Video games are all about creativity, and there is no better way of expressing that creative spirit than by building structures. It doesn't matter if players are making a home to survive in or constructing entire cities to govern; there is a palpable sense of satisfaction that comes from finally completing a lengthy build and stepping back to admire the creation.
When it comes to the future of gaming, there are several interesting games on the horizon that fans of building should keep an eye on. Whether it's strategy games with unlimited steps for automation, survival games where building is the only way forward, or simulators that give players a huge amount of tools to craft anything they can imagine, the future of construction in gaming is looking pretty damn stacked.
Whiskerwood
Adorable Critters Working Day And Night
Whiskerwood is the perfect blend of cuteness and city management, thrusting players into a world where cats rule and mice are forced to work to please their masters. The game borrows a lot of elements from the strategy genre, like production priorities and citizen morale, and flips them on their head by replacing ordinary people with furry workers.
This change in setting and dynamic makes Whiskerwood stand out from other city builders, and players who enjoy in-depth construction mechanics will have a lot to do across the various islands waiting to be explored. Players can quickly build entire empires out of nothing, with complex machinery and seaports allowing them to set off to uncharted waters and defend against the evils that sail the seas.
Alchemy Factory
High-Tech Production Lines In A Medieval World
- Release Date: November 2025
- Developer: D5 Copperhead
- Platforms: PC
Alchemy Workshop is an automated playground where the goal is to brew and sell alchemical goods of all kinds by creating the most complex and optimized production line possible. The hook comes from how intuitive the systems are, as players can quickly turn a simple conveyor belt into a network of lanes, each helping to produce goods at high speed.
With no combat (unlike some other similar games), players can focus entirely on their construction plans and are constrained by very few limits on how crazy they can make things. Flying potions and expansive factory layouts are just the tip of the iceberg; the only real restriction is how imaginative players are willing to get.
Railborn
Surviving On The Move
Railborn takes players to a desolate world where their only hope for survival is to follow the tracks. They'll need to slowly construct a movable base that they can ride through valleys and over mountains, all while attempting to survive in the hostile world that lies just outside the walls of their base.
Those bases can get pretty silly as players progress, stretching far above the ground and extending several cars up the tracks for as far as players can build them. Everything from food to energy needs to be carried on board; if players can't bring a particular resource with them, there is no guarantee they will find it in the wilderness.
Fantasy World Manager
Simulating Entire Kingdoms On A Massive Scale
- Release Date: Q1 2026
- Developer: Florian Alushaj
- Platforms: PC
Fantasy World Builder is an interesting sandbox game that gives players all the power they need to create their very own fantasy world. Starting with a virtually blank canvas, players can grow trees and carve out rivers in the environment, then add kingdoms full of citizens with jobs and needs, and even build structures with detailed interiors that give every building more character.
The level of depth is pretty incredible. Just about anything that anyone could want is possible, down to the finest pieces of customization, like individual tile placements. It's a fantasy builder's dream just waiting to be experienced, and once players are done with the actual construction process, they can sit back and watch as NPC adventurers take on the challenges that have been hand-picked just for them.
Metropolis 1998
Fully Customizable Cities
- Release Date: 2026
- Developer: Yesbox Studios
- Platforms: PC
Metropolis 1998 is a laid-back city builder all about making the ideal city of the player's own invention. Things start small, with individual layers being carved out with specific roles and purposes, but players can quickly add several floors, turning a single office space into a huge skyscraper.
Detail is everything, and the focus is less on simply building a blank cityscape and more on creating a functioning civilization. Citizens will live out their lives, going to work and enjoying the scenery, and players have complete control over how people experience the world, right down to the individual pieces of furniture within their homes.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
