Free City Builder Games on Steam
Steam currently has 2,047 City Builder games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best free games ranked by popularity and ratings. Data for this list is calculated from reviews and player counts reported directly by Steam and will be updated in real-time. Free City Builder game rankings were last updated on 1/15/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best city builder games on Steam
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- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
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1. Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition offers players a trial of this historical single & multiplayer RTS experience. *Note: To unlock all features of the game please see the “Base Game” product.
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition holds the #1 spot for "best free City Builder game on Steam" with a Player Score of 84. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 46,180 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 39,246 positive reviews and 6,934 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 10/15/2020 |
| Franchise | Age of Empires Franchise |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Xbox Game Studios |
| Steam App Id | 933110 |
2. March of Empires
Claim your title as Shogun, Highland King, Northern Tsar or Desert Sultan and join this genre-redefining strategy game where you will wage constant war for real territorial conquest! Fortify your castle, fuel a massive army, and enter the ultimate fight for realm domination!
March of Empires has achieved a Player Score of 63, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free City Builder games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,619 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,049 positive reviews and 570 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run March of Empires on the Steam Deck.
3. Realm Grinder
Grow your realm, build alliances, and explore one of the deepest idle RPGs ever!
Realm Grinder has achieved a Player Score of 85, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free City Builder games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,924 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,034 positive reviews and 890 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Release Date | 6/15/2017 |
| Franchise | Kongregate |
| Developer | Divine Games |
| Publisher | Kongregate |
| Steam App Id | 610080 |
4. Game of Thrones Winter is Coming
Game of Thrones Winter is Coming is a PC strategy game based on the HBO drama television series, officially licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment under HBO, and developed and published by YOOZOO Games. Interactive Entertainment and HBO.
Game of Thrones Winter is Coming has achieved a Player Score of 60, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free City Builder games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,519 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,525 positive reviews and 994 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Game of Thrones Winter is Coming on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 11/14/2019 |
| Developer | YOUZU (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD. |
| Publisher | YOUZU (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD. |
| Steam App Id | 1105420 |
5. Sarah's Adventure: Time Travel
This game unearths the essence of adventure by combining elements of exploration and puzzle-solving. The game’s appeal lies in its interactive gameplay mechanics, where your choices dictate the progression of the story.
Sarah's Adventure: Time Travel has achieved a Player Score of 87, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free City Builder games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,013 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,845 positive reviews and 168 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Sarah's Adventure: Time Travel on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 6/26/2024 |
| Developer | NUTS POWER ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED |
| Publisher | NUTS POWER ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED |
| Steam App Id | 2994430 |
6. OpenTTD
OpenTTD is a business simulation game in which players earn money by transporting passengers and cargo via road, rail, water, and air. It is an open-source remake and expansion of the 1995 Chris Sawyer video game Transport Tycoon Deluxe.
OpenTTD has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free City Builder games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 13,647 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,126 positive reviews and 521 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play OpenTTD on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
7. California Escapades
In this simulation and adventure game, explore 19th-century Gold Rush California. Join Jim and Emma to build and manage your farm and city. Plant crops, raise animals, construct buildings, complete missions, uncover secrets, and collect treasures. Start your adventure now!
California Escapades has achieved a Player Score of 85, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free City Builder games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 412 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 379 positive reviews and 33 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
| Release Date | 9/4/2024 |
| Developer | NUTS POWER ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED |
| Publisher | NUTS POWER ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED |
| Steam App Id | 3103930 |
8. Stronghold Kingdoms
A massively multiplayer grand strategy game, Stronghold Kingdoms is about forging alliances, political mind games, city-building and castle sieges with thousands of other players!
Stronghold Kingdoms has achieved a Player Score of 63, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free City Builder games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,257 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,924 positive reviews and 3,333 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Stronghold Kingdoms on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 2/28/2012 |
| Franchise | Firefly Studios |
| Developer | FireFly Studios |
| Publisher | FireFly Studios |
| Steam App Id | 47410 |
9. Cividle
CivIdle is an idle/incremental game that allows you to lead your own civilization through thousands of years from ancient times to the modern era. Expand your territory, explore a vast tech tree, build various wonders, and trade with global players: empire must grow and numbers must go up!
Cividle has achieved a Player Score of 71, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free City Builder games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 539 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 405 positive reviews and 134 negative reviews — making it "Mostly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Cividle on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 2/16/2024 |
| Franchise | Fish Pond Studio |
| Developer | Fish Pond Studio |
| Publisher | Fish Pond Studio |
| Steam App Id | 2181940 |
10. Bloons Monkey City
Create, upgrade, and customize your very own Bloons Monkey City in this groundbreaking blend of city building and tower defense awesomeness!
Bloons Monkey City has achieved a Player Score of 88, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free City Builder games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,000 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,480 positive reviews and 520 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Bloons Monkey City on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 4/10/2020 |
| Franchise | Ninja Kiwi Games |
| Developer | Ninja Kiwi |
| Publisher | Ninja Kiwi |
| Steam App Id | 1252780 |
More Free City Builder Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free City Builder games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,716 | 10/15/2020 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 735 | 12/11/2017 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 546 | 6/15/2017 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 498 | 11/14/2019 | 60 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 425 | 6/26/2024 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 344 | 4/1/2021 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 323 | 9/4/2024 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 295 | 2/28/2012 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 196 | 2/16/2024 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 194 | 4/10/2020 | 88 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 165 | 11/30/2021 | 68 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 158 | 8/2/2023 | 56 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 145 | 8/24/2020 | 75 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 129 | 11/15/2023 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 112 | 5/16/2022 | 62 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 106 | 8/10/2021 | 67 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 103 | 2/27/2018 | 54 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 87 | 8/31/2022 | 89 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 85 | 8/23/2022 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
![Kink.inc [18+] steam charts](https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2190210/header.jpg) | 80 | 3/20/2023 | 52 | Free | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Player counts and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 15). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 15). Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 5). March of Empires on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 15). Realm Grinder on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 11). Game of Thrones Winter is Coming on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 3). Sarah's Adventure: Time Travel on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 15). OpenTTD on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 15). California Escapades on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 14). Stronghold Kingdoms on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 13). Cividle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 8). Bloons Monkey City on Steam. Steam Store.