Whether it’s constructing bustling cities, growing lush landscapes, or shaping mini-worlds, there are countless RPGs, management games, and sandbox games to explore. Island-building games have carved out a unique niche within these genres, giving players a way to become architects of virtual paradises.
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Mechanics and gameplay vary from game to game, but these all offer the process of developing a personal island. Some will give players small-scale control, such as managing its inhabitants, while others give large-scale control, such as terraforming the entire islands' shape. These island-building games allow players to get creative.
10Build Island
Build Islandis a social MMO-building game onRoblox. Created by Toybox Development, it has over 30 million visits. It combines elements of roleplaying, exploration, and collaboration between players.
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Players can travel to others' public builds, and earn badges based on the number of visits they receive. Currently, the highest badge to get is “1,000 Visits”. Each player is given an island where they can customize the colors and material of the world, and given 3d models such as bridges and houses to flesh out their island. Some players like to create wacky, fantastical islands, while others prefer creating farms and villages.
9Pocket Build
Pocket Build, allows players to experience a cross-platform sandbox game within the realm of fantasy. Players can use their mobile devices and PC to build and switch between islands, creating some truly unique relaxation areas with access to over 600 items. The lack of missions and objectives gives players the freedom to create without pressure.
The game’s key feature is having zero limitations and no restrictions in its open world. Players canmake modest farms, build epic castles, or create an entire fantasy city. The island can have items placed all over in any orientation, with new items being added with every update. The possibilities are endless.
8City Island 5 - Building Sim
City Island 5 - Building Simis the 5th installment in the mobileCity Islandgames. Developed by Sparkling Society, it has over 10 million downloads on the Google Play Store. No internet is required to play solo, however, an internet connection is needed to visit others' islands.
As the mayor of a small island town, the player will unlock new islands and be given countless quests and weekly events to complete. Design and develop a city, collaborate with friends and unlock a variety of buildings for the islands.
7Grow Island
Grow Islandis available to all players for free and places them in a challenging strategy game where players, of course, have to create a full island. The icons on the screen represent the items that are needed to build the island. The player must click these icons in the correct order, and the items that players place will affect each other and grow with each turn.
The player can choose between Architecture, Computer Science, Applied Chemistry, Civil Engineering, and other elements to place on the land. There is technically no “correct solution”, however, the goal is to level up and max out all faculties. Depending on the state of the island, there are possible endings and outcomes.
6Creativerse
Taking inspiration fromMinecraft,Creativersegives players the tools and the freedom to express their talent within this unique sandbox game. Players venture through a world of blocks and task themselves with crafting items, and building constructions, all with the assistance of a futuristic gauntlet that allows the manipulation of matter.
Players collect and refine unique resources from the world’s various biomes and layers, and then use those resources to craft weapons, tools, items, and materials. While the game isn’t solely focused on just islands in its expansive world, the game has all the tools necessary to build one. Players can even build floating islands in the sky.
5Dragon Quest Builders 2
Dragon Quest Builders 2allows players to embrace the fun of a hack-and-slash combat style game, alongside 3 other players to create up to 4 players ofcooperative online funthrough various islands.
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InDragon Quest Builders 2, players are tasked with finding and gathering materials to construct buildings and further enhanced equipment to navigate and conquer more islands. There are five major islands and twelve islands to be explored for the player to see and build upon.
4Tropico 6
Tropico 6gives players the necessary resources to create their own fun in this construction management simulation game. The player takes on the role of “El Presidente”, who is the leader of the Caribbean island nation of Tropico, tasked with rebuilding andresettling the residentsinto a paradise, or something worse.
The game allows players to build on an archipelago of smaller islands. Players build bridges between islands to manage multiple at once. Tunnels can be constructed to transport the inhabitants all around andcompete with other players' islands. The game leaves it up to the player, to either turn the island into a bustling city or cause a revolt among its citizens.
3Terraria
Terrariais a 2D game, heavily stylized for players to enjoy and share in an adventure. InTerraria, the player controls a single character in a pre-generated world.Multiple characters and multiple worldscan be created.
This game lets the player explore, build, collect items, and fight monsters. When it comes to islands, players go for floating islands. If the player doesn’t want to build, they can find floating islands and reform them from there. Players are given the creative tools to make any floating island base they want.
2Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizonsis a real-time social simulation game that sees the player dedicate their time and resources to creating a happy and peaceful town full of imaginative villagers.Animal Crossing: New Horizonsis the eighth main game in the series and introduces new features and mechanics, such as cliff construction and waterscape.
The player takes on the opportunity to develop a deserted island, which is fully empty apart from a few villagers upon arrival. The player completes tasks todevelop the island into a flourishing townof villagers using various tools. The Island Designer is an app the player can use to add paths and change cliffs or lakes/rivers. This app assists with any type of terraforming.
1Minecraft
Minecraftneeds no introduction to many gamers.Minecraftis known for its versatility and creative freedom of play,allowing for many possibilitiesunique to the desires of every player. The digital and “blocky” worlds in Minecraft add to the flair and style, and players have managed to create some truly amazing structures on their islands.
The tools the player is provided within the game, especially in Creative Mode, leave countless possibilities for building anything the player sets their mind to. From mining and collecting blocks to crafting and smelting, anyone can build an epic island inMinecraft. Populating the island with mobs and inviting players online to join and explore adds to the fun.
