Best Base-Building Games, Ranked (2024)

The base-building genre of video games is vast, especially considering that there are a lot of games that have building mechanics but don't focus on base-building for the majority of the game. If you have a creative idea for building a structure or settlement, then there are tons of different video games that you can use to express yourself.

Video games such as No Man's Sky and Subnautica allow you to build your own base while also offering a completely unique theme. Some base-building games don't feature any particular time period or location, including games like Terraria and Minecraft. Here are the best base-building games available.

Updated August 16, 2024 by Jacqueline Zalace: Base-building games are a great way to express your creativity. As such, we've added a few more games to this list, giving you tons of the best base building games to choose from.

WW2 Rebuilder

World War Two created many problems for the world and the aftermath was catastrophic in many ways, one of which was the partial destruction of notable locations around Europe. As such, rebuilding is in order, and you're just the person for the job.

Pick up a hammer and get ready to reconstruct Europe in your own image. You'll have all the tools necessary to renovate buildings that are less than habitable, and flip locations all while learning their history from the NPC civilians.

Fortnite: Save The World

Fortnite

Survival

Battle Royale

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:84/100 Critics Recommend:93%

Platform(s)

PC , iOS , Mobile , Xbox One , Android , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Switch

Released

July 25, 2017

Developer(s)

Epic Games

Publisher(s)

Epic Games

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Unreal Engine 5

ESRB

T for Teen - Violence

X|S Enhanced

YES

Metascore

78

Platforms That Support Crossplay

Mobile, PC, PS4,PS5, Switch, Xbox One &Xbox Series X|S

Split Screen Orientation

Horizontal Only

Number of Players

1-2

Local Co-Op Support

1-2 Players

Cross Save

yes

Cross-Platform Play

Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

Save The World is Fortnite's primary campaign, and it's a separate mode from the battle royale. In this experience, you can build bases to defend against zombies across a variety of maps. The base-building tools you have are more basic than other games, but the excitement of defending your newly-built fort from zombies is like no other.

There are also lots of fun missions and rewards to earn, so it's a fantastic choice if you like to see your progression in front of you.

Regions Of Ruin

If you're a fan of Terraria, then you'll likely love Regions Of Ruin. You get to explore a medieval-themed world with 2D pixel art, which is a niche genre for base-building games that doesn't get nearly enough attention. You can build entire towns in Regions Of Ruin, which allows for some expansive creations.

On top of the base-building system, there's also an extensive combat system that allows you to customize your character with a variety of stats.

Two Point Hospital

Two Point Hospital

Simulation

Systems

See Also

The 15 Best Two-Player Mobile Games to Play With Friends or StrangersTerraria Critic Reviews

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:84/100 Critics Recommend:93%

Platform(s)

PS4 , Xbox One , Switch , PC

Released

August 30, 2018

Developer(s)

Two Point Studios

Publisher(s)

Sega

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Animated Blood, Crude Humor

How Long To Beat

38 Hours

PS Plus Availability

Extra & Premium

See at Playstation Store

Two Point Hospital isn't quite like other games of the genre. Instead of building a base to defend against zombies or the harsh elements, you get to build hospitals and watch as they grow into something larger than they once were. You can customize your hospital in various ways, including the way it looks and how it operates.

Although Two Point Hospital isn't a typical base-building game, it's worth a try if you enjoy building things since it offers a lot of content and a unique art style.

Dragon Quest Builders 2

Dragon Quest Builders 2

Action RPG

Adventure

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:85/100 Critics Recommend:91%

Platform(s)

PS4 , Xbox One , Switch , PC

Released

July 12, 2019

Developer(s)

Square Enix , Omega Force

Franchise

Dragon Quest

Publisher(s)

Square Enix

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Unreal Engine 4

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Alcohol Reference, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes

How Long To Beat

55 Hours

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a great addition to this franchise because it adds something completely new to the series. In this adventure, you'll get to build using blocks to your heart's content with a Dragon Quest twist.

The blocky building mechanics will remind you of Minecraft, but its graphics are very different. You can even customize your character, so there's no limit to your creativity whether it be building your dream complex using tons of combinations or creating a new avatar.

