Steam: Why this new city builder is so popular

City builders are a dime a dozen. Nevertheless, a new title has once again managed to stand out in this highly competitive genre: Town to City entered Early Access on September 16, 2025 and reached version 1.0 on May 26, 2026. Since then, the city builder has collected around 180 reviews with a 95% positive rating and climbed to the top of SteamDB’s “Hot Releases” chart. In Town to City, players start with a small Mediterranean village in the 19th century and gradually turn it into a flourishing city. So what sets the game apart from well-known genre entries such as Cities: Skylines, Anno or Foundation?

Not much on a fundamental level. Town to City does not introduce any mechanics players have not seen before. What makes the game special is its combination of features: it uses Minecraft-like voxel graphics and allows completely gridless building, meaning houses and decorative elements can be placed freely. At the same time, Town to City largely does away with complex resource management and instead focuses on relaxed city building with a touch of economic simulation. The full release adds new tourism content, including hotels, landmarks, tourist routes, new jobs, additional quests and a new city. Animations and usability have also been improved.

What makes Town to City so popular?

A look at the Steam reviews quickly shows why Town to City is going down so well with players. Unlike games such as Anno, where players constantly have to optimize production chains and secure resources, Galaxy Grove’s city builder allows for relatively stress-free construction without overloaded micromanagement or constant pressure. The gridless building system fits this approach perfectly and gives players plenty of creative freedom. That makes the title especially appealing to those who mainly want to build, decorate and relax. Anyone expecting complex production chains or deep resource management, however, is probably better off sticking with Anno.

Still available with a 10% launch discount

Since the full release, Town to City has cost $28.99, around 3% more than during Early Access. Until June 7, the city builder is still available with a 10% launch discount for around $26. Steam Deck compatibility is listed as “Playable,” but the developers themselves point out that Town to City is not yet optimized for the handheld. The controls could therefore prove difficult.