum efficiency and make a profit!
Stronghold: Definitive Edition
Greetings sire! Your stronghold awaits you. Build a castle economy, besiege unforgettable villains and return to the 'castle sim' that started it all. Experience this classic RTS with upgraded visuals, modernised gameplay, Steam multiplayer and a new campaign.
Tracks - The Train Set Game
Jump into the ultimate toy sandbox and build the train set of your dreams! Create colourful railway systems, decorate beautiful towns, transport commuting passengers, and even ride your train in first-person.
Stronghold 2: Steam Edition
Tax, torture or treat your peasants! Rehabilitate criminals or sentence them to death? Decide as you enjoy jousting over a lavish banquet, all while under siege from the warmongering Lord Barclay.
Demolish & Build 2017
Become a boss of Demolition & Build company. Destroy small wooden huts and huge concrete buildings. Manage your workers. Invest earned cash in your own land properties and rent them for profit in open sandbox world. Use various hand tools, buy new machines and customize their parts.
Guardians of the Sanctree
You and allies, avian inhabitants of Sanctree City, build structures and production lines on the tree, crafting weapons to fend off subterranean insects. Defense is just the start—dig deeper, destroy nests, fortify new defenses against escalating threats for an impregnable stronghold.
Frostpunk
Frostpunk is the first society survival game. As the ruler of the last city on Earth, it is your duty to manage both its citizens and infrastructure. What decisions will you make to ensure your society's survival? What will you do when pushed to breaking point? Who will you become in the process?
Forts
Unleash your creativity and strategic prowess in Forts, the exhilarating physics-based RTS! Design, construct, and customize imposing fortresses, bristling with devastating firepower, and blast your opponent’s buildings to rubble!
Craft The World
Craft The World is a unique sandbox strategy game, the mix of Dungeon Keeper, Terraria and Dwarf Fortress. Explore a random generated world populated by dangerous creatures, build a dwarf fortress, gather resources, and craft all the items, weapons, and armor you need.
The Last Haven
The world after a nuclear war. Manage the settlement, learn technology, make decisions, produce weapons, ammunition, organize defense, raid for supplies on other areas, do not let residents die, survive the nuclear winter.
Espresso Tycoon
Espresso Tycoon - a coffee shop simulator. Create your brand, decorate the coffee shop, manage your employees, and take care of your customers. Use the 3D coffee editor to create coffee recipes, order supplies, and collect rating points. Build the whole coffee business and complete all the missions!
War for the Overworld
War for the Overworld is an unholy union of Dungeon Management and Strategy that rewards all those villainous thoughts you’ve been having. Craft your own perilous dungeon and defend it against pesky heroes who keep exploring it and taking your stuff.
IXION
IXION is an unrelenting, city-building odyssey across the stars. As Administrator of the Tiqqun, DOLOS’ prototype space station, you are tasked with balancing preservation and exploration as you manage infrastructure, resources and crew. Can you keep the flame of humanity alight in the cold dark?
Rogue AI Simulator
Play as a Rogue Artificial Intelligence, in the sequel to the hit Flash game "I'm an Insane Rogue AI", played more than 4 million times! Your Prime Directive is simple: design a facility & manage human Test Subjects for the Dept of Science. But be careful: they NEVER stop being suspicious of you...
Most played games like Prison Architect on Steam
Take a look at the top games like Prison Architect that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of June 16th 2025.
1. RimWorld
Similarity 75% 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 210,517 reviews of which 206,216 were positive and 4,301 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 Prison Architect, thanks to its 26,435 peak concurrent players over the last day.
9.7
206,216
4,301
26,435
players
2. Factorio
Similarity 57% 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 215,209 reviews of which 208,770 were positive and 6,439 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. While seeing 18,640 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among games like Prison Architect based on player count.
9.6
208,770
6,439
18,640
players
3. Oxygen Not Included
Similarity 71% Oxygen Not Included is a space-colony simulation game. Deep inside an alien space rock your industrious crew will need to master science, overcome strange new lifeforms, and harness incredible space tech to survive, and possibly, thrive. Oxygen Not Included is a colony sim, base-building and survival game developed and published by Klei Entertainment. Released on July 30th 2019 has received 128,390 reviews of which 124,220 were positive and 4,170 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. While seeing 9,142 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among games like Prison Architect based on player count.
9.5
124,220
4,170
9,142
players
4. Cities: Skylines
Similarity 71% Cities: Skylines is a modern take on the classic city simulation. The game introduces new game play elements to realize the thrill and hardships of creating and maintaining a real city whilst expanding on some well-established tropes of the city building experience. Cities: Skylines is a city builder, simulation and building game developed by Colossal Order Ltd. and published by Paradox Interactive. Released on March 10th 2015 has received 275,770 reviews of which 256,362 were positive and 19,408 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. With 6,314 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played games like Prison Architect.
9.2
256,362
19,408
6,314
players
5. Timberborn
Similarity 52% Humans are long gone. In a world struck by droughts and toxic waste, will your lumberpunk beavers do any better? A city-building game featuring ingenious animals, vertical architecture, water physics, and terraforming. Contains high amounts of wood. Timberborn is a city builder, voxel and colony sim game developed and published by Mechanistry. Released on September 15th 2021 has received 31,678 reviews of which 30,266 were positive and 1,412 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. With 4,145 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played games like Prison Architect.
9.4
30,266
1,412
4,145
players
6. Captain of Industry
Similarity 55% Land your crew of survivors on an abandoned island and survive! Mine raw materials, grow food, build factories, manufacture products, research new tech, and trade with others. Become an industrial superpower! But this is no easy task, you will be put to the test to keep your settlement alive. Captain of Industry is a base-building, automation and resource management game developed and published by MaFi Games. Released on May 31st 2022 has received 7,154 reviews of which 6,737 were positive and 417 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. With 3,916 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played games like Prison Architect.
9.1
6,737
417
3,916
players
7. WorldBox - God Simulator
Similarity 50% WorldBox is the ULTIMATE god simulator and sandbox game. A petri dish for your fantasy civilizations. Create your own world or destroy it using many powers. Watch civilizations grow, form kingdoms, colonize new lands, sail to far continents, wars to ignite, empires to fall and towns to burn! WorldBox - God Simulator is a sandbox, god game and simulation game developed and published by Maxim Karpenko. Released on December 02nd 2021 has received 44,062 reviews of which 41,874 were positive and 2,188 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. With 3,839 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played games like Prison Architect.
9.3
41,874
2,188
3,839
players
8. Anno 1800
Similarity 55% Anno 1800™ – Lead the Industrial Revolution! Welcome to the dawn of the Industrial Age. The path you choose will define your world. Are you an innovator or an exploiter? A conqueror or a liberator? How the world remembers your name is up to you. Anno 1800 is a city builder, strategy and simulation game developed by Ubisoft Mainz and published by Ubisoft. Released on April 16th 2019 has received 25,091 reviews of which 20,368 were positive and 4,723 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.0 out of 10. With 3,157 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played games like Prison Architect.
8.0
20,368
4,723
3,157
players
9. Transport Fever 2
Similarity 58% The classic transport simulation genre has a new gold standard with Transport Fever 2. Discover a whole new world by navigating transport routes through land, water and air. May progress and prosperity find their way! Transport Fever 2 is a simulation, strategy and management game developed by Urban Games and published by Good Shepherd Entertainment. Released on December 11th 2019 has received 27,627 reviews of which 24,960 were positive and 2,667 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. With 2,477 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played games like Prison Architect.
8.9
24,960
2,667
2,477
players
10. Planet Zoo
Similarity 66% Build a world for wildlife in Planet Zoo. From the developers of Planet Coaster and Zoo Tycoon comes the ultimate zoo sim. Construct detailed habitats, manage your zoo, and meet authentic living animals who think, feel and explore the world you create around them. Planet Zoo is a management, simulation and building game developed and published by Frontier Developments. Released on November 05th 2019 has received 87,849 reviews of which 80,029 were positive and 7,820 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. With 2,449 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played games like Prison Architect.
9.0
80,029
7,820
2,449
players
Best deals on games like Prison Architect on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of games like Prison Architect available on Steam right now, updated on June 16th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted games like Prison Architect.
