Top 10 · City building

All 10 DOS city building games, ranked

All 10 DOS city building games, ranked, as the players of dos.games rate them. The Settlers II: Gold Edition leads the list, ahead of SimCity Enhanced CD-ROM and Dungeon Keeper.

Every game on the list plays in your browser, with nothing to install. The order comes from players' ratings and real play time, so it moves as people play.

Updated November 11, 2026How the lists are ranked

10DOS city building games in the archive
10 of 10Play in your browser
3.6Score of #1, out of 5

1. The Settlers II: Gold Edition
1997 · Blue Byte · Strategy / tactics
3.6 out of 5Played all the time
The Settlers II (Gold Edition) contains: The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici The Settlers II Mission CD A full world atlas Contest entries of 130 fan-made custom maps Veni, Vidi, Vici is the sequel of the well-known Settlers game.
Play now: The Settlers II: Gold Edition About the game
2. SimCity Enhanced CD-ROM
1993 · Maxis Software Inc. · Simulation
3.5 out of 5Played a lot
Build up your city and provide your citizens with what they need.
Play now: SimCity Enhanced CD-ROM About the game
3. Dungeon Keeper
1997 · Bullfrog Productions, Ltd. · Strategy / tactics
3.5 out of 5Played all the time
Dungeon Keeper takes real-time strategy into a fantasy setting.
Play now: Dungeon Keeper About the game
4. SimCity
1989 · Maxis Software Inc. · Simulation
3.3 out of 5Played a lot
SimCity sets you as the mayor of a new municipality, with the responsibility of building and maintaining a place where citizens can move to and work and be happy.
Play now: SimCity About the game
5. SimCity 2000: CD Collection
1995 · Maxis Software Inc. · Compilation
3.3 out of 5Played a lot
SimCity 2000 is the successor to the ground breaking city simulation game Sim City.
Play now: SimCity 2000: CD Collection About the game
6. Castles: The Northern Campaign
1991 · Quicksilver Software · Strategy / tactics
3.3 out of 5Played often
The Celts have been defeated and you've built a succession of castles across the wilds of Albion.
Play now: Castles: The Northern Campaign About the game
7. Caesar II
1995 · Impressions Games · Strategy / tactics
3.2 out of 5Played a lot
Caesar II is set in the time of ancient Rome, and lets you try to be the next Caesar.
Play now: Caesar II About the game
8. Caesar
1993 · Impressions Games · Strategy / tactics
3.2 out of 5Played often
The first in the strategy series set in the Roman Empire's peak era starts off with you as ruler of a small province, although if you're successful you will get tougher assignments.
Play now: Caesar About the game
9. Fragile Allegiance
1996 · Gremlin Interactive Ltd. · Strategy / tactics
3.2 out of 5Played often
In this game, as the new employee of TetraCorp, it is your job to colonize asteroids and make them successful mining colonies.
Play now: Fragile Allegiance About the game
10. SimCity Classic
1992 · Maxis · Simulation
3.2 out of 5Played often
An updated Simcity originally ported to Windows, then ported back to DOS.
Play now: SimCity Classic About the game

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Questions

Frequently asked

How Best DOS Games are ranked

What is the best DOS city building game?

The Settlers II: Gold Edition (1997, Blue Byte) is the best DOS city building game by our players' ratings, ahead of SimCity Enhanced CD-ROM and Dungeon Keeper. The ranking follows players' ratings and real play time, so it changes as people play.

Can I play these DOS city building games online?

Yes. 10 of the games on this list play free in your browser on dos.games, with no download and no emulator to set up. Press Play on any of them; your progress can be saved.

Which year had the most great DOS city building games?

1997. 2 of the games on this list came out that year: The Settlers II: Gold Edition and Dungeon Keeper.

How is this list ranked?

With the same score as our Best DOS Games ranking: players' ratings, pulled toward the archive's own rating while a game has few of them, plus a small bonus for the games people actually keep playing. No editor and no sponsor decides a place.