Best Empire Building Games

235+ iOS apps & games curated and reviewed

4.6 avg rating
20 free apps & games
Updated July 2026

With an average user rating of 4.6★, the empire building games category is one of the App Store's strongest. Browse all 235+ apps and games we track, sorted so the most loved ones surface first.

Compare top Empire Building Games (July 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Forge of Empires: Build a CityForge of Empires: Build a CityFree4.6★ (168K)YesYesJul 2026
2에이지 오브 엠파이어 모바일에이지 오브 엠파이어 모바일Free3.7★ (17K)NoYesJul 2026
3DomiNationsDomiNationsFree4.5★ (39K)YesYesJul 2026
4Rise of Cultures: Kingdom gameRise of Cultures: Kingdom gameFree4.7★ (21K)YesYesJul 2026
5Rise of Castles: Fire and WarRise of Castles: Fire and WarFree4.2★ (20K)YesYesJul 2026
6SimCity BuildItSimCity BuildItFree4.1★ (84K)YesYesJul 2026
7Empire City: Civilization DawnEmpire City: Civilization DawnFree4.7★ (1.4K)YesYesJul 2026
8Heroes of History: Epic EmpireHeroes of History: Epic EmpireFree4.7★ (14K)YesYesJul 2026

Top Picks for Empire Building Games

Forge of Empires: Build a City#1

Forge of Empires: Build a City by InnoGames

Civilization building game
Editor's Choice
🎮 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
에이지 오브 엠파이어 모바일#2

에이지 오브 엠파이어 모바일 by Level Infinite

에오엠 모바일에서 왕이 되어라!
Strong Contender
🎮 Games
3.7😞(17K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#33in Games
에이지 오브 엠파이어 모바일 screenshot 1
에이지 오브 엠파이어 모바일 screenshot 2
에이지 오브 엠파이어 모바일 screenshot 3
에이지 오브 엠파이어 모바일 screenshot 4
에이지 오브 엠파이어 모바일 screenshot 5

Build and defend a medieval empire with strategic gameplay optimized for mobile. Engage in swift battles, gather resources rapidly, and form alliances with players worldwide. Command legendary heroes and utilize realistic weather and terrain to dominate grand battlefields.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Engaging gameplay
  • 👍 Great graphics
  • 🎨 Nostalgic sound effects
  • 🤝 Good alliance features

Room to Improve

  • 🕰️ Excessive wait times
  • 💰 Pay-to-win mechanics
  • 🤖 Lack of strategic depth
DomiNations#3

DomiNations by Nemesis Games, Inc

Empire builder & battle game
Worth Considering
🎮 Games
4.5😐(39K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
DomiNations screenshot 1
DomiNations screenshot 2
DomiNations screenshot 3
DomiNations screenshot 4
DomiNations screenshot 5
DomiNations screenshot 6

Build a thriving empire from ancient times to the modern era. Command armies, research technologies, and engage in real-time strategy battles against other players. Conquer the world through warfare and strategic development.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Awesome game since 2016
  • 👍 Can compete without paying
  • 💡 Helpful Discord community
  • 🚀 Developers improve bugs/glitches

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Frequent connection issues
  • 🕰️ Extremely long upgrade times
  • 💰 Game is pay-to-win

More Empire Building Games apps to explore

4
Rise of Cultures: Kingdom game
Rise of Cultures: Kingdom game
Rise of Cultures: Kingdom game
Build a City, Discover History
Free

Build and expand cities across diverse historical civilizations. Research technologies, engage in strategic battles, explore new territories, and trade goods to strengthen your empire. Experience mankind's history through gameplay.

Build multiple cities with different civilizationsUnlock diverse culturesResearch new technologies
🎮 Games
(21K)
free with in-app purchases
5
Rise of Castles: Fire and War
Rise of Castles: Fire and War
Rise of Castles: Fire and War
Build your own powerful castle
Free

Engage in real-time, nation-vs-nation medieval warfare. Rebuild your devastated town, train troops, recruit heroes, and forge alliances to conquer the world. The choice to befriend or plunder is yours in this massive multiplayer strategy game.