The Sims 4

The Sims 4

Simulation

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:70/100

Platform(s)

PS4 , Xbox One , PC

Released

September 2, 2014

Developer(s)

Maxis

Franchise

The Sims

Publisher(s)

Electronic Arts

Engine

Proprietary Engine

ESRB

T for Teen: Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence

How Long To Beat

N/A

X|S Enhanced

No

File Size Xbox Series

22 GB (November 2023)

Metascore

70

Steam Deck Compatibility

yes

Cross Save

no

Cross-Platform Play

Xbox, PlayStation, and computer versions of Sims 4 are all separate games incompatible with each other

The Sims is a franchise that offers you the chance to lead multiple other in-game lives through virtual people. Building is far from the only activity in The Sims 4, but it's still an amazing game if you enjoy creating and customizing your home sweet home.

The Sims 4 offers you the chance to own many different houses and customize them as you see fit, so it's definitely one of the most in-depth games you can play if you enjoy building a base. What sets The Sims 4 apart from other base-building games is that it has a modern setting, so it's not medieval or post-apocalyptic like most other games of this genre.

Colony Survival

Colony Survival isn't only a base-building game, it's also a base-defense game. You can build a base and assign NPCs to certain tasks, such as farming, but eventually, monsters will come to attack, and you need to be ready to defend your creations.

Like many other base-building games, Colony Survival has a blocky theme, so it's quite familiar from the start if you enjoy the genre. If you like base-building with an end goal, then Colony Survival may scratch your itch for creativity with a touch of combat to go alongside it.

Planet Crafter

The Planet Crafter

Open-World

Survival

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:82/100 Critics Recommend:80%

Platform(s)

PC

Released

April 10, 2024

Developer(s)

Miju Games

Publisher(s)

Miju Games

Engine

Unity

How Long To Beat

19 Hours

Metascore

82

Planet Crafter is a game that fans of No Man's Sky are likely to quickly fall in love with. In this game, you journey to a new and exciting planet to make it livable for humans, which includes terraforming and creating an oxygen source.

One of the key mechanics in Planet Crafter is the ability to create your own base on the new planet. Although you won't be building medieval castles or mansions in the sky, the building options are surprisingly expansive, and coupled with everything else in this amazing space game, the base-building is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Craftopia

Craftopia will immediately remind you of many other popular games from the past decade. It takes some of the best parts of other games and attempts to combine them for a unique experience filled with base-building and a beautiful world to explore.

Not only can you collect materials and build a base for your heart's desires, but you can also explore dungeons and fight monsters. If you like games like Minecraft, then you should give Craftopia a chance, it's a game that you don't want to miss out on as a fan of the base-building genre.

Astroneer

Astroneer

Adventure

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:75/100

Released

February 6, 2019

Platform(s)

PC , PS4 , Switch , Xbox One

ESRB

E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence

How Long To Beat

22 Hours

Developer

System Era Softworks

Publisher

System Era Softworks

File Size Xbox Series

1 GB (November 2023)

Steam User Rating

92% (October 25, 2023)

Astroneer takes you into space and allows you to have a base-building experience among the stars. If you've always wanted to terraform a planet, then Astroneer is the perfect game with lots of interesting mechanics.

You can explore procedurally generated environments while traversing the world in multiple ways, including a rover. However, the meat of this game is in base-building and making your new planet feel like home.

Aska

ASKA

Survival

Crafting

Systems

Platform(s)

PC

Released

June 20, 2024

Developer

Sand Sailor Studio

Publisher(s)

Thunderful Publishing

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op

Engine

Unity

Aska is a fantasy builder based on Norse mythology and ideas. You'll start off in a new place after being shipwrecked with nothing but the clothes on your back and your wits. As you develop your skills, you'll earn favor with the gods and start to build your own community.

Be warned of the monsters in the dark and the pests that will steal your food. There's a lot to be done in Aska, but as one favored by multiple gods, it's nothing you can't handle.

