Top city building sim games that you need to play

Steam rating: 'Very Positive'

In an entirely frozen world, Frostpunk tasks you with ruling the last surviving city on Earth, developing steam-powered technology to face the overwhelming cold. You’ll need to manage both citizens and the infrastructure they live in.

You'll establish laws that regulate the existence of your growing city, and decide on their working routine, healthcare, food provision and other crucial aspects of everyday life. Be sure to maintain their hope and contentment – the moral condition of your society is as important as securing the basic means to keep them fed and safe.

Failure to keep your people happy will see the hope bar decrease and discontentment rise.

Steam rating: 'Mostly Positive'

A classic among the city building sim genre. SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition sees you take on the role of mayor, with god-like powers thrown in for good measure.

Create the most massive region of cities ever, with a farming town, bedroom community, high-tech commercial center, and industrial backbone. Take complete control of your city's transportation system, and solve U-Drive-It missions — from fighting crime to tackling disasters.

The, try out God Mode and create the land on which your city will grow, and even create natural disasters like erupting volcanoes and tornadoes to test your city's resilience.

This edition of the game also includes the all-new SimCity 4 Rush Hour Expansion Pack. Choose from a variety of all-new road types including wide-avenues, suspension bridges, or one-way streets, as well as map out seamless regional networks that whisk Sims from one city to another.

Wreak havoc with all-new disasters including a UFO invasion, massive wrecks at railroad crossings, and the occasional car fender bender. There are also all-new tutorials available to help you get started.

Steam rating: 'Overwhelmingly Positive'

Sequel to the highly-anticipated, best-selling Stronghold, Stronghold Crusader HD throws you into historic battles from the Crusades with brutal AI opponents, new units, four historical campaigns and over 100 unique skirmish missions.

You'll build and manage mighty cities and fortresses around them, and attempt to conquer the homes of your enemies.

Playing as either Richard the Lionheart or the Saladin, Sultan of Syria, you'll lead your determined group of Crusaders, forged by centuries of barbaric warfare, into large-scale battles. The game features several campaigns documenting the First, Second and Third Crusades, as well as conflicts within the individual Crusader states.

Experience battles such as Nicea, Heraclea, siege of Antioch, Krak des Chevaliers and the Siege of Jerusalem as well as the Crusader Trails from the Stronghold Warchest and Stronghold Crusader Extreme. The new HD battlefield view allows players to zoom out and play in real-time, with the entire map available to view on one screen.

Steam rating: 'Very Positive'

Towering skyscrapers, bustling roads and (hopefully) lots of green smiley face icons to let you know that your civilians are well impressed with their surroundings. Cities Skylines sees you build the city of your dreams, and keep it afloat by taxing your people.

Balance essential requirements such as economy and healthcare, create busy city districts and quite suburbs, and decide the laws of your city. Want to ban pets? Sure! Want to decide how the education system works? By all means, go ahead!

You decide whether or not you want a giant industrial city, or a quaint seaside town, and how you want your people to live. Every hour of the day affects your city and the way your citizens interact with it.

Traffic is visibly lighter at night and some zoned areas will not work with full efficiency. Be in control of managing all the different aspects of the day and night cycle.

Steam rating: 'Very Positive'

Building a tropical city is cool, but as a dodgy dictator it's even more bizarre. Tropico 6 is the first game in the franchise that lets you take control of extensive archipelagos, building thriving locations across a multitude of islands.

Put your leadership and construction skills to the test as you build bridges to connect your islands, and use new means of transportation and infrastructure. Send your loyal 'Tropicans' on raids to steal the wonders of the world, including the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower, and enjoy completely new transportation and infrastructure possibilities.

Why not give a compelling election speech from your balcony in order to win the favor of your subjects, or buy you some more time, and make use of Tropico's revised research system, which focuses on the political aspects of being the world’s greatest dictator.

Steam rating: 'Very Positive'

Northgard is a mysterious land filled with danger and riches for anyone brave enough to step ashore. After years of tireless explorations, brave Vikings have set sail to explore and conquer, to bring fame to their Clan and write history through conquest, trading, or devotion to the Gods.

But Northgard is unforgiving, as you will need to help your Northmen survive the harsh winters, dire wolves and undead warriors that roam, as well as befriending – or killing – giants. To ensure that you and your Viking brothers survive, players will need to build a settlement on the newly discovered continent of Northgard.

Assign your Vikings to roles within your community, such as farmers, warriors, sailors and loremasters, and manage resources carefully. Much like the weather and seasons, enemies will arrive at your settlement with the cruelest intentions – burning your buildings and attacking your villagers.

Prepare your settlement by expanding your army and protecting your people!

Welcome to the dawn of the Industrial Age... in Anno 1800, the path you choose will define your world.

Will you be an innovator or an exploiter, or perhaps a conqueror or a liberator? How the world remembers your name is up to you.

You'll have to prove your skills as you create huge cities, plan logistic networks, settle exotic new continent, send out expeditions around the globe - and dominate opponents by diplomacy, trade, or warfare.

Anno 1800 Includes a story-based campaign, customizable sandbox mode and a classic Anno multiplayer experience - as well as additional DLCs which are available in the Complete Edition.