Tired of cars, oxygen, and primitive skyscrapers? Then head on over to thesci-fi future of city builderswhere everything is either in space or in a gritty post-apocalypse world.Sci-fi city buildersare more flexible in their rules; their very setting allows them todisobey some contemporary conventions.
Related:Worst Simulation Games Of The Decade (According To Metacritic)
As a result, they’re morecompelling and immersive, especially if they take place in an unlikely timeline or some alternate reality. Regardless, these following sci-fi city builder games ought to give players a chance to make the digital future a little brighter.
10Aven Colony
In some far-flung fictional future, humanity has finally found another home planet to call its own (and to eventually pollute once more). It’s called Aven Prime and it’s ripe for some city-building. As developers of this colony, players need to make it as habitable for humans as possible.
But it’s an alien planet with a harsh and exotic environment— one that isn’t suitable for human beings, initially, that is.Aven Colony’sfuturistic take on being a mayor and the intricacies of settling into new alien planets will surely be a treatfor sci-fi buffs.
9Frostpunk
Frostpunktakes place in an alternate reality right near the end of the Industrial Age. Instead of progressing into the Modern Age, the Earth froze over, killing civilization as we know it. A small bastion of humanity is all that remains and they must tighten their belts and brace for a permanent winter using what little raw resources and food they have.
Related:The Best Sim Games Of The Decade (According To Metacritic)
To that end,Frostpunkalso doubles as one of the most desperate survival games out there. The atmosphere here is intense and palpable and can even send shivers down players' spines. Players not only build facilities but also decide what oppressive edicts to enact to keep the remnants of society functioning.
8Airborne Kingdom
Ever wanted to build a fancy kingdom in the skies in a steampunk setting?Airborne Kingdomis the game for that. It’s one of the most novel entries in the city builder genre thanks to its vibrant art style and special ideas about simulation.
At its core, the game revolves around building and sustaining a floating metropolis while also aiding the people below like some kind of Elysium for the elite. Since their city floats, players can explore the landscape with these megalopolis marvels in one of the most stunning takes on city building ever.
7Anno 2205
Anno 2070also counts here butAnno 2205is the stronger candidate due to its further leap into the future of mankind. InAnno 2205, humanity grew bored with Earth and settledontheMoon. Also, the moon turned out to be a generous source of a new raw resource that would revolutionize energy for mankind.
Related:Forgotten Simulation Games You Need To Play
So the game sees players jumping back and forth between their Earth and Moon colonies to reinforce a solid economic pipeline that would save Earth from its eventual decay. As far as allAnnogames go,Anno 2205has one of the most advanced graphics and renditions of the future, making it feel more unique compared to its prequels.
6Planetbase
Planetbaseis yet another colony simulator and base builder but this time around, it takes place on a remote planet that’s a far cry from the comforts of Earth. Players are tasked with terraforming and colonizing the planet complete with its own set of challenges.
For the most part, players need to assume the role of architect and manager as they command and delegate their colonists. Apart from the red desert planet, other planet types include frozen, gas giant, and storm, providing a good variety for players.
5Surviving Mars
Speaking of desert planets,Surviving Marsis another contender in the sci-fi city builder genre. It’s about colonizing Mars, plain and simple. To that end, it holds similarities withPlanetbaseand other games about terraforming andcolonizing another planet.
Related:Top Sci-Fi Comedy Movies Of All Time
The learning curve is pretty steep due to the pile of systems and mechanics; players might find themselves overwhelmed since there are also survival elements thrown into the mix. However, the attention to detail and the realism inSurviving Marsmake the game more than immersive.
4Cliff Empire
For its different take on sci-fi,Cliff Empireis a great recommendation.Cliff Empireportrays a world after a nuclear apocalypse; the surface became uninhabitable, so the rest of humanity resorted to building cities high up in the tallest mountains, hence the game’s title.
And sure enough, the cities players can build inCliff Empireare awe-inspiring. This city builder has one of the most beautiful visuals and art styles in its genre. Coupled with the peculiar setting, it’s unforgettable; it’s like having a small digital diorama of a city. The best part is that those visuals don’t demand much from the typical gaming PC.
3Imagine Earth
While on the topic of alluring art styles,Imagine Earthis also among the most imaginative. Players must also establish colonies on distant worlds in this game. The difference is that the game’s art graphics are semi-cartoonish in scale.
Related:Best Romance Sci-Fi Movies, Ranked
Players will be able to see the curvature of the planet they’re colonizing while building and managing it. This gives the game aCivfeel to it, which is deliberate since the game also doubles as a 4X title on top of being a city builder.
2Endzone - A World Apart
If players are looking for something as bleak asFrostpunk, thenEndzone - A World Apartis right up there with the gloominess. It’s set in a post-apocalyptic world where the Earth is constantly threatened and battered with radiation, toxic rain, sandstorms, and droughts.
Those are just some of the challenges players will face while trying to rebuild humanity. With the lack of conventional resources, players must make do with scraps, building dingy hovels and crude contraptions for their citizens. It’s no futuristic utopia, but who’s to blame?
1Ixion
Ixionadds its own twist to the genre. Instead of taking place on planetary solid ground, it takes place in space, specifically on a space station platform. Thus, building space is ironically more limited due to the logistical nightmare involved in building a colony in the void.
But that ought to keep the game more interesting. Players must then balance resources and exploration along with infrastructure in order to keep what’s left of struggling humanity alive, likely because the billionaires in this game’s universe didn’t fund the space projects enough due to their Twitter fixation.
