Best Empire Building Strategy Apps & Games

232+ iOS apps & games curated and reviewed

4.7 avg rating
20 free apps & games
Updated September 2026

With an average user rating of 4.7★, the empire building strategy category is one of the App Store's strongest. Browse all 232+ apps and games we track, sorted so the most loved ones surface first.

Compare top Empire Building Strategy Apps & Games (September 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Empire City: Civilization DawnEmpire City: Civilization DawnFree4.7★ (1.4K)YesYesSep 2026
2Island Empire: Build & ConquerIsland Empire: Build & ConquerFree4.8★ (151)YesYesAug 2026
3Forge of Empires: Build a CityForge of Empires: Build a CityFree4.6★ (168K)YesYesSep 2026
4Roman Empire: Strategy GameRoman Empire: Strategy GameFree4.1★ (1.5K)YesYesSep 2026
5Empire Four KingdomsEmpire Four KingdomsFree4.4★ (3.2K)YesYesSep 2026
6States Builder: Trade EmpireStates Builder: Trade EmpireFree4.6★ (24K)YesYesSep 2026
7Transport Tycoon Empire 2Transport Tycoon Empire 2Free4.5★ (186)YesYesSep 2026
8Empire Manager (Civ Manager)Empire Manager (Civ Manager)FreeNoYesMay 2026

Top Picks for Empire Building Strategy

Empire City: Civilization Dawn#1

Empire City: Civilization Dawn by RED BRIX WALL

Build a town! Rise of medieval
Editor's Choice
🎮 Games
4.7😊(1.4K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
Empire City: Civilization Dawn screenshot 1
Empire City: Civilization Dawn screenshot 2
Empire City: Civilization Dawn screenshot 3
Empire City: Civilization Dawn screenshot 4
Empire City: Civilization Dawn screenshot 5

Build and manage your own ancient empire. Develop cities, extract resources, forge unique cultures, and engage in trade and diplomacy with other civilizations. Create magnificent structures and expand your territory to become a legendary ruler.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Great graphics
  • 👍 Challenging
  • 👍 Enjoyable gameplay
  • 👍 Addictive
  • 👍 Fun and relaxing
  • 👍 Good value for free game
  • 👍 Entertaining and exciting

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Warehouse capacity issues
  • 💰 Microtransactions required for progress
  • 🐛 Glitches and bugs
  • 🐛 Slow progress without spending money
  • 🐛 Frequent ads can be annoying
Island Empire: Build & Conquer#2

Island Empire: Build & Conquer by Michael Haberzeth

Turn-Based Strategy & Empire
Strong Contender
🎮 Games
4.8(151 ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
Island Empire: Build & Conquer screenshot 1
Island Empire: Build & Conquer screenshot 2
Island Empire: Build & Conquer screenshot 3
Island Empire: Build & Conquer screenshot 4
Island Empire: Build & Conquer screenshot 5
Island Empire: Build & Conquer screenshot 6

Engage in a turn-based strategy game where you build and expand your island empire. Develop your economy, fortify defenses, train units, and conquer enemy territories through a campaign or multiplayer battles. Enjoy offline play and customizable maps.

Forge of Empires: Build a City#3

Forge of Empires: Build a City by InnoGames

Civilization building game
Worth Considering
🎮 Games
4.6😐(168K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
Forge of Empires: Build a City screenshot 1
Forge of Empires: Build a City screenshot 2
Forge of Empires: Build a City screenshot 3
Forge of Empires: Build a City screenshot 4
Forge of Empires: Build a City screenshot 5
Forge of Empires: Build a City screenshot 6

Build and evolve your city from the Stone Age through modern times and beyond. Develop new technologies, produce goods, and trade with neighbors. Conquer territories through negotiation or battle in this award-winning strategy game.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Enjoyable gameplay
  • 🌐 Engaging social features
  • 🏆 Sense of progression
  • 👍 Cooperative community

Room to Improve

  • 💰 Excessive in-app purchases
  • 🕰️ Slow progression without spending
  • 🔄 Repetitive gameplay loop
  • 🔒 Lack of player control

More Empire Building Strategy apps to explore

FAQ about Empire Building Strategy

What are the best empire building strategy apps & games for iPhone?
Empire City: Civilization Dawn tops our empire building strategy apps & games ranking as of September 2026, with a 4.7-star average from 1.4K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top empire building strategy apps & games we rank are free to download, including Empire City: Civilization Dawn and Island Empire: Build & Conquer.
Empire City: Civilization Dawn shows ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.
We track 232+ empire building strategy apps & games on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
This app allows you to build and manage your own ancient empire. You can construct cities, develop resource extraction, create unique cultures, engage in trade and diplomacy with other civilizations, and make discoveries to help your empire grow.
Key features include unique development options for your empire, the construction of unusual ancient buildings, a fantastic atmosphere of the ancient world, impressive scope, freedom of actions and choices, and amazing graphics with addictive gameplay.