Best Resource Management 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 resource management games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free resource management games are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
Gladiators: Survival in Rome
Gladiators: Survival in Rome is an Action RPG with casual survival game mechanics and active city building. You'll experience a new type of survival game with quests & dungeons, continuous progression, seasonal events and lots of spear poking.
Void War
Command an ancient starship and fight your way to the heart of a dying Empire. Fend off attacks from demented cultists, craven space pirates, and xenophobic Imperial soldiers. Discover powerful artifacts and use them to build your ship into a fearsome war engine.
Wrap House Simulator🌯
Welcome to Wrap House Simulator! Run your own wrap shop, chop, grill, and serve in this cooking adventure. Customize your shop, master the grill, and survive the rush solo or co-op with up to 4 players. Keep up with orders, satisfy customers, and build your dream restaurant!
Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure
Oddsparks is a blend of automation and real-time strategy for both the die-hard fans of the automation genre and the automation-curious. Explore a strange fantasy world, uncover the mysteries of the past, automate your workshops, and go on adventures with your odd & adorable Sparks!
Zombie Cure Lab
In a world overrun by the undead, build a lab to fight back with science. Manage survivors, gather vital resources, and turn zombies into allies. Defend your base and research the cure to reclaim humanity.
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!
Survive the Fall
Explore, loot and fight in an open world action game set in a post-apocalyptic future after a devastating meteor strike. Assemble your team and take the fight to the enemy or choose a stealthy approach to gain the upper hand. Expand your base to research new gear and get ready to survive the fall.
Blacksmith Master
Manage your own medieval smithy in Blacksmith Master and supervise the entire process from mining ores and gems to designing and selling finished products. Forge everything from weapons and armor to tools and cooking utensils to fund your craft and become the Blacksmith Master.
House of Legacy
Step into the shoes of a fallen clan leader, starting with nothing but a crumbling estate and a handful of hopes, rising through careful planning, trade, and diplomacy to become one of the most powerful families in the land. Now it’s time to forge a legendary dynasty that leaves its mark on history.
Cash Cleaner Simulator
Check it, clean it, sort it, ship it. Welcome to the life of a cash cleaner. Take jobs from underworld contacts and clean some cash. Just don't try to leave...
Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall
Rule your crumbling kingdom as you try to satisfy the petty needs of your people in this cinematic kingdom management RPG. Balance your resources, collect taxes, hire agents and make difficult decisions to see your kingdom prosper or fail.
Ascension
In this cultivation 4X strategy game, your sect has been in peril, and so they open a portal—sending you, a young disciple and their last hope, inside. Stand tall as the new sect leader and guide disciples to rebuild what was lost. Sharpen your focus, master alchemy, and ascend to immortality.
Darfall
Darfall is a hero-based RPG city-building game that puts you in the role of a hero who must protect their home and help it grow! During the day, grow your hero’s might, find epic loot, master new abilities, and fortify your settlement. At night, survive the hordes of undead, until you triumph.
Tower Dominion
Build and design the terrain while defending your stronghold against alien invasion in this unique Roguelike tower defense. Choose from 30 heroes, survive enemy waves, and upgrade a variety of destructive towers to hold the line!
Mini Settlers
Mini Settlers is a minimalistic city builder! Settle islands, construct cities, and design efficient logistic networks to fulfill your buildings' needs and fuel population growth to adventure into new worlds.
Ocean Keeper: Dome Survival
Explore dungeons, fight hordes of monsters and survive on a huge map. This is Ocean Keeper - an action roguelike with tower defense elements. Mine resources in caves, customize your Mech Spider, upgrade different weapons and face dangerous bosses that won't leave you a chance!
Revolution Idle
Join an experience where each revolution takes you further into the unknown! Revolution Idle challenges you to multiply your accumulators to reach unimaginable heights. Will you manage to reach infinity?
MEMORIAPOLIS
In Memoriapolis, you're not just building a city, you're shaping a living, evolving civilization. Travel through five major eras, from Antiquity to the Industrial Revolution. Leave your mark on history by navigating the power struggles between rival factions.
Ratopia
Ratopia is a new game that has combined elements of both strategic survival and city building. With plenty of content available, and more planned, enjoy a vast world to adventure and populate with citizens! Build your own economical system to sustain your ideal city of Ratopia.
