- City builders compared
- Nine city builders and what each suits
- Why SimCity BuildIt isn't on this list
- Pick a builder by the way you play
- City builders that keep going without a signal
- Timers, ads and other things to know
- Building your first town without regrets
- More slow, absorbing games
- Where I'd begin
- Frequently asked questions
The best city building games for Android depend on how you like to play: Township mixes farming and puzzles, TheoTown and Designer City are deep builders that say they work offline, and Forge of Empires adds history and strategy. Six of the nine listings here mention offline play. All have in-app purchases.
Every city builder starts with the same empty patch of grass and the same tiny road. What happens next says a lot about you: some players plan every block, others plonk houses down and see what grows.
To put this together I read each game's Google Play listing and noted the developer, installs, ads and in-app purchases labels, the rating and any offline wording. I've grouped them by what they're good for rather than ranking them.
I've also left one very popular game out, and the reason's below. City builders are a big genre, so it helps to know what you're looking for before you start laying roads.
City builders compared
| Game | Developer | Google Play installs | Ads / in-app purchases | Offline wording on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Township | Playrix | 500M+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | 'Offline play: Enjoy Township anytime, anywhere' |
| Global City: Building Games | UPWAKE.ME | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Forge of Empires: Build a City | InnoGames GmbH | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| TheoTown: City Builder | blueflower | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Download and play TheoTown free and offline!' |
| Designer City: building game | SGS - City Building Games | 5M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'No internet connection required.' |
| City Island 6: Building Town | Sparkling Society - Build Town City Building Games | 1M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'No internet needed, play our games offline' |
| Steam City: Town building Sim | RED BRIX COMPUTER SYSTEMS | 1M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Build a City: Community Town | Sparkling Society - Build a Town, City, Village | 500K+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Play Offline & Sync Across Devices' |
| City Island 5: Deluxe Go Build | Sparkling Society - Build Town City Building Games | 50K+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Play offline or online' |
Nine city builders and what each suits
Township
Playrix's farming and town game has more than 500M installs. You build houses and factories, grow crops and take breaks with match-3 puzzles, and its listing says you need the internet only for competitions and extra features.
Global City: Building Games
A city builder that leans on its graphics, with skyscrapers, shopping malls, a port and a railway. You also manage how resources are produced.
Forge of Empires: Build a City
A strategy city builder that takes you through different ages of civilisation. It's rated Everyone 10+ and suits players who like history and long goals.
TheoTown: City Builder
A detailed simulation inspired by classic city builders, with room for a small town or a huge metropolis. Its listing says it plays offline.
Designer City: building game
Its listing says there are no timers, so you build at your own pace. It's one of the clearest offline promises on this list.
City Island 6: Building Town
You're the mayor of an island city, designing neighbourhoods and taking on quests. Its listing says it plays offline or online.
Steam City: Town building Sim
A town builder with a retrofuturistic Victorian setting, where you explore new technologies and expand your territory.
Build a City: Community Town
A community town builder where you expand to islands and visit friends. Its listing mentions offline play and cloud saving across devices.
City Island 5: Deluxe Go Build
A deluxe edition of an older island builder, with improved visuals according to its listing. You start with one small island and add more as your town grows.
Why SimCity BuildIt isn't on this list
SimCity BuildIt is hugely popular, but its Google Play listing says some optional in-game items come as a random selection. That works like a loot box, and I don't include games with random-item mechanics, so I've left it off.
Pick a builder by the way you play
- Calm, cosy building: Township, City Island 6: Building Town and Build a City: Community Town.
- Deep simulation: TheoTown: City Builder and Designer City: building game.
- History and strategy: Forge of Empires: Build a City.
- Good looks: Global City: Building Games and Steam City: Town building Sim.
If you loved the old desktop city builders, start with TheoTown: City Builder. If you'd rather decorate and relax, Township is the gentler choice.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
City builders that keep going without a signal
This is a strong genre for offline play. Township, TheoTown: City Builder, Designer City: building game, City Island 6: Building Town, Build a City: Community Town and City Island 5: Deluxe Go Build all mention offline play on their listings.
Township's listing adds that competitions and extra features need the internet, and Build a City: Community Town mentions cloud saving, so progress syncs when you're back online.
Timers, ads and other things to know
Designer City: building game says it has no timers, which matters in this genre, because many builders make you wait for buildings to finish. Township is the only one here with no Contains ads label. Every game has in-app purchases, so a child's phone needs approval for in-app purchases switched on.
Forge of Empires: Build a City is rated Everyone 10+. The rest are rated Everyone.
Building your first town without regrets
- Lay roads in a simple grid before you place anything else.
- Leave space around your centre to grow later.
- Keep homes and factories apart where the game lets you.
- Build services before your population jumps.
- Save big landmarks for when the basics run smoothly.
More slow, absorbing games
If you like games you can sink into, try these text based games for story lovers on Android, which are all about reading and choosing.
For travel, my list of no internet games for Android and PC has more offline options, and these free submarine games swap streets for the deep sea.
Where I'd begin
Try one cosy builder and one deep one. Township or City Island 6: Building Town will tell you if you like the relaxed side, and TheoTown: City Builder or Designer City: building game will tell you if you want to plan every block. Keep the one you open without thinking.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best city building games for Android?
It depends on your style. Township suits relaxed play, TheoTown: City Builder and Designer City: building game suit deep planners, and Forge of Empires: Build a City adds history.
Which city building games work offline?
Six listings here mention offline play, including Township, TheoTown: City Builder and Designer City: building game.
Why isn't SimCity BuildIt included?
Its listing says some optional in-game items come as a random selection, which works like a loot box.
Are city building games suitable for kids?
Eight here are rated Everyone and one is rated Everyone 10+. All have in-app purchases.
Do city builders have ads?
All except Township show a Contains ads label on Google Play.
Which city builder has no timers?
Designer City: building game says on its listing that there are no timers, so you control the pace.
