Discounted Building games on Steam
Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated building games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free building games are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
Forever Skies
A first-person survival game set on a post-apocalyptic, ecologically ruined Earth. Play solo or with up to 3 friends as you build, upgrade, and fly a high-tech airship. Scavenge resources, craft tools, and face dangers on the surface as you hunt for a cure to save humanity.
Aviassembly
Build and fly your own airplane! Complete missions to earn money, upgrade your plane, and discover new locations in an open world.
Hollywood Animal
Make movies, even if someone has to die. Take the helm of a major Hollywood studio at the dawn of sound cinema, and guide it through decades of creative achievements and glamor, debauchery and dark deeds, tough choices and unpleasant compromises.
Cataclismo
Design and build fortresses brick by brick to stand against endless hordes of Horrors in this real-time strategy game with resource management, siege defense, and exploration. Lead from the ramparts, push back the darkness, and hold fast against the creatures of the Mist.
One Lonely Outpost
An alien world sometimes needs a farmer’s touch to bring it to life. In this sci-fi, colonization-life sim, terraform a barren world: turn wastelands into verdant landscapes while exploring, farming, building, and unlocking all the mysteries of this strange new planet.
Two Point Museum
Curate and manage incredible museums! Explore to discover amazing artifacts. Design and refine the layout, keep staff happy, guests entertained, donations plentiful… and children off the exhibits
Cafemart Simulator
Create and decorate your cozy cafe, where guests can enjoy delicious food and drinks. Expand your service with a supermarket offering a wide selection of fresh products, so visitors can not only have a tasty meal but also do some shopping. Play solo or with friends in cooperative mode!
Stellar Settlers: Space Base Builder
Stellar Settlers is a chill space base/city builder and colony sim game. With unique vertical and horizontal base-building gameplay, settle on 10 hostile alien planets and build your own thriving colony. Get enough materials to build a physics-based Spaceship and try to escape from disasters.
Microtopia
Become the hive mind of a robot ant colony in Microtopia! Use pheromone trails to create, automate and optimize supply chains for your ants to follow. Collect resources, produce goods, feed your queen, grow your colony and fly out to expand the species!
Mind Over Magic
Mind Over Magic is a colony sim set at the site of a cursed magic school. Build and optimize your own magical academy, train powerful Mages, and master mighty relics in order to battle through the Underschool, a mysterious underground dungeon that holds the key to liberation from a deadly curse.
The Executive - Movie Industry Tycoon
Shape the history of the Hollywood movie industry in this sandbox business simulation game. Create the movies you've always wanted to see, hire the best team, research cutting-edge technologies, and dominate the Box Office. Can you rise from a small studio to a Hollywood giant?
Blood Bar Tycoon
Blood Bar Tycoon is a vampire bar management game. Build bars and blood factories, lure humans to harvest their blood, process it, and serve your customers: other vampires. Research quirky machines and deal with hunters! Expand through Crimson City to become a mighty Elder!
Learning Factory
Build intricate supply chains to meet your feline customers' needs. Discover underground and air transport layers, a vast research tree, procedural worlds, machine learning, and endless automation in this relaxing, enemyless game.
Streamer Life Simulator 2
In the second game of the series, competition has increased and now everyone wants to be a streamer. Are you ready to stream until your cpu burns out?
Age of Darkness: Final Stand
Age of Darkness: Final Stand is a dark fantasy survival RTS where you must illuminate, build and defend humanity’s last bastion against hordes of Nightmares. Set in the remnants of a kingdom consumed by a deadly fog, you decide. Will you hide in the light? Or take back your world.
Aloft
Soar the skies in Aloft, the co-op sandbox survival game set in a world of floating islands. Build any island into a skyship, your home in the clouds. Find lost knowledge, cure the fungal corruption, and brave the hurricane to restore the ecosystem.
