City buildershave long been a popular genre among players, particularly those developed by Maxis.Following the releaseofSimCityin 1989, the developer game dominated the genre with the continued release ofSimtitles from niche titles likeSimAnt,SimEarth,andSimIsle,to the long-runningSimCityfranchise and, of course,The Simslife simulation series.
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However, Maxis wasn’t the only developer creating urban simulators. The nineties saw an influx of ancient city management in the wake ofSimCity, set in older time periods like medieval inThe Settlers, Ancient Egypt inPharaoh, and Ancient Rome in theCaesarseries. This provided a variety of games for players to experience, particularly in the skill of micromanaging a growing civilization. While each game differed in terms of theme, they all shared similar elements. But among those released in the ‘90s, a handful stood above the rest.
6The Settlers
1993’sThe Settlerstook players back to medieval times, building a settlement from the ground up. But unlike other city builders, the primary goal wasn’t to build a prosperous town. Instead, the focus landed on micro-managing the economic situation of such a civilization, with the implementation of a complex financial system that hadn’t been seen before in city builders of the time.
Players were challenged to conquer the entire map by successfully managing a settlement’s economy on top of defeating other territories for control of their land, in addition to maintaining a steady stream of resources for a growing population.
5SimCity 2000
Following the success ofSimCityin 1989,SimCity2000was the base ofwhat the franchise would become– culminating in Maxis’ magnum opus of city builders withSimCity 4.SimCity 2000demonstrated just how interesting (and how disastrous) a city builder could be. New facilities like schools, libraries, hospitals, and prisons made for more collateral damage in disasters and economic failures, which was further exacerbated by the elaborate financial system that incorporated individual tax rates for particular zones.
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And when it came to disasters,SimCity 2000was unique in that itfeatured actual recreations of real-life scenarios, including the Oakland firestorm of 1991 and the 1970s economic recession in Flint, Michigan.
4Pharaoh
Pharaohwas developed by Impression Games using the same engine asCaesar 3, and is part of the same City Buildingseries published by Sierra Entertainment.Pharaohseesplayers journey back to Ancient Egyptand manage a civilization from the ground up (literally).Pharaohis played from a two-dimensional isometric perspective, and gamers are expected to find fertile land to build upon, which will eventually be populated by all sorts of Ancient Egyptians, including royalty.
While the gameplay was similar to that of a typical city builder, it had a unique design in that the menus incorporated hieroglyphics, limestone, and other matching aesthetics. And yes, players could build the pyramids.
3Afterlife
Developed by LucasArts,Afterlifesees players take on the role of Demiurge,who runs Heaven and Hell. Similar toSimCity 2000in design and implementation, players are responsible for providing the necessary structures and services for the angels and demons to do their work. However, while Demiurge isn’t responsible for dishing out the appropriate rewards and punishments for the souls residing in Heaven and Hell, players get to witness the results of their hard labor.
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Like other city builders, advisors aid players in the form of the angel Aria Goodhalo and demon Jasper Wormsworth. Overall, Demiurge’s work is judged by The Powers That Be, who pay handsomely for the player’s efforts.
2Caesar 3
TheCaesarseries began in 1992, but its third iteration bundled everything players loved about the first two titles into one. WhileCaesar 3follows a similar trajectory of caring foran increasingly populous in Ancient Rome, gamers had to deal with the added pressure ofkeeping them alive from vengeful Gods, including Mars, Mercury, Neptune, and Venus.
A city-builder at heart,Caesar 3also introduced different terrains for the first time, adding more variation to what players can grow and mine in a given area. And like the later games of theSimCityfranchise,Caesar 3saw the implementation of managing supply linesfrom neighboring Roman settlementsand cities to satisfy the needs of its citizens.
1SimCity 3000
Six years after the release ofSimCity 2000, Maxis improved upon their already successful formula withSimCity 3000. The core concept of city building and urban management remained, but new features like waste management and agricultural services were added, in addition to a new zoning density and deeper interaction with neighboring cities for shared amenities like water, electricity, and other vital services.
SimCity 3000was also the first game in theSimCityfranchise to receive a score by Jerry Martin, the brains behindThe Simssoundtrack, in addition toSimCity 4andThe Sims 2. The jazz and new age music ofSimCity 3000added to the overall aesthetic of the game, which is of boundless creativity and the ability for players to marvel at the cities they make.
