General building games, particularly base building and city building apps, have been mainstays of mobile gaming since the sector pivoted to the freemium model. Most simulation games lean into this set-up of build, wait, collect, and build some more.
However, another, perhaps even more immersive, sub-genre has risen to the fore in Android gaming. On-the-go gamers seeking titles allow players to gradually build up or renovate their own home. There are many popular games that conform to the time wall method of freemium gaming. Some, however, are sought out for the building freedom that they offer.
These are the top home building games out on Android right now and why they might remain so popular.
House building can just be the best part of a wider game
In mobile gaming, if you want a high-quality, freeform experience where you can progress and game at your own pace, you invariably have to look to premium apps. Still, even the term ‘premium’ only means that they cost less than the required microtransactions to skip a few hours of waiting in a free-to-start game. In this regard, there are two top competitors for avid in-game home builders.
Narrowly out in front is Terraria. Boasting over one million downloads, Terraria may be a sandbox RPG, but its home-building feature might just be the indie’s strongest component. You can build your own home and those of your allies. Next, it’s the famous Minecraft. With over 10 million downloads, there are even extensive guides dedicated to all of the ways that you can build a home in the game.
Of course, the trailblazer for home building and life simulation is The Sims. On PC, it’s the ultimate title in this genre, regardless of if you just wish to toy with life or build the home of your dreams. On Android, you get a very mobile Sims experience from The Sims Mobile and The Sims FreePlay. The Girl Who Games lays out the differences between the two experiences.
On top of these big names in the gaming space, there are also plenty of mobile-only games that lean heavily into the home-building genre. Home Street has over ten million downloads and is akin to The Sims, while House Flipper: Home Design and House Flip home-in on the renovation and home design aspect without the life simulation elements.
Why do people want to build a home on mobile?
Similarly, this is why sports video games sell so well. Lots of people are involved in the housing market as homeowners or prospective homeowners. It’s a topic of everyday interest, and so, having a carefree way to experience it is very appealing.
This may be because the real process is much more rigorous. However, the advent of the internet is now helping players participate in the reality as well as the fantasy element, with brokers like Trussle making mortgage advice readily available. The service is free and comes with a five-day mortgage Speed Promise, which just makes the process easier. So, while creating your virtual dream home is a fun activity for many, it’s also spurring would-be homeowners to do their research into making a dream a reality.
What’s more, a home-building element within a game gives you a great amount of control. It even lets you personally plant your roots in the game. As explained in the PC Gamer look at in-game homes, you take your own space from what the developers have set up, get to tweak it exactly to your liking, and can then even have online players or NPCs come by to visit. It offers a stress-free, streamlined version of the real experience.
Home building within games and specific home-building games deserve their popularity. After all, the much-craved life goal of owning a home being is an achievement in these digital worlds.