Railroads Online
Build your dream railroad across a huge open world! You can build tracks and stations, drive detailed locomotives, and transport goods to earn money and experience. Play exciting Online Multiplayer sessions with your friends or create your very own sandbox!
Rogue Command
Classic RTS gameplay fused with a modern roguelike. Shape your build each run by assembling an evolving arsenal of powerful units and facilities. Harvest resources, build out your base. Raise your army and call down orbital strikes to overcome the forces threatening your survival.
Catizens
Inspired by RimWorld and The Sims, Catizens is a colony management simulation game where you watch over unique cats with quirky personalities, as you help them build and grow their settlement while exploring new lands, facing off against wildlife and overcoming the challenges of each environment.
I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival
I Am Future is a relaxing single-player survival game about building a cozy rooftop camp amid a flooded post-apocalyptic city. Set up a farm, go fishing, tinker with gadgets, craft new tools, manage a team of cute robots to automate and expand your base, explore the mysterious world, and chill out!
Farming Simulator 25
Farming Simulator 25 invites you to join the rewarding farm life, single-handedly or cooperatively in multiplayer. This Farm is Your Farm!
Sengoku Dynasty
Sengoku Dynasty is the ultimate feudal Japan experience: build villages, grow your community, and shape the open world through combat or economy. The choice is yours alone - or that of up to 4 players in multiplayer co-op!
Planet Coaster 2
Build and customise thrilling roller coasters and incredible water slides, manage the ultimate theme park experience, and share your epic creations. Are you ready to ride the wave?
Technotopia
Welcome to Technotopia, a city-builder card game. Take on the role of an AI designed to build a perfect city. Build districts, meet the needs of diverse communities and maintain the delicate balance between factions vying for control over you!Most played building games on Steam
Take a look at the top building games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of April 16th 2025.
1. The Sims™ 4
Play with life and discover the possibilities. Unleash your imagination and create a world of Sims that’s wholly unique. Explore and customize every detail from Sims to homes–and much more. The Sims™ 4 is a life sim, character customization and free to play game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. Released on June 18th 2020 has received 167,109 reviews of which 145,918 were positive and 21,191 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played building game, thanks to its 28,347 peak concurrent players over the last day.
8.6
145,918
21,191
28,347
players
2. Garry's Mod
Garry's Mod is a physics sandbox. There aren't any predefined aims or goals. We give you the tools and leave you to play. Garry's Mod is a sandbox, moddable and multiplayer game developed by Facepunch Studios and published by Valve. Released on November 29th 2006 has received 1,150,066 reviews of which 1,113,171 were positive and 36,895 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. While seeing 17,010 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among building games based on player count.
9.6
1,113,171
36,895
17,010
players
3. Conan Exiles
An online multiplayer survival game, now with sorcery, set in the lands of Conan the Barbarian. Survive in a vast open world sandbox, build your home into a kingdom, and dominate your enemies in single or multiplayer. Conan Exiles is a survival and open world game developed and published by Funcom. Released on May 08th 2018 has received 106,283 reviews of which 83,576 were positive and 22,707 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. While seeing 8,681 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among building games based on player count.
7.8
83,576
22,707
8,681
players
4. Cities: Skylines
Cities: Skylines is a modern take on the classic city simulation. The game introduces new game play elements to realize the thrill and hardships of creating and maintaining a real city whilst expanding on some well-established tropes of the city building experience. Cities: Skylines is a city builder, simulation and building game developed by Colossal Order Ltd. and published by Paradox Interactive. Released on March 10th 2015 has received 273,442 reviews of which 254,189 were positive and 19,253 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. With 6,037 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played building games.
9.2
254,189
19,253
6,037
players
5. Oxygen Not Included
Oxygen Not Included is a space-colony simulation game. Deep inside an alien space rock your industrious crew will need to master science, overcome strange new lifeforms, and harness incredible space tech to survive, and possibly, thrive. Oxygen Not Included is a colony sim, base-building and survival game developed and published by Klei Entertainment. Released on July 30th 2019 has received 127,145 reviews of which 123,019 were positive and 4,126 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. With 4,534 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played building games.
