Best 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 building games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free building games are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
Catizens
Inspired by RimWorld and The Sims, Catizens is a colony management simulation game where you watch over unique cats with quirky personalities, as you help them build and grow their settlement while exploring new lands, facing off against wildlife and overcoming the challenges of each environment.
Space Trash Scavenger
Grab your jetpack and explore procedural asteroid fields, derelict spaceships and abandoned outposts. Build and automate your Space Rig to process scavenged trash. Craft, trade and fight your way home in this interstellar, open-world survival sandbox.
I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival
I Am Future is a relaxing single-player survival game about building a cozy rooftop camp amid a flooded post-apocalyptic city. Set up a farm, go fishing, tinker with gadgets, craft new tools, manage a team of cute robots to automate and expand your base, explore the mysterious world, and chill out!
Farming Simulator 25
Farming Simulator 25 invites you to join the rewarding farm life, single-handedly or cooperatively in multiplayer. This Farm is Your Farm!
Techtonica
Techtonica is a first-person factory automation game with a gripping mystery about mining your way out from the depths of an alien planet. Explore bioluminescent caves, mold destructible terrain, construct a massive subterranean factory. Dig your way toward answers & discover the secrets of Calyx.
Sengoku Dynasty
Sengoku Dynasty is the ultimate feudal Japan experience: build villages, grow your community, and shape the open world through combat or economy. The choice is yours alone - or that of up to 4 players in multiplayer co-op!
Tower Factory
Tower Factory is a tower defense and automation game with roguelite elements. Optimize resource production using conveyor systems while defending against monster waves. Can you find and destroy the enemy tower before it's too late?
Planet Coaster 2
Build and customise thrilling roller coasters and incredible water slides, manage the ultimate theme park experience, and share your epic creations. Are you ready to ride the wave?
Ark of Charon
Build a mobile fortress on the back of a giant and mysterious walking Tree and embark on a journey in this merge of tower defense and colony simulation.
Dustland Delivery
Dustland Delivery is a post-apocalyptic survival business simulator. Scour the wastes for profit, complete missions to grow your trading empire, and assemble a rag-tag band of adventurers to turn your city into the capital of the Dustlands. Danger lurks around every corner—but no risk, no reward!
The Matchless Kungfu
The Matchless Kungfu is an open world sandbox RPG game based on a WuXia background. You can play any martial arts role you imagine in this wild world. Travel through the great wilderness, or be the leader of the group. The most important thing is, build your own story and live the experience!
Surviving the Abyss
Earth, 1976. You have been tasked with managing a deep-sea science facility working to perfect cloning. Explore the darkness and keep your crew alive in this hardcore survival colony builder. And beware. The darkness hides untold horrors.
ShapeHero Factory
ShapeHero Factory is a game that fuses the factory simulation, roguelite, and tower defense genres. Use different shape combinations to mass-produce a variety of heroes, who will then fight all on their own. All you need to worry about is building the optimal factory to manufacture them.
Orebound
Orebound is a voxel, factory, automation game set in a first person open-world. The King has tasked you to locate the elusive Emberstone. Go forth and use your Dwarven prowess and knowledge to mine, craft and automate through anything standing in your way - Build up or dig down! How far will you go?
Orange Season
Make your farmer’s dream come true in Orange Season. With your parent’s help, you’ve finally saved enough money to buy a plot of land in the charming farmer’s village of Orange Town. Build a thriving farm as you grow crops, raise animals, fish, and mine materials to establish your farm in town.
Movies Tycoon
Movies Tycoon is a simulation game where you dive into the world of film-making. Start with a humble studio, scout and manage top talent, customize unique characters, and direct blockbuster films.
Carry The Glass
Team up as two quirky construction workers in this fun 2-player co-op platformer! Carry a fragile glass window through colorful levels filled with challenges. Communicate and coordinate to dodge obstacles and solve puzzles. Can you finish the job without breaking the glass?
Age of History 3
Grand strategy wargame where the destiny of Civilizations rests in your hands - will they stand united under your leadership or fall divided in conflict? Journey through the entire saga of human civilization, from its earliest days to the futuristic era, crafting your legacy age by age.
