If you’re a fan of city building games – or base building games in general, you don’t have a ton of choices on iOS, but there are still more than you can probably play. Since I’m a fan myself and I play mobile games for a living, I decided to share the best city building games on iPhone/iPad in this article.
Updated for 2025 with new games (and a few removed from last year), the list includes a variety of themes, from casual gameplay to more intense strategy, in fantasy, medieval, modern, or futuristic settings. In other words – impossible not to find a new favorite or three.
1. Megapolis
Megapolis is one of the best city building games out there, if you are looking for a perfect mixture of casual and more in depth gameplay!
The aim is to build the best city ever earning rewards and achievements as you build.
Start from scratch by designing and developing the basic infrastructure such as mining for and building up power supplies, developing transport links including railways, air and sea ports.
And make sure you manage and grow your city’s finances by building trading partnerships and forging alliances with your neighbors.
But it’s not all serious you get to plan exciting and interesting events to help bring in visitors to your city – it all helps to build up your economy!
The gameplay is further enhanced with the gorgeous 3D graphics and a choice of world famous architecture from ancient to modern.
Install the game for free from the App Store now.
2. Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
For those moments when building a city is not enough and you want to build an entire civilization as you see fit, Sid Meier’s Civilization 6 is THE game to play on iOS.
Much more in depth and challenging than any other title on this list, Civ 6 is great for those who grew up playing the previous games in the series on various other platforms. And, yes, it’s almost an offence to call it merely a “city building game” – but I wanted to have it on our list nevertheless because it’s amazing.
Become Ruler of the World by establishing and leading a civilization from the Stone Age to the Information Age.
Wage war, conduct diplomacy, advance your culture, and go head-to-head with history’s greatest leaders as you attempt to build the greatest civilization the world has ever known.
3. Terra Nil
Terra Nil comes with a unique take on city-building, shifting focus from construction only to ecological restoration.
As a result, players are tasked with transforming barren wastelands into lush, thriving ecosystems using sustainable techniques, all while micromanaging limited resources.
Download the game from the App Store here.
4. Farm Story
Farm Story is all about you and your friends growing crops and flowers, raising farm animals.
So not your typical city building game, but definitely fun and a great nostalgia kick for those of us who are a bit older and still remember playing FarmVille on Facebook.
Design and decorate the most beautiful farms out there in this game, and enjoy it with your friends!
Download the game today here.
5. Designer City 3: Future Cities
Designer City 3: Future Cities allows players to craft modern urban landscapes with an emphasis on innovation and futuristic architecture, as you can see in the screenshot above.
An interesting feature is that this game can also be played offline. This way, you will always be just a few taps away from creating your sprawling metropolis.
Download the game from the App Store here.
6. Pocket City
This is one of the original and probably one of the oldest city building games on iOS.
Basically an open world city building game, where creativity matters more than anything, it has everything unlocked through gameplay and can be enjoyed at your own pace.
Not the best choice for the most competitive ones out there, but definitely a great game to enjoy some relaxing, worry-free fun on your device.
Check it out on the App Store.
7. SimCity BuildIt
Not as complex as its PC relatives, this is a combination of time management and city building games, with a heavy focus on resource management.
You can still create some amazing cities here and the simple fact that the game is still running after so many years is a solid proof that it’s high quality.
Build your city from scratch, produce resources to upgrade your buildings… and then build some more!
8. Fallout Shelter
Another long-running game that is not your typical city building title, but it still is fun and appreciated by everybody who has played it, not just fans of the Fallout franchise.
In this game, you build straight down to keep your people happy and safe in their underground bunker, while sending them to explore the Wastelands above and dealing with the various problems that occur from time to time.
A game that doesn’t require much in terms of time involvement, but which is fun to play, 5-10 minutes each day!
9. Snow Town – Ice Village World
Snow Town invites players to create and manage their own winter-themed village. From cozy cottages to bustling ski resorts, every element contributes to the charm of your snowy paradise.
Offering a relaxed yet engaging city-building experience, with seasonal events and charming details, this is a must play if you’re looking for a new cozy game to add to your library.
Download the game from the App Store here.
10. Virtual City Playground
With 200 different buildings for your virtual city, over 500 quests and much more in between, Virtual City Playground is a great choice for fans of the city building genre.
It will keep you busy as you try to conquer land, sea and sky and test your city building capabilities. Amazing visuals and optional in-app purchases to rush everything if you so desire.
11. Last Fortress: Underground
A bit darker than all the other games on my list – it takes place during the zombie apocalypse, after all – Last Fortress: Underground plays a lot like Fallout Shelter and keeps the horrors away, so you can play it even if you’re not a fan of zombies.
Players must manage resources, recruit survivors, and develop facilities to ensure the survival of their community in a hostile environment. It mixes strategy with a compelling storyline and survival elements to offer a complex overall experience.
Download the game from the App Store here.
12. City Island 5: Building Sim
We’re getting back to a cute and fun game to round up this year’s list. City Island 5: Building Sim offers players a global approach to city-building, allowing them to expand their creations across a network of islands.
Each island comes with unique landscapes and challenges, keeping things entertaining even after you play it for a long time. And as a bonus – you can even play it offline!
Download the game from the App Store here.
Conclusion
I love the city building genre and I usually play more in-depth games on my laptop, but I’d still never say no to any of the great games recommended above.
If you’re looking for something fun and casual, you will surely find at least one title on my list. Also, see my Top 10 Facebook Building Games if you want some old-school charm. Or take a look at my previous round-up posts to find out something you’ll enjoy:
- Best Cozy Games to Play Today
- Best FREE Hidden Object Adventure Games for PC
- Best Family Co-op & Party Games for Xbox
- Best Time Management Games on PC & Mobile
Finally, if you enjoy playing a different city building or base building game on iOS – and it’s not listed above – let us all know by sharing your comments below.