11 great building games to play in 2015
In the world of gaming there are always new and upcoming developers planning to trump last year’s game of the year. Obviously this puts a strain on the programmers, yet each year they produce astounding titles with new and innovate mechanics. The building simulation genre is no exception to this rule and as a result has produced some of the most realistic building simulators known to date.
Stemming from one of the most memorable building games ever developed, (Sim City), programmers have drastically improved upon the building Sim experience.
Whether you prefer to monopolize a cities electrical grid or produce the largest sky rise known to man, developers have taken into account each players unique play style. Players can now focus on the economic portions of their cities or even zoom in on the most minute of details in order to provide minor adjustments. 2015 has offered several new installments to the building genre.
But several games created prior to 2015 still provide an experience amazing enough to warrant revisiting in 2015. Each building simulator listed offers a great experience and easily deserves the title of awesome building game to play in 2015.
11. Stronghold 3
Looks Abandoned
Starting our countdown is a game which has received very mixed reviews. Some players hate it while others adore it. Stronghold 3 offers player’s two single player campaigns which entail either story based military campaign, or an economic construction based campaign. Players can use molting tar, fire based artillery or disease ridden cows to inflict misery and plagues upon their opponents.
The physics engine associated with game creates realistic demolition and construction effects which are impressive regardless of youre standards. Developers have also shied away from the grid based construction methods used in previous stronghold titles. Players can now build further away from their keeps with only a small penalty in housing capacity.
Although a skirmish mode was never incorporated into the games programming, players can still experience the tranquil rewarding effects of developing a bustling economy.
10. Spore
Evolution at its Best
Disregarding the typical serious and medieval settings of other simulator builders, spore adopts a playful colorful approach. Players are encouraged to develop unique creatures which evolved from single celled organisms into complex booming societies. Every single attribute of youre cities development is completely customizable. Building effects ranging from the height of the building to the color and number of windows is changeable.
Even the methods used to conquer other cities can fluctuate between religious propaganda to military dominance. As an added bonus, players can download other players creations and incorporate them into their cities creation. Such flexibility is nearly unheard of in other games and provides a breath of fresh air to the building simulator genre. Once conquering a planet is complete, players can then seek other worlds to colonize and restart the entire process.
9. Black and white 2
I Hope Hes on Our Side
If you have ever wanted to be revered as a benevolent forgiven god or tyrant tormentor, then Black and White 2 is the game for you. Using a hand which changes colors to white or red based on youre actions, players build and dictate the outcome of an entire civilization. Defending youre civilians from harm or casting fear into their hearts is literally at youre fingertips. As a god, players can cast miracles which are performed as a result of worship received by devout citizens.
To assist in your endeavors, players are granted a mystical creature to support every aspect of a players civilization creation. Animals such as a monkey, cow, wolf or tiger are selectable at the beginning of the game and eventually symbolize youre intentions. These creatures can perform miracles or demolish entire nations at the click of a button. This removal of micromanagement provided by youre creature allows players to focus on larger aspects of the game. Although released in 2009, this game still holds its own against many new titles and is worth a shot.
8. Tropico 5
Aircraft Carrier Ready
Tired of being bossed around, feel the world would be better place if you were given the orders? If you answered yes to this question, then dictator simulator Tropico 5 is the game for you. Players take control of their own countries and gradually assist in their progression from their humble beginnings to a possible superpower. New to tropic 5 is cooperative or competitive free for all game play.
Players construct building on the same island which eventually results in fierce cutthroat game play. Several functions including research and exploration have been revamped in order to provide a much more satisfying experience. Tropico 5 was released in 2014 and is available for download on steam.
7. The settlers 7
Only a Few More Victory Points to Go
The settler’s series offers players the choice of three unique developmental pathways. Military, science, and trade each offer a dynamic yet equally rewarding pathway to achieve ones goals. The military pathway, as expected, forces players to use vast armies to conquer neighboring kingdoms through crushing force. With the science pathway, players develop advanced technologies to provide advantageous unknown to other nations.
Finally, players which select the trade route seek to conquer the world by accruing vast riches. Regardless of the choice made, players can only win the game by receiving a preset amount of victory points. If youre foreign to the settlers game play style, simply initiate the single player mode which acts as a tutorial for new players.
6. Rust
Nice Shack!!!
Coming in at number six is a game that takes a much different approach on the traditional linear, blocky, building simulator. This game forces players to work for and maintain everything they construct. Even better, this game is multiplayer, meaning other players will be constructing and trying to survive in similar manners as yourself.
But do not fret, you can kill other players and reap the rewards of their construction efforts. There’s also the option of helping them survive but that’s never as fun. Players will enter the game with only a stone and torch. From these tools they must construct homes, gather resources, and create weapons.
