The Best Open-World Games That Let You Build And Manage Settlements

Players love the act of investing time in building outposts, settlements, cities, and other such structures. It gives them a reason to acquire valuable resources and use them to create a safe space for themselves and others in a game world.

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Some settlement-building mechanics become all the more engaging when implemented in an open world. Along with the amazing journeys players can experience in these games, they can always take a breather and focus on a different gameplay pillar altogether to keep them engaged.

8

Starfield

Outposts Are Fun To Create And Populate

Systems

Released

September 6, 2023

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Strong Language, Violence

Fans of Fallout 4‘s settlement building may find Starfield a bit lacking in this regard. However, constructing outposts is still fun and gives players more agency in deciding when and how their home base is populated.

It may seem like an afterthought, but players who want to flex their creative muscles can create some amazing outposts in Starfield. It’s just one of the many ways players can keep themselves busy in the vast world of Starfield, making it well worth a second look despite its middling reception.

7

No Man’s Sky

Players Construct A Bunch Of Buildings To Spruce Up Their Settlement

Adventure

Action

Survival

Released

August 9, 2016

ESRB

T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Animated Blood

Given the sheer amount of content that has been added to No Man’s Sky since its release, it isn’t all that surprising that fans are able to create settlements on planets as well.

While every settlement can look the same after players construct every building possible, that takes nothing away from this fun base-building mechanic that will keep them occupied for hours. It’s just one of the many ways No Man’s Sky captures a player’s attention and amazes them with the wealth of meaningful content present in this title.

6

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

The From The Ashes DLC Lets Players Restore And Improve Pribyslavitz

Released

February 13, 2018

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Alcohol

Given the humble peasant origins of Henry, the protagonist of Kingdom Come: Deliverance, players were amazed to see the heights he reached after his hometown was razed to the ground. This son of a blacksmith becomes a competent warrior and can even play a direct role in helping the village of Pribyslavitz regain its former glory.

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Players who love creating and helping settlements prosper in their open-world games will find the content of the From the Ashes DLC to be a perfect fit for them. Given the absurd amount of gold players can amass during their adventures, Pribyslavitz is a great place to invest these funds and help this village prosper after the hard times it has endured.

5

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Players Will Love Investing In Tarrey Town’s Development

Systems

Released

March 3, 2017

ESRB

E for Everyone: Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Suggestive Themes

Breath of the Wild is one of the greatest open-world video games ever made, and it is full to the brim with unique secrets. This includes a sidequest to help a town prosper after Link buys a house in Hateno Village.

The constructors finish this work and head to a clearing that serves as the foundation for Tarrey Town. Link is encouraged to give Hudson the wood he gathers around the world, and find potential employees across Hyrule who can help this town prosper. Clearly, the hero succeeds, given how this town is flourishing in Tears of the Kingdom.

4

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Geralt Gains Ownership Of The Corvo Bianco Vineyard In The Blood & Wine DLC

Released

May 19, 2015

ESRB

M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s Blood & Wine DLC is one of the greatest expansion packs in video game history, and fans can’t get enough of it. The region of Beauclair is beautiful and full to the brim with a wealth of side content for players to complete.

One of these optional activities opens up once Geralt gets the deed to the Corvo Bianco estate. He can invest his money into improving the estate and making it a beautiful piece of land, adorning it with the many paintings and weapons that the Witcher acquires during his travels.

3

Fallout 4

Settlement Building Is A Huge Part Of The Game

Released

November 10, 2015

ESRB

M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS

Fans have warmed to Fallout 4 as the years have gone by, with the game’s amazing open-world design being appreciated by many. Another gameplay pillar that fans had a great time with was settlement building, a new and welcome inclusion to the Fallout series.

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While players can ignore this side of the game altogether, they are encouraged to find supplies and deck out the many run-down areas they liberate from monsters, bandits, or other enemy groups. Some people get invested in this area of the game in no time, which is perfect if they want to side with the Minutemen at the end of Fallout 4.

2

Medieval Dynasty

Players Help Create And Maintain A Thriving Medieval Settlement

Released

December 17, 2020

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence

Players who want to check out a survival and crafting game set in Medieval times will have a great time with Medieval Dynasty. Players start with nothing and must struggle for food and resources as they establish a settlement.

As their village becomes larger and more populated, players get more toys to mess around with as their options increase. This gradual progress is handled with great care and ensures that players will love how satisfying it feels to manage a thriving settlement that they built from scratch.

1

Kenshi

An Open-World Game With Immense Freedom Where Settlement Building Is Just One Of Many Distractions

Systems

Released

December 6, 2018

ESRB

nr

Kenshi is one of the best open-world games around for players who want to enjoy freeform gameplay with no limits. Players are unceremoniously dropped into a sandbox with little to nothing to their name and must grind out basic stats before they can even think about exploring the hostile world.

As players build up the confidence they need, they will eventually figure out how to build a settlement in an unclaimed area and help it thrive. It can be wildly absorbing, as players can construct the base of their dreams and save it from the many hostiles that threaten to tear their settlement down.

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