Fuel Harvest Together
Play solo or co-op with up to 5 players to find oil, store crude, refine fuels, and sell them at gas stations and shop. Dig for gems and fossils, upgrade your gear, lease new land, and dominate the city as the biggest oil supplier!
Cornerpond
A chill idle-fishing desktop toy in the corner of your screen. Buy upgrades, catch rare fish, and customize your avatar at your own pace!
Most played resource management games on Steam
Take a look at the top resource management games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of June 14th 2025.
1. 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 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. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played resource management game, thanks to its 18,319 peak concurrent players over the last day.
9.6
208,770
6,439
18,319
players
2. 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 7,947 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among resource management games based on player count.
9.5
124,220
4,170
7,947
players
3. Captain of Industry
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. While seeing 4,136 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among resource management games based on player count.
9.1
6,737
417
4,136
players
4. Farmer Against Potatoes Idle
Pick up your sword and fight off waves of Potatoes by upgrading your stats constantly, use Equipment, choose between different Classes, put your many Talents to good use, and so much more designed to keep you entertained for a long time. Farmer Against Potatoes Idle is a idler, casual and clicker game developed and published by Oni Gaming. Released on September 05th 2024 has received 7,184 reviews of which 6,844 were positive and 340 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. With 1,821 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played resource management games.
9.2
6,844
340
1,821
players
5. 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? Frostpunk is a city builder, survival and resource management game developed and published by 11 bit studios. Released on April 24th 2018 has received 123,546 reviews of which 114,315 were positive and 9,231 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. With 1,242 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played resource management games.
9.1
114,315
9,231
1,242
players
6. FOUNDRY
Build a sophisticated robot factory optimized to perfection in an infinite voxel world. Mine and harvest resources, automate your production lines and manage complex systems while researching your way to become the galaxy’s leading robotics megacorp. FOUNDRY is a early access, automation and base-building game developed by Channel 3 Entertainment and published by Paradox Interactive. Released on May 02nd 2024 has received 2,783 reviews of which 2,197 were positive and 586 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. With 1,022 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played resource management games.
7.6
2,197
586
1,022
players
7. Mindustry
An open-ended factory management game with RTS and tower defense elements. Mindustry is a base-building, resource management and tower defense game developed and published by AnukenDev. Released on September 26th 2019 has received 22,266 reviews of which 21,329 were positive and 937 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. With 539 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played resource management games.
9.4
21,329
937
539
players
8. Frostpunk 2
Develop, expand, and advance your city in a society survival game set 30 years after an apocalyptic blizzard ravaged Earth. In Frostpunk 2, you face not only the perils of never-ending winter, but also the powerful factions that watch your every step inside the Council Hall. Frostpunk 2 is a strategy, city builder and survival game developed and published by 11 bit studios. Released on September 20th 2024 has received 21,628 reviews of which 16,477 were positive and 5,151 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. With 447 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played resource management games.
7.5
16,477
5,151
447
players
9. Diplomacy is Not an Option
Diplomacy is Not an Option is a strategy game set in a medieval fantasy world. Build your town and defenses, raise huge armies and fight against massive hordes of enemies. How long can you survive? Diplomacy is Not an Option is a real-time with pause, resource management and simulation game developed and published by Door 407. Released on October 04th 2024 has received 9,673 reviews of which 8,217 were positive and 1,456 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. With 429 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played resource management games.
8.3
8,217
1,456
429
players
10. Airport CEO
Build and manage an international airport! Airport CEO is a flight, resource management and moddable game developed and published by Apog Labs. Released on March 04th 2021 has received 7,684 reviews of which 6,433 were positive and 1,251 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. With 406 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played resource management games.
8.1
6,433
1,251
406
players
Best deals on resource management games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of resource management games available on Steam right now, updated on June 14th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted resource management games.
1. InfraSpace
Create an extrasolar efficiency utopia from scratch! In this sci-fi city builder you need to start mining operations, plan production, and lay down transportation routes to ensure a smooth supply chain. InfraSpace is a city builder, automation and transportation game developed and published by Dionic Software. Released on September 22nd 2023 has received 1,667 reviews of which 1,333 were positive and 334 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 resource management category.
7.7
1,333
334
-99%
19.99€
0.38€
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 1,732 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 #2 best deal in resource management games.