Medieval Dynasty

Medieval Dynasty

Open-World

Strategy

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:73/100

Platform(s)

PC , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S

Released

December 17, 2020

Developer

Render Cube

Publisher

Toplitz Productions, GS2 Games Inc

Engine

Unreal Engine 4

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence

How Long To Beat

28 Hours

Metascore

73

Platforms That Support Crossplay

PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S

Cross-Platform Play

PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S

Medieval Dynasty is exactly what it sounds like — a game with a medieval setting where you can role-play in whatever way you wish, which often includes building new structures and even creating a village for NPCs.

Outside of the base-building aspect, there are lots of activities to partake in. You can craft new equipment, go hunting, and fight powerful animals as they try to hunt you.

Enshrouded

Enshrouded

Survival

Open-World

Action RPG

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:78/100 Critics Recommend:79%

Platform(s)

PC

Released

January 24, 2024

Developer

Developer(s)

Keen Games

Publisher(s)

Keen Games

Publisher

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer , Local Multiplayer

Engine

Holistic

Steam User Rating

85%

Enshrouded feels like a classic survival crafting game with base-building elements. Set in a world plagued by the Shroud, you will need to make your way through this deadly fog, slay Shroud enemies, and rescue survivors that are sleeping deep within vaults.

While doing so, you can craft a base to keep you and the rescued survivors. This can be done by making one giant lodge for everyone, as well as making several small houses that almost feel like a village.

Dyson Sphere Program

Dyson Sphere Program

Simulation

Systems

Platform(s)

PC

Released

January 21, 2021

Developer(s)

Youthcat Studio

Publisher(s)

Gamera Game

Engine

Unity

How Long To Beat

65 Hours

Dyson Sphere Program allows you to build your very own factory to supply power to a futuristic society that requires far more energy than Earth in the modern era. After gathering resources, you can build structures that efficiently generate power for the civilization.

Dyson Sphere Program may not allow you to build the biggest castle ever or feature zombies chasing you down, but building an energy-production facility is a lot of fun, especially if you like resource management games.

Oxygen Not Included

Oxygen Not Included is another space game that places you against the environment for your survival. You control a few colonists while they try to make a home for themselves on an alien planet.

Oxygen Not Included has a two-dimensional platforming aspect, similar to Terraria, which is great since that aesthetic is rare in base-building video games. For a more laid back base-building experience where you get to explore an alien planet, Oxygen Not Included has you covered.

Rust

Rust

Survival

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:67/100

Platform(s)

macOS , PC , PS4 , Xbox One

Released

February 8, 2018

Developer(s)

Facepunch Studios

Publisher(s)

Facepunch Studios

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Unity

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Violence

How Long To Beat

38 Hours

Metascore

69

Rust is an online video game that features hardcore survival gameplay. You have to survive against many threats in the wild, but the primary threat comes from your interaction with other players in the world. You can use weapons to defend yourself and craft a plethora of different items to aid you on your journey.

Similar to many other survival games, Rust features a base-building system that you can use to create structures. The structures you can create in Rust help you survive against NPC enemies and other players. Rust is perfect if you want a base-building game that has challenging online gameplay.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Simulation

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:90/100 Critics Recommend:99%

Platform(s)

Switch

Released

March 20, 2020

Developer(s)

Nintendo EPD

Franchise

Animal Crossing

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer , Local Multiplayer

Engine

Havok

ESRB

E for Everyone: Comic Mischief

Expansions

Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Happy Home Paradise

See at Nintendo eShopSee at Best BuySee at Walmart

A Nintendo Switch exclusive, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, is one of the most unique base-building games you can play in the current generation of video games. You can customize your Island however you like and keep yourself busy with fun tasks such as fishing and speaking to NPC characters on your Island.

Unlike many other base-building games, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a relaxing game that doesn't feature challenging combat or a dangerous open world. As such, you'll enjoy Animal Crossing: New Horizons if you want to create and decorate your home and avoid challenging gameplay.

CastleMiner Z

If you like Minecraft, then CastleMiner Z may be perfect for you. CastleMiner Z includes open worlds for you to explore and build in, with a similar art style to Minecraft that uses blocks as the world's terrain.

However, CastleMiner Z is a more intense game than Minecraft because it includes terrifying enemies that are much scarier than those you encounter in Minecraft, including Zombies, Dragons, and Aliens. For a horror game with base-building, you should try CastleMiner Z.