Technotopia
Welcome to Technotopia, a city-builder card game. Take on the role of an AI designed to build a perfect city. Build districts, meet the needs of diverse communities and maintain the delicate balance between factions vying for control over you!
Citadelum
Citadelum is a city builder set in legendary Ancient Rome. Build your own settlement, gather resources and evolve it into a magnificent city. Explore the world, trade and lead your mighty legions in epic tactical battles. Earn the favor of the Gods or challenge them, if you dare.
Eden Crafters
Embark on a journey of survival, crafting, and automation in Eden Crafters, a solo and co-op open-world game that challenges you to turn a hostile planet into a habitable haven for humanity. Temper the climate, create a breathable atmosphere, and turn toxic lakes into water: shape a new world!
Thronefall
A minimalist game about building and defending your little kingdom.
SkyBrew: Entropic Strategist
Experience entrepreneurship in a floating cloud cafe. Manage your flying cafe, customize construction, train staff, handle random events, and uncover the secrets of the commercial empire, growing from a small shop to the sky's brightest star.
Potion Tycoon
Potion Tycoon is a management simulator with a witchy twist! Build and develop your very own magic shop. Manage resources, set up production lines, mix potions and sell them smartly to stay ahead of the competition. Welcome to the potion business!
Most played building games on Steam
Take a look at the top building games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of June 15th 2025.
1. The Sims™ 4
Play with life and discover the possibilities. Unleash your imagination and create a world of Sims that’s wholly unique. Explore and customize every detail from Sims to homes–and much more. The Sims™ 4 is a life sim, character customization and free to play game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. Released on June 18th 2020 has received 170,727 reviews of which 149,064 were positive and 21,663 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played building game, thanks to its 31,136 peak concurrent players over the last day.
8.6
149,064
21,663
31,136
players
2. Garry's Mod
Garry's Mod is a physics sandbox. There aren't any predefined aims or goals. We give you the tools and leave you to play. Garry's Mod is a sandbox, moddable and multiplayer game developed by Facepunch Studios and published by Valve. Released on November 29th 2006 has received 1,159,707 reviews of which 1,122,546 were positive and 37,161 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. While seeing 22,299 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among building games based on player count.
9.6
1,122,546
37,161
22,299
players
3. 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 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 9,589 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among building games based on player count.
9.5
124,220
4,170
9,589
players
4. RoadCraft
As the leader of a company specialized in restoring sites devastated by natural disasters, use your construction machinery to restart the local industry. Clear debris and faulty equipment, rebuild roads and bridges damaged by weather, and much more! RoadCraft is a simulation, building and driving game developed by Saber Interactive and published by Focus Entertainment. Released on May 20th 2025 has received 7,668 reviews of which 5,784 were positive and 1,884 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.4 out of 10. With 8,172 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played building games.
7.4
5,784
1,884
8,172
players
5. Cities: Skylines
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 6,752 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played building games.
9.2
256,362
19,408
6,752
players
6. Conan Exiles
An online multiplayer survival game, now with sorcery, set in the lands of Conan the Barbarian. Survive in a vast open world sandbox, build your home into a kingdom, and dominate your enemies in single or multiplayer. Conan Exiles is a survival and open world game developed and published by Funcom. Released on May 08th 2018 has received 107,465 reviews of which 84,575 were positive and 22,890 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. With 6,562 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played building games.
7.8
84,575
22,890
6,562
players
7. Space Engineers
Space Engineers is a sandbox game about engineering, construction, exploration and survival in space and on planets. Players build space ships, space stations, planetary outposts of various sizes and uses, pilot ships and travel through space to explore planets and gather resources to survive. Space Engineers is a space, sandbox and building game developed and published by Keen Software House. Released on February 28th 2019 has received 132,347 reviews of which 117,204 were positive and 15,143 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. With 5,146 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played building games.
8.8
117,204
15,143
5,146
players
8. House Flipper 2
Clean your worries away with this relaxing renovation simulator! Buy, fix, sell, and become a local legend. Or grab your power tools and build anything from scratch! With the online 2-4 players co-op mode, you can play both in sandbox and story mode together. House Flipper 2 is a simulation, relaxing and building game developed and published by Frozen District. Released on December 14th 2023 has received 13,691 reviews of which 11,633 were positive and 2,058 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. With 3,088 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played building games.
