Sandbox strategy games
There's something magical in sandbox strategy games. You can do literally what you want without the typical constraints of games that tell you what to do. SimCity is the perfect example: play at your own pace, set your own goals and just play. On Abandonware DOS games are listed as sandbox even if the sandbox gameplay is just a small part of the whole (i.e. "play in sandbox mode").
Most popular sandbox strategy games
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Caesar
DOS1992 Impressions Games
Ever dreamt of running ancient Rome without the toga chafing? Caesar hands you the reins of a budding province and expects you to not burn it to the ground—ideally. This city-builder mixes SimCity with Latin homework. Sure, ...
Caesar 2
DOS1995 Impressions Games
Bigger, bolder, and with more statues of yourself than ever, Caesar 2 builds on its predecessor like Rome after a good tax season. Now you get to manage both cities and provinces, making sure barbarians don’t redecorate your...
Caesar 3
Windows XP/98/95Mac OS1998protected Impressions Games
Polished to a shine worthy of a senator’s sandals, Caesar 3 finally gets it right. Gorgeous 2D visuals, elegant gameplay, and voiceovers that say “No more workers!” like they’re scolding your ancestors. You...
Cultures
Windows XP/98/952000protected Funatics Software
Dungeon Keeper
DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac OS1997protected Electronic Arts
Dungeon Keeper 2
Windows XP/98/95Mac OS1997protected Bullfrog
Dungeon Keeper 3: War for the Overworld
Windows 10/112000canceled Bullfrog
Dungeon Keeper 3 was a cancelled dungeon management strategy game being developed by Bullfrog that was never released. Dungeon Keeper 3 was cancelled in 2000 and the Dungeon Keeper franchise ended without a third chapter.
Holiday Island
Windows 3.x1996 Sunflowers Interactive Entertainment Software
Lincity NG
Windows 10/11LinuxMac OS2005freeware
Lincity-NG is an open-source city simulation game and a continuation of the original Lincity game. The "NG" stands for "New Generation." The game is designed to be a city-building and management simulation where players take on th...
Pharaoh
Windows XP/98/951999protected Impressions Games
Pharaoh is a city-building strategy game released in 1999 by Impressions Games and published by Sierra Studios. It is set in ancient Egypt and is heavily inspired by Caesar III, another game by the same developer. Pharaoh focuses ...
Populous
DOS1989 Bullfrog
Populous is an abandoned strategy game designed by the video game celebrity Peter Molyneux, developed by Bullfrog. Populous was released by Electronic Arts in 1989 for DOS and for a long list of other 16-bit and 8-bit systems, bot...
Populous 2: Trials of the Olympian Gods
DOSMac OS1993protected Bullfrog
Populous 2: Trials of the Olympian Gods is a classic sandbox strategy god game. As the title suggests, its setting is loosely based on ancient Greek mythology, and you play as a deity (hence the "god game" label). Populous 2 is th...
Populous: The Beginning
Windows XP/98/951998protected Bullfrog
Roller Coaster Tycoon
Windows XP/98/951999protected Chris Sawyer Productions
Roller Coaster Tycoon 2
Windows XP/98/952002protected Chris Sawyer Productions
Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 is a simulation game developed by Chris Sawyer Productions and published by Infogrames. It was released in 2002 as the sequel to the original classic Roller Coaster Tycoon. In Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 ...
Sid Meier's SimGolf
Windows XP/98/952002 Firaxis Games
Sid Meier's SimGolf is a golf simulation video game developed by Firaxis Games and published by Electronic Arts under the design direction of Sid Meier. It was released in 2002 for Microsoft Windows.In Sid Meier's SimGolf, players...
SimCity
DOSWindows 3.xWindows XP/98/951989protected Maxis
SimCity (or SimCity Classic) is a popular city building simulation in which you, the mayor of a city, have to build a metropolis from the ground up. You can build police and fire departments, assign industrial, residential or comm...
SimCity 2000
DOSWindows 3.xWindows XP/98/951993protected Maxis
SimCity 2000 is a classic city building simulation, part of the popular SimCity series, developed by Maxis and designed by Will Wright. SimCity 2000 is a huge step up from the 2D predecessor SimCity and boasts improvements like: i...
SimCity 3000
Windows XP/98/951999protected Maxis
SimCity 3000 is a city-building simulation game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It was released in 1999 as the third major installment in the SimCity series, following SimCity 2000.In SimCity 3000, players tak...
SimEarth
DOSWindows 3.x1990 Maxis
SimEarth is a simulation in which you can shape and mold a planet in almost every way you can imagine. In SimEarth our planet is simulated as a whole: life, climate, atmosphere are all aspects of a single Gaia-like Earth. SimEarth...
SimLife
DOSMac OSWindows 3.x1992 Maxis
SimLife is an abandoned simulation game focused on managing a ecosystems and experimenting with genetics. SimLife was designed by Ken Karakotsios, developed and released by Maxis in 1992 for DOS and later also published for Macint...
SimTower
Windows 3.x1994 OPeNBooK Co.
SimTower is an old Windows 3.x (1994) building and business simulation game where the player is tasked with the management of a skyscraper nonetheless. Raise floors, build apartments, shops, offices and try to avoid bankruptcy if ...
The Settlers
DOS1993protected Blue Byte Software
The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici
DOSMac OS1996protected Blue Byte Software
Transport Tycoon
DOS1994 Chris Sawyer Productions
Transport Tycoon is a business simulation game that puts the player at the head of a transport company to compete against rival companies. The player can build stations, airports, railroads to transport passengers, mail and variou...
Transport Tycoon Deluxe
DOSWindows XP/98/951995 Chris Sawyer Productions
Transport Tycoon Deluxe is a business simulation game where players take control of a transport company, competing against rivals. Players can build stations, airports, and railroads to transport passengers, mail, and various good...
Yoot Tower
Windows XP/98/951999 OPeNBooK Co.
Zeus: Master of Olympus
Windows XP/98/952000protected Impressions Games
Move over, Caesar — Zeus: Master of Olympus is here to show you that ancient city-building is better with gods throwing tantrums. In this mythological city sim, you don’t just deal with taxes and unemployment; you&rsqu...
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