City-building games are highly popular. They are fun and require a smart strategy to run your town like a pro.
You can find countless city-builder video games and mobile versions to quench your thirst for becoming a mayor. However, how about enjoying things the traditional way?
Here are the top city-building board games to enjoy with your loved ones and have a great time. They come in all shapes, sizes, and themes to give you a fantastic experience.
So, get ready to have a great time playing the following gems.
1. Suburbia
Suburbia is set in today’s world. Your task is to grow your small town into a sprawling metropolis.
You must create a modern city with proper industrial, commercial, and residential zones. The game consists of hexagonal cards that you use to construct your city and services.
It is also possible to exploit the resources of other cities close by.
One to four players can play Suburbia. The objective of the board game is to create a town that attracts the most population among your competitors.
Suburbia gives you a feeling of playing Sim City on a tabletop. The game is highly engaging and can last up to 90 minutes.
2. Cities: Skylines – The Board Game
Cities: Skylines is an adaptation of a video game of the same name. It is a pretty expansive game and can accommodate up to four players.
The goal of the city-building game is to create the best city with happy citizens. Each player must balance several aspects, like resources and zoning, to grow their town.
Players take turns to decide what they do. They have three options in a round:
- Playing a construction card
- Exchanging a card
- Ending the milestone
Each player gets a city card to work with. They score points for completing milestones and can win rewards like money and happiness points.
Players must add their points at the end of the game. A chart allows them to compare their scores to decide the winner.
3. Underwater Cities
Here is a city-building game with a twist. It is set in the future, where humans have exhausted all the land on the planet.
As a result, they are left to build a city under the water.
Underwater Cities is a unique game in its genre. You have to set up a city on the ocean floor.
The game is mainly card-based but offers an innovative experience. You must be able to build a city that can survive under the water.
The buildings are dome-shaped, and all constructions are connected by tunnels. You also must spend money on the upkeep of your infrastructure.
Therefore, you must expand your city strategically to prevent running out of resources.
4. Quadropolis
Quadropolis comes from the stable of Days Of Wonder. The brand is known for making excellent board games.
This one is a tile placement and collection game backed by a city-building theme. Two to four players can take part in the game, which lasts 30 – 60 minutes.
Anyone from 8 years old can enjoy the game.
You become the mayor of a city and compete with others for resources. It is possible to construct a range of buildings, such as shops and factories.
Players can enjoy Quadropolis in two modes – classic and expert. The former one is excellent for having fun with your family.
The expert mode is useful when you want to test your skills seriously.
5. Everdell
Everdell takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the modern city and traffic. You travel to a forest, where you build your charming city among the trees.
The artwork of the game is impressive and transports you to the old days. You feel like playing the beginning stages of The Age of Empires.
Your job is not just to build a city. You must manage your animals who gather resources for you. Additionally, you must plan your moves to grow your city without challenges, as the gameplay is complex.
One to four players can typically join a game. It is suitable for children over 13 years.
A single game can last for up to an hour.
6. Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization
Through the Ages is more than a game of building cities. It is about the growth of a civilization and its progress through the ages.
Your job is to build a civilization, complete with all aspects like leadership, government, culture, science, religion, and military.
Two to four players draw and buy cards to play the game. They play through four ages of civilization, starting with Classical Antiquity and ending in our Modern Age.
Through the Ages, it has won many awards for its engaging gameplay. It also ranked as the best city-building game for many years.
The game received an update in 2015 with new artwork and refined rules. It is also available on Steam and as a mobile app on Android and iOS.
7. Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is another charming board game that involves building cities. It is a Euro-style game where you act as a colonial governor in charge of an island.
Your goal is to score as many points as you can by exporting goods to Europe. You also earn points for constructing buildings.
The area of operation is your own player board. You erect your buildings on it and build your homes and plantations.
Two to five players can play Puerto Rico. They share a few things in the game, such as a trading house, ships for transporting goods, and a pool of resources.
The game is around 90 – 150 minutes long. Therefore, play it when you have enough time on your hands.
8. The Capitals
The Capitals is a nuanced game in the genre of building cities. It is undoubtedly a gem that has not received enough attention.
You have all the familiar concepts like creating buildings, improving public services, and so on. Moreover, the game progresses across four eras, starting from the Victorian times.
The biggest draw of The Capitals is the delicate relationship between factors like in real life. For example, you must try to grow your employment rate to earn more points.
However, you must also grow your population; otherwise, a high employment rate is useless. Additionally, you must balance your population and employment for the optimum results.