9.5
123,019
4,126
4,534
players
6. Myth of Empires
Myth of Empires is a multiplayer war sandbox game featuring a high degree of freedom and multiple civilizations. Players must survive, craft, create, and lead troops in their quest to conquer PVE or PVP territory and build their own empire. Xizhou Civilization Pack is now officially released! Myth of Empires is a building, open world survival craft and sandbox game developed by Angela Game and published by Imperium Interactive Entertainment . Released on February 21st 2024 has received 16,771 reviews of which 11,471 were positive and 5,300 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.7 out of 10. With 4,164 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played building games.
6.7
11,471
5,300
4,164
players
7. Planet Zoo
Build a world for wildlife in Planet Zoo. From the developers of Planet Coaster and Zoo Tycoon comes the ultimate zoo sim. Construct detailed habitats, manage your zoo, and meet authentic living animals who think, feel and explore the world you create around them. Planet Zoo is a management, simulation and building game developed and published by Frontier Developments. Released on November 05th 2019 has received 86,491 reviews of which 78,784 were positive and 7,707 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. With 3,289 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played building games.
9.0
78,784
7,707
3,289
players
8. Space Engineers
Space Engineers is a sandbox game about engineering, construction, exploration and survival in space and on planets. Players build space ships, space stations, planetary outposts of various sizes and uses, pilot ships and travel through space to explore planets and gather resources to survive. Space Engineers is a space, sandbox and building game developed and published by Keen Software House. Released on February 28th 2019 has received 131,727 reviews of which 116,631 were positive and 15,096 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. With 3,101 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played building games.
8.7
116,631
15,096
3,101
players
9. Dyson Sphere Program
Build the most efficient intergalactic factory in space simulation strategy game Dyson Sphere Program! Harness the power of stars, collect resources, plan and design production lines and develop your interstellar factory from a small space workshop to a galaxy-wide industrial empire. Dyson Sphere Program is a automation, space and base-building game developed by Youthcat Studio and published by Gamera Games. Released on January 20th 2021 has received 84,564 reviews of which 82,585 were positive and 1,979 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. With 1,968 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played building games.
9.6
82,585
1,979
1,968
players
10. Two Point Museum
Curate and manage incredible museums! Explore to discover amazing artifacts. Design and refine the layout, keep staff happy, guests entertained, donations plentiful… and children off the exhibits Two Point Museum is a simulation, casual and strategy game developed by Two Point Studios and published by SEGA. Released on March 04th 2025 has received 4,988 reviews of which 4,722 were positive and 266 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. With 1,729 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played building games.
9.1
4,722
266
1,729
players
Best deals on building games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of building games available on Steam right now, updated on April 16th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted building games.
1. Founders' Fortune
A fantasy village builder focusing on creative building, colonist psychology and base defense. Handle resources, farming, production, tools, diplomacy, families, trading, defense, and research, as well as the wishes, expectations, thoughts, and equipment of every villager. Founders' Fortune is a colony sim, base-building and city builder game developed and published by Dionic Software. Released on December 18th 2020 has received 2,093 reviews of which 1,686 were positive and 407 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Featuring a massive 95% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for building category.
7.8
1,686
407
-95%
20.00€
1.00€
2. Snowtopia: Ski Resort Builder
Build your ideal ski resort. Keep skiers smiling with fresh pistes and fine facilities. Ski, build and chill in the wintry world of Snowtopia where everyone is welcome! Snowtopia: Ski Resort Builder is a simulation, building and management game developed by TeaForTwo and published by Goblinz Publishing and Maple Whispering Limited. Released on December 14th 2022 has received 1,162 reviews of which 713 were positive and 449 were negative resulting in a rating of 6 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 94% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in building games.
