By Alfredo Robelo , Jouanna Bondakji , Jacob Whaling , Ben Jessey & Sam Hallahan
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Triple-A Games
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Key Takeaways
- More RPGs are incorporating life-simulation elements, allowing players to immerse themselves in building shelters.
- Games like Voxel Turf and Kingdom Come provide unique opportunities for players to build structures and manage communities.
- Options for house building span various genres, from survival games like Valheim to MMORPGs like Palworld and Gothic titles like V Rising.
Life-simulation video games tend to cross the line between fun and work, which has definitely divided gamers. However, more RPGs over the years have been implementing simulation-style elements to further immerse players into the game, while also not alienating players who aren’t quite into the slow-burn satisfaction and fun of something like Animal Crossing.
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These elements have expanded over the years, and one of the most popular implementations of life management in video games has boiled down to building a shelter for your character. Many games allow you to choose a house, but some take it a few steps further and include tools for you to manually build walls, a roof, accessories, and manage the size of it all. Building your own house in a video game is like having a second vacation home that you can disappear to at any time.
Updated on October 24, 2024, by Alfredo Robelo: Creating your own living space continues to be a staple of the open-world genre, both for practical and fashionable reasons. We've updated this article to include even more games where you can make your humble (or not so humble) abode.
Green Hell
Survive In The Depths Of The Jungle
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Green Hell
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Released
- September 5, 2019
- Developer(s)
- Creepy Jar
- Publisher(s)
- Creepy Jar
Green Hell is a survival game set in the Amazon rainforest where building a house is a matter of life or death. You must gather resources, craft shelter, and protect yourself from harsh environmental conditions and dangerous wildlife.
The game’s building system allows for constructing shelters and fortifications, which are crucial for surviving the game’s brutal world. What sets Green Hell apart is its realistic take on survival, with hunger, hydration, and health management adding depth to the house-building experience.
V Rising
Build A Gothic Castle
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V Rising
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Released
- May 17, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Stunlock Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Stunlock Studios
V Rising combines open-world exploration with house building in a Gothic, vampire-themed setting. As a vampire, you can construct and upgrade your castles, which serve as both homes and strongholds, particularly when engaging in PvP.
The building mechanics are extensive, allowing for customization and expansion as you gather resources and dominate territories. The game’s dark, atmospheric world is filled with opportunities for exploration and combat, but building and maintaining your castle remains a key part of progression, hence why you can easily move it to new biomes.
Palworld
Capture Creatures As You Build Your Dream Home
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6.5/10
Palworld
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Released
- January 19, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Pocket Pair, Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Pocket Pair, Inc.
Palworld is a colorful, open-world game that blends creature collection with house building. You can explore vast landscapes, capture various creatures known as 'Pals,' and build homes, farms, or even entire villages.
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The game offers creative freedom, allowing you to craft yourdream base, while also engaging in survival elements like farming, battling enemies, and managing resources. Palworld stands out for its mix of creature-based gameplay and house-building mechanics, offering a vibrant and fun open-world experience with a focus on creativity.
Voxel Turf
Be A Criminal And An Architect
Voxel Turf isn't just an open-world game that happens to have city-building in it; it's a game specifically dedicated to building things in an open world. You get a plethora of different structures and decorations to make your own buildings. The game also has some crime elements baked into it, so you can rob establishments, beat up cops, and blow stuff up, just to name a few.
But you're not alone in your building. There are others whom you can either negotiate with or straight-up destroy for more power and expanded territory. To top it off, Voxel Turf supports multiplayer, so you can play with (or against) your friends. Help each other build stuff and commit crimes, or compete to see who can build the best stuff.
Rimworld
Build Your Own Community
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RimWorld
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Released
- October 17, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Ludeon Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Ludeon Studios
If you don't mind seeing things from a top-down perspective, the popular open-world colony simulator Rimworld won't leave you to build a place to live on your own; you'll have an army of colonists to help you.
Aside from having to worry about little things like feeding your colonists, caring for your pets, defending against raiders, and having the resources necessary for construction, the world is your oyster. You can carve into a mountain and make a gloomy fortress, build in open grasslands, or wherever else your heart desires.
Raft
Raft To Riches
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Raft
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Released
- June 20, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Redbeet Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Axolot Games
If you want to break from the norm of building houses on land and instead feel the gentle ocean breeze on your skin from the comfort of your own home, Raft is the game for you. As you gather scrap wood, plastics, and other materials, you'll be able to slowly expand your humble raft into a proper houseboat.
