Two games have crossed my desk this last couple of weeks that I’ve really wanted to talk about, but which haven’t quite fit the bill. These games are Reus 2, which just landed on console, and Farthest Frontier, which finally outgrew its Early Access status on PC.
Whilst sharing certain traits and utilising procedural generation for world-building, these are very different games. They’re also not roguelites. Not a crime, certainly, but also not something that I have previously dedicated time on given the wealth of rogues that I’d like to cover, too.
The obvious thing to do was step back and seek out some games in the city builder and god game genres that use proc-gen and other roguish elements to good effect. These are genres that I’ve always enjoyed, but they’ve not been a focus since I started Rogueliker…
Therefore, this isn’t yet a definitive “best of” list-feature just yet because I concede that there are a couple of gaps, things that I’ve not played yet. However, it is still a fine selection of curious strategy and simulation games that have caught my attention over the years, all of which have roguish elements that I think many of you might appreciate.
And so, without further ado, I’ll start things off with the two games that inspired this whole shindig, before digging into some of my old favourites, going back to classics like Populous and Sim City.
Farthest Frontier | Crate Entertainment | PC (Win)
Developer Crate Entertainment has followed up Grim Dawn, a fantasy ARPG, with a complex medieval city builder with a strong focus on economy and systems-driven emergent strategy. It’s all rather straight laced, but there’s great nuance to the game’s interlocking economy and you could easily lose hundreds of hours to this stunning world and its creative complexity.
Reus 2 | Abbey Games | PC (Win), Switch, Xbox Series
The Kruger Update just dropped for the PC version of Reus 2, but Switch and Xbox-based gamers are only just getting in on the act. I’ve actually been tracking the work of Abbey Games since the studio put the first Reus game out back in 2013 (yeah, I know, I’ve been around the block a few times), and I’m pleased to say that this is an indie studio operating at the top of its god-like game.
The Riftbreaker | Exor Studios | PC (Win), PS5, Xbox
This action-RPG fuses bullet hell alien blasting with innovative city building, as you try to establish a foothold on a strange alien world. I first played The Riftbreaker back when it launched five-ish years ago, but I returned recently to check it out after the latest update, which added even more ways to play. On top of an engrossing campaign and multiplayer, you can now approach the sandbox mode however you like, and try your hand at any of the game’s biomes. I must admit that I jumped into the game’s new icy region a bit too soon, and I got munched on pretty quickly, but I appreciated being given the chance to try. Finally, while not particularly roguish, The Riftbreaker does offer the chance to play with perma-death switched on and proc-gen maps.
RimWorld | Ludeon Studios | PC (Lin, Mac, Win)
Back when I worked for a site that put scores on games, I reviewed RimWorld and gave it a big fat 10/10. I think it’s that good. This sci-fi colony sim takes great inspiration from Dwarf Fortress, but then introduces a ton of new ideas and integrates those ideas brilliantly into a disctinctive sci-fi setting. I can’t claim to have played recently, and there’s a lot of DLC to buy if you want the full experience; I’m particularly eager to try the Odyssey DLC, as it’s a bit FLT-like. Still, at the end of the day, if you want a sci-fi colony sim, I recommend this one above all others (for a Plan B, check out Oxygen Not Included).
Dwarf Fortress | Bay 12 Games | PC (Lin, Win)
For regular readers here at Rogueliker, this is a game that needs no introduction, because half of the game is a fantasy rogeulike. There is, however, a massive base building portion of the game, and it offers a level of depth and complexity that I doubt any game can reasonably claim to better. It’s a tough nut to crack, even more so if you’re new to the genre, but it’s an all-time classic for a reason.
Prison Architect | Introversion, Double Eleven | Android, iOS, PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS4, Switch, Xbox One
This elaborate prison-building sim started off life at Introversion Software, although it’s under the guidance of Paradox now. I think the reason that Prison Architect has had such long legs is a mixture of the fascinating setting and the depth with which it has been explored. It’s also really good at kicking out amusing little emergent moments, nearly always when things are going horribly wrong and the prisoners are escaping. Like RimWorld, there’s lots of DLC for this one, but according to my Steam account I’ve not booted the game since 2015, so I can’t comment on the quality of the game in 2025.
Against the Storm | Eremite Games | PC (Win), PS5, Xbox Series
Another game that Rogueliker readers will already be well aware of is Against the Storm, which did the business on PC before spreading its wings and taking its Warcraft 3-inspired roguelite antics to consoles. This fantasy RTS city builder roguelite is a right ol’ mixture of ingredients, but the balance is just right, making this one of the most addictive games on this page, which is saying something.
Gods Against Machines | Silver Eye Studios | PC (Win)
I got this one in a bundle earlier in the summer, and I can’t claim to have played much. Yet, for the very specific purposes of this article, Gods Against Machines is a great fit. What I like most about it is the setting, which has you building up your world with your godly powers in order to repel an invading machine army.
Spore & Sim City | Maxis | PC (Win), Legacy Platforms
Spore is the very definition of “cult classic” and it comes from the early masters of the sim genre: Maxis. EA has since focused the team on The Sims, but for me it’s all about Spore and another game that I have no intention of linking back to, Sim City 2000. I dread to think how many hours I lost to that one back in the day…
Populous & Dungeon Keeper | Bullfrog Productions | PC (Win), Legacy Platforms
And now we’ve got two more highly relevant classics published by EA, back before the rot started setting in. I enjoyed both Populous and Dungeon Keeper back in the day – and I guess there’s an argument for including the Theme series, too. Of course, the real credit should go to Bullfrog Productions, one of gaming’s most influential studios, made famous by Peter Molyneux and Mark Healy, who would go on to spawn Lionhead and Media Molecule respectively.
Frostpunk | 11 bit Studios | PC (Mac, Win), PS4, Xbox
I’ve not played the sequel so my recommendation has to be for the first Frostpunk, which doesn’t pull its punches thanks to a harrowing end-of-the-world scenario that has you clinging on to life and building a town via an ever threatened heat source. This ice-cold base builder is the work of This War of Mine dev 11 bit Studios, a team dedicated to using gameplay to deliver powerful, player driven stories.
Stacklands | Sokpop Collective | PC (Mac, Win)
This clever little card game is also a distinctive and hugely addictive village builder, where everything is on timers and where you’ve got to manage your resources with the greatest of care. For some reason I’ve sandwiched this between two very brutal games, but I’m not going to move it because I’ve already written the next segue.
They Are Billions | Numantian Games | PC (Win), PS4, Xbox One
From a nice and relaxing village builder that plays out on a deck of cards, to an end-times RTS about fighting off an endless horde of the undead. This is one of my favourite contemporary RTS games, because it takes the base building we all know and love and injects it with some of the most intense tower defence mechanics that I’ve encountered before. Top stuff, but not for the faint-hearted…
Dawnfolk | Darenn Keller | PC (Lin, Mac, Win)
My final game, for now at least, is Dawnfolk, a charming little hybrid strategy roguelite that I think will be of particular interest to board game fans and anyone who has ever tried a tile placement game and enjoyed trying to find the perfect place to put their next build.
One of the things that I like most about this list is that it gives me a great reason to start finding more time for different experiences, and then coming back to update this feature with more lovely games.
Alongside grand strategy and 4X games, god games and city builders have always been among my favourites, and now I’ve got an excuse to check out a few standout games that I’ve not got to yet, such as Northgard and Dorfromantik.
Furthermore, this is a genre that is increasingly interesting due to the games that are still working their way through Early Access. On that front, I’ve got Super Fantasy Kingdom, World Box, Timberborn, and Cataclismo all in mind for future coverage here on Rogueliker!