6
713
449
-94%
19.83€
1.19€
3. Juno: New Origins
Bring to life anything you can imagine from rockets and airplanes to cars and more. Automate them with a visual programming language. Explore 3D planets and make your own. Share your creations online. Complete contracts, conquer milestones, and unlock technology in the newly added Career Mode. Juno: New Origins is a building, science and space sim game developed and published by Jundroo and LLC. Released on January 26th 2023 has received 3,066 reviews of which 2,762 were positive and 304 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 93% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in building games.
8.7
2,762
304
-93%
18.43€
1.29€
4. When Ski Lifts Go Wrong
Ride into a hilarious construction puzzler; packed with over 100 creative physics-based challenges, sports and bloody disasters! Build contraptions to help every passenger reach their destination. Enjoy the sports by controlling your riders away from (or towards if you feel like it) peril! When Ski Lifts Go Wrong is a simulation, indie and building game developed by Hugecalf Studios and published by Curve Games. Released on January 23rd 2019 has received 839 reviews of which 728 were positive and 111 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.2 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 93% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for building games.
8.2
728
111
-93%
14.29€
1.00€
5. Car Mechanic Simulator 2015
New cars, new tools, new options, more parts and much more fun in the next version of Car Mechanic Simulator! Take your wrench! Create and expand your auto repairs service empire. Car Mechanic Simulator 2015 will take you behind the scenes of daily routine in car workshop. Car Mechanic Simulator 2015 is a automobile sim, simulation and singleplayer game developed by Red Dot Games and published by PlayWay S.A.. Released on April 23rd 2015 has received 14,567 reviews of which 13,463 were positive and 1,104 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.0 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for building games.
9.0
13,463
1,104
-91%
20.56€
1.85€
6. Car Mechanic Simulator 2018
Build and expand your repair service empire in this incredibly detailed and highly realistic simulation game, where attention to car detail is astonishing. Find classic, unique cars in the new Barn Find module and Junkyard module. You can even add your self-made car in the Car Editor. Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 is a simulation, automobile sim and driving game developed by Red Dot Games and published by PlayWay S.A.. Released on July 28th 2017 has received 51,248 reviews of which 46,798 were positive and 4,450 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for building games.
9.0
46,798
4,450
-91%
19.67€
1.77€
7. Conan Exiles
An online multiplayer survival game, now with sorcery, set in the lands of Conan the Barbarian. Survive in a vast open world sandbox, build your home into a kingdom, and dominate your enemies in single or multiplayer. Conan Exiles is a survival and open world game developed and published by Funcom. Released on May 08th 2018 has received 106,283 reviews of which 83,576 were positive and 22,707 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for building games.
7.8
83,576
22,707
-91%
41.89€
3.77€
8. To The Rescue!
To The Rescue! is a charming dog shelter simulator. Take care of unique dogs and find the right homes for as many of them as you can. Upgrade your shelter, control disease outbreaks, learn each dog's preferences, and make tough decisions, all while helping support real-world animal shelters! To The Rescue! is a dog, management and immersive sim game developed by Little Rock Games and indie.io and published by indie.io. Released on November 02nd 2021 has received 2,040 reviews of which 1,374 were positive and 666 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.6 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for building games.
6.6
1,374
666
-91%
19.22€
1.73€
9. Parkasaurus
Parkasaurus is a dinosaur tycoon management simulation where you take care of your dinosaurs by constructing well-designed exhibits, researching specialized technologies, and maximizing profits to expand into the ultimate dinosaur theme park. Do you favor development for guests or your dinosaurs? Parkasaurus is a management, city builder and dinosaurs game developed and published by Washbear Studio. Released on August 12th 2020 has received 3,000 reviews of which 2,801 were positive and 199 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 90% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for building games.
