City builder have been around for about as long as games have been around, and despite generations of consoles, graphical updates and innovations, they're still one of the most popular genres out there. The core gameplay of starting with a few humble structures and gradually building a gigantic civilization remains largely unchanged, but the nuances along the way have been refined and perfected to the point where player freedom is now at its highest peak yet.
The genre has expanded significantly in recent years. Developers are exploring new environments and ideas, giving players more opportunities to build entire cities in places and ways they've never seen before. As 2025 draws to a close, there are several exciting city building game on the horizon for fans to get excited about, whether they're waiting for a hotly anticipated sequel or something completely new.
Anno 117: Pax Romana
Builds the Roman Empire
Anno 117: Pax Romana is the next title in the iconic city-building series that has defined the genre for most of the past decade. This time, players are sent to the Roman era and tasked with building a glorious empire to rule and control, and every minute, from taxes to citizen morality, plays an important role in the development process. With each new game in the series, the visuals get better and better, and this time the trees are bursting with life, the sea is beaming with light, and individual structures come to life with realistic textures that really draw players into the world.
As always, there is a huge amount of gameplay depth that extends beyond just the basic building constructs. Players can advance down to unlock trees that can have an impact on everything from production efficiency to military success, and they can even choose a deity to worship on each separate island, with bonuses granted depending on the allegiance decided upon. The game looks to be a big step up from the previous games in the series, and thanks to upgrades in the visuals and actual mechanics, it's poised to be the best and most complete Anno experience so far.
Drowning light
Protect the light at all costs
- Release date: Coming soon
- Developer: Fathomlight
- Platforms: PC
Drowning light is a super exciting city-building survival game set in a flooded world where the only safety is a single lighthouse in the middle of the sea. Players must manage their resources and slowly expand their colony to serve as humanity's last hope, all while pushing through unforgiving weather events and the constant threat of darkness looming over the city. Much of the gameplay revolves around decision-making related to the people living in the colony, as players can choose to save or sacrifice certain individuals to build the type of world that best suits their interests.
Comparisons have been made with other major city builders such as Frostpunkand with a central building as the focus, these comparisons make sense. Players must constantly think about how to build outward while maintaining cohesion within. It's as much a game about optimization as it is about choice, as players must carefully manage the scarce resources that are vital to humanity's survival. But decisions must be made at times that may lead to the death of citizens to secure a brighter future for the rest of the people.
City state Metropolis
Bigger, better and more detailed than ever
- Release date: Q1 2026
- Developer: Andy Sztark
- Platforms: PC
City state Metropolis is the next part in City state series and looks to remove all previous boundaries and give players all the tools they need to build the city of their dreams. There are no barriers to what can be built; players can terraform mountains, build mile-long highways across oceans, and perfect the subtlest details of every single structure. The level of customization is amazing. Players can choose not only colors and textures, but also specific road surfaces and materials, which then affect things like maintenance and construction costs, adding even more layers to an already expansive game.
When it comes to the people who live in these cities, their AI is more realistic than ever, allowing the places to come alive and not feel like empty shells with few moving parts. With a greater emphasis on authentic simulation and more tools for creation than ever before, City state Metropolis looks like to not only be the best game in the series, but also one of the most promising city builders on the horizon, and one that fans of the genre should definitely keep an eye on in the coming months.
Tropical 7
El Presidente is back at the helm
Tropical 7 returns players to one of the most beloved strategy games on the planet, this time with an island nation to build and control. It may be a game about ruling with an iron fist, but the game is anything but a walk in the park. Players must lead their nation to new heights by fulfilling the needs of their citizens and pushing forward with more ambition than ever before. There are more maps, more scenarios and even more possibilities with a random map generator, giving players enough content and space to become the tropical dictator they always wanted to be.
The Tropical series has always had a unique satirical tone that sets it apart from other city builders, and this entry is no different. Players will be able to mingle with political rivals and turn the election world into a playground for their plans, controlling pretty much every aspect of their role as leader. Creativity is kind, both in game mechanics and customization, as players can not only change the look of their capital city and Presedente with a new list of options, but can also use that creative spirit in combat, where the game leans into the idea of being an off-the-wall dictator in a way that no other game has even attempted.
Beyond these stars
Creating A Civilization On The Back Of A Space Whale
- Release date: 2025
- Developer: Balancing Monkey Games
- Platforms: PC
Beyond these stars is a beautiful and intricate simulator that sends players into the depths of outer space atop a giant whale gliding effortlessly through the cosmos. Starting with nothing more than a vision to build a new civilization, players must build an efficient and sustainable city that can accommodate people of all kinds, taking into account both their biological needs and social needs such as work and housing. The Whale is a malleable canvas for players to paint their ideas on, as all the trees, valleys, mountains and grasslands can be altered to fit whatever goals the player has in mind.
What makes the game particularly interesting is how the city moves through space, unlocking new opportunities for the player to explore. Nearby planets can be unlocked to give them valuable resources, and entire outposts can be set up to create networks of transport. Then, at a moment's notice, Kewa the Whale can move on, never to return, meaning players must build a strong bond with the creature to have a better chance of surviving the unknown reaches of space themselves.
