The best city building games 🏗 2025

7 Wonders Duel takes the essence of the classic 7 Wonders and refines it for an intense two-player experience. It retains the thematic elements of building a civilization through acquiring various types of cards, but it introduces unique mechanics suited for a duel.

Carcassonne Big Box 6 is a comprehensive edition of the beloved tile-laying game Carcassonne, combining the base game with its two major expansions and several mini-expansions into one grand package. Players build the landscape of a medieval fortress city one tile at a time, placing their followers on roads, cities, cloisters, and fields to gather points. This edition not only includes the core game that has captivated millions worldwide but also enriches the experience with expansions that introduce new tiles, mechanics, and strategies.

Next Station: London invites players to take on the role of project managers tasked with the ambitious job of redesigning London's iconic underground network. The game challenges players to strategically optimize connections, incorporate as many of the city's landmarks as possible, and efficiently use the tunnels under the Thames, all while adhering to the city's specific requirements.

Welcome To... is a unique, dice-less roll-and-write game where players take on the role of 1950s American architects, aiming to design and construct the most prosperous suburban neighborhood.

Carcassonne: 20th Anniversary Edition celebrates two decades since the beloved tile-placement game Carcassonne won the prestigious Spiel des Jahres award. This special edition not only commemorates the game's lasting appeal but also enhances the classic experience with new and exclusive content. Players continue to draw and place tiles depicting the picturesque landscapes of southern France, aiming to strategically deploy their meeples—be it as knights, robbers, monks, or farmers—to score points by completing cities, roads, cloisters, and fields.

My City is a groundbreaking competitive legacy game where players develop their own city across multiple epochs. This game uniquely blends city-building with the evolving challenges and narratives of a legacy format.

Akropolis is a strategic board game set in ancient Greece, where players take on the roles of skilled architects competing to build the most prestigious city. The game focuses on urban planning, resource management, and tactical tile placement.

Planet Unknown is a competitive and strategic game for 1-6 players set in a future where Earth's resources are depleted. Players are tasked with developing the most efficient and habitable planet among a series of newfound worlds. Using polyomino-shaped tiles, each representing vital infrastructure, players work to efficiently cover their planets and build an effective support system for life.

In 7 Wonders, you step into the role of a leader of one of the seven great cities of the Ancient World. Your objective is to gather resources, establish commercial routes, and assert your military might. The game is not just about managing resources but also about building an architectural wonder that will stand the test of time.

7 Wonders (Second Edition) is an acclaimed board game known for its widespread recognition and numerous international awards. This new version rejuvenates the classic 7 Wonders game, maintaining its status as a cornerstone in the world of modern board gaming. The game is celebrated for its elegant drafting mechanics, allowing up to 7 players to participate simultaneously without downtime.

Lords of Waterdeep immerses players in the vibrant and politically charged city of Waterdeep, the Crown Jewel of the Forgotten Realms. In this strategic board game designed for 2-5 players, you assume the identity of one of the enigmatic Lords of Waterdeep, the city's clandestine rulers. As a Lord, you'll navigate a web of intrigue and compete with other powerful figures to exert control over this remarkable city. Let's explore the game's key features:

Sprawlopolis is an engaging cooperative city-building game where 1-4 players join forces to transform a tiny town into a bustling metropolis. The game is known for its compact design, using only 18 cards, and a dynamic scoring system that ensures a unique experience every time you play.

Everdell invites players to immerse themselves in the enchanting valley of Everdell, where a thriving civilization of forest critters seeks to expand their territories and establish new cities beneath towering trees, meandering streams, and mossy hollows. As the leader of a group of ambitious critters, you have a busy year ahead, filled with construction, character encounters, and hosting events. Can you ensure that the sun shines brightest on your city before the winter moon rises?

Welcome to the Moon is an innovative flip-and-write game that evolves the gameplay of its predecessors, Welcome To... and Welcome To New Las Vegas. It takes players on a space colonization adventure, combining familiar mechanisms with new twists and a campaign mode that spans eight unique adventure sheets.

