City-Building Games to Watch in 2025: The Ultimate Preview
Your Guide to the Most Exciting City-Building Games Coming in 2025
Introduction into City-Building
City-building games have always had a unique charm, letting players channel their inner architect, urban planner, and occasional benevolent dictator. Whether you’re meticulously zoning districts or giving up and watching your carefully planned city descend into traffic chaos, these games strike a perfect balance between creativity and strategy.
But these aren’t your grandparents’ city simulators (unless your grandparents were oddly into SimCity). This year’s games aren’t just about building bigger, prettier cities—they’re tackling real-world challenges, experimenting with bold mechanics, and offering features that might actually make you question your real-life neighborhood zoning laws. (Looking at you, downtown traffic.)
Whether you’re a veteran mayor with a love of spreadsheets or someone who just likes the idea of telling tiny people where to live, eat, and work, 2025’s lineup has something for everyone. So grab your hard hat and let’s take a closer look at the upcoming games that will have you laying roads, raising skyscrapers, and probably yelling at your screen, “Why are you complaining about the lack of parks? I just built three!”
Airborne Empire
Release Date: 13th January
Developer: The Wandering Band LLC
Publisher: Stray Fawn Publishing
Ever thought city-building was missing a little altitude? Airborne Empire takes the genre to breathtaking new heights—literally. This open-world RPG city builder challenges you to design, manage, and grow your very own flying city. Yes, flying. Forget roads and zoning permits; here you’ll be balancing lift, propulsion, and a healthy dose of ambition as you traverse a vast sky filled with exotic wonders, hidden treasures, and the occasional pirate who just can’t mind their own business.
It’s not all smooth sailing (or smooth flying?). As the leader of your airborne metropolis, you’ll defend your city—and the lands below—from relentless sky pirates. With clever strategy and daring leadership, you’ll forge alliances, destroy enemy strongholds, and work to reunite the fractured peoples of this fantastical world. After all, being a sky mayor isn’t just about pretty sunsets; it’s about saving the day.
More about the game
Instant-Gaming (get it cheaper)*
Socials
Earth of Oryn
Release Date: Q2 2025
Developer: Earth of Oryn (Edouard L.)
Publisher: Stray Fawn Publishing
Do you dream of ruling your own medieval kingdom? Of shaping a land filled with bustling towns, mighty castles, and just a smidge of drama? Earth of Oryn is here to make those dreams come true—or at least to give you a sandbox where you can build, rule, and occasionally watch things go hilariously wrong. This indie city-builder and strategy game puts you in charge of your kingdom’s destiny, whether you’re leading with a kind heart or an iron fist that crushes rebellion faster than you can say “serf uprising.”
Starting from nothing, you’ll build your dream kingdom from the ground up, managing everything from resource production to the moral compass of your citizens. Will your people love you or fear you? That’s up to you—and maybe your ability to keep the potato supply flowing.
More about the game
Instant-Gaming (get it cheaper)*
Socials
Metropolis 1998
Release Date: 2025
Developer: Yesbox Studios
Publisher: Yesbox Studios
Take a trip back to the golden era of simulation games with Metropolis 1998, a love letter to the classic city builders of the 90s and 00s—only with way fewer crashes and infinitely smarter citizens. This fresh take on the genre brings the charm of isometric pixel art into the modern age, combining old-school aesthetics with groundbreaking simulation features. Think SimCity meets the tech of today, minus the dial-up internet.
As mayor of your very own bustling metropolis, you won’t just zone neighborhoods and hope for the best. Instead, you’ll dive deep into the specific needs of your citizens, ensuring they have everything from cozy homes to their favorite coffee shop down the street. It’s a whole new level of city management, with tools that let you shape your city’s destiny without frying your CPU.
More about the game
Instant-Gaming (get it cheaper)*
Socials
Anno 117: Pax Romana
Release Date: 2025
Developer: Ubisoft Mainz
Publisher: Ubisoft
The award-winning Anno strategy franchise returns, and this time, it’s taking you back to one of the most pivotal periods in history: the height of the Roman Empire. In Anno: Roman Empire, you step into the sandals of a Roman governor in 117 AD, tasked with building cities, shaping economies, and navigating the delicate balance between peace and power. Whether you rule with wisdom or wield an iron fist, the fate of the empire rests in your hands.
The year is 117 AD. The Roman Empire is at its height, but maintaining its glory is no small feat. Will you usher in an era of peace and prosperity, or will your rule be remembered for conquest and rebellion? In Anno 117, the fate of the empire—and its legacy—is in your hands. The question is: what kind of governor will you be?