8.3
11,633
2,058
3,088
players
9. Planet Zoo
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 2,637 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played building games.
9.0
80,029
7,820
2,637
players
10. Construction Simulator
Construction Simulator has returned – larger and more impressive than ever! Fulfil your ambition to become a successful construction entrepreneur by establishing your business from scratch, assisted by your mentor Hape. Construction Simulator is a simulation, multiplayer and building game developed by weltenbauer. Software Entwicklung GmbH and published by astragon Entertainment. Released on September 20th 2022 has received 11,160 reviews of which 9,193 were positive and 1,967 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.0 out of 10. With 2,604 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played building games.
8.0
9,193
1,967
2,604
players
Best deals on building games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of building games available on Steam right now, updated on June 15th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted building games.
1. Transport Fever
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. Featuring a massive 98% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for building category.
8.1
8,934
1,788
-98%
29.99€
0.69€
2. 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 2,114 reviews of which 1,699 were positive and 415 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 98% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in building games.
7.7
1,699
415
-98%
18.99€
0.38€
3. 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. 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. Thanks to its incredible 98% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in building games.
7.6
1,354
352
-98%
19.99€
0.43€
4. Rover Mechanic Simulator
As an Engineer - crew member of one of the first Mars colonies - you are responsible for repairing and maintaining Mars Rovers. In this advanced simulator you will learn the internal details of various Mars Rovers and their components. Rover Mechanic Simulator is a simulation, indie and building game developed by ▲ Pyramid Games and published by Pyramid Games S.A. and PlayWay S.A.. Released on November 12th 2020 has received 637 reviews of which 489 were positive and 148 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.3 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for building games.
7.3
489
148
-98%
11.79€
0.35€
5. 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? 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 2,080 reviews of which 1,505 were positive and 575 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.0 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for building games.
7.0
1,505
575
-98%
20.99€
0.47€
6. Car Mechanic Simulator 2015
New cars, new tools, new options, more parts and much more fun in the next version of Car Mechanic Simulator! Take your wrench! Create and expand your auto repairs service empire. Car Mechanic Simulator 2015 will take you behind the scenes of daily routine in car workshop. Car Mechanic Simulator 2015 is a automobile sim, simulation and singleplayer game developed by Red Dot Games and published by PlayWay S.A.. Released on April 23rd 2015 has received 14,572 reviews of which 13,466 were positive and 1,106 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 97% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for building games.
9
13,466
1,106
-97%
19.50€
0.64€
7. Car Mechanic Simulator 2018
Build and expand your repair service empire in this incredibly detailed and highly realistic simulation game, where attention to car detail is astonishing. Find classic, unique cars in the new Barn Find module and Junkyard module. You can even add your self-made car in the Car Editor. Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 is a simulation, automobile sim and driving game developed by Red Dot Games and published by PlayWay S.A.. Released on July 28th 2017 has received 51,521 reviews of which 47,065 were positive and 4,456 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 97% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for building games.
9.0
47,065
4,456
-97%
19.50€
0.72€
8. Juno: New Origins
Bring to life anything you can imagine from rockets and airplanes to cars and more. Automate them with a visual programming language. Explore 3D planets and make your own. Share your creations online. Complete contracts, conquer milestones, and unlock technology in the newly added Career Mode. Juno: New Origins is a building, science and space sim game developed and published by Jundroo and LLC. Released on January 26th 2023 has received 3,118 reviews of which 2,807 were positive and 311 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 97% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for building games.
8.7
2,807
311
-97%
19.50€
0.63€
9. When Ski Lifts Go Wrong
Ride into a hilarious construction puzzler; packed with over 100 creative physics-based challenges, sports and bloody disasters! Build contraptions to help every passenger reach their destination. Enjoy the sports by controlling your riders away from (or towards if you feel like it) peril! When Ski Lifts Go Wrong is a simulation, indie and building game developed by Hugecalf Studios and published by Curve Games. Released on January 23rd 2019 has received 847 reviews of which 736 were positive and 111 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.2 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 97% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for building games.
