Best Base-Building games on Steam
Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated base-building games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free base-building games are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
MarZ: Tactical Base Defense
Build your defense base to fight back the undead hordes of Mars and secure the future of the red planet. MarZ is a game of strategy and tactical defense where you must carefully manage your crew and resources as you try to uncover the terrible secrets of the undead.
WAR PARTY
War Party is a strategy game where you enter a prehistoric world of Dinosaurs, Cavemen and Magic! Build up your chosen faction, gather resources, explore the land and command them against enemy tribes and wildlife! Will your story be about Life, Death or Balance? Can you survive?
Generation Zero®
Generation Zero is a stealth-action shooter where you wage guerilla warfare against lethal mechanical enemies. Explore a vast open world map inspired by the Swedish Cold War era, take part in the resistance alone or with up to three friends in seamless co-op.
Production Line : Car factory simulation
Production line is the new car factory management/simulation/tycoon game that pushes your organisational and entrepreneurship skills to the limit. Can you build the ultimate optimised, free-flowing car production line whilst beating the competition and still turn a profit?
Road to Eden
Road to Eden is a third-person multiplayer survival coop game, set within the post-apocalyptic ruins of a world destroyed by an alien invasion. You wake up at the side of the road with no memory and must team up with other survivors to make the long and dangerous journey to Eden.
ASTRONEER
Interact with strange new worlds in a unique and tactile way, molding the environment itself as if it were clay in your hands. Build your base, master resource management, automate your production lines, and more as you unravel the mysteries of the universe, alone or with friends.
Volcanoids
A base-building open-world survival shooter that replaces your typical base with a giant drill. Alone or with friends, explore an island plagued by eruptions, upgrade your drill, and fight robots to uncover what's been hiding beneath the surface.
Medieval Kingdom Wars
Rewrite medieval history through bloody siege combat in a fusion of RTS and Grand Strategy genres. Rule, build, and serve your King as a minor lord in medieval Europe. Experience siege, field and naval combat with an unseen degree of brutality. Rogue-like progression, epic towns and battles await…
Kingdom Two Crowns
Gather coins, build defenses and reclaim your fallen Kingdom. Explore and uncover secrets, unlock new technologies and protect your crown versus waves of Greed monsters that come at night. Kingdom is a solo or co-op micro-strategy and tower defense game set in an atmospheric pixel world.
Kenshi
A free-roaming squad based RPG. Focusing on open-ended sandbox gameplay features rather than a linear story. Be a trader, a thief, a rebel, a warlord, an adventurer, a farmer, a slave, or just food for the cannibals. Train your men up from puny victims to master warriors.
X4: Foundations
Thrilling space battles meet deep strategy. X4 invites you to explore, fight, trade, and build an empire in a dynamic, fully simulated space sandbox, where every decision shapes your journey. Now featuring the 2025 flight model overhaul.
Zombie Builder Defense
Top down, action packed, multiplayer, zombie shooter. Build your base with friends and see how long you can survive the endless horde of zombies. Level up with friends, or alone, how you die is up to you.
The Colonists
Build a new home for your team of robots as they begin a new life for themselves on a distant planet where they can fulfil their ultimate dream: to be human.
Star Shelter
Star shelter is a space survival game built from the ground up for VR. You are stranded in space, you must climb around in Zero-G, explore, scavenge, craft, hack and fight to survive. You have to build, arm and upgrade your own space station in order to escape the cosmic graveyard.
Terraforming Mars
The taming of the Red Planet has begun! Corporations are competing to transform Mars into a habitable planet by spending vast resources and using innovative technology to raise temperature, create a breathable atmosphere, and make oceans of water.
Grim Nights
Your village must survive for 13 days! Gather resources, expand, explore the underground for riches, and train soldiers to defend against hordes of the undead.
Niffelheim
Your avatar is a brave warrior who has fallen in battle. But instead of well-deserved peace in Asgard, his soul is trapped in the harsh world of Niffelheim. Survive in this hostile world, ransack the neighbor lands, explore dangerous dungeons and find your way to Valhalla
Mist Survival
MIST SURVIVAL is a Single-player, survival stealth sandbox game Players will experience the Apocalypse stimulation in the form of virus pandemic, the players have to deal with it to survive through the difficulties such as finding shelter and food, threats from the environment and climate: wild animals, bandits, infected, and dense mist t
Dig or Die
Crash land on a hostile planet where you'll have to build the strongest defenses if you wish to live to escape from it. But be warned... this planet is merciless. Build strong, and smart; else physics may flood or destroy your only hopes of survival.Most played base-building games on Steam
Take a look at the top base-building games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of April 30th 2025.