More about the game
Instant-Gaming (get it cheaper)*
Socials
County of Fortune
Release Date: Q4 2025
Developer: Nepos Games
Publisher: Nepos Games
Who needs just one city when you can rule an entire county? County of Fortune flips the script on traditional city builders, challenging you to oversee not just a single settlement, but an entire sprawling county. Forget micromanaging every blacksmith shop and bakery—in this medieval builder, your focus is on founding whole villages, nurturing their growth, and watching as they evolve into bustling cities that fuel your county’s prosperity.
Think big, act bigger, and maybe—just maybe—don’t neglect that one lonely fishing hamlet on the edge of the map. Every settlement counts, literally. So, grab your plans, survey the land, and start building your legacy in County of Fortune. Your county’s future is in your hands—don’t blow it.
More about the game
Instant-Gaming (get it cheaper)*
Socials
Star Birds
Release Date: 2025
Developer: Toukana Interactive
Publisher: Toukana Interactive, kurzgesagt - in a nutshell
What do you get when you mix space exploration, resource management, and a flock of quirky, spacefaring birds? Star Birds, of course—a sci-fi building game that’s as colorful as it is cosmic. Whether you’re a seasoned fan of the YouTube channel or someone who feels a bit overwhelmed by the vastness of space, the Star Birds are here to guide you. And trust us, they need your help—because without you, chaos would reign. (Seriously, they’re just one poorly timed asteroid away from a galactic meltdown.)
Ready to scan some asteroids, solve some mysteries, and manage the quirkiest resource chain in the galaxy? The Star Birds are counting on you. Just remember: it’s a big universe out there, but with a little strategy and a lot of birdpower, your spacefaring flock will be unstoppable.
More about the game
Instant-Gaming (get it cheaper)*
Socials
Nova Roma
Release Date: 2025
Developer: Lion Shield
Publisher: Hooded Horse
The Roman Empire may be crumbling, but you’re not going down with it. In Nova Roma, you’ll lead a determined band of citizens to new lands, leaving behind decadence and decay to forge a fresh start. From humble beginnings, you’ll shape a city that rivals the greatest of antiquity, appeasing the gods, managing your citizens’ (many) needs, and hopefully avoiding the kind of hubris that brought the old Rome to its knees. No pressure.
The gods are watching, the citizens are waiting, and your advisors are already complaining. Will you balance the needs of Nova Roma with the will of the heavens? Or will you risk it all for greatness, only to see your city fall like the empire before it? The choice is yours—just don’t forget to flood-proof the granaries.
More about the game
Instant-Gaming (get it cheaper)*
Socials
Lands of Koastalia
Release Date: TBD (probably 2025)
Developer: Asaloda Games
Publisher: Asaloda Games
Ever wanted to create the perfect village without the stress of angry citizens or looming deadlines? Lands of Koastalia invites you to kick back, settle on a gorgeous, uniquely generated island, and build charming villages that look like they’ve sprung straight from a storybook. As Mayor, your goal is simple: keep your village beautiful, your resources flowing, and your creativity thriving.
But here’s the twist: Koastalia doesn’t just let you plop down cookie-cutter houses. Thanks to a unique building system, you’ll literally draw your villages into existence, turning the island into a canvas and your city into a masterpiece. Relaxation and creativity, meet city-building.
More about the game
Instant-Gaming (get it cheaper)*
Website (Couldn’t find one)
Socials
Wrapping it up
And there you have it—2025 is shaping up to be a golden year for city-building fans, whether you’re managing spacefaring birds, rebuilding ancient empires, or figuring out how to flood-proof your medieval masterpiece. From the quirky charm of Star Birds to the creative freedom of Lands of Koastalia, there’s something here for every aspiring mayor, governor, or cosmic overlord.
2025 is the perfect time to dive in! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to check on my citizens—they’re starting to riot because I prioritized building fountains over food. Again.
Here’s to a year full of epic cities, happy citizens, and (hopefully) minimal disasters. Happy building! 🥂
Did I miss anything? Tell me! I would love to do a Part 2
Are there any broken links?
Or maybe you want to share this with someone? 👀
Anyway, have a great day and don’t forget to build homes and avoid creating downtown traffic!
(*) Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, marked with (*). This means that if you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission (about 3%) at no additional cost to you. This helps support my work and allows me to continue creating content like this. Thank you for your support!