1. Founders' Fortune
Similarity 84% A fantasy village builder focusing on creative building, colonist psychology and base defense. Handle resources, farming, production, tools, diplomacy, families, trading, defense, and research, as well as the wishes, expectations, thoughts, and equipment of every villager. Founders' Fortune is a colony sim, base-building and city builder game developed and published by Dionic Software. Released on December 18th 2020 has received 2,114 reviews of which 1,699 were positive and 415 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. Featuring a massive 99% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for games like Prison Architect.
7.7
1,699
415
-99%
18.99€
0.29€
2. Railroad Corporation
Similarity 52% Relive the pioneering spirit of the Golden Age of Steam by establishing your own railroad empire across 19th century North America. Bring settlements together, produce and trade goods and develop new technologies to stay ahead of the competition. Want more? RAILROAD CORPORATION 2 Out Now! Railroad Corporation is a strategy, trains and management game developed by Corbie Games and published by Iceberg Interactive. Released on November 18th 2019 has received 1,387 reviews of which 1,028 were positive and 359 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.1 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 99% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in games like Prison Architect.
7.1
1,028
359
-99%
35.10€
0.44€
3. Honey, I Joined a Cult
Similarity 70% It's time to start working towards that ultimate goal of enlightenment, faith and money…lots and lots of money! Become the ultimate tycoon - create, customise, and manage your own cult whilst listening to funky music. Welcome to Honey, I Joined a Cult! Honey, I Joined a Cult is a simulation, base-building and resource management game developed by Sole Survivor Games and published by Team17. Released on November 03rd 2022 has received 1,732 reviews of which 1,279 were positive and 453 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.1 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 99% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in games like Prison Architect.
7.1
1,279
453
-99%
21.99€
0.40€
4. Aven Colony
Similarity 57% Build a new home for humanity in Aven Colony. Discover Aven Prime - an alien planet of deserts, tundras, and wetlands light years from earth. Build your colonies into massive, sprawling cities whilst dealing with the challenges faced when settling on a new world. Aven Colony is a colony sim, city builder and strategy game developed by Mothership Entertainment LLC and published by Team17 Digital Ltd. Released on July 25th 2017 has received 2,638 reviews of which 1,921 were positive and 717 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 99% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for games like Prison Architect.
7.1
1,921
717
-99%
29.99€
0.47€
5. Lords and Villeins
Similarity 64% 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 872 reviews of which 633 were positive and 239 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.0 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 99% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for games like Prison Architect.
7.0
633
239
-99%
24.99€
0.38€
6. Naheulbeuk's Dungeon Master
Similarity 66% A dungeon in danger ! Build, manage, and defend your tower in the satirical heroic fantasy universe of Dungeon of Naheulbeuk. From a shaky establishment to an infamous lair! Naheulbeuk's Dungeon Master is a management, simulation and funny game developed by Artefacts Studio and published by Dear Villagers. Released on November 15th 2023 has received 1,408 reviews of which 1,006 were positive and 402 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 99% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for games like Prison Architect.
6.9
1,006
402
-99%
24.99€
0.44€
7. Autonauts
Similarity 49% In Autonauts you must build, create, and automate. Start by establishing a colony, crafting bots and teaching them via Scratch-style programming to build an ever evolving autonomous paradise of agriculture, industry and enlightenment. Autonauts is a simulation, programming and automation game developed by Denki and published by Curve Games. Released on October 17th 2019 has received 4,785 reviews of which 4,283 were positive and 502 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for games like Prison Architect.
8.6
4,283
502
-98%
19.99€
0.43€
8. Transport Fever
Similarity 50% Transport Fever is a railroad-focused tycoon game. Players start in 1850 and build up a thriving transport company. As an emerging transport tycoon, the player constructs stations, airports, harbors and makes money by connecting areas requiring transport services. Build up your own Empire! Transport Fever is a flight, city builder and sandbox game developed by Urban Games and published by Good Shepherd Entertainment. Released on November 08th 2016 has received 10,722 reviews of which 8,934 were positive and 1,788 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for games like Prison Architect.
8.1
8,934
1,788
-98%
29.99€
0.68€
9. Havendock
Similarity 59% Breathe easy and thrive in this cozy colony sim. Build a haven for castaways, manage resources, live your best life on the ocean. Lead your humble settlement into a high-tech society. Havendock is a singleplayer, strategy and city builder game developed by YYZ Studio and published by IndieArk and Pretty Soon. Released on April 22nd 2025 has received 1,399 reviews of which 1,191 were positive and 208 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for games like Prison Architect.
