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Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this. Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
RPGCity BuilderColony Sim
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$23.99 ~71.4 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 89.1% of 21k
The Squirrel's verdictBoth are settlement builders with resource chains, physical goods, and combat against attacking forces rather than rival AI factions. Going Medieval adds 3D layered building and voxel-based construction, and is out of early access at Very Positive with a median playtime of 71 hours. No co-op, unlike Pagonia.
Not for you if you wanted the multiplayer co-op Pagonia offers, or you need a family/lineage system to make a medieval settlement feel authentic.
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Hidden Gem Hidden GemLoved by the players who found it, but still under the radar.
City BuilderColony SimBase-Building
$9.99 ~14.6 hr median no co-op complexity: light 94.5% of 477
The Squirrel's verdictMicroTown is a pure logistics puzzle: resource gathering, production chains, no combat, no enemy factions, no multiplayer. Reviewers describe it as polished and well-priced at $9.99 for what it delivers, with a median playtime of 14.6 hours. Players who want to optimize supply lines without any military pressure are its core audience.
Not for you if you want multiplayer, enemy factions, or a production chain deep enough to occupy more than a few sittings.
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Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
City BuilderColony SimAutomation
$24.99 ~34.3 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 85.6% of 1k
The Squirrel's verdictBoth games run on Settlers-style logistics: build road networks, haul physical goods between production chains, manage a growing settlement's supply lines. The Colonists is a finished 2018 release rather than early access, robots instead of pioneers, and no military or enemy factions at all — it's pure economy and transport route optimization, no combat layer to fall back on.
Not for you if you want faction combat or an evolving live-service game, since this is a static, complete transport-and-production sim with no fighting.
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Evolution of Ages: Settlements
PC
RPGCraftingBase-Building
$8.99 ~75.8 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 86.3% of 292
The Squirrel's verdictEvolution of Ages: Settlements has a median playtime of 75.8 hours at $8.99 — the production and RPG-combat loop is complete, not in-progress. Reviewers consistently flag the interface as closer to early-1990s software than a modern UI, with low-resolution graphics and inconsistent tooltips. For players who can tolerate an outdated presentation in exchange for a fully realized economic simulation.
Not for you if you need modern graphics and a clean UI, since reviewers repeatedly call the interface outdated and visually straining.
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City BuilderColony SimResource Management
$18.99 ~14 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 80.7% of 429
The Squirrel's verdictSettlements Rising is a 2025 single-player release built on the familiar town-builder template: villager routines, physical resource chains, population growth. Reviewers describe it as competent but unoriginal, with no tutorial and mechanics that closely resemble other genre entries. Median playtime is 14.0 hours at $18.99. No co-op, no faction warfare.
Not for you if you want to build with friends, want fresh mechanics rather than a well-trodden formula, or want faction warfare instead of a peaceful builder.
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Colony SimCity BuilderVikings
$25.99 ~16.6 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 73.8% of 2k
The Squirrel's verdictLand of the Vikings is a fully released single-player settlement builder with physical goods hauling and production chains. Reviewers note persistent bugs — warehouse workers going permanently idle, halting late-game progression — and no defined endgame once a settlement matures. Median playtime is 16.6 hours. No co-op.
Not for you if you want to play with friends, need a defined endgame goal, or are sensitive to bugs that can stall late-game progression.
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City BuilderMythologyVikings
$6.99 ~6 hr median no co-op complexity: light 54.8% of 1k
The Squirrel's verdictValhalla Hills organizes its logistics loop into discrete career-mode levels — unlock buildings as you progress, move through portal-gated islands, repeat. That structure makes it shorter and more contained than an open sandbox, with a median playtime of 6 hours. It is a finished 2015 release with no missing features or ongoing roadmap. No co-op. Steam rating is Mixed at 54.8% positive.
Not for you if you want co-op, an open sandbox rather than level-by-level progression, or a higher-rated release.
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City BuilderColony SimGod Game
$39.99 ~29.9 hr median co-op complexity: light 49.3% of 1k
The Squirrel's verdictThe Settlers: New Allies is a finished 2024 release with co-op, campaign missions, and named opponents rather than ambient spawner camps. Reviewers warn that military buildup dominates over economic depth, the AI is described as weak in single-player, and an online connection plus a Ubisoft account are required to launch the game. Median playtime is 29.9 hours at $39.99.
Not for you if you want deep resource-chain management rather than a game where the fastest path to victory is just building the biggest army.