Have you ever dreamed of building your own empire or designing jaw-dropping structures? Well, get ready to dive into the exciting world of architecture games! It's your chance to let loose, follow your passion, and maybe even turn those childhood dreams into virtual reality.

The best architecture games listed below will let you unleash that inner architect, building anything you literally desire - from a farmhouse to majestic buildings or even towns as emanated from a Tolkien story.

Here are the best architecture games that allow you to build the structures of your dreams. From this point, the sky is the limit!

• Release Date : October 6, 2015

• Developers : Introversion Software | Double Eleven

• Publishers: Introversion Software | Paradox Interactive

• Platforms : Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, MacOS, Linux, Xbox 360, Xbox One, iOS, Android. Nintendo Switch

• Metascore : 83

At the top of our list is Prison Architect, and its name says it all. You'll step into the shoes of a mastermind tasked with designing, constructing, and managing every aspect of a prison facility.

Building and managing a prison is a whole different ball game compared to constructing houses. With it comes a hefty dose of responsibility, including ensuring the basic needs of your inmates are met, from providing water and food to arranging showers. But don't let your guard down, as the threat of riots looms large, ready to challenge your authority and disrupt your carefully crafted order.

Prison Architect is more than just an architecture video game since the control of facilities requires you to pull off the best from yourself, adding a new level of entertainment and difficulty to the general gameplay. You will constantly have an eye on the hiring process of new staff and the other on the progress of construction works. And do not forget finances since the balance of profits and expenses is up to you!

Having played Prison Architect multiple times myself, I can relate to the challenge of constructing a maximum security prison. It's no easy feat and requires a keen understanding of the intricate components of this architectural and building game. Success in this business demands a creative mind and a meticulous approach to design and management.

Key Features:

• A cute pixel art visual style with unique models and a lot of charisma.

• Dozens of tasks to carry out to maintain the jail working.

• The possibility of trying other prisons created by other players.

Prison Architect Steam CD Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

• Release Date : March 10, 2015

• Developer : Colossal Order

• Publisher: Paradox Interactive

• Platforms : Linux, OS X, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadis, Steam Store

• Metascore : 85

Architects do more than just designing and building houses. They also plan entire cities, commercial buildings, giant skyscrapers, routes, highways, and more. Mirroring all the activities that an architect can carry out, Cities: Skylines puts you in the shoes of a planning architect trying to build and manage one of the major cities on Earth.

Strictly speaking, Cities: Skylines is a city-building simulation game. As such, you, as the primary mind behind the entire planning process, should consider several factors to bring your giant project to fruition. It means you need to design zones, services, public transportation, public buildings, and private areas by building blocks that will be allocated to these activities.

Cities: Skylines certainly draws inspiration from classic simulation games like Civilization and Age of Empires, but it adds a fresh layer of technical depth that elevates its gameplay. In this city-building masterpiece, attention to detail is key. From carefully planning the placement of zones, services, and structures relative to bodies of water to managing population density in specific areas, every decision matters. It's a game that challenges players to think critically about urban planning and infrastructure management, making for a truly immersive and rewarding experience.

Building in Cities: Skylines is like bringing a new settlement to life, letting people realize their dreams. Over advancing and achieving new improvements, the sense of satisfaction grows and grows, motivating you to create an even bigger and better city inspired by the major cities in the world. 

 Key Features: 

• Take control of the urban planning and design the perfect city.

• The game lets you explore your ideas and build all you want.

• Multiple factors: budget, necessities, resources, and more that will define what you can do.

Cities: Skylines Global Steam CD Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

• Release Date : November 18, 2011

• Developer : Mojang Studios

• Publishers: Mojang Studios | Xbox Game Studios | Sony Interactive Entertainment

• Platforms : Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, PlayStation 3, iOS, iPadOS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Apple TV, tvOS, Nintendo Switch, New Nintendo 3DS 

• Metascore : 93

While Minecraft may not fit the traditional mold of an architecture game, it offers a unique and engaging building experience. In Minecraft, players construct a variety of structures and creations, each serving different purposes, without the traditional architect's perspective.

Instead, players adopt a functional approach, focusing on meeting the needs of inhabitants and the community through their creations. Whether building homes, fortifications, farms, or intricate redstone contraptions, Minecraft challenges players to unleash their creativity and design skills in a virtual sandbox environment.

In Minecraft, players face a harsh environment filled with dangerous creatures. To survive, they must build defenses and craft weapons using their creativity and resourcefulness. Whether fortifying bases or crafting swords, every choice matters in the quest for survival.

You can also get blueprints to build hundreds of houses and other buildings, like watchtowers, huts, obelisks, and much more. Even though Minecraft has no technical approach to architectural practice – you don’t need to calculate the weight of structures; for example – building houses is interesting and enjoyable since you can intervene and redefine structures. Here is when an architectural mind might come to light.

This sandbox game gives you a lot of functions and possibilities when it comes to building things and a plethora of projects full of different blocks and intentions. If you want to release your imagination without the limits of technical architecture, you need to enter Minecraft.

Key Features:

• Endless possibilities to build the blocks.

• All the structures you build will help you to protect yourself from the dangers or the surroundings.

• An almost infinite game where you can get all the materials you need to build impressive buildings.

Minecraft US Xbox Live CD Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

• Release Date : September 8, 2016

• Developer: SomaSim

• Publisher: Kasedo Games

• Platforms : PC, OS X, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

• Metascore : 73

Project Highrise puts you in the role of a building manager, focusing on tower construction. Your responsibilities range from overseeing installations and maintaining cleanliness to decorating public spaces. Additionally, you'll need to hone your architectural skills to succeed.

Starting from scratch, you begin with a small construction of one or two floors. Since then, it’s up to you to build the tallest building possible while considering its functionality and the comfort of its inhabitants.

One of the Project: Highrise highlights is that you can define the functions of each section within your tower. For instance, you can allocate a floor for housing, and the directly above for office, etcetera.

Even though Project: Highrise has been criticized due to its impersonal visual style, it features simple but effective graphics. Never was it easier to build and manage infrastructure as with Project Highrise, and you’ll notice this from the very beginning.

Key Features:

• Build a complex system full of people who live, work, and do different activities.

• Administer a great budget and define priorities for your tower.

• Define the best interior for your building and unleash your creativity to provide the best service possible.

Project Highrise Steam CD Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

• Release Date : April 2, 2013

• Developer : Colossal Order

• Publisher: Paradox Interactive

• Platforms : Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux

• Metascore : 72

I would say that the Cities of Motion saga is the direct predecessor of Cities: Skylines since the same studio develops both franchises, and the two have a similar premise. However, the Cities of Motion series is more focused on transportation, which turns it into a transit simulation franchise.

Few realize that urban planners are responsible for designing city transportation systems. In Cities in Motion 2, you step into the role of an architect tasked with planning an efficient transportation network for the entire city, taking into account its unique characteristics and challenges. It's a real test of strategic thinking and urban design prowess.

Cities in Motion 2 includes several features that expand the possibilities and separate it from other titles of the same genre, such as the day-night cycle, rush hours, and co-op multiplayer, which is very weird in this type of game.

The idea behind Cities in Motion 2 is to keep the town functioning and allow citizens to arrive at their destination. Of course, you need to spend money and plan where you will place the depots. Interestingly, you can also improve the existing public transport system in cities like Amsterdam, Berlin, Helsinki, and more.

 Key Features: 

• Be the protagonist in creating the public transport system of your city.

• A title focused on the realism of transportation and paying attention to every detail when building infrastructure.

• Customize the existing transport system and make decisions to improve it.

• Release Date : August 26, 2021

• Developer : Oskar Stålberg

• Publisher: Oskar Stålberg

• Platforms : Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Web

• Metascore : 86

As the penultimate title on this list, I’ve brought a special one – Townscaper – a casual city builder with unique aesthetics and a straightforward building system that may entice the most reluctant to the genre.

At first glance, Townscaper looks like a fairy tale extracted from an art book. Houses and buildings look like they are made of watercolor and pen, sharing the general sensation of being a demiurge trying to build the village of their dreams.

The developer of Townscaper describes his game as “more of a toy than a game,” which resumes exactly what the game is: a title to lean back in your chair and enjoy without major apprehensions.

Townscaper offers a relaxing and imaginative experience, ideal for a leisurely Saturday afternoon. With its charming blocks reminiscent of Pixar's creativity, you can construct a vibrant village filled with spires, balconies, gardens, arches, and stairways. Let your creativity run wild as you sculpt the town of your dreams, crafting your own unique story at your own pace. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the tranquil moments of building in Townscaper.

Key Features:

• A relaxing town development you can carry out at your own pace.

• Play as you want and build the structures you consider relevant for the village of your dreams.

• Follow the rules and build with sense: your town must be logical and functional.

Townscaper Steam CD Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

• Release Date : November 10, 2015

• Developer : Bethesda Game Studios

• Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

• Platforms : Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

• Metascore : 87

Despite not being the best Fallout chapter and having several bugs and other errors, Fallout 4 has a very interesting base-building system that gamers have acclaimed due to its possibilities. This system allows you to deconstruct and craft buildings and settlements, getting relevant materials and resources for new constructions.

The base-building and deconstructing possibilities are almost endless since you can break down most in-game items to get these new raw materials. I think this is a really smart concept and one close to a post-apocalyptic world with scarce resources.

An interesting point in the base-building system of Fallout 4 is that non-player characters, survivors, and merchants can inhabit the house, building, or settlement you’ve built. It will depend on the size of your new construction. However, you will have to provide inhabitants with food, water, and resources to ensure their survival. You should also build a defense system, such as traps and turrets, to protect people and the physical space.

In general, buildings and other constructions have impressive visuals and textures and look very realistic. This condition will undoubtedly help you gain inspiration in this devastated world when building the desired house, mansion, or small town.

Key Features:

• A vast world that you can enjoy with complete freedom and independence.

• An impressive graphic engine that makes the game look incredible.

• Collect materials, build, and enhance every structure you find in this devastated world.

Fallout 4 Steam CD Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

Imagine, plan, design, and build the house, building, structure, or town you want, thanks to these seven architecture games. They represent the next level in building games, leading the architectural possibilities to their maximum. Get them all here, on RoyalCDKeys, and start designing your creations immediately!