The Nintendo Switch has a variety of games, from the main franchises you can only get on this console, to the off-shoot quirky indie games. One of the experiences that can be enhanced by the handheld feature of the console is city-building games.
Today I will go over the best city-building games on the Nintendo Switch. There is something for everybody looking, and here are the 10 I wholeheartedly suggest.
- Animal Crossing
- Civilization VI
- Townscaper
- Kingdom
- Minecraft
- Islanders
- Mini Motorways
- Townsmen – A Kingdom Rebuilt
- Dragon Quest Builders 2
- Spacebase Startopia
In this list, a new favorite game you didn’t know you loved is hidden. Trying something, and giving a chance to new experiences can lead to games you never knew you wanted.
If you want to know more about a game exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, check out our guide on how long was Link asleep, in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing made waves when it was released. It let players escape to a deserted island, and create their paradise as they explore, create, and customize.
Craft everything from tools to creature comforts. You can hunt down insects at the crack of dawn, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy the sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean.
You can shape everything on your island, creating rivers or cliffs wherever you like. And if you don’t like a neighbor, you can just thank them away to make room for a new furry friend.
Civilization VI
Civilization 6 has been an amazing game that with each new expansion it gives players the ability to do amazing things.
The Nintendo Switch gives players the ability to finally have everything the game has to offer. From the first released expansions to the New Frontier Pass, or for players who don’t have it yet, the Anthology Bundle.
You now have complete control to build them up with specific layouts and designs. Every district now needs to be placed on a separate tile on the game map. This makes space and resource management a much bigger part of the game.
You can build your cities, lead the world through culture, reach the outer reaches of the universe through science, or even guide people with your religion.
Townscaper
If you are looking for a relaxing indie city-building game, Townscaper is worth checking out. The developer of Townscaper describes the game as an “experimental passion project, more of a toy than a game.”
The gameplay is straightforward: you place blocks above the water that automatically turn into little houses, arches, stairways, bridges, and lush backyards, depending on their configuration.
The grid-to-place builds are irregular. Your creations aren’t going to look like highly planned modern cities with neatly laid out blocks. Instead, there’s a bit more character and space to build a city with an older feel.
Kingdom New Lands
Kingdom is an indie 2D sidescroller with pixel art graphics. You play as the king or the queen of your own procedurally generated kingdom.
Your goal is to make your kingdom thrive and defeat the Greed. To do so, you will need to spend your coins wisely. You can hire mercenaries to protect your kingdom against outside threats, build defenses around your town, or set off to explore a nearby mysterious forest.
But be careful, as these lands are not peaceful. Various creatures will try to destroy everything you built and steal your coins and crown. It is up to you to find the best way to protect your kingdom, clear the islands, and become the best ruler ever.
Minecraft
Minecraft is a staple when it comes to city-building games. The entire game revolves around the idea of placing blocks to build anything. You can find worlds from other players with Historic Landmarks, and places you read about in Fantasy books.
Minecraft allows you to build anything and everything. Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles.
Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs.
Islanders
Islanders is a minimalist strategy game about building cities on colorful islands. The goal of the game is to continue to move from island to island, racking up a higher score.
Explore an infinite number of ever-changing new lands, expand your settlements from sprawling villages to vast cities, and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. As the developers themselves said:
“Keep in mind that we are a very passionate but small team of three. This is not a blockbuster experience with hours and hours of content. What we’d like to offer you is a simple game that lets anybody create and explore their own little worlds, while providing enough depth for players who want to challenge themselves.”
Mini Motorways
Mini Motorways is a traffic-based city builder. It’s a fun and engaging experience that has a lot of depth in its simplicity. The game tasks players with designing a transport network for different-sized communities.
You’ll need to design the entire city around the way that traffic flows. You will connect various buildings in the city to keep cars moving. As the city grows and upgrades, you’ll have to upgrade your roads and motorways too.
A unique take on the city-building genre, which will give you the chance to create complete, yet complex large cities.
Townsmen – A Kingdom Rebuilt
Townsmen – A Kingdom Rebuilt hands the crown to players. Guide your people from their first steps in a small village to a massive medieval metropolis with thousands of subjects.
You will be tasked to overcome challenges. Your citizens have various needs in order to stay happy, and you have to keep them happy. Seasons will change those demands. More water is needed during summer, and more clothes in winter.
So always stay on your toes, and keep track of everything. You will never know what might save your kingdom in the end.
Dragon Quest Builders 2
Dragon Quest Builders 2 is the sequel to Dragon Quest Builders. The sequel introduces many new features and upgrades many returning ones. Allowing for a better experience, and even allowing for a four-player co-op.
Players control either a male or female builder, known as the Hero, who is captured by this group along with all other builders in the world on a ship. The player character escapes, washing up on the Isle of Awakening.
The game tasks you to stop the worshippers of an ancient evil, you must join forces with the mysterious Malroth, and build a ravaged world into the realm of your dreams. Gather materials while exploring, kill enemies, and figure out what the world has to offer.
Spacebase Startopia
Spacebase Startopia offers players an original mixture of economic simulation and an empire-building strategy experience paired with classic RTS skirmishes and a good dose of humor.
The game offers a challenging single-player campaign and a versatile battle mode. There are also competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes for up to four players. So you and your friends can have a blast in space.
Develop further Sectors, keep maintenance of the three vital Main Decks as well as entertain the eight Alien races. These alien races provide sufficient Energy for any plans you have for global improvement but also be ready to defend against enemy invaders.
Final Thoughts
The Nintendo Switch as of 2023 turned 6 years old, and with a vast catalog of games, there are many hidden gems that you can find. It may be true that with some exceptions the city building genre is multi-platform, but nothing can be the Switch’s portability.
With many different games to try out, there will definitely be something that you may have missed along the way.
If you want to check out what different genres have to offer, check out our list of the best D&D games for the Nintendo Switch. It was also updated to cover games released in 2023.
Now that you know the best city-building games for the Nintendo Switch, you will be able to sink many hours into amazing games. Let us all know in the comments down below, what are you looking to try out, and what have you already played and highly suggest.
With thousands of hours played on Nintendo systems since the original Gameboy, Nikiforos is happy to share his endless passion for Nintendo franchises and everything he can get his hands on.
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