The Settlers
The Settlers is a 1993 city-building and strategy game developed by Blue Byte, released in some regions as Serf City. Players establish a growing settlement by managing an intricate economy in which individual workers gather raw resources, transport goods along a network of roads, and craft the tools, weapons, and food needed to expand territory and, ultimately, wage war on rivals.
Distinguished by its charming, detailed graphics and hypnotic focus on interconnected supply chains and logistics, it stood apart from more combat-focused strategy games of its era. Watching the tiny settlers busily carry goods across a self-sustaining, interdependent economy, where a shortage in one trade cascades through the whole chain, gave it a soothing yet absorbing quality.
The Settlers launched a long-running franchise with many sequels, and the series remains a well-loved pillar of the building-and-management strategy genre for fans who enjoy deep economic simulation.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to The Settlers, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
Widelands Indie
FreeA free open-source game built directly on the Settlers II design, with long supply chains and roaming carriers.
Widelands runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Steam Deck.
The Settlers: New Allies
€ 39,99The modern entry in the long-running series.
The Settlers: New Allies runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Playable.
Foundation Indie
€ 29,99An organic indie medieval city-builder with no rigid grid.
Foundation runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Playable.
Settlement Survival
€ 24,99A well-regarded modern town-building and supply-chain sim.
Settlement Survival runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Playable.
The Settlers: History Collection
€ 29,99Six classic Settlers games updated for modern Windows, including the second and third that fans rate highest.
The Settlers: History Collection runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Steam Deck.
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