Real-time nation vs. nation warfareCastle building and city developmentRecruit and train legendary heroes
🎮 Games
(20K)
free with in-app purchases
6
SimCity BuildIt
SimCity BuildIt
SimCity BuildIt
Build your extraordinary city.
Free

Design and build a bustling city metropolis, managing resources, citizen happiness, and urban challenges like traffic and pollution. Trade with other players, compete in city wars, and unlock unique landmarks and regional styles to create your dream city.

Design and build city metropolisManage citizen happiness and servicesSolve urban challenges like traffic
🎮 Games
(84K)
free with in-app purchases
7
Empire City: Civilization Dawn
Empire City: Civilization Dawn
Empire City: Civilization Dawn
Build a town! Rise of medieval
Free

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.

Build new citiesDevelop resource extractionCreate unique cultures
🎮 Games
(1.4K)
free with in-app purchases
8
Heroes of History: Epic Empire
Heroes of History: Epic Empire
Heroes of History: Epic Empire
건설하고, 전투하고, 지휘하고, 승리하세요!
Free

Build a city through different historical eras, collect powerful heroes, and engage in strategic battles. Explore ancient cultures, manage resources, and uncover mysteries in a challenging PvE campaign or competitive PvP.

Hero CollectionCity BuildingAncient Cultures
🎮 Games
(14K)
free with in-app purchases
9
States Builder: Торговый мир
States Builder: Торговый мир
States Builder: Торговый мир
Построй свою империю!
Free

Develop a global civilization by managing supply chains and processing resources. Log, mine, and craft materials to earn coins, upgrade facilities, and expand your empire across continents. This idle world-building simulator offers strategic challenges and satisfying progression.

Resource logging and processingSupply chain managementFacility upgrades
🎮 Games
(23K)
free with in-app purchases
10
Battle Nations
Battle Nations
Battle Nations
by Madrona Games Inc.
Free

Build a city, gather resources, and assemble an army of unique units to fight in epic battles. Unite with heroes, engage in a wartime narrative, and compete with players globally. Unlock powerful mercenaries and special forces for tactical combat.

Empire buildingResource managementArmy assembly
🎮 Games
(2.3K)
free with in-app purchases
11
Plug: Build your Empire IRL
Plug: Build your Empire IRL
Plug: Build your Empire IRL
Drug Cartel Tycoon on Real Map
Free

Build and manage a global dealer empire on a real-world map. Automate your operations to earn offline profits and expand your territory across cities and continents. Compete with rivals in real-time events and unlock powerful upgrades.

Build empire on real-world live mapAutomate operations for offline profitExpand territory city by city
🎮 Games
(805)
free with in-app purchases
12
AdVenture Capitalist Tycoon
AdVenture Capitalist Tycoon
AdVenture Capitalist Tycoon
Get Rich Quick! Idle Clicker!
Free

Build a business empire from a lemonade stand to a multinational conglomerate. Automate profits with managers, attract investors, and explore space. Compete in limited-time events and customize your capitalist.

Start a lemonade stand and grow into a conglomerateHire managers to automate and boost profitsAttract Angel Investors for profit boosts
🎮 Games
(383K)
free with in-app purchases
13
Top Tycoon: Coin Theme Empire
Top Tycoon: Coin Theme Empire
Top Tycoon: Coin Theme Empire
Idle Business Build Master Log
Free

Build a thriving business empire by constructing and upgrading production facilities. Spin a fortune wheel for coins and prizes, and raid rivals to expand your domain. Compete globally and with friends in this engaging idle tycoon adventure.

