Free Colony Sim Games on Steam
Steam currently has 1,086 Colony Sim 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 Colony Sim game rankings were last updated on 8/16/2025.
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1. 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 holds the #1 spot for "best free Colony Sim game on Steam" with a Player Score of 63. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,389 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,003 positive reviews and 3,386 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 | 2/27/2012 |
| Franchise | Firefly Studios |
| Developer | FireFly Studios |
| Publisher | FireFly Studios |
| Steam App Id | 47410 |
2. DFHack - Dwarf Fortress Modding Engine
Extensions for Dwarf Fortress, including bugfixes, interface improvements, automation agents, design blueprints, modding building blocks, and other tools.
DFHack - Dwarf Fortress Modding Engine has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Colony Sim games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 804 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 799 positive reviews and 5 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play DFHack - Dwarf Fortress Modding Engine on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 4/14/2023 |
| Developer | The DFHack Team |
| Publisher | The DFHack Team |
| Steam App Id | 2346660 |
3. Shelter 69
Expand your shelter in a unique take on the post-apocalypse genre, thrown straight into a wild world where women reign supreme across the wastelands. You are the last male, and all is for your taking.
Shelter 69 has achieved a Player Score of 61, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free Colony Sim games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,854 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,159 positive reviews and 695 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Shelter 69 on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
4. Shipping Manager
Create and manage your own shipping empire. Control every aspect from route creation to marketing to staff handling and beat other managers to top the leaderboards.
Shipping Manager has achieved a Player Score of 47, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Colony Sim games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 463 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 217 positive reviews and 246 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Shipping Manager on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 9/18/2023 |
| Developer | Trophy Games |
| Publisher | Trophy Games |
| Steam App Id | 2445660 |
5. Diplomacy is Not an Option: Shareware
Diplomacy is Not an Option: Shareware is a free prequel to the original game. In a medieval fantasy world, you are to build settlements, raise huge armies, and defend against massive hordes of enemies. Learn how Ironbrow clan shaped the world's map the first time - if you survive, that is.
Diplomacy is Not an Option: Shareware has achieved a Player Score of 84, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Colony Sim games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 176 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 163 positive reviews and 13 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.
6. Build Master: MarsVille
Build Master: MarsVille is a city-building and strategy game that invites you to create your Martian colony with your engineering genius and building skills. Form alliances, trade resources, and conquer rival colonies. Embrace the challenge and become the ultimate Build Master on Mars!
Build Master: MarsVille has achieved a Player Score of 43, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free Colony Sim games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 224 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 92 positive reviews and 132 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Build Master: MarsVille on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 12/11/2023 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | FIRST FUN HONG KONG LIMITED |
| Steam App Id | 2366120 |
7. Egg Surprise
A fun clicker with economic simulation in the penguin kingdom. Obtain rare collections, venture into dangerous dungeons, and build your own civilization!
Egg Surprise has achieved a Player Score of 66, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free Colony Sim games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,206 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 823 positive reviews and 383 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Release Date | 6/20/2024 |
| Developer | SQRT Games |
| Publisher | SQRT Games |
| Steam App Id | 3017120 |
8. Kingdom: Classic
Kingdom is a 2D sidescrolling strategy/resource management hybrid with a minimalist feel wrapped in a beautiful, modern pixel art aesthetic.
Kingdom: Classic has achieved a Player Score of 89, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Colony Sim games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 22,180 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 20,105 positive reviews and 2,075 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Release Date | 10/21/2015 |
| Franchise | 👑 Kingdom Series 👑 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Raw Fury |
| Steam App Id | 368230 |
9. Romans: Age of Caesar
Build Rome Together! A co-operative grand strategy MMO from a team of veteran city builders, Romans: Age of Caesar is the latest historical strategy game from Firefly Studios.
Romans: Age of Caesar has achieved a Player Score of 46, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Colony Sim games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 420 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 190 positive reviews and 230 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Romans: Age of Caesar on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 4/27/2022 |
| Franchise | Firefly Studios |
| Developer | FireFly Studios |
| Publisher | FireFly Studios |
| Steam App Id | 872570 |
10. Rock the Islands
Team up with friends and dive into adventure! Rescue dwellers, let them work for you so they farm resources and protect you from enemies. Upgrade your equipment, explore new lands, complete quests and fight evil with glory!
Rock the Islands has achieved a Player Score of 81, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Colony Sim games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 179 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 160 positive reviews and 19 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 Rock the Islands on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 7/26/2024 |
| Developer | HYPE GAME LLC |
| Publisher | HYPE GAME LLC |
| Steam App Id | 2987860 |
More Free Colony Sim Games
Explore even more rankings for the 83 best free Colony Sim games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421 | 2/27/2012 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 184 | 4/14/2023 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 158 | 5/16/2022 | 61 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 76 | 9/18/2023 | 47 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 69 | 4/30/2025 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 55 | 12/11/2023 | 43 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 51 | 6/20/2024 | 66 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 44 | 10/21/2015 | 89 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 44 | 4/27/2022 | 46 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 42 | 7/26/2024 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 29 | 9/12/2024 | 54 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 20 | 9/8/2023 | 68 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 14 | 9/21/2023 | 55 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 13 | 1/22/2021 | 61 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 12 | 2/21/2018 | 53 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 12 | 3/24/2025 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 7 | 5/18/2016 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 6 | 5/29/2024 | 55 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 4 | 10/7/2022 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 4 | 4/22/2025 | 60 | 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, August 16). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 16). Stronghold Kingdoms on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 18). DFHack - Dwarf Fortress Modding Engine on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 19). Shelter 69 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 13). Shipping Manager on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 18). Diplomacy is Not an Option: Shareware on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 14). Build Master: MarsVille on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 1). Egg Surprise on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 26). Kingdom: Classic on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 14). Romans: Age of Caesar on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, July 13). Rock the Islands on Steam. Steam Store.