Summary
When gamers hear the term “base-building game”, their minds might jump to something likeFallout 4,Age of Empires 2, or even the recent releaseMeet Your Maker. What this means is that many different genres of games include base-building mechanics. So beginners to base-building don’t have to dive in with something as intimidating asFactorioorThe Sims 4. They can start with games a little more familiar or just more forgiving.
Tons of games across many genres feature base-building mechanics and some employ them in truly unique ways. Whether someone wants to build the gothic castle of their dreams, defend a fort against zombies, or build an exploration-focused space outpost, there’s a beginner base-building game for them on this list. Don’t worry—it isn’t all justTerrariaclones either.
Fortnite, best known for its Battle Royale mode, has pivoted to competing withRoblox, offering tons of maker-created content,crossover events, concerts, and acting as a virtual third space. However, before all of that, there was (and still is)Save the World mode. It’s a base-building, hoard-fighting whirlwind that is best played with friends in co-op. Everyone can contribute to the base, customize their characters, and help fight off the various husks. Tim Sweeney literally called it “MinecraftmeetsLeft 4 Dead” and the building mechanics are just as seamless as Minecraft’s – even for beginners.
The combat is in the style ofLeft 4 Deadwith unique husk types such as Pitchers, Lobbers, Huskies, and more. The big difference is that players are defending their custom-created forts and completing objectives across various maps. Players can build whatever they can imagine and use different traps to stymie would-be assailants. There are even classes to characters, too, so some can buff building health while others zip around the battlefield. There is a matchmaking system, but hardly anybody plays this mode after a certain level. That’s what makes it such a shame that solo players can’t pick this up (one reason for being last on this list). But if players already haveFortniteaccounts and cosmetics from Battle Royale, they can use those in Save the World, too.
Dorfromantik’sfull release in April 2022 and Switch release in September 2022 opened up a table-top, hex-style puzzle strategy game to gamers (mostly) everywhere. It focuses more onchallenging players rather than optimization, meaning players must think differently when creating their cities and villages. Though base-building game enthusiasts will say “This isn’t base-building!”, the game incorporates the same kind of thinking and logic as a base-builder would. It just utilizes puzzle and strategy elements instead of traditional base-building elements.
In keeping with its board game roots, players start with 40 random tiles to place and, while they can be rotated before placement, they cannot be moved after. Railroad and water tiles must touch existing tiles of the same type, but players can earn additional tiles by closing areas, finishing quests, and matching tiles of the same kind on all sides. But if winning the game by earning the most points isn’t ideal for some players, they can indulge in the game’s Creative mode. This provides infinite tiles for players to build the cozy little villages of their dreams. The availableDorfromantikgame modes are:
Who doesn’t love beavers? In this game world, humans have made the world inhabitable and these intrepid beavers must tackle the obstacles imposed on them and survive. That means constructing buildings, gathering resources, unlocking technologies, and weathering environmental burdens such as droughts and toxic waste.Beginners to the gamemight not be as intimidated by the mechanics due to the adorable denizens of their settlements.
The game is technically still in Early Access, too, with its fifth major update – Badwater – releasing in January 2024, adding the “Badwater” toxic substance that can taint the beavers. The update also included new buildings, a rework to the irrigation system, map changes, and an Antidote for the Badwater. Though definitely not the easiest introduction to base-building mechanics,Timberbornincorporates city-building and colony sim aspects some players might find compelling.
Though gearing up forLight No Fire, Hello Games continues to support its extensive original titleNo Man’s Skywithregular Expedition updates. These add to an already rich galaxy full of procedurally generated planets, fauna, flora, and lore. Players acquire currencies by scanning creatures, discovering planets, completing missions, and more. But they can also construct bases on planets, build underwater bases, and customize Freighter bases.
The game offers a very casual base-building experience with lots of focus on exploration and some gun-based combat, as well as space combat on a starship. It also offers game modes for every experience:
It’s the kind of game players can leave and come back to many times over the years and have a totally new experience each time.
Witha successful sequel,Subnauticahas cemented itself as a mainstay in the underwater base-building game genre. The only real downside is that not all players will appreciate the creative and terrifying Leviathan designs. After all, being the lone, stranded survivor on an alien planet that’s mostly water is essentially a nightmare for some people.
