Games like 1980 on Steam
For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free games like 1980 are available at the bottom of the page.
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United Penguin Kingdom
A city-building game where you build a penguin settlement and satisfy the various needs of your penguins while dealing with seals and killer whales. Enjoy the growth of your settlement, become the king, and lead the United Penguin Kingdom.
Bronze Age - HD Edition
What was it like to be a chief of a tribe in 6000 year B.C.? Oh, you know, the usual - feed your people, build them shelters, defend them from raids of neighbors. And if you are lucky, sooner or later you will build a kingdom and become their king!
Predynastic Egypt
Do you know how did Ancient Egypt looked like before the Great Pyramids? Lead the future Egyptian citizens all the way through the historical hardships to the Unification of Lower and Upper Egypt, and you will find out!
Marble Age: Remastered
Marble Age is a turn-based historical strategy where your task is to turn a small Ancient Greek village into a flourishing Polis, powerful enough to conquer the known world!
Marble Age
Turn-based historical simulation strategy. Develop the Greek civilization from the small village to the great city-state when it will dominate the world!
Farlanders
Terraform, strategize, and construct a Martian colony in this retro-inspired turn-based city builder. Create a comfortable living for your citizens, research alien artifacts, and uncover the secrets of the Red Planet.
Minami Lane
Welcome to Minami Lane! Build your own street in this tiny cozy, casual management sim! Unlock and customize buildings, manage your shops, and maximize the happiness of your villagers to complete quests and fill your street with love!
Soul Academy
"Soul Academy" is an academy simulator with automatic battle MOBA. You will manage a shabby soul academy, recruiting and training students. Your ultimate goal is to challenge various academies across the continent and reach the top.
Cardboard Town
Cardboard Town is a city-building card game. Manage your resources, obtain upgrades, draw your cards and thrive! Random events, quest cards, and game modes make each run different.
Diluvian Winds
Diluvian Winds is a relaxing management game set in a small hamlet at the foot of a lighthouse. Welcome weary travelers and work together to expand your hamlet on land, under the sea, or among the clouds.
Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim
Build an empire in a single sitting. All the strategy of a classic 4X in a faster format, which also shines in multiplayer.
Gladiator Guild Manager
A strategic autobattler sim where you build a team of gladiators, compete in arenas, plan fight tactics, and form alliances. Combine fighters, beasts, and mages, develop and equip them to optimize your well-oiled fighting machine, dominate the championships, and leave your mark on the world.
Egypt: Old Kingdom
Strategy simulator of the Great Pyramids period, where you take your path from the unification of Egyptian tribes to the foundation of The First Empire. Developed with the assistance of Egyptologists.
Unholy Heights
Welcome to Unholy Heights, a mashup of Tower Defense and Apartment Management Simulation!
Reus 2
Shape worlds with your godly titans. Make symbiotic ecosystems and inspire humanity with your creations. Their achievements unlock new possibilities. Make different planets for different human spirits, and fill the universe with life!
Lords and Villeins
Build a prosperous settlement in a unique simulation of a feudal economy - each family runs their shop, owns their goods, and trades with other villagers in a free market. You will manage the land, build houses, organise events, set taxes, and balance supply and demand while engaging in diplomacy!
Hell Architect
Hell Architect is a game about building and managing your own hell. You take on a role of a hell manager and are tasked with developing the underworld in a way that would make Lucifer himself fall off his chair.
Factorio
Factorio is a game about building and creating automated factories to produce items of increasing complexity, within an infinite 2D world. Use your imagination to design your factory, combine simple elements into ingenious structures, and finally protect it from the creatures who don't really like you.
Lethis - Path of Progress
Lethis - Path of Progress is a city-builder in a victorian steampunk setting.
Prison Architect
Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect.
As Far As The Eye
Build a mobile village and travel with your tribe toward the center of the world, called The Eye. This roguelike turn-based resource-management game is made of procedural situations, natural events, skill-trees and hard choices. Ready to move?
Project Hospital
Become an ace doctor, an aspiring architect and a successful manager at the same time. Design your very own hospital, tweak every detail or choose one of the prebuilt scenarios and just jump to the doctor’s duty.
Dungeon Inn
This is a cozy strategy management game where you manage an inn placed cleverly at the mouth of a dungeon. Juggle visits and business from 2 rivaling guilds, maximize profits, but keep your double-dealing a secret! Keep everyone happy and watch your inn thrive!Most played games like 1980 on Steam
Take a look at the top games like 1980 that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of April 19th 2025.