8.1
1,191
208
-98%
19.50€
0.42€
10. Nebuchadnezzar
Similarity 56% Create and customize cities in Nebuchadnezzar, a classic isometric city-builder where careful planning and define your rise as a ruler in ancient Mesopotamia. Nebuchadnezzar is a city builder, sandbox and building game developed by Nepos Games and published by Astra Logical. Released on February 17th 2021 has received 1,706 reviews of which 1,354 were positive and 352 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for games like Prison Architect.
7.6
1,354
352
-98%
19.99€
0.43€
Free games like Prison Architect on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play games like Prison Architect you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on June 16th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play games like Prison Architect.
1. OpenTTD
Similarity 59% 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 14,394 reviews of which 13,845 were positive and 549 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. With 472 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free games like Prison Architect.
9.4
13,845
549
472
players
2. Global City
Similarity 51% 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 1,200 reviews of which 841 were positive and 359 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.8 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 168, this game has secured the #2 spot in the ranking of free games like Prison Architect.
6.8
841
359
168
players
3. The Powder Toy
Similarity 53% The Powder Toy is a classic physics sandbox game, which simulates air pressure and velocity, heat, gravity and a countless number of interactions between different substances The Powder Toy is a simulation, sandbox and 2d game developed and published by The Powder Toy Team. Released on June 14th 2024 has received 1,852 reviews of which 1,824 were positive and 28 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played free games like Prison Architect.
9.4
1,824
28
96
players
4. Kingdom: Classic
Similarity 59% 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, strategy and singleplayer game developed by Noio and Licorice and published by Raw Fury. Released on October 21st 2015 has received 22,088 reviews of which 20,023 were positive and 2,065 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. The game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played free games like Prison Architect.
8.9
20,023
2,065
48
players
5. My Free Zoo
Similarity 51% 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 662 reviews of which 415 were positive and 247 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played free games like Prison Architect.
6.1
415
247
40
players
6. Simutrans
Similarity 59% 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 622 reviews of which 468 were positive and 154 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played free games like Prison Architect.
7.2
468
154
16
players
7. MachineCraft
Similarity 56% The main purpose of this game is showing and watching machines made out of blocks. Some of the game-modes allow you to battle or race against other players. (testing phase) You can create your original machine with ease by reassembling those machines that are distributed, or by using the automatic control block. MachineCraft is a free to play, building and sandbox game developed and published by G2CREW. Released on March 25th 2016 has received 889 reviews of which 686 were positive and 203 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played free games like Prison Architect.
7.4
686
203
5
players
8. Oxygen: First Breath
Similarity 73% This is a free version of Oxygen, featuring the first 50 game-days. Build your city around the Oxygen Center and ensure your people's survival in a post-apocalyptic future, threatened by crack explosions, deadly winds, droughts and frosts. Lead your people and keep the Oxygen Center running! Oxygen: First Breath is a strategy, base-building and city builder game developed by Turquoise Revival Games and published by GrabTheGames and UpgradePoint. Released on October 07th 2022 has received 1,594 reviews of which 1,432 were positive and 162 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played free games like Prison Architect.
8.6
1,432
162
4
players
9. Smart Factory Tycoon: Beginnings
Similarity 63% This is a free version of Smart Factory Tycoon, a game inspired by Little Big Workshop introducing the first productions. Smart Factory Tycoon is a tycoon management game where you design your dream factory with robots, plan all steps of production, research new technologies and become a tycoon! Smart Factory Tycoon: Beginnings is a simulation, strategy and resource management game developed by Turquoise Revival Games and published by GrabTheGames. Released on January 05th 2022 has received 496 reviews of which 385 were positive and 111 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.3 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played free games like Prison Architect.
7.3
385
111
1
players
10. Occupy White Walls
Similarity 54% A game about building art galleries may sound boring until you realise that just about anything can be an art gallery... Add in cutting edge AI, extremely creative community, Unreal graphics, and did we mention it's free? Occupy White Walls is a building, sandbox and simulation game developed and published by KULTURA Ex Machina. Released on July 08th 2022 has received 1,275 reviews of which 1,180 were positive and 95 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played free games like Prison Architect.
8.8
1,180
95