Dwarf Fortress is an incredibly detailed, complex game where you help a colony of dwarves build a settlement by carving out bedrooms, dining halls and other necessary structures from the side of a mountain. You don't control individual dwarves but instead provide instructions for them to follow, with each dwarf having their own needs and wants that you become familiar with as you play.
Pros:
Robust mouse support
New tutorial to help new players understand menus
Complex web of characters and relationships
Simulated world is full of surprises both big and small
Ability to create artifacts and engravings that tell stories
Cons:
Inscrutability can be off-putting for those expecting a more streamlined experience
Convoluted user interface can make it difficult to figure out what is even possible in the game or how to access the different menus
Mac OSPC WindowsXbox OnePlaystation 4Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 5Xbox Series XLinuxIOS iPhone
Tropico 6 is a city-building game that offers an engaging mix of elements such as ruling your own island dictatorship, sandbox mode with customizable goals, missions, and easy controller support. You can be a big picture person and make decisions that impact the entire island or get into the minute details of urban planning.
Pros:
Engaging mix of elements
Sandbox mode with customizable goals
Missions
Easy controller support:No need for mouse and keyboard or touchscreen
Nintendo SwitchIOS iPhoneAndroidstadiaLinuxMac OSPC WindowsXbox OnePlaystation 4
In Spiritfarer, take on the role of Stella, who has been chosen as the new Spiritfarer and sets off on a grand adventure of discovering unique islands, meeting interesting characters and learning about them. Gather resources to help passengers in need and upgrade Stella's boat. Enjoy beautiful visuals, engaging mini-games and a heartfelt story as you explore this world between life and death.
Pros:
Gorgeous visuals
Touching story
Unique combination of gameplay elements
Characters with distinct personalities and mannerisms
Project Highrise is a management sim game that allows you to build and manage your own tower. You must manage basic needs, desires of tenants, take on contracts and loans while making sure to turn a profit. The game offers two modes - Sandbox Mode, where you are given total freedom; and Scenario Mode, where you are given specific tasks with certain constraints.
PC WindowsXbox OneIOS iPhoneAndroidPlaystation 4Nintendo SwitchLinuxMac OS
Game about the difficult work of people that manage emergency lines and services. Answer incoming calls and react properly - give first aid instructions, advise, dispatch correct number of firemen / police / ambulances, or sometimes - just ignore the call. Play on ANY CITY in the world!
Winemaking could be your best adventure. Make the best wine interacting with soil and nature and take your winery to the top. Your beautiful journey into the winemaking tradition starts now.
Mini Motorways is a city-building game that challenges you to craft the road system of a growing city. You have limited resources to manage traffic, build roads and bridges, and create roundabouts. You must carefully plan your layout in order to encourage growth and minimize traffic jams.
Pros:
Challenging gameplay
Intuitive design
Beautiful visuals
Relaxing soundtrack
Color-blind mode
Cons:
Can be difficult to manage traffic on complex maps
Limited resources can make it hard to keep up with the demand of the city
PC WindowsMac OSLinuxPlaystation 4Xbox OneXbox 360AndroidIOS iPhoneNintendo Switch
Prison Architect is a management/strategy game where you must manage an unwilling and unruly population in a prison setting. You must establish order from cooperative parts, feed and house prisoners, and even "get rid of them" them if necessary. There is also an economy of contraband that you must manage, as well as a metagame of making your warden rich by selling the prison to others.
Xbox OneIOS iPhoneAndroidNintendo SwitchPlaystation 4LinuxMac OSPC Windows
Build and manage a medieval graveyard while facing ethical dilemmas and making questionable decisions. Welcome to Graveyard Keeper, the most inaccurate medieval cemetery sim of the year.
Take a break from the hectic, stressful world and immerse yourself in the adorable world of Capybara Spa. Help clean up the animals wandering around the mountainside, plant a garden for treats, build bathtubs, decorate with flowers and more. Enjoy taking care of capybaras, baby capybaras, ducks, turtles, frogs and chunky little otters.