1. RimWorld
Similarity 63% A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more. RimWorld is a colony sim, base-building and survival game developed and published by Ludeon Studios. Released on October 17th 2018 has received 207,748 reviews of which 203,531 were positive and 4,217 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.7 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played game like 1980, thanks to its 22,530 peak concurrent players over the last day.
9.7
203,531
4,217
22,530
players
2. Factorio
Similarity 67% Factorio is a game about building and creating automated factories to produce items of increasing complexity, within an infinite 2D world. Use your imagination to design your factory, combine simple elements into ingenious structures, and finally protect it from the creatures who don't really like you. Factorio is a automation, base-building and resource management game developed and published by Wube Software LTD.. Released on August 14th 2020 has received 212,622 reviews of which 206,226 were positive and 6,396 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. While seeing 18,327 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among games like 1980 based on player count.
9.6
206,226
6,396
18,327
players
3. Prison Architect
Similarity 67% Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect. Prison Architect is a simulation, building and sandbox game developed by Double Eleven and Introversion Software and published by Paradox Interactive. Released on October 06th 2015 has received 72,066 reviews of which 64,221 were positive and 7,845 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. While seeing 1,002 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among games like 1980 based on player count.
8.8
64,221
7,845
1,002
players
4. Mr.Mine
Similarity 63% Explore the depths of the earth and uncover hidden treasures in this addictive idle mining game. Unlock the power of your drill with hundreds of upgrades, discover mysterious relics, and unearth priceless gems. Can you master the mines and reveal their deepest secrets? Dive in and dig deep! Mr.Mine is a idler, clicker and simulation game developed and published by Playsaurus. Released on September 30th 2020 has received 16,928 reviews of which 15,565 were positive and 1,363 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. With 963 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played games like 1980.
9.0
15,565
1,363
963
players
5. Stronghold Crusader HD (2012)
Similarity 63% The highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling Stronghold, Stronghold Crusader HD throws you into historic battles and castle sieges from the Crusades with fiendish AI opponents, new units, 4 historical campaigns and over 100 unique skirmish missions. Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) is a military, city builder and real time tactics game developed and published by FireFly Studios. Released on October 21st 2013 has received 19,598 reviews of which 19,135 were positive and 463 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. With 799 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played games like 1980.
9.5
19,135
463
799
players
6. OpenTTD
Similarity 76% 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 is a simulation, building and free to play game developed and published by OpenTTD. Released on April 01st 2021 has received 14,119 reviews of which 13,577 were positive and 542 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. With 513 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played games like 1980.
9.4
13,577
542
513
players
7. Project Hospital
Similarity 65% Become an ace doctor, an aspiring architect and a successful manager at the same time. Design your very own hospital, tweak every detail or choose one of the prebuilt scenarios and just jump to the doctor’s duty. Project Hospital is a medical sim, city builder and management game developed and published by Oxymoron Games. Released on October 30th 2018 has received 8,160 reviews of which 7,219 were positive and 941 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. With 443 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played games like 1980.
8.6
7,219
941
443
players
8. Airport CEO
Similarity 64% Build and manage an international airport! Airport CEO is a flight, resource management and moddable game developed and published by Apog Labs. Released on March 04th 2021 has received 7,595 reviews of which 6,361 were positive and 1,234 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.2 out of 10. With 267 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played games like 1980.
8.2
6,361
1,234
267
players
9. CivIdle
Similarity 65% 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 is a early access, idler and base building game developed and published by Fish Pond Studio. Released on February 16th 2024 has received 606 reviews of which 457 were positive and 149 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. With 239 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played games like 1980.
7.2
457
149
239
players
10. Pharaoh™: A New Era
Similarity 64% The legendary city-builder returns! Lead the creation of one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever seen in this HD remake with modernized UI. Build monuments, manage your population and explore 4,000 years of history through over a hundred hours of gameplay. Pharaoh™: A New Era is a city builder, building and simulation game developed by Triskell Interactive and published by DotEmu. Released on February 15th 2023 has received 4,484 reviews of which 3,322 were positive and 1,162 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. With 220 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played games like 1980.
7.2
3,322
1,162
220
players
Best deals on games like 1980 on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of games like 1980 available on Steam right now, updated on April 19th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted games like 1980.