Just, do mind the sharks, will you? Somewhat similar to a teething toddler, sharks like to test out their chompers on whatever they can get their teeth on, including you and the outer wooden platforms of your lovely, floating home.
Satisfactory
A Sci-Fi Twist On House-building
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Satisfactory
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Released
- September 10, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Coffee Stain Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Coffee Stain Publishing
It's the Industrial Revolution all over again, except this time, it's in space on a recently discovered planet. Sure, you've got resources to extract for your corporate overlords and a planet to explore, but in your free time, why not make a place to call home?
There might be conveyor belts twisting and turning all around or even in your home, but that's just an extra bit of character and charm, right? Satisfactory also has multiplayer co-op, so your friends can help out with the building process if you like.
7 Days To Die
Don't Worry About The Zombies
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7 Days to Die
- Platform(s)
- Linux, macOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
- Released
- December 13, 2013
- Developer(s)
- The Fun Pimps
- Publisher(s)
- Telltale Games
Contrary to its title, 7 Days To Die is all about survival. Starvation, thirst, illness, the weather, and the zombie horde are all things that are threatening to kill you. And one of the best ways to keep the zombies and the elements at bay is to build a house.
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You get complete freedom to build any structure you want from the resources you find. Most of these buildings end up looking like a mix between a base and a house. 7 Days To Die's freedom to build whatever you want allows you to get immersed in the experience.
My Time At Portia
Cozy Houseflipping
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My Time at Portia
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
- Released
- January 15, 2019
- Developer(s)
- Pathea Games
- Publisher(s)
- Team17, Nuverse
My Time At Portia is a wholesome simulation RPG. The basic premise is you're a builder who has reopened your father's old workshop in Portia. You spend the game building all sorts of contraptions and making money from them.
You can also spend time building up your house - which is also the workshop. It starts as a pretty rundown place with holes in the walls and floor. Plus, all it contains on day one is a bed. Over time, you can decorate the interior as well as upgrade the size of the building.
Kenshi
Start From Zero, Get To 100
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Kenshi
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Released
- December 6, 2018
- Developer
- Lo-Fi Games
- Publisher
- Lo-Fi Games
Kenshi, developed by Lo-Fi Games, is an open-world squad RPG with some RTS elements. Perhaps the main selling point of the game is the amount of freedom you're given to do what you want.
One of the things to do is acquire buildings of all kinds, including houses. In many cases, you'll buy an establishment and maybe make some alterations. But you can also purchase a ruined building and erect it from the ground up. Eventually, you can expand this house into a town as you recruit more allies.
The Sims 4
Play The Game For Build-And-Buy
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The Sims 4
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Released
- September 2, 2014
- Developer(s)
- Maxis
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
Gaming's most renowned life-sim allows you to build a house to incredible levels of detail. In The Sims, every wall, color, and piece of furniture is your own choice.
With newer expansions and items being added frequently, it makes sense to have it as a game you can turn to when you just want to build. Whether it be a modern apartment, cottagecore, or a simple suburban home, you can get lost for hours in creating numerous living spaces. There's even a Dream Home Decorator expansion that gives you even more room for customization.
Skyrim
Expand Your Land
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Skyrim
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox One X, Xbox Series S, PS4, PS5, Switch
- Released
- November 11, 2011
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
Few open-world games have made as much impact in the last decade as Skyrim. There are dungeons, there are dragons, and there's some good old-fashioned house planning.
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Introduced with the Hearthfire DLC back in 2012, and since included with the Legendary Edition and Special Editions of Skyrim, this pack will let you build away. In the main game, you could buy a house, sure, but in Hearthfire you can purchase land - with three different options - and then begin to build your house, bit by bit.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance - From The Ashes
Worthwhile DLC
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Kingdom Come: Deliverance
- Platform(s)
- PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
- Released
- February 13, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Warhorse Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Deep Silver
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a fantastic game created by Warhorse Studios in which you play a simple peasant man named Henry. Along his journey, he will need to adapt to the harsh conditions of medieval life in a war-torn land. Now, with the From The Ashes DLC, he can add building a settlement to his responsibilities.