You really feel like the administrator of a city playing The Capitals.
9. On Mars
Humans have always dreamt of colonizing another planet. You must have seen or read science fiction movies and books about people having adventures on Mars.
On Mars continues the saga and introduces you to a base camp on Mars. You are one of the first settlers working to build a thriving community and city.
Your efforts will help you expand your colony. You travel to the Earth and back to gather resources several times in the beginning.
Later, you build your own mines and power generators on Mars to become self-sufficient.
One to four players can play the game. It consists of several rounds and can continue for 90 – 150 minutes.
On Mars has won many awards in 2021.
10. Keyflower
Keyflower is another unique game in this genre. You are transported back to medieval times and put in charge of a village.
Your job in this worker placement game is to build the greatest civilization. The game can have two to six players.
The task involves laying tiles physically to expand your infrastructure. It is a delight to see your efforts taking shape with new buildings and more resources.
However, you must bid for tiles to add to your village. The situation can get pretty competitive in a short time.
Moreover, you must learn to manage your workers efficiently.
Keyflower is complex and nuanced. You will take a long time to master the game.
11. Le Havre
Le Havre combines many genres into one. You have the classic city-building objectives blended with worker placement and management tasks.
Your goal is to build the best harbor city for your ship empire. It is possible to play the game solo or compete with others.
Playing with others is more exciting as there are endless opportunities for player interactions. However, it is up to the individual to determine the type of interaction.
They can connect to cooperate or compete with one another.
Le Havre is easy to learn. However, it takes several attempts to master the game.
Every time, you have more fun and learn something new. Le Havre comes with excellent replayability.
One to five players can participate in the game. It can continue for up to 30 – 150 minutes.
Pick Your Favorite City Building Board Game
Our review will help you determine the best game for your preferences. You can also try several games to find the right fit. Begin your journey with simple games if you are new to the genre. Otherwise, you can play the titles reserved for pro players and champions to test your skills.
Last Updated on February 27, 2024 by Ananya Sreen
City-building board games offer diverse experiences! From Suburbia’s Sim City vibe to Underwater Cities’ unique underwater setting, each game offers distinct challenges. Quadropolis by Days Of Wonder caters to different skill levels with classic and expert modes. Everdell’s charming forest setting and resource-gathering animals make for an engaging experience. Through the Ages dives into civilization-building, while Puerto Rico involves Euro-style colonial governance.
This article is a guide to diverse city-building board games, catering to varied preferences. This article also provides insights into gameplay dynamics, perfect for enthusiasts seeking new gaming experiences. This article has inspired to take another look at city building board games makes me want to play a city building board game.
Fantastic overview of the evolution of arcade gaming! Your nostalgic trip down memory lane, reminiscing about classic games, paints a vivid picture of the golden era of arcades. The decline in popularity due to advances in home gaming consoles and computers is well-explained, highlighting the convenience they offered. The reassurance that arcade games are not dead but have evolved to meet modern demands is uplifting. The mention of modern arcade games, such as Jurassic Park Arcade and Fast and Furious Arcade, adds a contemporary touch.
The article gives sense like buiding your own city , where you are the prominent person . The game is also a good one it is just like monopoly board game . Nice article also .
This really catered to my love for city-building games. I was particularly fascinated by Puerto Rico as a captivating Euro-style board game. As a colonial governor, players embark on a journey, exporting goods to Europe and constructing buildings to accumulate points. With the ability to accommodate two to five players, Puerto Rico promises an immersive gaming session lasting around 90-150 minutes which I am really looking forward to. I’m eager to dive into this enticing city-building adventure.
I saw city building board games on playstore but I didn’t know that there are tradition board games too. These look fascinating. Can you also tell from where I can buy and which one should I buy first?
This was a great fit for my passion for city-building video games. Puerto Rico is a really interesting board game in the Euro style that really drew me in.
all these games sound fun and interesting, I would really love to try as many as I can.
I was fascinated by how the article not only covered the names of the prominent city-building games but gave a brief description on them all.
Personally, I would like to try Quadropolis first, I loved the concept of becoming a mayor while playing the game.
I find this article incredibly helpful as it introduces a variety of city-building board games, offering a nostalgic and engaging alternative to digital experiences. The detailed descriptions of games like Suburbia, Cities: Skylines, Underwater Cities, Quadropolis, and Everdell provide a clear understanding of each game’s unique features and gameplay. Overall it is a valuable guide for board game enthusiasts like me!