The Best City-Builder Games With Combat, Ranked

Key Takeaways

Some city-builder games add combat, challenging players to balance creativity with strategic thinking.
Stronghold: Definitive Edition offers upgraded graphics and combat challenges for players.
Against The Storm is a dark fantasy city builder where players must reclaim the wilderness from dangerous foes.

As someone who’s spent countless hours lost in the digital worlds of city-building and strategy games, I must say these titles have certainly piqued my interest!

City-building games offer a fantastic platform for players to exercise their creative minds by constructing diverse realms spanning from medieval kingdoms to advanced metropolises that endure the test of time. Although these games often require managing everyday concerns such as economy and citizen satisfaction, some innovative city-builders introduce additional complexities to keep players engaged.

Incorporating conflict within a city-building game might require players to occasionally shift their focus from creative development to strategic defense, ensuring their city remains standing amidst potential attacks from other cities. Here are some top city-builder games for those who wish to balance resident satisfaction with navigating diverse combat situations that could potentially destroy their hard work.

8 Stronghold: Definitive Edition

Fortify A Castle And Siege Others

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but rave about how this timeless castle-simulating experience consistently ranks among the finest kingdom-building simulations out there. Over time, it has gone through numerous enhanced editions, and in 2023, players will be immersed in the thrilling castle simulator with combat, thanks to Stronghold: Definitive Edition.

Players find themselves confronted with renewed graphics, tasked anew with constructing robust fortresses capable of withstanding numerous assaults. Simultaneously, they must establish a sturdy infrastructure by erecting diverse structures for their villages. As they engage in both familiar and novel campaign missions of Stronghold, they will traverse through both the past and present.

7 Diplomacy Is Not An Option

Build A Town While Raising An Army

The game titled “Diplomacy is Not an Option” offers a captivating city-building experience that underscores the crucial role played by peasants in the survival of a medieval kingdom. In this game, players find themselves not only fortifying their town against potential threats but also managing the farms tended by these peasants to ensure their soldiers are well-fed during times of war. It’s important to note that internal strife within the kingdom can significantly impact its ability to successfully defend itself in battle.

With each fallen soldier, the pressure mounts to quickly give them a burial, lest disease spreads throughout the realm. Yet, amidst this challenge, players continue to prioritize their army’s strength, aiming to outmatch every adversary seeking to seize power from them.

6 Manor Lords

Large-Scale Tactical Battles In Between Raising A City

Manor Lords is a diverse mix of genres derived from an immersive medieval sandbox game, offering intricate city-building and strategic elements. Although it’s currently in early access by Slavic Magic, Manor Lords demonstrates promising potential for players seeking a game where they can grow their city at their own pace with freedom as the main focus.

In Manor Lords, if a player isn’t expanding their city from a humble marketplace to a bustling village, then ultimately, a flourishing kingdom, they also have the option to strengthen their army to match other noble rivals who are similarly striving for recognition by encroaching upon the player’s territories.

5 Northgard

Grow The Clan Of The North

Constructing a Viking clan in the game Northgard offers an engaging strategy city-building adventure, where players not only create dwellings for their clan members but also defend against both legendary and ordinary adversaries who seek to bring about the player’s downfall.

In Northgard, players have the option of engaging in a Conquest mode where they pick a clan for combat across various distinctive situations. However, Northgard also invites players to delve into the city-building aspect of the Viking game, enabling them to establish and expand their settlement on the recently discovered continent. Moreover, besides combats, Vikings can be tasked with other roles, ensuring survival is not only about defeating enemies but also managing resources effectively, as scarcity of food can pose a significant threat too.

4 Songs Of Syx

Start As A Minor City That Grows To Victory That Battles And Schemes

Platform(s): PC
Released: 2020-09-21
Developer(s): Gameatron AB
Genre(s): Strategy, Simulation

In contrast to certain city-building games that may lack depth in one aspect or another due to combat simplicity, Songs of Syx stands out as an intricate city-construction game that offers players the opportunity to engage in elaborate tactical conflicts.

In the game called “Songs of Syx,” a player begins with a humble settlement housing a few inhabitants. Their primary task is gathering essential resources to expand this city to unprecedented heights, with room for approximately 30,000 residents. Moreover, these inhabitants are not mere workers; they form the core of your army that needs to be expanded in order to reclaim your kingdom and protect your territory from hostile invaders.

3 Anno 1800

Take Control Of The Industrial Revolution By Force

As a gaming enthusiast, let me share my experience with “Anno 1800.” This real-time strategy game immerses you in the role of a ruler navigating the Industrial Revolution, establishing your metropolis on uncharted lands. It’s not just about setting up trade networks but also about nurturing your settlement into a prosperous enterprise.

In Anno 1800, the battles differ from previous Anno series. Instead of direct confrontations, players engage primarily in sea combat by constructing various trade boats and additional seafaring vessels. These ships become crucial when aiming to dominate the industrial revolution via trading with other companies. To establish a formidable metropolis, one must undermine one’s opponents effectively.

2 Age Of Empires 2: Definitive Edition

Build Some Of The Greatest Empires In History

As a dedicated enthusiast, I can’t help but share my passion for Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition, a game that primarily immerses me in strategic warfare between various civilizations. Yet, it’s not just about fighting; it’s about constructing the magnificent empires these civilizations call home.

To ensure their empire thrives, players need to initially establish a magnificent kingdom, similar to the renowned civilizations from the past or the latest additions in the Definitive Edition of Age of Empires 2. While strategy through combat with opponents remains crucial, players have the option to disable AI enemies if they prefer to concentrate on constructing an impressive empire instead.

1 Against The Storm

A Dark City Builder Against Corrupted Rains

Eremite Games views their strategy game, titled “Against the Storm“, as a dark fantasy city-building experience set in an apocalyptic landscape of relentless rains. In this game, players assume the role of the Queen’s viceroy, tasked with aiding humans and forest creatures in establishing a new home amidst the chaos. The player’s mission is twofold: to reclaim the wilderness for the foxes, harpies, and other inhabitants while simultaneously defending against the perilous adversaries that now rule the forests.

In this city-building game that blends elements of roguelike genres, players must grow and thrive, as their prosperous settlements get destroyed over time, making the game increasingly challenging the longer one plays, yet it remains enjoyable each time they rebuild.

2024-10-30 05:04