7.1
1,279
453
-99%
21.99€
0.40€
3. The Pale Beyond
You didn’t ask to lead this expedition, but here you are. Stuck in the ice, Captain missing, miles from civilisation. Someone has to take charge. Manage your meagre resources, balance safety and morale, make the hard calls, and head in the only direction you can - through The Pale Beyond. The Pale Beyond is a resource management, survival and choices matter game developed by Bellular Studios and published by Fellow Traveller. Released on February 24th 2023 has received 1,862 reviews of which 1,658 were positive and 204 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.5 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 98% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in resource management games.
8.5
1,658
204
-98%
19.50€
0.45€
4. Hexarchy
Hexarchy is an innovative, fast-paced, historical 4x strategy game where you use cards and deckbuilding to make your decisions. Single-player and online multiplayer. Hexarchy is a turn-based, card game and resource management game developed by Main Tank Software and published by Yogscast Games and Gamersky Games. Released on October 19th 2023 has received 1,155 reviews of which 942 were positive and 213 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for resource management games.
7.8
942
213
-98%
19.50€
0.58€
5. Help Will Come Tomorrow
In an uninhabitable Siberian wilderness, in a wake of October Revolution, a group of passengers survives the mysterious catastrophe of Trans-Siberian railway train. They must endure in a harsh ice-clad climate until rescue arrives. Facing many dangers, their own weaknesses and, their own prejudice. Help Will Come Tomorrow is a survival, adventure and resource management game developed by Arclight Creations and published by Klabater. Released on April 21st 2020 has received 893 reviews of which 714 were positive and 179 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for resource management games.
7.6
714
179
-98%
19.99€
0.46€
6. Siege Survival: Gloria Victis
A medieval city under siege and a handful of civilians are all that keep the walls from falling. Mixing survival strategy and resource management, build your camp, craft supplies, and scavenge the occupied city to supply the last troops holding back the invaders. Siege Survival: Gloria Victis is a singleplayer, city builder and immersive sim game developed by Black Eye Games and published by Ravenscourt. Released on May 18th 2021 has received 1,641 reviews of which 1,295 were positive and 346 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for resource management games.
7.6
1,295
346
-98%
24.99€
0.50€
7. Cartel Tycoon
Cartel Tycoon is a survival business sim inspired by the ‘80s and '90s narco trade. Expand and conquer, fight off rival thugs and evade the authorities. Earn people's loyalty and strive to overcome the doomed fate of a power-hungry drug lord. Cartel Tycoon is a top-down, rts and resource management game developed by Moon Moose and published by tinyBuild. Released on July 26th 2022 has received 3,536 reviews of which 2,699 were positive and 837 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.4 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for resource management games.
7.4
2,699
837
-98%
28.99€
0.73€
8. Automachef
Welcome to Automachef, a resource management puzzler where you design kitchens, program machinery and watch your genius come to life! It’s time to engineer tomorrow’s kitchen, today! Automachef is a simulation, indie and automation game developed by Rhombico Games and published by Team17 Digital Ltd. Released on July 23rd 2019 has received 863 reviews of which 622 were positive and 241 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for resource management games.
6.9
622
241
-98%
14.99€
0.37€
9. Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator
Open your own Card shop by the seaside! Buy, trade and sell Cards, OR keep them for your own collection! Earn reputation with customers, beat your shop goals, unlock new decorations, and host exciting events to bring everyone to the best Card shop in town! Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator is a funny, 2d and capitalism game developed by Henry's House, Oscar Brittain and Rob Gross and published by Akupara Games. Released on February 10th 2022 has received 440 reviews of which 319 were positive and 121 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for resource management games.
6.9
319
121
-98%
19.50€
0.49€
10. 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? Frostpunk is a city builder, survival and resource management game developed and published by 11 bit studios. Released on April 24th 2018 has received 123,546 reviews of which 114,315 were positive and 9,231 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 97% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for resource management games.
9.1
114,315
9,231
-97%
29.99€
0.94€
Free resource management games on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play resource management games you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on June 14th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play resource management games.
