In the realm of role-playing games (RPGs), a prevalent theme is that of the “Chosen One, ”often depicted as a solitary hero destined to fulfill a grand purpose. However, an emerging narrative involves fostering a sense of community through the establishment of settlements. From humble camps and impressive castles to vast kingdoms, these games provide players with the opportunity to cultivate a sense of belonging and home for the characters they control.
Whether it’s about reconstructing a once-thriving hometown devastated by calamity or creating small sanctuaries amid turmoil, players can immerse themselves in the intricate world of town planning. Below is a selection of standout games that prioritize settlement construction, evaluated based on the extent of their focus on this mechanic, flexibility in customization, and overall enjoyment versus grind.
10 Suikoden I
Hero 108
The Suikoden series takes the traditional four-party battle format well-known from many Square-Enix RPGs and enhances it by allowing players to recruit a total of 108 unique characters. This enticing recruiting system is pivotal to the game’s settlement-building aspect. Your headquarters evolves in response to the heroes you gather. It’s essential to recruit a diverse cast as each character unlocks distinct facilities like Libraries and Blacksmiths, crucial for enhancing your base.
9 Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
Island Living
Ys VIII features two protagonists, Adol and Dana, whose stories interlink, adding depth to gameplay. Unlike its predecessors, this action RPG incorporates settlement-building mechanics. The narrative unfolds after Adol is shipwrecked on a mysterious island. As players progress, they can rescue other castaways, subsequently enhancing their camp. While players do not directly influence the construction of buildings, they can establish defenses against potential threats and reap the benefits of new merchants and items offered by the saved characters.
8 Xenoblade Chronicles
Build And They Will Come
The original Xenoblade Chronicles delivers a plethora of engaging RPG content alongside a significant settlement-building side quest. Players can help reconstruct Colony 6 by investing resources across four categories: housing, commerce, nature, and special. Recruiting villagers to enhance your community is key, and as you progress, upgrades provide rewards such as armors and gems, incentivizing players to seek out potential residents.
7 Darkest Dungeon
Have You Made The Right Choice?
Darkest Dungeon challenges players with tough decisions not only in combat but also in enhancing your home base known as the Hamlet, which stands as a rare refuge in the haunting landscape. Players can upgrade facilities ranging from the Blacksmith to the Treatment Library, enriching their Hamlet’s aesthetic and functionality. Strategic resource management is crucial to avoid detrimental choices that could haunt players in the long run.
6 Bravely Default
Rebuilding Your Home
Opening in classic JRPG fashion with chaos and lost crystals, Bravely Default sees Tiz attempt to recover his destroyed village of Norende. Players collaborate with friends—both online and locally—to recruit villagers, removing obstacles and constructing vital shops. However, players face real-time constraints, adding a layer of strategy to their rebuilding efforts, despite limited customization options. With the cessation of the 3DS Online Services, the reclamation of Norende now poses greater challenges, heightening anticipation for future remasters.
5 Ever Oasis
This Town Ain’t No Mirage
In the action-RPG Ever Oasis, players embody a young ‘Seedling’ tasked with reconstructing an oasis alongside a Water Elemental, Esna. Players recruit fellow Seedlings and gather Bloom Broths, which can be utilized to create shops selling various items. This circular economy allows players to continuously reinvest and enhance their oasis, creating an engaging gameplay loop.
4 Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Build Your Kingdom, Your Way
In Ni no Kuni II, players take on the role of Evan, a dethroned king with aspirations to build a new kingdom from the ground up. The game combines traditional RPG quests and kingdom management where players construct facilities, recruit personnel, and manage resources like Kingsguilders, which enhance their experience and provide better items for the main quest.
3 Dragon Quest Builders 2
Slimes And Blocks
Dragon Quest Builders 2 invites players to harness their creativity as they reconstruct settlements using blocks after escaping captivity. Players traverse various islands, assisting locals and proving that construction can be an act of kindness. The game encourages creativity—much like Minecraft—limits only by players’ imaginations, allowing for extensive customization of blocks and environments. Multiplayer options further enhance the experience, enabling collaboration with friends in this engaging sandbox world.
2 Dark Cloud
Atlas Holds Up The Sky
In Dark Cloud, players guide Toan, who wields the magical ‘Atlamillia’ stone on a quest to restore obliterated lands. Players must clear dungeons to collect ‘Atlas’ items and utilize Georama mode to rebuild villages by placing structures within the environment. This mechanic fosters interaction with NPCs, encouraging players to fulfill residents’ requests, enhancing the sense of community and offering rewards upon completion.
1 Fallout 4
There’s Another Settlement That Needs Our Help
In Fallout 4, players assume the role of the Sole Survivor navigating a post-nuclear war world. While the primary goal revolves around finding a lost child, a significant aspect of gameplay involves constructing settlements. Players can dismantle environments to gather materials needed to create new homes for friendly characters. With extensive customization options, players can design their settlements with detailed structures and defense systems, encouraging creativity and strategic planning.
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