Games With The Best Base Building Mechanics

Key Takeaways

• Base-building games vary in focus and style, with only a few games exemplifying the true essence of the genre.
• Games like
  Fallout 4
  and
  7 Days to Die
  offer unique base-building mechanics with survival elements.
• From surviving zombie attacks to managing a cult settlement, base-building games offer diverse experiences for players.

There are a lot of games out there that give players the creative tools to create what they want in order to move forward in a game. This is one of the biggest elements of the best base-building games, a genre that has a collection of games that have their main focus revolve around creating an effective home. The base-building genre can be a bit loose by definition, so there are plenty of games out there that can claim to be perfectly fit underneath the label.

However, it’s important for people who want to experiment with this mechanic to check out the best base-building games around so that they can see the true draw of this mechanic. Players will lose hours upon hours in these video games as they strive to create the best base possible after gathering a ton of materials. It can take a while, but players who put in the effort will see their bases flourish to become something special.

Updated on November 23, 2024, by Usama Ali: Base-building games give players the satisfaction of transforming barren landscapes into thriving settlements. These games often involve gathering resources, crafting items, and defending against threats. They’re perfect for players who enjoy problem-solving, resource management, and building their own unique worlds. We’ve added a few more games that heavily focus on base-building to this list, each expanding the boundaries of the base-building genre with innovative mechanics.

35 Fallout 76

Players Can Build Portable C.A.M.P.s

Fallout 76 had a bad rap back when it launched, but a slew of updates and expansions have done a great job of making the game palatable in the eyes of many once again. Given how big the Fallout TV adaptation has become, most people would love to check out a multiplayer-focused game in this post-apocalyptic series.

The settlement-building mechanics from Fallout 4 are present in this title, albeit in a unique manner. The C.A.M.P.s in this game are portable and can be decked out with the right materials. Bringing out a cozy crash pad in the middle of the wasteland is a unique way to let players interact with one of the best base-building games that’s a ton of fun to interact with.

34 Dragon Quest Builders 2

Base-Building Mechanics That Elicit Minecraft’s Vibe

The Dragon Quest series has slowly gained more traction in the West, with games like Dragon Quest 11 doing a great job of modernizing the series with some much-needed gameplay improvements and quality-of-life changes. Another great way that Square Enix has tried to broaden the appeal of this series is with a spin-off that adds a unique gameplay element to the series.

Dragon Quest Builders and its sequel are two of the best base-building games JRPG fans can check out. The traditional turn-based combat of the series may be replaced with a real-time action variant, but that shouldn’t take anything away from the allure of this brilliant game. Players will love gathering materials and turning their unimpressive base into something special as they slowly but surely make progress in this well-paced game.

33 Fallout 4

Base-Building Is A Fun Distraction, Even If It Lacks Some Depth

Fallout 4 is a video game that players have slowly come to appreciate, especially after Starfield highlighted how important it was for Bethesda’s core gameplay loop to require handcrafted open worlds with many unique visuals, landmarks, and one-of-a-kind secrets to uncover. Fallout 4 was a huge phenomenon when it launched, with many people loving the settlement-building mechanics this game brought to the table.

Sure, building a base came with a set of restrictions and wasn’t as in-depth as most people would’ve liked, but it was still a great side activity worth checking out for players who wanted to populate their settlements and protect them against any attacks. If players found this mechanic lacking, then mods could always swoop in to save the day.

32 Project Zomboid

Create A Base To Protect Yourself From Zombies

Like most survival games out there, Project Zomboid has intricate base-building mechanics. Project Zomboid is a hardcore, open-world zombie survival game that throws players into a world overrun by the undead. To survive, players need to build a strong base to protect themselves from the hordes of zombies.

When building a base, players should find easily accessible locations to gather resources, like water, food, and building materials, and avoid dangerous areas. Having access to water sources, tough walls, storage space, multiple entry points, and multiple floors are just a few of the things players need to keep in mind. For players looking for a game that pushes their limits and tests their survival and base-building skills, Project Zomboid is the perfect choice.