1. Farmer Against Potatoes Idle
Pick up your sword and fight off waves of Potatoes by upgrading your stats constantly, use Equipment, choose between different Classes, put your many Talents to good use, and so much more designed to keep you entertained for a long time. Farmer Against Potatoes Idle is a idler, casual and clicker game developed and published by Oni Gaming. Released on September 05th 2024 has received 7,184 reviews of which 6,844 were positive and 340 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. With 1,821 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free resource management games on Steam.
9.2
6,844
340
1,821
players
2. Magic Archery
Train a commoner to become the greatest archer in this short incremental game! Increase your stats, gather wealth from quests, buy upgrades, and infuse your arrows with magic. Magic Archery is a clicker, idler and fantasy game developed and published by Barribob. Released on October 04th 2024 has received 5,710 reviews of which 5,642 were positive and 68 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #2 spot among the most played free resource management games on Steam.
9.5
5,642
68
38
players
3. Industry Idle
Industry Idle is an idle game that combines factory building, resource management and market trading. Design & build your base, expand & scale up your productions, improve & optimize your economy. Plus all the incremental game goodies: offline earnings, prestige to unlock more powerful upgrades. Industry Idle is a automation, idler and resource management game developed by FishPond and published by Fish Pond Studio. Released on September 13th 2024 has received 1,360 reviews of which 1,058 were positive and 302 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played free resource management games on Steam.
7.5
1,058
302
35
players
4. Prosperous Universe
In Prosperous Universe start your galactic empire by trading on the real-time market exchange with other real players. Build your 1st base from humble beginnings & watch as your business flourishes with complex supply chain strategies. Economics, politics & realism fuel this immersive business MMO. Prosperous Universe is a early access, economy and resource management game developed and published by simulogics. Released on April 20th 2022 has received 898 reviews of which 675 were positive and 223 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played free resource management games on Steam.
7.2
675
223
33
players
5. Cookard
Cookard is a cooking game where you run a restaurant by stacking cards to prepare and serve dishes to customers. Cookard is a card game, free to play and cooking game developed and published by Panitia GameDev and Cliffbite Game. Released on May 10th 2024 has received 1,953 reviews of which 1,885 were positive and 68 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played free resource management games on Steam.
9.2
1,885
68
15
players
6. Pacifish
Pacifish is an incremental fishing management game with several mechanics to interact with and improve. It can be played both idly, or more actively to progress faster. Pacifish is a casual, idler and resource management game developed and published by Conifer Studios. Released on June 07th 2022 has received 671 reviews of which 560 were positive and 111 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played free resource management games on Steam.
7.9
560
111
9
players
7. Beecarbonize
Do you have what it takes to save the planet? Beecarbonize is an environmental card strategy game with climate change as your opponent. Beecarbonize is a strategy, resource management and card game game developed and published by Charles Games. Released on August 01st 2023 has received 1,980 reviews of which 1,850 were positive and 130 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played free resource management games on Steam.
8.9
1,850
130
6
players
8. Flicker of Hope
Flicker of Hope is a suspense thriller where you play as a small candle in the ruins of a dark cathedral. Though the halls are littered with victims of a mysterious plague, you are not the only soul left. Use the properties of a candle, and a trusty douter to prevent yourself from being discovered. Flicker of Hope is a horror, stealth and indie game developed and published by Studio Whip. Released on August 02nd 2020 has received 943 reviews of which 881 were positive and 62 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played free resource management games on Steam.
8.8
881
62
3
players
9. Terraformers: First Steps on Mars
Terraformers: First Steps on Mars is a free prologue of Terraformers, featuring an exclusive challenge to lead humanity's first attempt at settling the Red Planet. Terraformers: First Steps on Mars is a strategy, simulation and colony sim game developed by Asteroid Lab and published by Goblinz Publishing and IndieArk. Released on October 23rd 2021 has received 683 reviews of which 610 were positive and 73 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played free resource management games on Steam.
8.4
610
73
3
players
10. Outpath: First Journey
Outpath: First Journey is a prologue chapter of the main game, Outpath. An experimental clicker base building game. Craft, gather & manage resources, build your base and buy more islands to exploit and expand! Outpath: First Journey is a base building, resource management and crafting game developed by David Moralejo Sánchez and published by GrabTheGames and UpgradePoint. Released on December 17th 2022 has received 4,718 reviews of which 4,585 were positive and 133 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played free resource management games on Steam.
9.4
4,585
133
2
players