But getting over that lets players experience the truly unique underwater Andromeda Galaxy world of 4546B. Players can build bases, craft underwater submersibles, create indoor gardens, and more. There’s also a plot to the game – a little mystery to unravel as players unlock new technologies and learn about the ocean planet. The beautiful graphics help create a totally immersive simulation experience, too; however, it is a solo-player game with no official co-op option.
If theSubnauticaworld is technically a capitalist dystopia, the world ofAstroneeris much more about the mysteries of life. With the same level of narrative detail asNo Man’s Sky, Astroneer puts the focus on base building and exploration. Players wander around the sandbox, exploring open-world planets in third-person view on foot, by rover, via spacecraft, or through teleportation. Players can “reshape” these planets using terraforming technology and discover the secrets of life in that universe. The game uses similar procedural generation likeNMS, but it features 7 planets that players can fully explore, terraform, and build across.
Building inAstroneerfeels very seamless and features tons of customization and decoration options for bases, characters, and vehicles. It’s a cute and cozy sci-fi adventure that is best experienced with friends. Players can even hostRocket League-type matches inAstroneer. The only thing to be wary of in the game is oxygen levels as players explore planets and gather resources.
For many young gamers,Minecraftmight have been the first game they saw and/or played. Many streamers opt for the game when they want a peaceful experience or to play a game with friends. Players can join random servers or host their own with custom rulesets and modes to accommodate hardcore survivalists and creative builders alike. As far as base-building games for beginners go,Minecraftdefinitely ranks very high on the list. Players can evencreate custom mapsfor various gameplay experiences.
The only downsides include its simplistic, blocky animation style and potential exposure to inappropriate content for minors if they join a server that is not for minors. If a family is playing together, parents may want to double-check public online spaces before sharing them with their kids. For non-minors, there’s much less to worry about in this regard – especially if playing on an individually hosted server. An additional nicety is that the Bedrock Edition allows for cross-platform play; the Javascript edition is PC only.
Before anyone says thatSpiritfarerisn’t a base-building game, take a look at the cute Indie title once again. Players fill the role of Stella who ferries Spirits on her boat, getting them food, completing tasks for them, andbuilding additions to her boat. For fans of cozy games likeStardew Valleyor the aptly namedCozy Grove, this game offers a fun, Miyakazi-esque entry into base-building mechanics.
UnlikeMinecraft, there is a very linear storyline inSpiritfarermeaning that players can play the game over and over again and build unique boats each time. The game’s story also features characters like Charon and Hades, acting as a meditation on the afterlife and what it feels like to move on.
Though billed much more as a survival game,Groundedoffers a really fun and easy entrance to base-building for fans of other game types. In the same vein asFortnite: Save the World, players can focus on multiple mechanics other than building. This lets them learn the ropes while still doing something else in games that they’re familiar with and may enjoy more. Veteran game studio Obsidian also brings its signature writing charm to the game’s narrative and characters. Players should keep in mind that the game slowly increases game difficulty as players explore more of the backyard, gather resources, and craft things.
Players can create their bases to suit story needs or to serve a more creative function. Do keep in mind that enemiescaninvade player’s bases, lending the game world a real sense of being alive. It also has an arachnophobia mode to dictate how intimidating the spiders are. But perhaps the best part: the game allows for crossplay and the host doesn’t need to be online for other players to play in co-op using a Shared World. For base-building beginners who want more of a story component withcross-platform co-op, there’s no better title to start with thanGrounded.
For total building newbies, the top-down vampire base-building gameV Risingcould not be a better first experience. The combat feels similar toDiablowhile the building is very fluid and intuitive, as opposed to the building inFallout 4. It isn’t an afterthought or something that got tacked on; the base-building inV Risingis just as much a part of the game as taking down V Blood bosses. Players can even build multi-tier castles!
PvP can get intense quickly, so new players should either find a beginner-friendly server or opt for a PvE session instead. They can tweak all kinds of stats, from damage numbers to how fast their castle heart decays. This lets them hone their building skills until they have the perfect castle. The additional cosmetic packs offer more customization options, too, including theCastlevania-themed expansion that actuallyadded Simon Belmontto the game.