31 Medieval Dynasty

Create A Village In Medieval Times

Players who want to check out an engaging survival game set in medieval times that includes base-building elements will love what Medieval Dynasty has to offer. There aren’t many historically accurate games that players can sink their teeth in, so it’s easy to see why this title will pique the interest of fans who want to check out some of the best base-building games around with a unique setting.

One of the major draws of this game is constructing a village from the ground up, attracting settlers as players create a host of important buildings to help their base grow. This gameplay loop is executed brilliantly and helps Medieval Dynasty stand out as one of the better survival games that will keep players busy for hours on end.

30 7 Days To Die

Form A Base That Can Withstand A Zombie Assault At The End Of Every Week

The key to the best base-building games is to make everything harvestable, giving the player the ability to set up their home wherever they like. This is part of the idea behind 7 Days to Die, a survival horror game that was released in 2013 in early access and still remains so today.

Set in the nuclear apocalypse post-World War III, players must survive while being hunted down by zombies that have come to life due to the effects of the war. Bases are not just a safe haven as they can also be filled with traps that can kill zombies looking to break in.

29 The Wandering Village

City-builders tend to be a very different type of base-building game as they tend to focus more on creating a civilization without a ton of pressure. However, there are a few games that add stakes to this, including the early access title The Wandering Village.

Players work to build a society on the back of a colossal creature that is also attempting to survive on its own. The world has fallen apart thanks to mysterious plants that are poisonous to all, and it is up to the player to build up a community that can protect the people living there as well as the giant the society is built on.

28 Dyson Sphere Program

Set Up A Base In Space

There is something inherently satisfying about exploring space, and setting up a home in space to build a massive factory to complete an important mission is the crux of Dyson Sphere Program. As the leading member of the space alliance COSMO, players are tasked with harnessing the power of Dyson Spheres to fuel humanity’s push into the future.

Every new file in Dyson Sphere Program is unique as worlds are procedurally generated, meaning players will discover new planets upon each save. With the engineering skills that are learned, players are able to set up shop on these planets and build massive factories to start building the necessary energy.

27 Palworld

Catch Pals And Build A Base

Palworld is a multi-genre game that combines monster-catching, survival, crafting, and base-building elements. Players can capture a variety of Pokemon-like creatures called Pals, each with unique abilities and personalities.

Even though it sounds a little dark, players can use their captured Pals as labor, or even consume them for food. Players can even customize their base with a variety of decorations, including furniture, plants, and sculptures.

26 Rust

A Multiplayer Base-Building Game Full Of Memorable Organic Moments

Combining the survival genre with base-building is something that has paid off time and time again. What makes Rust so unique is that all of this is augmented by the multiplayer, which can either turn players into the kings of the map or pathetic servants who must acquiesce to the demands of more powerful players to seek shelter in their bases.

It’s one of the most unique multiplayer games around and does a great job of letting players immerse themselves in a dog-eat-dog world where death awaits them at every corner. Either building a base or finding one to reside in is important if players want to survive as long as possible, which is important for obvious reasons.

25 Dwarf Fortress

The Ultimate Base-Building Game

A game from 2006, Dwarf Fortress is a game that is presented entirely through text that forms the images of the game. The primary mode is open-ended, so the player can set any kind of goal that they would like. Starting a new game has the world generate various land, oceans, and civilizations.

To survive, players have to decide on where they would like to build a fortress and then create a foundation that will keep those living in the fortress happy while keeping them safe from any dangers.

24 Sons Of The Forest

The Sequel To One Of The Most Critically Acclaimed Base-Building Games Ever Made

Players who are fans of survival games seem to enjoy the stress of needing to build a base to survive the atrocities that they are surrounded by. That is certainly the case of Sons of the Forest, an open-world horror game where players are hunted by cannibals.

A sequel to another successful survival game, Sons of the Forest has a deep building and crafting system that encourages players to interact and use the environment as much as possible. In addition, the game offers co-op for those who don’t want to try to survive on their own.

