City building games have been around for a very long time. Games of this nature give you enough freedom to unleash your creativity and show off your resource management skills. Although most city building games were only available on PC, today there are some great city building games for iPhone and iPad.
1. SimCity BuildIt – Editors’ Choice
SimCity BuildIt is one of the most complete city building games for iPhone. Of course, you have the usual freedom to create and plan your city as mayor.
Whether you want to recreate Paris or a fusion of London and Venice, the choice is yours. Moreover, the game has an online component, which makes it more interesting than other city builders. In this game, you can team up with other online players to create clubs.
In addition, you can also take on other mayors in Club Wars. This mode is interesting because you have to protect your city from monsters and other natural disasters such as storms. To get ahead, you can research and create new technologies to stay ahead of the competition.
However, the game has a steep learning curve. The first couple of hours can be frustrating due to the lack of resources.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
2. Megapolis – Realistic economy
Most iPhone city building games lack a proper economic system. Even if it has an economic system, mechanics is usually an offshoot of economic concepts. However, Megapolis changes that and adds depth to the gameplay.
In addition, the game has other solid mechanics. You can promote research and create scientific achievements to help your city grow. You also need to properly plan infrastructure so that it doesn’t create problems for citizens years later.
Players can also participate in an arms race, aiming for complete control over a certain area. Basically, this is one of the best city builder games for iOS due to its deep game mechanics.
Because the game can be played online, some challenges require you to rely on other players for resource donations. This is especially noticeable at the beginning of the game, when you are short on resources and need to complete large projects. Developers should make resource management a little easier for beginners.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
3. Pocket City – For those new to the genre
Not every iOS city-building game needs to have extensive gameplay nuances to attract players. For casual players or players new to the genre, Pocket City offers an accessible yet enjoyable gaming experience.
The game is also simple, with basic resource management and the ability to develop your city. The more quests you complete, the more experience points and money you get. You can use these rewards to further develop your city. Also, there are no microtransactions in the game!
However, if you are a more experienced player in this genre, the simplistic gameplay can get boring.
Price: $2.99
4. Forge of Empires – highly scalable
The reason why Forge of Empires is one of the best city building games on iOS is simple. It provides an extensive and scalable gameplay that will keep you busy for hours.
The game starts you in the stone age. By developing your trade routes, diplomatic skills and collecting resources, you will be able to advance your empire to the level of modernity. You will also have to weigh all possible outcomes before making a decision. Any wrong move can set your empire back hundreds of years.
You can also expand your empire through diplomacy or military power. Whether you want to become a tyrannical but powerful neighbor or a trading empire with worldwide connections, the choice is yours.
However, in-game microtransactions are very expensive.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $2.99)
5. City Island 5 – Max Content
City Island 5 combines elements of city building and exploration to create a game that will surprise you. It has extensive content that will keep you hooked and playing for hours on end.
The game starts by giving you some resources and one island on which you can build your city. As you progress and develop your city, you can start exploring other islands and explore their resources. You can even expand your control over different islands to create a metropolis. Each island is unique and has something new to offer.
Unfortunately, due to the latest updates, the game crashed too often. Let’s hope the developers fix this in the next patch.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $1.99)
6. Sid Meier’s Civilization VI – Extremely detailed
This wouldn’t be a list of the best city building games if I didn’t include Sid Meier’s Civilization VI. The Sid Meier’s Civilization franchise has been a staple of the genre for over two decades. This is a turn-based strategy game that combines elements of city building.
This formula has kept the franchise fresh, and Civilization VI is no different. It features some of the most iconic characters in history. You can interact with them as you continue to advance your empire from the Stone Age to the Information Age. How you advance your empire is up to you. You can either create wars or make peace. The game gives you enough freedom to make this choice.
Moreover, the game supports cross-platform saves. This means that if you’re playing on your iPhone and save the game, you can load the game on your iPad and pick up where you left off!
Unfortunately, the free version of the game is highly limited as you can only make 60 moves before purchasing the game.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $1.99)
7. The Simpsons: Tapped Out – for regular players
The Simpsons is a cult show and it deserves a good performance. With The Simpsons: Tapped Out, you get the most Simpsons-like premise for a city-building game on iOS.
Unfortunately for Homer, his antics caused a crisis and destroyed much of Springfield. Now you have to restore Springfield in your own image and likeness. It is completely based on your creativity and ideas. The game also has the typical Simpsons aesthetic, which makes the game feel nostalgic.
The gameplay mechanics are quite simple and will be clear to most casual players. Moreover, since you have a lot of freedom in the game, you can either restore Springfield or destroy it at will!
However, the game suffers from glitches. Players are reporting random exits from the game.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
8. Battle for Polytopia – minimalistic and elegant
This is another turn-based strategy game that includes elements of city building. However, the visual style is the first aspect of this game that you will immediately notice.
Unlike other city-building games for iOS, The Battle of Polytopia features a minimalistic pixel art style that will grab your attention right away. It’s pleasing to the eye, and the gameplay also complements the aesthetic. The essence of the game is to create and expand your tribe, competing with other tribes online in a turn-based competition.
It has surprisingly deep game mechanics that does not make the gameplay inaccessible to beginners. If you want to try games of this genre, this should be one of the first games.
However, for veterans of the genre, the game may seem too simplistic.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
9. TheoTown – Time to micromanage
If you are someone who likes to control every aspect of their iOS city builder games, this is the game for you. TheoTown is simple and elegant, and its game mechanics will challenge you endlessly.
However, the problem does not arise because of too complex gameplay. In fact, it arises from the fact that you need to manage every little thing. The type of buildings you build, how you build or connect them – each aspect deeply affects the overall gameplay.
In addition, this game has a huge modding community that adds features and aspects to make the game more realistic.
Unfortunately, the visuals in the game are not as good and could have been reworked.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
10. DomiNations – Detailed Strategy Elements
There’s a reason DomiNations is one of the most popular city building games on iOS. It makes you a real part of the history of the virtual world through the gameplay.
Of course, you start with a settlement, intending to turn that settlement into one of the greatest civilizations on the planet. However, this is not an easy task.
As you move through the centuries, you can enlist the help of historical figures such as Leonardo da Vinci or Catherine the Great. In addition, you have the freedom to build World Wonders monuments.
The online gameplay aspects are also pretty good. You can form alliances with other players online to strengthen the foundations of your nation. You can also wage war against other players in a fight for dominance.
My only gripe with the game is the extensive list of microtransactions. Although they make the game easier, it’s more like an opportunity to get money than an expansion of the game.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $3.99)
Takeaway
So what do you think of my list of the best city building games for iPhone and iPad? I have tried to include games for both veterans and casual players. If I missed your favorite, please share it in the comments section below. I will definitely look into this. In the meantime, good luck building!