In this expansion, which integrates itself into the main story, Henry is given lordship and the task of restoring an old settlement in a forest. This will be no easy feat, as you must gather resources, money, and take on varying tasks in order to make progress - but what satisfying progress it is.
Conan Exiles
Build, Defend, Survive
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Conan Exiles
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Released
- May 8, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Funcom
- Publisher(s)
- Funcom
The game that lets modern players take control of the legendary hero Conan the Barbarian didn’t have the highest of expectations upon release, but players (and fans of Conan) were pleasantly surprised to see that Conan Exiles is an enjoyable and functional survival game that stepped away from mindless combat.
Instead, the game focused more on item management and creating your very own houses to survive the nights and the harsh conditions. As an MMO, you'll also need to worry about defending your new home from other players.
Fallout 4
A Healthy House-building Challenge
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Fallout 4
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Released
- November 10, 2015
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
It was a shock that a series that focused on survival in a post-apocalyptic setting took so long to implement house creation as an integral feature, but Fallout 4 was the one to finally make the jump.
Not only can you put your entire house together, but you have the ability to create an entire town to defend from hostiles and have a thriving economy, despite the circumstances. It’s a lot of fun to manage a town alongside your normal missions, but it’s a nightmare when you lose your home to attackers.
Subnautica
Take Shelter From The Horrors
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Subnautica
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, PS4
- Released
- January 23, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Unknown Worlds Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Gearbox Publishing
Taking things below the sea, Subnautica has you trying to survive on an alien, ocean planet after your ship went down in a tragic event. By exploring this planet, you'll gain new technology and resources to help you survive.
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The completely underwater setting is unique for a survival game, and exploring the dark depths with your craft is enthralling. You can create your very own submerged home under the water (as long as there is sufficient access to oxygen) and can branch it out into a fully-fledged water base to figure out the next move.
No Man’s Sky
Customizable Space Bases
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4.0/5
9.6/10
No Man's Sky
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Released
- August 9, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Hello Games
- Publisher(s)
- Hello Games
While it wasn’t well-received at launch due to overwhelming hype and expectations, No Man’s Sky has vastly improved in the years since its initial release. With the Next update, No Man’s Sky has become the quintessential space exploration game, with endless galaxies to explore.
With as many planets as No Man’s Sky gives you access to, just as many brand new homes can be created on each one. You can place all of the walls and accessories to create your perfect base of operations where you can relax, or just provide shelter from the harsh conditions on foreign planets.
The Forest
Can Shelters Save You?
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The Forest
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4
- Released
- April 30, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Endnight Games
- Publisher(s)
- Endnight Games
A survival horror game in every sense of the genre, The Forest finds you taking control of a plane crash survivor, as they search for their missing son. You must take shelter and craft weaponry to survive against the elements and potential dangerous cannibals that inhabit the forested area.
You can create the best shelters for your specific needs, but you may not get a chance to get cozy, as you will need to constantly move forward in order to save the lost son. The Forest is a thrilling game, and no amount of comfy forest homes could prepare you for the experience.
Ark: Survival Evolved
Protect Yourself From The Dinosaurs
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ARK: Survival Evolved
- Platform(s)
- Linux, macOS, PC, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia, Switch, iOS, Android
- Released
- August 29, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Studio Wildcard
- Publisher(s)
- Studio Wildcard
What feels like a spiritual successor to the Turok series, Ark: Survival Evolved has garnered a bit of a cult following despite its lukewarm reviews. You are tossed onto an island full of dinosaurs (both real dinosaurs and imaginary creatures) and have to make a stable house to brave the terrors.
You can team up in multiplayer and figure out how to survive these hulking beasts, and a well-functioning tribe can easily create a protected house that will be the talk of the prehistoric town.
Don’t Starve
House-building: Humble Version
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Don't Starve
- Platform(s)
- Switch, Android, PS4, iOS
- Released
- April 23, 2013
- Developer(s)
- Klei Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Klei Entertainment
Don’t Starve is a brilliantly animated adventure that pits you against the elements. The title is quite literal, as you are dropped in randomly generated open-worlds to survive for as many days as possible.
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You can create your very own house if you spend time gathering the proper materials, and makes not starving a little more realistic. The expansion Don’t Starve Together adds a co-op mode and makes it easier and less lonely out in the wilderness. The game can be nasty to any newcomer, but a good home can go a long way.
- Triple-A Games
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