1. V Rising
Awaken as a Vampire. Hunt for blood in nearby settlements to regain your strength and evade the scorching sun to survive. Raise your castle and thrive in an ever-changing, open world full of mystery. Gain allies online and conquer the land of the living. V Rising is a survival, open world and base-building game developed and published by Stunlock Studios. Released on May 08th 2024 has received 111,419 reviews of which 99,066 were positive and 12,353 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played base-building game, thanks to its 39,400 peak concurrent players over the last day.
8.8
99,066
12,353
39,400
players
2. RimWorld
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. While seeing 18,188 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among base-building games based on player count.
9.7
203,940
4,223
18,188
players
3. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
42 Civilizations, 229 Campaign Missions, Singleplayer, Co-Op, Multiplayer, In-Game Editor, Mods, Cross-play...It is good to be the king. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is a strategy, rts and city builder game developed by Forgotten Empires, Tantalus Media, Wicked Witch, World's Edge and CaptureAge and published by Xbox Game Studios. Released on November 14th 2019 has received 160,731 reviews of which 152,453 were positive and 8,278 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. While seeing 14,016 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among base-building games based on player count.
9.4
152,453
8,278
14,016
players
4. Factorio
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. With 13,456 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played base-building games.
9.6
206,974
6,416
13,456
players
5. Satisfactory
Satisfactory is a first-person open-world factory building game with a dash of exploration and combat. Play alone or with friends, explore an alien planet, create multi-story factories, and enter conveyor belt heaven! Satisfactory is a base-building, automation and open world game developed by Coffee Stain Studios and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. Released on September 10th 2024 has received 229,040 reviews of which 222,475 were positive and 6,565 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. With 12,693 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played base-building games.
9.6
222,475
6,565
12,693
players
6. Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition
Celebrating its first year of delighting millions of global players, the award-winning and best-selling strategy franchise continues with Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition, putting you at the center of even more epic historical battles that shaped the world. Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition is a strategy, rts and base-building game developed by Relic Entertainment, Forgotten Empires, Climax Studios and World's Edge and published by Xbox Game Studios. Released on October 28th 2021 has received 79,372 reviews of which 68,281 were positive and 11,091 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.5 out of 10. With 7,302 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played base-building games.
8.5
68,281
11,091
7,302
players
7. Enshrouded
You are Flameborn, last ember of hope of a dying race. Awaken, survive the terror of a corrupting fog, and reclaim the lost beauty of your kingdom. Venture into a vast world, vanquish punishing bosses, build grand halls and forge your path in this co-op survival action RPG for up to 16 players. Enshrouded is a open world, survival and base-building game developed and published by Keen Games GmbH. Released on January 24th 2024 has received 74,913 reviews of which 64,919 were positive and 9,994 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.5 out of 10. With 6,133 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played base-building games.
8.5
64,919
9,994
6,133
players
8. Oxygen Not Included
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 127,555 reviews of which 123,406 were positive and 4,149 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. With 4,349 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played base-building games.
9.5
123,406
4,149
4,349
players
9. Grounded
The world is a vast, beautiful and dangerous place – especially when you have been shrunk to the size of an ant. Can you thrive alongside the hordes of giant insects, fighting to survive the perils of the backyard? Grounded is a survival, multiplayer and co-op game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. Released on September 27th 2022 has received 83,091 reviews of which 74,205 were positive and 8,886 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. With 3,615 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played base-building games.
8.8
74,205
8,886
3,615
players
10. Foxhole
Foxhole is a massively multiplayer game where thousands of players shape the outcome of a persistent online war. Every individual soldier is a player that contributes to the war effort through logistics, base building, reconnaissance, combat, and more. Foxhole is a massively multiplayer, wargame and military game developed and published by Siege Camp. Released on September 28th 2022 has received 43,203 reviews of which 36,106 were positive and 7,097 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.2 out of 10. With 3,163 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played base-building games.
8.2
36,106
7,097
3,163
players
Best deals on base-building games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of base-building games 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 base-building games.
1. Founders' Fortune
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 2,099 reviews of which 1,690 were positive and 409 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Featuring a massive 95% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for base-building category.
7.8
1,690
409
-95%
20.00€
1.00€
2. Honey, I Joined a Cult
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 1,720 reviews of which 1,272 were positive and 448 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.1 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 95% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in base-building games.
7.1
1,272
448
-95%
24.00€
1.20€
3. Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation
A massive-scale real-time strategy game where you command entire armies on a dynamic battlefield. Conquer multiple worlds across several single-player campaigns; or play with your friends in multiplayer combat. Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation is a rts, base-building and pvp game developed by Stardock Entertainment and Oxide Games and published by Stardock Entertainment. Released on November 10th 2016 has received 4,743 reviews of which 3,532 were positive and 1,211 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.3 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 94% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in base-building games.
7.3
3,532
1,211
-94%
29.17€
1.75€
4. Snowtopia: Ski Resort Builder
Build your ideal ski resort. Keep skiers smiling with fresh pistes and fine facilities. Ski, build and chill in the wintry world of Snowtopia where everyone is welcome! Snowtopia: Ski Resort Builder is a simulation, building and management game developed by TeaForTwo and published by Goblinz Publishing and Maple Whispering Limited. Released on December 14th 2022 has received 1,169 reviews of which 717 were positive and 452 were negative resulting in a rating of 6 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 94% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for base-building games.
6
717
452
-94%
19.83€
1.19€
5. Dungeons 3
At last, the Dungeon Lord has successfully united the forces of evil and established his dark empire. Time for the next step in his most diabolical quest: expansion! Dungeons 3 is a strategy, villain protagonist and base-building game developed by Realmforge Studios and published by Kalypso Media. Released on October 13th 2017 has received 18,348 reviews of which 17,288 were positive and 1,060 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 93% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for base-building games.
9.2
17,288
1,060
-93%
29.29€
2.05€
6. Medieval Kingdom Wars
Rewrite medieval history through bloody siege combat in a fusion of RTS and Grand Strategy genres. Rule, build, and serve your King as a minor lord in medieval Europe. Experience siege, field and naval combat with an unseen degree of brutality. Rogue-like progression, epic towns and battles await… Medieval Kingdom Wars is a grand strategy, rts and medieval game developed by Reverie World Studios and published by indie.io. Released on January 03rd 2019 has received 2,585 reviews of which 1,977 were positive and 608 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.4 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 93% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for base-building games.
7.4
1,977
608
-93%
14.29€
1.00€
7. Garbage
Experience the struggle which a homeless man goes through in a humorous manner. Primitive elements of contemporary life that we take for granted, such as staying warm, well-nourished, and hygienic, will become an issue. Garbage is a simulation, management and strategy game developed by Homebased and published by GrabTheGames and UpgradePoint. Released on June 04th 2021 has received 1,111 reviews of which 742 were positive and 369 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.5 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 93% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for base-building games.
6.5
742
369
-93%
14.29€
1.00€
8. Prison Architect
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. Currently offered at a significant 90% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for base-building games.
8.8
64,262
7,845
-90%
24.80€
2.48€
9. Airborne Kingdom
The sky city builder awaits. Create your own flying kingdom and lead it on a quest across an expansive world. Explore the varied landscape, build up a floating metropolis, aid struggling people below, uncover lost secrets and, ultimately, bring back the Airborne Kingdom legend. Airborne Kingdom is a city builder, base-building and exploration game developed by The Wandering Band LLC and published by indie.io. Released on March 07th 2022 has received 2,147 reviews of which 1,867 were positive and 280 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 89% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for base-building games.
8.3
1,867
280
-89%
22.82€
2.51€
10. Stranded: Alien Dawn
Brave a new world in Stranded: Alien Dawn, a planet survival sim placing the fate of a small marooned group in your hands. Forge your story through compelling and immersive strategic gameplay as you make vital decisions to protect your survivors. Stranded: Alien Dawn is a survival, base-building and simulation game developed by Haemimont Games and published by Paradox Interactive. Released on April 25th 2023 has received 9,851 reviews of which 8,358 were positive and 1,493 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 89% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for base-building games.
8.3
8,358
1,493
-89%
35.36€
3.89€
Free base-building games on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play base-building games 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 base-building games.
1. Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition offers players a trial of this historical single & multiplayer RTS experience. *Note: To unlock all features of the game please see the “Base Game” product. Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is a strategy, base-building and rts game developed by World's Edge, Tantalus Media and Forgotten Empires and published by Xbox Game Studios. Released on October 15th 2020 has received 47,757 reviews of which 40,389 were positive and 7,368 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. With 3,077 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free base-building games on Steam.
8.3
40,389
7,368
3,077
players
2. Shop Titans
Shop Titans is the ultimate RPG shopkeeper simulation. Craft powerful equipment, stock your shop and sell to aspiring heroes… at a markup! Hire heroes and explore dungeons to gather valuable materials to craft with. There’s never a dull moment in the world of Shop Titans! Shop Titans is a idler, shop keeper and medieval game developed and published by Kabam Games and Inc.. Released on May 05th 2020 has received 16,806 reviews of which 13,165 were positive and 3,641 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 2,950, this base-building game has secured the #2 spot in the ranking of free base-building games on Steam.
7.7
13,165
3,641
2,950
players
3. Fallout Shelter
Fallout Shelter puts you in control of a state-of-the-art underground Vault from Vault-Tec. Build the perfect Vault, keep your Dwellers happy, and protect them from the dangers of the Wasteland. Fallout Shelter is a free to play, base-building and survival game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. Released on March 29th 2017 has received 73,924 reviews of which 65,394 were positive and 8,530 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 949, this base-building game has secured the #3 spot in the ranking of free base-building games on Steam.
8.7
65,394
8,530
949
players
4. War Selection
War Selection is a compelling RTS game featuring base building, resource extraction and warfare. Evolve from a stone age tribe to a distinct industrial nation with unique game mechanics and battle for supremacy with dozens of players on a unique procedurally generated map. War Selection is a strategy, base-building and free to play game developed and published by Glyph Worlds. Released on October 08th 2019 has received 21,735 reviews of which 18,673 were positive and 3,062 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 398 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #4 position in the best free base-building games on Steam.
8.4
18,673
3,062
398
players
5. Pixel Starships
Pixel Starships is an FTL-style online sci-fi strategy builder and management game with a competitive PVP tournament. Set in the retro galaxy, your role is to explore space, meet aliens, and develop your ship, crew and AI. The game contains deep strategic and 4x elements. PSS is community-driven. Pixel Starships is a sci-fi, space and strategy game developed and published by SavySoda. Released on May 23rd 2023 has received 2,699 reviews of which 1,985 were positive and 714 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.1 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 138 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #5 position in the best free base-building games on Steam.
7.1
1,985
714
138
players
6. Tribal Wars
Compete in hardcore PvP strategy in persistent game worlds where real time resource and troop management in coordination with other players is required to expand your kingdom from one village to hundreds as you conquer the map in this winner takes all medieval contest. Tribal Wars is a strategy, massively multiplayer and base-building game developed and published by InnoGames. Released on November 12th 2020 has received 731 reviews of which 526 were positive and 205 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played free base-building games on Steam.
6.9
526
205
78
players
7. Kingdom: Classic
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 base-building games on Steam.
8.9
19,963
2,057
48
players
8. XERA: Survival
Action-focused, open world survival shooter, PvPvE against fellow mercenaries and lethal XOIDS. Raid for resources alone or with team-mates, build and defend your base, stash your gear and survive against the odds. You are the hunters. You are the hunted. And the robots never sleep… XERA: Survival is a base-building, open world survival craft and multiplayer game developed and published by Spotted Kiwi Interactive. Released on September 26th 2021 has received 7,766 reviews of which 5,184 were positive and 2,582 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played free base-building games on Steam.
6.6
5,184
2,582
38
players
9. Warzone 2100
In the late 21st century, the world's civilizations are wiped out by a series of nuclear strikes, seemingly caused by a massive malfunction of the new NASDA (North American Strategic Defense Agency) strategic defense system. Warzone 2100 is a strategy, free to play and rts game developed by Pumpkin Studios, Underdone Gaming and Warzone 2100 Project and published by Underdone Gaming. Released on February 18th 2020 has received 1,484 reviews of which 1,341 were positive and 143 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played free base-building games on Steam.
8.6
1,341
143
9
players
10. Retro Commander
Retro Commander is a post-apocalyptic real-time strategy wargame (RTS). Retro Commander is a strategy, rts and base-building game developed and published by Noble Master LLC. Released on November 24th 2023 has received 306 reviews of which 232 were positive and 74 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played free base-building games on Steam.
7.1
232
74
5
players