Before constructing a home, players are advised to lay out a floor-plan for their new home and anticipate every aspect necessary in its construction. The typical select and click building method is not as prominent in this game and players are encouraged to be creative. If you’re looking for an abnormal building simulator which promotes originality, feel free to give rust a try.
5. Minecraft
What to Build Now?
This game is extremely well known throughout the gaming community for its originality and pixel style graphics. Minecraft was released in 2009 and has grown to become extremely popular. Similar to rust, players are forced to essentially survive.
Killing animals for food, gather wood, and building a home are essential to a successful Minecraft player. Aside from survival mode, players can also choose a purely construction mode in which all resources are granted to the player.
This allows for instant creation of cities and castles that players have been dreaming of. Resources such as concrete, glass, and brick are all selectable options in the creation of your empire. If your dreams become too large for one individuals construction, do not worry. Multiplayer cooperation is encouraged and has resulted in some of the most fascinating creations the gaming world has ever seen.
4. Anno 2070
Future Architecture Doesnt Seem So Bad
Anno 2070 is a futuristic city-building simulator which essentially expands the movie water world in a major may. The world has flooded due to melting of the polar ice caps and several recognizable locations are now flooded. Arising from the chaos are three selectable factions which have made it their priority to re-modernize the world.
The ECOS faction focuses on environmentally friendly construction, essentially a glorified green peace. Tycoons, are quick to obtain a profit at the expense of the environment and dwindling planetary resources. The final faction is a tech support faction which basically supports the other two. In Anno 2070, Players will build homes, fisheries, tea plantations and most importantly select a power source type.
Anno was successful enough to warrant an expansion entitled Deep Ocean which offers players several new construction options. Feel free to pick this game up on steam, I promise you will not be disappointed.
3. Cities XL
Check Out Those Skyscrapers
Originally, this phenomenal game offered a fascinating multiplayer experience but unfortunately has become solely single player. Servers for Cities XL closed in 2010 but this amazing construction simulator lives on. The game initially offers three large lots which are later broken into individual categories.
The Residential, commercial, and industry lots all very in their type and usage recommendations. Unlike other games, players choose the social classes of their citizens. Each class warrants different attributes and should be selected carefully.
For transportation, networks of roads, bridges and tunnels connect the various parts of the city allowing civilians various options for travel. Several renditions of this game have been released with each expansion only furthering the progress of this already remarkable title. Currently Cities XXL is the most recent product offered in the Cities chain and should be experienced by anyone who enjoys the simulator building platforms.
2. Sim city 2013
Back To Basics
Still a personal favorite, this game has had many renditions and offered one of the original platforms from which several other building simulators have expanded upon. Sim city allows players to construct cities, railways, airports power plants and nearly any other imaginable item you would see in a typical city.
Even better, players can customize the buildings in their city allowing for a greater feeling of accomplishment. Nothing beats looking down on an hour’s worth of game play to realize every single building in the city is of your creation. Similar to the previous Sim cities, this game offers natural disasters which will periodically wreak havoc on you’re meticulously well designed city.
This forces players to adjust certain locations and prevents the game from becoming monotonous and stale. Definitely pick this game up regardless of your gaming preference.
1. Banished
Being Banished Doesnt Seem so Bad
Taking the number one spot on our countdown is Banished. This game allows players to focus on the cities development while delegating individual tasks to the inhabitants. In return, players must meet the needs of the citizens which provides a steady expansion to citizen need ratio. Providing for citizens is as simple as making sure they feel protected, have suitable living quarters and a full stomach.
The most difficult part of Banished may be balancing the towns expansion to resources ratio. Expand too quickly and youre citizens will lack in various necessities. Expand too leisurely and citizens will also grow unhappy due to cramped living spaces. Players must also deal with unforeseen weather conditions, starvation, an aging work force and fires.
Properly mange each aspect of youre cities development and planning for unforeseen events will allow players to reap maximum rewards from banished.
I hope you have enjoyed our countdown of the most awesome building games to play in 2015. Each game although similar, offers its own unique spin on the building simulator genre. Whether you prefer to sit back and watch as your empire grows, or fight to demolish the cities of those around you, every player can find a game which suits their unique play style. 2015 is definitely the year to run to the store, pick up a building simulator and begin to amass wealth as your town flourishes. As usual, if you feel certain games should have made this list but were left absent, feel free to leave a comment below, we would love to hear your opinion.
Havent decided which building game to play next? Maybe these articles can help.
11 Best City Building Games to Play in 2015
Cities: Skylines: 10 Interesting Facts About This Awesome City-Building Game
