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
Diorama Builder
The pleasure of assembling, admiring, and interacting with your own Dioramas collection, without ever losing a piece.
ASKA
Lay claim to unspoiled lands and pave the way for a fierce Viking tribe. Craft the ultimate settlement solo or together with up to x3 friends. Trust in the Gods and the power of the Eye of Odin and summon intelligent NPC villagers to provide camaraderie and relief from the toils of survival.
Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic
Build a soviet republic from an impoverished country into a rich industrial superpower in a city builder with intricate production chains and a fully simulated global economy. Manage the lives of your citizens from education to work and party loyalty to criminal activity.
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.
Republic of Pirates
Establish and grow a pirate utopia during the Golden Age of Piracy. Create a resource-based economy, engage in real-time naval combat, and conduct diplomacy with rival powers. Explore the far reaches of the Caribbean in search of the ultimate fortune and glory.
Coreborn
A fun survival game set in the open world of Ultracore. Build, grow and defend your town from attacking enemies. Go on adventures to loot, gather resources, discover a beautiful fantasy map, unlock Skills, build bases, find mounts and shape the world. Alone or together with friends old and new.
Go-Go Town!
Plan, Build...Prosper? As mayor, it’s up to you to breathe life back into this rundown town. Construct shops, hire staff, automate deliveries with couriers, and attract tourists to town, all while managing infrastructure and avoiding catastrophes! Who said being mayor was going to be easy…
Clothing Store Simulator
Are you ready to shape fashion world? Make a brand deal, order products, fill the aisles, dress the mannequins and start selling. Dresses, shirts, coats, pants, nightwear, underwear, shoes and more are waiting for you.
The Powder Toy
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
Empires of the Undergrowth
Command swarms of warriors at an unprecedented scale of warfare in this blend of RTS and base-building. Lead ant colonies against the many fearsome threats of the insect world, while building intricate nests, developing pheromone-based tactics, and evolving to meet growing dangers.
ContractVille
Plan, design, build, and decorate your dream house in an open-world. Smash walls, sketch your layout, then build and decorate every inch—inside and garden. In an open world, tackle each renovation solo or with up to 4 friends. Pick up that hammer and start creating - Your dream house is waiting!
Night of the Dead
'Night of the Dead' is an open-world game that combines elements of exploration, tower defense, survival, and crafting. Traverse a world dominated by zombies while collecting various resources and powerful equipment. Build a fortress to survive the hordes of zombies that swarm every night!
Soulmask
Escaping a deadly sacrificial ritual, you find an ancient mystical mask on your journey. This mask holds potent knowledge, changing the world you knew. Face the harsh challenges of nature, survive, rally followers, and build your own tribe. Explore and unveil the truths behind the enigmatic mask.
Thriving City: Song
In 960 A.D., the Zhao Song Dynasty was established. As the mayor, you'll need to help the townspeople settle down, cultivate the land and expand. However, when the emperor issues a national mandate, conflicts between factions threaten city development—what strategy will you adopt?
Stellar Initiative
Stellar Initiative is a roguelike tower defense game where you land on the planet and use your orbit ship to deliver buildings and support you with fire. Complete missions, install new upgrades, discover powerful artifacts, and find the best strategy!
Casino Simulator
Casino Simulator Expand Your Casino From Scratch, Hire Employees, Customize It, Gamble, Enjoy Your Own Casino
Galacticare
Build, manage and optimise intergalactic hospitals! Recruit staff to satisfy the whims of various alien species, and cure their bizarre illnesses - for money! Save the (literal) Galaxy in story mode, or head into sandbox to design the hospital of your dreams.
Taora : Survival
Taora is an open world survival game with unique character building and crafting. Build and upgrade your base, and survive the zombie apocalypse !
Survival: Fountain of Youth
Survival: Fountain of Youth is a challenging single-player open-world adventure game set on the Caribbean islands. Survive as a shipwrecked 16th-century explorer, craft tools and shelter, and uncover the secrets of both an ancient civilization and your own fate.
Mech Engineer
A dark sci-fi mech assembling manager with semi-auto battles against mutating, alien bio-weapon.
Coffee Caravan
Fuel your coffee passion in Coffee Caravan! As a cafe manager, brew, experiment with delicious recipes, and build your dream coffee business on wheels. Serve customers, unlock new flavors, purchase appliances, and enjoy your procedurally generated road trip in this roguelite experience.
Moose Miners
Take control of a mining operation run by moose. They mine and sell the gems. You need to decide where to spend the profits. Hire more miners and upgrade their gear. Buy new rails and minecarts to get deeper into the mine. The deeper you get the more valuable gems you will find.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 April 30th 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, free to play and character customization game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. Released on June 18th 2020 has received 167,732 reviews of which 146,459 were positive and 21,273 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 24,283 peak concurrent players over the last day.
8.6
146,459
21,273
24,283
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 1,153,288 reviews of which 1,116,314 were positive and 36,974 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. While seeing 15,709 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among building games based on player count.
9.6
1,116,314
36,974
15,709
players
3. 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 106,724 reviews of which 83,957 were positive and 22,767 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. While seeing 7,324 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among building games based on player count.
7.8
83,957
22,767
7,324
players
4. 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 274,208 reviews of which 254,907 were positive and 19,301 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. With 5,517 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played building games.
9.2
254,907
19,301
5,517
players
5. 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 131,878 reviews of which 116,777 were positive and 15,101 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. With 4,402 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played building games.
8.7
116,777
15,101
4,402
players
6. 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 #6 spot among the most played building games.