Players are transported to the idyllic landscapes of Japan in this standalone successor to the award-winning board game. With the introduction of cherry blossoms as a new element and over 40 achievements to unlock, there's plenty of exciting challenges to face. Numerous surprises await as players explore the world of Dorfromantik - Sakura.

From the creators of the hit game Point Salad, this card-drawing and engine-building game features over 150 unique building cards, allowing players to create a completely different city in each session. Players take two adjacent cards from the dynamic city grid to grow their city, utilizing resource cards and bonuses to construct buildings that require specific combinations. By creating special urban structures, players can multiply their city's points and strive to become the best city planner!

In Flamecraft, you delve into a whimsical world where artisan dragons, smaller yet magically adept relatives of their larger kin, are the stars. As a Flamekeeper, your role is to communicate with these dragons, finding them the perfect shop to call home and using enchantments to coax them into creating marvelous things. Your success in aiding the dragons and shopkeepers boosts your reputation, with the goal of becoming the Master of Flamecraft.

The Collector's Edition of Everdell includes everything from the standard edition, plus the Legends expansion with 10 cards, 15 Extra! Extra! cards, 30 metal tokens, and an improved 8-sided die, all housed in a UV spot-printed box and a gallery sleeve.

Experience the classic game of Carcassonne along with 11 expansions, making it the ultimate starter set for both fans and newcomers. The new storage insert helps sort and find components easily, while the game pieces remain compatible with other versions. Combine expansions creatively with over 180 tiles for endless gameplay, including intriguing additions like the Abbot, Rivers, and Gold Mines that enhance strategy and engagement.

Chinatown is a dynamic negotiation board game where players engage in the strategic acquisition and development of city blocks to establish profitable businesses. It emphasizes trading and deal-making to succeed in a competitive urban landscape.

Players create a unique city over four chapters, each containing three episodes. A die roll indicates which building to draw on the player board, with new challenges arising in each episode. Players can choose to play through the entire campaign or select individual episodes or chapters to replay.

Tiny Towns is a charming and strategic board game where players take on the role of mayors building their own tiny towns in a forest. The game challenges players to manage resources wisely and plan their towns carefully to maximize prosperity.

From clucking chickens to rumbling tractors, the sounds of a busy farm are everywhere. Your planning team is tasked with transforming this small farm into a thriving livestock community.

Welcome back to your charming and quirky favorite city! In Machi Koro 2, players will notice significant changes with new area laws and a limited budget to select starting businesses. Cards are drawn from three decks and displayed for everyone, creating a race to build the coolest new establishments and landmarks across the country. Choose wisely, as your landmarks could also benefit your opponents, ensuring that no two games are alike.

Palm Island is a uniquely portable and versatile card game that can be played in almost any setting, with no table required. It's designed to be accessible and engaging whether you are sitting, standing, or on the move. The game's innovative mechanics allow players to use just 17 cards to manage resources, upgrade buildings, and shape their island through 8 rounds of play.

In Architects of the West Kingdom, set against the backdrop of the late Carolingian Empire around 850 AD, players step into the roles of royal architects. Tasked with constructing important buildings and advancing the construction of the Archbishop's cathedral, this game uniquely combines resource management, worker placement, and moral choices into a rich strategic tableau. Players vie for the King's favor and maintain their noble status in a world where virtue and vice coexist.

Hadara is a strategic board game that takes players on a journey through the evolution of civilizations. Over the course of three epochs, players transform their small settlements into flourishing high cultures, populating their world with diverse individuals from various cultures, continents, and eras. The goal is to skillfully choose people and achievements to bring glory and honor, while balancing the development of agriculture, culture, and military power to outshine competitors.

Between Two Cities is a collaborative, tile-drafting board game set in the early 1800s, a period of significant urban development. Players take on the role of master city planners, working in partnership to design two distinct cities.

Citadels is a dynamic game where players step into various roles, embodying characters they've hired to aid them in amassing wealth and constructing grand buildings. The game unfolds with a quest for dominance, culminating when a player successfully erects their eighth building. Let's delve into the key features of this intriguing game: