Uncovering the Best Banished Alternatives for City-Building Enthusiasts

Are you a fan of city-building strategy games, especially those that challenge your survival and management skills? If so, you're likely familiar with Banished, a highly acclaimed game where you guide a group of exiled travelers to build a new civilization from the ground up. However, if you've exhausted its challenges or are simply looking for a fresh experience, you'll be glad to know there are many excellent Banished alternative games that offer similar immersive gameplay and strategic depth. This post explores over 25 apps like Banished, available across various platforms including Windows, Linux, Steam, Mac, and even through Wine, with options for both free and commercial licenses.

Top Banished Alternatives

Whether you're seeking a historical epic, a fantastical colony simulator, or a classic RTS, these Banished alternatives offer diverse experiences that will satisfy your craving for intricate city-building and resource management.

0 A.D.

0 A.D. is a compelling free and open-source real-time strategy (RTS) game focusing on ancient warfare, making it an excellent Banished alternative for history buffs. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and BSD, it allows players to relive or rewrite the history of Western civilizations between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D. Its features include robust multiplayer options and deep RTS gameplay.

Warcraft III

Warcraft III, a classic real-time strategy (RTS) game by Blizzard Entertainment, offers a different flavor of strategy than Banished but with equally compelling resource management and base-building. Available commercially for Mac, Windows, and Linux, it plunges players into a world of epic fantasy battles and strategic decision-making, focusing heavily on RTS combat.

Dwarf Fortress

Dwarf Fortress is a single-player fantasy simulator that stands out as a highly detailed and complex Banished alternative. It's free to play on Mac, Windows, and Linux, offering an unparalleled level of procedural generation for its persistent worlds. Players manage a dwarven outpost, focusing on survival, base building, and intricate systems, including terraforming and battle simulation.

RimWorld

RimWorld is a highly-regarded commercial game available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Steam, making it an excellent Banished alternative for those who enjoy deep colony simulation. Inspired by the likes of Dwarf Fortress and Firefly, it challenges players to manage colonists' moods, needs, wounds, and illnesses while engaging in tactical gunplay, base building, and extensive modding. Its endless gameplay and open-world elements provide immense replayability.

Stronghold

Stronghold Crusader, part of the Stronghold series, offers a unique blend of real-time strategy and city-building, making it a compelling Banished alternative for fans of medieval warfare and resource management. This commercial title is available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Wine, featuring a desert setting that requires adapted strategies for its 50 skirmish missions. Its core gameplay is rooted in RTS mechanics.

openage

openage is a free and open-source re-implementation of the Age of Empires engine, providing a fantastic Banished alternative for those seeking classic RTS gameplay with modern open-source development. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and BSD, it's written from scratch using various modern technologies, focusing on delivering a robust and community-driven RTS experience.

Empire Earth

Empire Earth, a classic real-time strategy (RTS) game, serves as an expansive Banished alternative by allowing players to control the destiny of a civilization through 500,000 years of human history. This commercial game is available on Windows and Java Mobile and is still procurable on GOG.com. It offers deep RTS gameplay, spanning from the prehistoric age to the nano age.

Littlewargame

Littlewargame is a unique free browser-based real-time strategy (RTS) game that offers a quick and accessible Banished alternative. As a web-based game, it requires no installation and lets players jump into single-player or multiplayer medieval RTS action with minimal fuss, making it ideal for casual strategic play.

Anno

The Anno series, encompassing titles like Anno 1602 and Anno 1701, offers a robust city-building and economic simulation experience with real-time strategy elements, providing a strong Banished alternative. These commercial games are widely available on Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone, and iPad (via Wine for some older titles), focusing on detailed resource management and intricate trade routes.

Stonehearth

Stonehearth is a charming commercial game about exploration and survival in a fantasy setting, serving as an engaging Banished alternative with its focus on community management and base defense. Available on Windows, Linux, Steam, and Amazon, players guide a small group of settlers to establish a food supply, build shelter, and defend against threats, featuring customizable buildings and tower defense elements.

From deep colony simulators to expansive real-time strategy games, the world of city-building alternatives to Banished is vast and varied. Each game offers unique challenges and features, so explore this list to find the perfect fit for your next strategic adventure!