9.5
123,406
4,149
4,349
players
7. Myth of Empires
Myth of Empires is a multiplayer war sandbox game featuring a high degree of freedom and multiple civilizations. Players must survive, craft, create, and lead troops in their quest to conquer PVE or PVP territory and build their own empire. Xizhou Civilization Pack is now officially released! Myth of Empires is a building, open world survival craft and sandbox game developed by Angela Game and published by Imperium Interactive Entertainment . Released on February 21st 2024 has received 16,789 reviews of which 11,479 were positive and 5,310 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.7 out of 10. With 3,265 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played building games.
6.7
11,479
5,310
3,265
players
8. 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 87,057 reviews of which 79,305 were positive and 7,752 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. With 2,455 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played building games.
9.0
79,305
7,752
2,455
players
9. Dyson Sphere Program
Build the most efficient intergalactic factory in space simulation strategy game Dyson Sphere Program! Harness the power of stars, collect resources, plan and design production lines and develop your interstellar factory from a small space workshop to a galaxy-wide industrial empire. Dyson Sphere Program is a automation, space and base-building game developed by Youthcat Studio and published by Gamirror Games. Released on January 20th 2021 has received 84,667 reviews of which 82,683 were positive and 1,984 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. With 1,702 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played building games.
9.6
82,683
1,984
1,702
players
10. House Flipper
House Flipper is a unique chance to become a one-man renovation crew. Buy, repair and remodel devastated houses. Give them a second life and sell them at a profit! House Flipper is a simulation, design & illustration and building game developed by Empyrean and published by Frozen District and PlayWay S.A.. Released on May 17th 2018 has received 94,651 reviews of which 89,126 were positive and 5,525 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. With 1,656 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played building games.
9.3
89,126
5,525
1,656
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 April 30th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted 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 building category.
7.8
1,690
409
-95%
20.00€
1.00€
2. 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. Thanks to its incredible 94% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in building games.
6
717
452
-94%
19.83€
1.19€
3. 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 3,082 reviews of which 2,776 were positive and 306 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 93% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in building games.
8.7
2,776
306
-93%
18.43€
1.29€
4. 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, building and indie game developed by Hugecalf Studios and published by Curve Games. Released on January 23rd 2019 has received 842 reviews of which 731 were positive and 111 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.2 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 93% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for building games.
8.2
731
111
-93%
14.29€
1.00€
5. Bridge Constructor Portal
Enter the Aperture Science Enrichment Center and experience Bridge Constructor Portal – the unique merging of the classic Portal™ and Bridge Constructor™ games. Bridge Constructor Portal is a puzzle, simulation and strategy game developed by ClockStone and published by Headup. Released on December 20th 2017 has received 6,536 reviews of which 5,989 were positive and 547 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 92% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for building games.
8.9
5,989
547
-92%
9.99€
0.79€
6. Bridge Constructor Medieval
Bridge Constructor Medieval turns back the clock a few centuries to the time of knights and castles. Build sturdy bridges to supply your city with provisions - or cunningly constructed bridges that collapse under the weight of attacking troops, sending the horde of enemies into the abyss below. Bridge Constructor Medieval is a simulation, casual and indie game developed by ClockStone and published by Headup. Released on September 15th 2014 has received 556 reviews of which 452 were positive and 104 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 92% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for building games.
7.7
452
104
-92%
9.99€
0.79€
7. 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 14,566 reviews of which 13,461 were positive and 1,105 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for building games.
9
13,461
1,105
-91%
20.56€
1.85€
8. 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 51,304 reviews of which 46,857 were positive and 4,447 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for building games.
9.0
46,857
4,447
-91%
20.22€
1.82€
9. 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 106,724 reviews of which 83,957 were positive and 22,767 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for building games.
7.8
83,957
22,767
-91%
41.89€
3.77€
10. To The Rescue!
To The Rescue! is a charming dog shelter simulator. Take care of unique dogs and find the right homes for as many of them as you can. Upgrade your shelter, control disease outbreaks, learn each dog's preferences, and make tough decisions, all while helping support real-world animal shelters! To The Rescue! is a dog, management and immersive sim game developed by Little Rock Games and indie.io and published by indie.io. Released on November 02nd 2021 has received 2,045 reviews of which 1,373 were positive and 672 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.5 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for building games.
6.5
1,373
672
-91%
19.22€
1.73€
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 April 30th 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, free to play and character customization game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. Released on June 18th 2020 has received 167,732 reviews of which 146,459 were positive and 21,273 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. With 24,283 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free building games on Steam.
8.6
146,459
21,273
24,283
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 174,922 reviews of which 163,761 were positive and 11,161 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 740, this building game has secured the #2 spot in the ranking of free building games on Steam.
9.3
163,761
11,161
740
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 14,214 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 building game has secured the #3 spot in the ranking of free building games on Steam.
9.4
13,670
544
377
players
4. 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 1,169 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 building games on Steam.
6.8
823
346
155
players
5. 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 907 reviews of which 579 were positive and 328 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.2 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 155 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #5 position in the best free building games on Steam.
6.2
579
328
155
players
6. 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 3,608 reviews of which 3,294 were positive and 314 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 142 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #6 position in the best free building games on Steam.
8.8
3,294
314
142
players
7. 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 1,230 reviews of which 1,004 were positive and 226 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 116 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #7 position in the best free building games on Steam.
7.8
1,004
226
116
players
8. 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 1,445 reviews of which 1,137 were positive and 308 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 105 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #8 position in the best free building games on Steam.
7.6
1,137
308
105
players
9. 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! 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 #9 spot among the most played free building games on Steam.
6.1
411
247
41
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 1,498 reviews of which 1,130 were positive and 368 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.3 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played free building games on Steam.
7.3
1,130
368
35
players