23 Age Of Empires 2

A Classic Base-Building RTS That Needs No Introduction

Speaking of classic games, one game that was all about building civilizations was 1998’s Age of Empires 2. The real-time strategy game has the player focus on building towns and gathering resources, but it also throws in the twist of building armies on top of that to take down enemy civilizations.

If players can conquer a town in Age of Empires 2, they will have new land that they can play with. Players can take their empire through four different eras that are the equivalent of 1,000 years of time.

22 Timberborn

Control Beavers And Create A Solid Base

The best base-building games tend to be focused on humans trying to protect themselves from the world. But in Timberborn, the humans are the ones who have made the world inhabitable, so it is up to one species to take on the task of surviving and thriving: beavers.

Facing constant drought, players must pick one of two beaver factions and use their skills to build a society that helps produce the resources necessary to survive some major dry spells. The factories are built using the metal left behind by the human world after they perished, which will help the beavers develop useful technology.

21 Once Human

Build A Secure Base That Protects From Enemies And Other Players

Speaking about survival RPGs, Once Human is a free-to-play survival game where base building is a core mechanic. Bases provide a central hub for players to store their loot, craft items, and manage their inventory. Players can build structures like farms and water purifiers to automate resource production.

The best part is, players can share their bases in Once Human with their friends. This makes it easier for all of them to share resources and work together to build a dream base. Players create unique and personalized spaces by adding furniture items, decor, and even lights, both indoors and outdoors, to illuminate the base. They can also add fridges to preserve food and manage their hunger levels.

20 Valheim

A Great Survival Game With Base-Building Elements Set In Norse Mythology

A game that was only released in early access in 2021, Valheim has already left its mark as being one of the more fun survival games out there. Along with the need to collect materials and fight off monsters, there is the base-building element to the game that keeps people coming back.

The great thing about building in Valheim is the different locations one may come across. There are a total of six biomes at the moment, from the peaceful Meadows to the freezing cold conditions of the Mountains. There are also the Swamp, the Black Forest, and the Plains.

19 Subnautica

Making An Underwater Base Is A Blast

Exploring the ocean can be scary, and players can experience the unknown firsthand with Subnautica. The survival action-adventure games put players in scuba gear as they swim into the deepest depths of the ocean, discovering various lifeforms on a planet known as “4546B.”

Players must survive potential attacks in the ocean while also managing their health, hunger, and more. A big part of Subnautica is building bases that can serve as a home to rest up as well as building new submersibles that can help in the exploration element of the game.

18 Grounded

Making A Base After Being Shrunk Down Is A Novel Concept

Grounded is what would happen if the films A Bug’s Life and Honey, I Shrunk The Kids had a video game child. A project that just left early access, the survival game by Obsidian Entertainment has players shrunken down to the size of an ant.

The goal of Grounded is to survive in the backyard that has plenty of hostile insects living in the area. Grounded focuses on building a nice base that is enough of a shelter that lets the player survive the day-night cycle.

17 Fallout Shelter

The Game Lets Fallout Fans Fulfill Their Wildest Fantasies Of Managing A Vault

Base-building games have a lot of elements that make them more than just a game about expanding a base. However, Fallout Shelter is one of those games where the base building is the most important aspect of the game, with only a couple of other elements to worry about outside of general base building.

A spin-off of the classic Fallout franchise, Fallout Shelter is about building various rooms in the vault that will help keep those living in it happy and satisfied. In addition to expanding the base, including building defenses against potential monsters, players can customize the cosmetics of the rooms and the people living in the shelter.

16 Enshrouded

Construct A Functional Base And Defend It From Lethal Enemies

Enshrouded is one of the best base-building games out there since it gives players complete freedom to build. The base is a player’s safe haven; a shelter where they can seek refuge from enemies and plan their next moves. Players need to first claim an area by placing a Stone Altar. They can then build a variety of basic structures like walls, floors, and roofs to create enclosed spaces.

Like other survival RPGs, players can gather resources and add crafting stations and workbenches to their base. Enshrouded‘s base-building system is more flexible and encourages creativity and experimentation. It’s an intuitive, versatile, and aesthetically pleasing base-building game, worth playing.