1. Lords and Villeins
Similarity 67% Build a prosperous settlement in a unique simulation of a feudal economy - each family runs their shop, owns their goods, and trades with other villagers in a free market. You will manage the land, build houses, organise events, set taxes, and balance supply and demand while engaging in diplomacy! Lords and Villeins is a colony sim, strategy and city builder game developed by Honestly Games and published by Fulqrum Publishing. Released on November 10th 2022 has received 868 reviews of which 628 were positive and 240 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. Featuring a massive 96% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for games like 1980.
6.9
628
240
-96%
27.50€
1.10€
2. Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim
Similarity 69% Build an empire in a single sitting. All the strategy of a classic 4X in a faster format, which also shines in multiplayer. Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim is a grand strategy, turn-based strategy and 4x game developed by The Secret Games Company and published by Goblinz Publishing and IndieArk. Released on October 11th 2022 has received 1,508 reviews of which 1,325 were positive and 183 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 93% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in games like 1980.
8.4
1,325
183
-93%
14.29€
1.00€
3. As Far As The Eye
Similarity 65% Build a mobile village and travel with your tribe toward the center of the world, called The Eye. This roguelike turn-based resource-management game is made of procedural situations, natural events, skill-trees and hard choices. Ready to move? As Far As The Eye is a strategy, building and colony sim game developed by Unexpected and published by Unexpected, Goblinz Publishing and Maple Whispering Limited. Released on September 10th 2020 has received 2,076 reviews of which 1,506 were positive and 570 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.0 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 89% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in games like 1980.
7.0
1,506
570
-89%
20.73€
2.28€
4. Lethis - Path of Progress
Similarity 67% Lethis - Path of Progress is a city-builder in a victorian steampunk setting. Lethis - Path of Progress is a city builder, strategy and steampunk game developed and published by Triskell Interactive. Released on June 25th 2015 has received 1,182 reviews of which 808 were positive and 374 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.6 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 89% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for games like 1980.
6.6
808
374
-89%
19.73€
2.17€
5. Prison Architect
Similarity 67% Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect. Prison Architect is a simulation, building and sandbox game developed by Double Eleven and Introversion Software and published by Paradox Interactive. Released on October 06th 2015 has received 72,066 reviews of which 64,221 were positive and 7,845 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 88% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for games like 1980.
8.8
64,221
7,845
-88%
25.83€
3.10€
6. Project Highrise
Similarity 63% Project Highrise is a skyscraper construction and management sim... Project Highrise is a simulation, management and building game developed by SomaSim and published by Kasedo Games. Released on September 08th 2016 has received 4,536 reviews of which 3,850 were positive and 686 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.2 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 87% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for games like 1980.
8.2
3,850
686
-87%
20.15€
2.62€
7. Cardboard Town
Similarity 72% Cardboard Town is a city-building card game. Manage your resources, obtain upgrades, draw your cards and thrive! Random events, quest cards, and game modes make each run different. Cardboard Town is a building, city builder and card game game developed by Stratera Games and cukuto and published by Rogue Duck Interactive and Gamersky Games. Released on August 18th 2023 has received 1,787 reviews of which 1,475 were positive and 312 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 80% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for games like 1980.
7.9
1,475
312
-80%
19.95€
3.99€
8. Hell Architect
Similarity 67% Hell Architect is a game about building and managing your own hell. You take on a role of a hell manager and are tasked with developing the underworld in a way that would make Lucifer himself fall off his chair. Hell Architect is a city builder, colony sim and base-building game developed by Woodland Games and published by Leonardo Interactive. Released on August 18th 2021 has received 427 reviews of which 298 were positive and 129 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.7 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 80% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for games like 1980.
6.7
298
129
-80%
20.99€
4.19€
9. Predynastic Egypt
Similarity 78% Do you know how did Ancient Egypt looked like before the Great Pyramids? Lead the future Egyptian citizens all the way through the historical hardships to the Unification of Lower and Upper Egypt, and you will find out! Predynastic Egypt is a indie, singleplayer and strategy game developed and published by Clarus Victoria. Released on October 10th 2016 has received 1,864 reviews of which 1,710 were positive and 154 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 75% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for games like 1980.
8.7
1,710
154
-75%
9.75€
2.43€
10. Egypt: Old Kingdom
Similarity 68% Strategy simulator of the Great Pyramids period, where you take your path from the unification of Egyptian tribes to the foundation of The First Empire. Developed with the assistance of Egyptologists. Egypt: Old Kingdom is a indie, strategy and singleplayer game developed and published by Clarus Victoria. Released on May 24th 2018 has received 1,198 reviews of which 1,041 were positive and 157 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 75% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for games like 1980.
