The Settlers series, first launched in 1993, has set a benchmark in the genre of real-time strategy and city-building games. With its focus on resource management, strategic construction, and the development of settlements into bustling civilizations, it has captivated gamers around the world. The success of The Settlers has led many to seek out games that can provide a similar mix of strategy, management, and historical context.
In this post, we will be exploring ten games that offer experiences akin to The Settlers. Each of these games promises rich and complex gameplay, where your strategic choices and management skills can lead to the rise or fall of civilizations. From leading a band of exiled travelers in a harsh environment to ruling over a tropical island, these games offer diverse settings and challenges. If you enjoy the intricate balance of strategy and city-building found in The Settlers, these games are sure to provide equally engaging experiences.
Tropico
The Tropico series, developed by PopTop Software and Haemimont Games, are city-building and management simulation games. Players take on the role of the leader of a tropical island, managing its economy, infrastructure, and political relations.
Rise of Nations
Rise of Nations, developed by Big Huge Games, is a real-time strategy game that spans all history. Players create cities, gather resources, research technologies, build armies, and conquer their enemies.
Black & White Series
The Black & White series, developed by Lionhead Studios, are god games. Players control a creature and interact with villages and their inhabitants, using their divine powers to either help or hinder their progress.
Civilization
The Civilization series, developed by Sid Meier, are turn-based strategy games where players lead a civilization from prehistoric times into the future. They aim for victory through research, exploration, diplomacy, expansion, and military conquests.
Age of Empires
The Age of Empires series, developed by Ensemble Studios, are real-time strategy games. Players guide a civilization from a single settlement to a mighty empire by managing resources, advancing technology, and waging wars.
Dwarf Fortress
Developed by Bay 12 Games, Dwarf Fortress is a simulation game where players are tasked with helping a group of dwarf warriors build a wealthy underground fortress. It's known for its complex, emergent gameplay and high difficulty.
Stronghold Kingdoms
A more long term online RTS that is a lot like mobile games where you need to build a city and defend it from other players online etc.
Grand Ages: Rome
The construction of cities is fun when it has the look and feel of ancient Rome. I think this is the main selling point of this game. Good RTS to play if you are into this aspect of history.
Anno 2070
If you want city building and less of a focus on the combat side of things Anno 2070 is a good game to checkout.
Age of Empires II HD
Age of Empires has to be the first suggestion for games like The Settlers. The gathering of resources is a lot more simple, there are less types of resources to collect and there is no buildings that really depend on another to obtain the resources they need. The gameplay and battles are the same kind of thing in both games. AOE 2 is the best entry in the series, but the first game is in the process of getting a remaster.
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
Warcraft actually started out as an RTS and it was a very good one at that. There is a focus on base building, exploration, hero units and there is a good story to wrap it all up into a really good RTS game. The setting is complete fantasy rather than trying to be somewhat realistic like Settlers is, but it really is a good game.
Cossacks: European Wars
The Cossacks series, developed by GSC Game World, are real-time strategy games set in the 17th and 18th centuries. The games focus on managing resources, building settlements, and conducting large-scale wars.
Stronghold
The Stronghold series, developed by Firefly Studios, combines city-building and real-time strategy elements. Players construct and manage a fortress, accumulate resources, raise an army, and engage in siege warfare.
Banished
Base building RTS games are few and far between. Banished is a fairly new game when compared with games like Settlers that have been out of action for a few years. Banished is a lot like The Settlers and is worth playing.