9.0
2,801
199
-90%
20.10€
2.01€
10. TerraTech
TerraTech is an open-world, sandbox adventure game, where you design and build your own creations through a mix of crafting, combat and discovery. Design vehicles from a huge library of blocks. Scavenge, craft and buy new parts to survive and become the ultimate planetary prospector. TerraTech is a building, sandbox and open world game developed and published by Payload Studios. Released on August 10th 2018 has received 23,221 reviews of which 21,196 were positive and 2,025 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 90% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for building games.
8.9
21,196
2,025
-90%
24.20€
2.42€
Free building games on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play building games you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on April 16th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play building games.
1. The Sims™ 4
Play with life and discover the possibilities. Unleash your imagination and create a world of Sims that’s wholly unique. Explore and customize every detail from Sims to homes–and much more. The Sims™ 4 is a life sim, character customization and free to play game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. Released on June 18th 2020 has received 167,109 reviews of which 145,918 were positive and 21,191 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. With 28,347 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free building games on Steam.
8.6
145,918
21,191
28,347
players
2. Muck
Muck is a survival-roguelike. Collect resources, find items & build a base to survive for as long as you can. Muck is a survival, multiplayer and crafting game developed and published by Dani. Released on June 05th 2021 has received 174,482 reviews of which 163,372 were positive and 11,110 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 799, this building game has secured the #2 spot in the ranking of free building games on Steam.
9.3
163,372
11,110
799
players
3. 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 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 422, this building game has secured the #3 spot in the ranking of free building games on Steam.
9.4
13,577
542
422
players
4. Global City
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 169 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #4 position in the best free building games on Steam.
6.8
818
345
169
players
5. War Planet Online: Global Conquest
Build your army, dominate your region and lead your alliance to conquer the globe! War Planet Online: Global Conquest is a strategy, massively multiplayer and building game developed and published by Gameloft. Released on December 19th 2017 has received 903 reviews of which 576 were positive and 327 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.2 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 163 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #5 position in the best free building games on Steam.
6.2
576
327
163
players
6. Infinitode 2 - Infinite Tower Defense
Infinitode 2 - a strategy in the Tower Defense genre, in which the player will have to build towers to protect his base from endless waves of enemies. The game features huge maps, lots of towers, resource miners, upgrade tree and map editor. Infinitode 2 - Infinite Tower Defense is a level editor, tower defense and building game developed and published by Prineside. Released on May 06th 2021 has received 3,592 reviews of which 3,277 were positive and 315 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 140 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #6 position in the best free building games on Steam.
8.8
3,277
315
140
players
7. Zoo 2: Animal Park
Zoo 2: Animal Park – Take care of wild and tame zoo animals in this animal game! Zoo 2: Animal Park is a casual, building and city builder game developed by KING Art and published by upjers. Released on August 24th 2020 has received 1,437 reviews of which 1,131 were positive and 306 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 134 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #7 position in the best free building games on Steam.
7.6
1,131
306
134
players
8. Resonite
Enter a novel digital universe with infinite possibilities. Whether you resonate with people around the world in a casual conversation, playing games and socializing or you riff off each other when creating anything from art to programming complex games, you'll find your place here. Resonite is a early access, casual and sandbox game developed by Yellow Dog Man Studios and Frooxius and published by Yellow Dog Man Studios. Released on October 06th 2023 has received 1,215 reviews of which 994 were positive and 221 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 102 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #8 position in the best free building games on Steam.
7.8
994
221
102
players
9. SpellForce 3 Versus Edition
The SpellForce 3: Versus Edition gives you the chance to enter the battlefields of Eo for free, letting you test your RTS skills against AI opponents or even other human players. SpellForce 3 Versus Edition is a strategy, rpg and building game developed by Grimlore Games and published by THQ Nordic. Released on November 03rd 2020 has received 1,501 reviews of which 1,133 were positive and 368 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.3 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played free building games on Steam.
7.3
1,133
368
65
players
10. My Free Zoo
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 #10 spot among the most played free building games on Steam.
6.1
410
248
39
players