Recommend me a beginner city builder

Planetbase is a builder that I enjoyed quite a bit. Probably my favorite since Sim City 4. I used to like games like this more when I was younger, so not sure if more modern versions of these games aren't as interesting, or if my interest level just changed.

I'll also add that you might consider Satisfactory if you like immersive first person builders. It's not really a city builder, but it shares alot of the characteristics. You build factories and manage logistics in the game, and explore and find resources. It's a different experience than a top down builder, but I found the building aspects very engaging.

Good old "sim city 2000", somehow i don't like most recent ones compared to this one

I like Banished. It's relaxing and cozy game. Or old Triple Town with puzzles )

Quite a lot of suggestions in this thread that are for rather complex city builders. I had to smile at Kenshi which is not even really a city builder and has a reputation for being very hard to adjust to for newcomers.

Townscaper is a cute building tool, ISLANDERS and Dorfromantik are more puzzle games with a city builder theme. They don't have the usual city builder gameplay mechanics, are easy to get into but I'm not sure they fit what you are after. Might be worth a try still.

I haven't played Tinytopia yet but it seems to fit your requirements. It was recently bundled, too. Tropico (4 seems to be the most loved) is also a solid recommendation. Not too complex and has a fun theme. If you favour sci-fi Aven Colony is not too hard or complex. Haven't gotten around to Before We Leave yet but it's also billed as casual and relaxing. In medieval setting maybe Kingdoms and Castles is worth a look (it goes on sale for 40% off regularly). The Stronghold series is more RTS with some city builder elements but they are pretty easygoing. Though the older ones you don't own are more loved. (Stronghold Crusader is the most popular but I really like Stronghold 2 too which was the first 3D one and has more city builder elements.)

I'd steer clear of survival city builders like Frostpunk, Endzone, Farthest Frontier and Banished if you are after something more relaxed. Though Banished is fairly trivial and easy if you read up on the mechanics. Longtime players basically play it as a zero challenge sandbox game building pretty cities with the help of mods adding more buildings and assets.

From the new releases check out Against the Storm. Might not be one of the easiest ones but it focuses on the first hour or so of city building which is usually the most interesting part. You are given a new assignment before your city gets too bloated.

personally i like simcity 2000 /4 a lot when i was younger. city skylines i enjoy a lot as well but can take some time to get to know but quite enjoyable once you get into it.

Have you looked into https://store.steampowered.com/app/1723560/Ballads_of_Hongye/ ? looks very nice but havent played it myself

I'd second Foundation, of the ones mentioned so far.

A few that I didn't see mentioned, that you might want to check out (full disclosure -- I am not sure if any of these are good for beginners or not):

Atomic Society

Depraved - abandoned but playable

Going Medieval - more of a colony builder than a city/village builder

Ostriv - early access but playable

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