Spin fortune wheel for coins and prizesRaid rival operations for resourcesBuild and upgrade production facilities
🎮 Games
(32K)
free with in-app purchases
14
Railroad Empire: Train Game
Railroad Empire: Train Game
Railroad Empire: Train Game
Upgrade trains & build railway
Free

Build a sprawling railroad empire across America, managing resources, developing cities, and collecting legendary locomotives. Experience historical challenges and work with famous figures to shape the nation's industrial revolution.

Build railroad empireDevelop cities and factoriesCollect legendary locomotives
🎮 Games
(4.3K)
free with in-app purchases
15
Game of Thrones: Conquest ™
Game of Thrones: Conquest ™
Game of Thrones: Conquest ™
Dragons & Battle Strategy War
Free

Forge your empire in a war-torn Westeros. Build your kingdom, raise dragons, train armies, and forge alliances to conquer the Seven Kingdoms. Collect heroes and engage in epic strategy battles.

Collect and level up over 100 heroesBuild and defend your kingdomRaise, train, and command your dragon
🎮 Games
(89K)
free with in-app purchases
16
Kingshot
Kingshot
Kingshot
by Century Games Pte. Ltd.
Free

Lead your people through a medieval world in collapse, facing invasions, resource scarcity, and internal strife. Manage survivors, establish laws, and forge alliances to rebuild civilization and compete for power.

Defend against invasionsManage human resources and survivor rolesEstablish laws for town growth
🎮 Games
(203K)
free with in-app purchases
17
Dawn of the Empire
Dawn of the Empire
Dawn of the Empire
Epic online strategy
Free

Build and manage your own empire, from constructing buildings and developing your economy to leading armies and researching technologies. Engage in diplomacy with other players, forge alliances, and prepare for epic real-time battles.

Build majestic buildings and structuresDevelop your economy and manage resourcesForm alliances and resolve conflicts with other players
🎮 Games
(2)
free with in-app purchases
18
Idle Construction 3D
Idle Construction 3D
Idle Construction 3D
Become a Builder Tycoon
Free

Build famous landmarks from around the world, from small houses to iconic structures. Hire and train workers, collect rent, and use power-ups to grow your construction empire. Relax and watch your empire expand.

Build famous global constructionsHire and train workersCollect rent and offline rewards
🎮 Games
(228K)
free with in-app purchases
19
MA 3 – President Simulator
MA 3 – President Simulator
MA 3 – President Simulator
Become the President!
Free

Lead a nation in this real-time strategy game. Manage your country's economy, military, and diplomacy to achieve victory through conquest, religion, or ideology. Build your civilization and write new history.

Economic managementMilitary developmentDiplomatic relations
🎮 Games
(397)
free with in-app purchases
20
Grow Empire: Rome
Grow Empire: Rome
Grow Empire: Rome
Tower Defense war game
Free

Lead the Roman Republic to glory in this strategy game blending tower defense and RPG elements. Conquer ancient Europe by building your army, upgrading your stronghold, and defeating barbarian clans. Experience epic battles and expand your empire.

Tower Defense, Strategy, and RPG mechanicsOver 1500 waves to survive120+ cities to conquer
🎮 Games
(13K)
free with in-app purchases

FAQ about Empire Building Games

What are the best empire building games for iPhone?
Forge of Empires: Build a City tops our empire building games ranking as of July 2026, with a 4.6-star average from 168K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top empire building games we rank are free to download, including Forge of Empires: Build a City and 에이지 오브 엠파이어 모바일.
Forge of Empires: Build a City shows ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of July 2026.
We track 235+ empire building games on the iOS App Store as of July 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
Forge of Empires is an award-winning strategy game where you build and develop a city, progressing through different historical ages. You'll research technologies, produce goods, trade with other players, and expand your empire through strategic negotiation or combat.
Key features include building and evolving your city from the Stone Age to modern times and beyond, developing new technologies and buildings, producing and trading goods, exploring new territories, and using negotiation or battle skills to conquer provinces.