8.3
1,041
157
-75%
14.79€
3.69€
Free games like 1980 on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play games like 1980 you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on April 19th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play games like 1980.
1. Mr.Mine
Similarity 63% Explore the depths of the earth and uncover hidden treasures in this addictive idle mining game. Unlock the power of your drill with hundreds of upgrades, discover mysterious relics, and unearth priceless gems. Can you master the mines and reveal their deepest secrets? Dive in and dig deep! Mr.Mine is a idler, clicker and simulation game developed and published by Playsaurus. Released on September 30th 2020 has received 16,928 reviews of which 15,565 were positive and 1,363 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. With 963 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free games like 1980.
9.0
15,565
1,363
963
players
2. OpenTTD
Similarity 76% 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 is a simulation, building and free to play game developed and published by OpenTTD. Released on April 01st 2021 has received 14,119 reviews of which 13,577 were positive and 542 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 513, this game has secured the #2 spot in the ranking of free games like 1980.
9.4
13,577
542
513
players
3. CivIdle
Similarity 65% 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 is a early access, idler and base building game developed and published by Fish Pond Studio. Released on February 16th 2024 has received 606 reviews of which 457 were positive and 149 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 239, this game has secured the #3 spot in the ranking of free games like 1980.
7.2
457
149
239
players
4. Global City
Similarity 63% Become the mayor and build the city of your dreams! In this game, anything is possible. Whatever you can imagine in a city-building and development simulator, you can do. Start from the very beginning and unlock new possibilities for developing your city in Global City! Global City is a city builder, strategy and building game developed by Red Brix Wall and published by MY.GAMES. Released on November 30th 2021 has received 1,163 reviews of which 818 were positive and 345 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.8 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 183 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #4 position in the best free games like 1980.
6.8
818
345
183
players
5. California Escapades
Similarity 73% 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 is a casual, simulation and strategy game developed and published by NUTS POWER ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED. Released on September 03rd 2024 has received 476 reviews of which 429 were positive and 47 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 171 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #5 position in the best free games like 1980.
8.4
429
47
171
players
6. Kingdom: Classic
Similarity 76% Kingdom is a 2D sidescrolling strategy/resource management hybrid with a minimalist feel wrapped in a beautiful, modern pixel art aesthetic. Kingdom: Classic is a free to play, singleplayer and strategy game developed by Noio and Licorice and published by Raw Fury. Released on October 21st 2015 has received 21,983 reviews of which 19,934 were positive and 2,049 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played free games like 1980.
8.9
19,934
2,049
62
players
7. Industry Idle
Similarity 63% Industry Idle is an idle game that combines factory building, resource management and market trading. Design & build your base, expand & scale up your productions, improve & optimize your economy. Plus all the incremental game goodies: offline earnings, prestige to unlock more powerful upgrades. Industry Idle is a automation, idler and resource management game developed and published by Fish Pond Studio. Released on September 13th 2024 has received 1,352 reviews of which 1,053 were positive and 299 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played free games like 1980.
7.5
1,053
299
49
players
8. My Free Zoo
Similarity 69% A small zoo needs your help! As the new manager, it's your job to boost business. Design the zoo of your dreams. From wolves and polar bears all the way to prehistoric beasts – the further you progress in the game, the more exotic the animals you'll be able to keep in your zoo. Play now and save the zoo! My Free Zoo is a free to play, casual and simulation game developed and published by upjers. Released on November 28th 2017 has received 658 reviews of which 410 were positive and 248 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played free games like 1980.
6.1
410
248
44
players
9. Simutrans
Similarity 76% Simutrans is a freeware and open-source transportation simulator. Your goal is to establish a successful transport company. Transport passengers, mail and goods by rail, road, ship, and even air. Interconnect districts, cities, public buildings, industries and tourist attractions. Simutrans is a simulation, free to play and trains game developed and published by The Simutrans Team. Released on May 24th 2016 has received 616 reviews of which 465 were positive and 151 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played free games like 1980.
7.2
465
151
20
players
10. Planet S
Similarity 65% Planet S is a real-time strategy game where your goal is to colonize multiple planets in a solar system to advance your civilization, build a city and supply it to grow your faction. Planet S is a strategy, city builder and multiplayer game developed and published by Glimmerlight Games. Released on October 28th 2023 has received 2,565 reviews of which 2,352 were positive and 213 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played free games like 1980.
8.8
2,352
213
17
players