8.2
736
111
-97%
14.99€
0.56€
10. Little Big Workshop
Manage your workers, stations, machines and create awesome stuff as your little big workshop grows into your dream factory! Little Big Workshop is a simulation, strategy and management game developed by Mirage Game Studios and published by HandyGames. Released on October 17th 2019 has received 3,266 reviews of which 2,731 were positive and 535 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 97% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for building games.
8.1
2,731
535
-97%
19.99€
0.66€
Free building games on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play building games you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on June 15th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play building games.
1. The Sims™ 4
Play with life and discover the possibilities. Unleash your imagination and create a world of Sims that’s wholly unique. Explore and customize every detail from Sims to homes–and much more. The Sims™ 4 is a life sim, character customization and free to play game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. Released on June 18th 2020 has received 170,727 reviews of which 149,064 were positive and 21,663 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. With 31,136 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free building games on Steam.
8.6
149,064
21,663
31,136
players
2. Muck
Muck is a survival-roguelike. Collect resources, find items & build a base to survive for as long as you can. Muck is a survival, multiplayer and crafting game developed and published by Dani. Released on June 05th 2021 has received 175,857 reviews of which 164,593 were positive and 11,264 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 1,208, this building game has secured the #2 spot in the ranking of free building games on Steam.
9.2
164,593
11,264
1,208
players
3. 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. 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. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 556, this building game has secured the #3 spot in the ranking of free building games on Steam.
9.4
13,845
549
556
players
4. Resonite
Enter a novel digital universe with infinite possibilities. Whether you resonate with people around the world in a casual conversation, playing games and socializing or you riff off each other when creating anything from art to programming complex games, you'll find your place here. Resonite is a early access, casual and sandbox game developed by Yellow Dog Man Studios and Frooxius and published by Yellow Dog Man Studios. Released on October 06th 2023 has received 1,252 reviews of which 1,023 were positive and 229 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 202 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #4 position in the best free building games on Steam.
7.8
1,023
229
202
players
5. Infinitode 2 - Infinite Tower Defense
Infinitode 2 - a strategy in the Tower Defense genre, in which the player will have to build towers to protect his base from endless waves of enemies. The game features huge maps, lots of towers, resource miners, upgrade tree and map editor. Infinitode 2 - Infinite Tower Defense is a level editor, tower defense and building game developed and published by Prineside. Released on May 06th 2021 has received 3,674 reviews of which 3,354 were positive and 320 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 190 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #5 position in the best free building games on Steam.
8.8
3,354
320
190
players
6. War Planet Online: Global Conquest
Build your army, dominate your region and lead your alliance to conquer the globe! War Planet Online: Global Conquest is a strategy, massively multiplayer and building game developed and published by Gameloft. Released on December 19th 2017 has received 911 reviews of which 579 were positive and 332 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.2 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 179 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #6 position in the best free building games on Steam.
6.2
579
332
179
players
7. Screw Drivers
Crazy physics and high-speed races! Craft vehicles cleverly by combining building blocks and mechanical parts to create powerful drivetrains. Unlock new parts, race for the gold, and challenge your friends in multiplayer. Screw Drivers is a automobile sim, free to play and physics game developed by Creactstudios and published by Headup. Released on June 20th 2024 has received 4,129 reviews of which 3,565 were positive and 564 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 157 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #7 position in the best free building games on Steam.
8.3
3,565
564
157
players
8. Global City
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 1,194 reviews of which 839 were positive and 355 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.8 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 145 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #8 position in the best free building games on Steam.
6.8
839
355
145
players
9. Zoo 2: Animal Park
Zoo 2: Animal Park – Take care of wild and tame zoo animals in this animal game! Zoo 2: Animal Park is a casual, building and city builder game developed by KING Art and published by upjers. Released on August 24th 2020 has received 1,470 reviews of which 1,158 were positive and 312 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 139 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #9 position in the best free building games on Steam.
7.6
1,158
312
139
players
10. SpellForce 3 Versus Edition
The SpellForce 3: Versus Edition gives you the chance to enter the battlefields of Eo for free, letting you test your RTS skills against AI opponents or even other human players. SpellForce 3 Versus Edition is a strategy, rpg and building game developed by Grimlore Games and published by THQ Nordic. Released on November 03rd 2020 has received 1,505 reviews of which 1,132 were positive and 373 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played free building games on Steam.
7.2
1,132
373
76
players