Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality
24 games like Airport CEO (2026)
Every game below overlaps with Airport CEO on things players said about it rather than on our opinion of what feels alike. Each entry shows what it matched on, so you can throw out the ones matching on the part you did not care about.
The short version
- Closest match: Prison Architect, which both strategy.
- Airport CEO is tagged Flight, Resource Management, Moddable, Management, Simulation, Singleplayer, Building, Immersive Sim by Steam players. Those tags are what the matching runs on.
- 24 games qualify, each with at least fifty player reviews behind its sentiment figure.
How these were matched
Steam tags carry the most weight, because players apply them and they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Souls-like, Atmospheric and Cozy exist as tags and as nothing else, which is exactly the vocabulary this question needs. Formal genres count for less, themes and a shared studio for more.
Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are thrown out before matching. Nearly everything is tagged Singleplayer, so matching on it is matching on nothing. That cutoff is computed from the catalogue rather than fixed, so it moves as the catalogue grows.
All 24, closest first
- 1
Prison Architect
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 13 player tags including Simulation, Building and Sandbox.
Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect.
Prison Architect at a glance Released 2015 Studio Introversion Software Player sentiment 89% positive of 73,744 Price $5.99 SimulationBuildingSandboxBase-BuildingStrategyManagementCity Builder2D
- 2
Transport Fever 2
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 12 player tags including Simulation, Strategy and Management; released around the same time (2019).
The classic transport simulation genre has a new gold standard with Transport Fever 2. Discover a whole new world by navigating transport routes through land, water and air. May progress and prosperity find their way!
Transport Fever 2 at a glance Released 2019 Studio Urban Games Player sentiment 90% positive of 32,509 Price $39.99 SimulationStrategyManagementTransportationCity BuilderEconomySandboxBuilding
- 3
Against the Storm
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 11 player tags including Strategy, City Builder and Simulation; released around the same time (2023).
A dark fantasy city builder where you must rebuild civilization in the face of apocalyptic rains. As the Queen’s Viceroy, lead humans, beavers, lizards, foxes, and harpies to reclaim the wilderness and secure a future for civilization's last survivors.
Against the Storm at a glance Released 2023 Studio Eremite Games Player sentiment 94% positive of 37,338 Price $8.99 StrategyCity BuilderSimulationBase-BuildingManagementBuildingResource ManagementSandbox
- 4
Transport Fever
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 12 player tags including Flight, City Builder and Sandbox.
Transport Fever is a railroad-focused tycoon game. Players start in 1850 and build up a thriving transport company. As an emerging transport tycoon, the player constructs stations, airports, harbors and makes money by connecting areas requiring transport services. Build up your own Empire!
Transport Fever at a glance Released 2016 Studio Urban Games Player sentiment 83% positive of 10,841 Price $29.99 FlightCity BuilderSandboxBuildingEconomyManagementTransportationStrategy
- 5
OpenTTD
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 11 player tags including Simulation, Building and Economy; released around the same time (2021).
OpenTTD is a business simulation game in which players earn money by transporting passengers and cargo via road, rail, water, and air. It is an open-source remake and expansion of the 1995 Chris Sawyer video game Transport Tycoon Deluxe.
OpenTTD at a glance Released 2021 Studio OpenTTD Player sentiment 95% positive of 16,952 Price Not listed SimulationBuildingEconomySandboxManagementTransportationResource ManagementCity Builder
- 6
Factorio
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 11 player tags including Automation, Base-Building and Resource Management.
Factorio is a game about building and creating automated factories to produce items of increasing complexity, within an infinite 2D world. Use your imagination to design your factory, combine simple elements into ingenious structures, and finally protect it from the creatures who don't really like you.
Factorio at a glance Released 2016 Studio Wube software Player sentiment 98% positive of 233,978 Price $35.00 AutomationBase-BuildingResource ManagementSandboxStrategyManagementBuilding2D
- 7
Cities: Skylines II
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 11 player tags including City Builder, Simulation and Building; released around the same time (2023).
Raise a city from the ground up and transform it into a thriving metropolis with the most realistic city builder ever. Push your creativity and problem-solving to build on a scale you've never experienced. With deep simulation and a living economy, this is world-building without limits.
Cities: Skylines II at a glance Released 2023 Studio Iceflake Studios Player sentiment 56% positive of 91,995 Price $49.99 City BuilderSimulationBuildingSandboxManagementEconomyStrategyRealistic
- 8
Dwarf Fortress
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 10 player tags including Strategy, Simulation and Base-Building; released around the same time (2022).
Build a fortress and try to help your dwarves survive against a deeply generated world. Keep your dwarves happy, grow their community and beware of digging too deeply. The deepest, most intricate simulation of a world that's ever been created.
Dwarf Fortress at a glance Released 2022 Studio Bay 12 Games Player sentiment 95% positive of 31,446 Price $29.99 StrategySimulationBase-BuildingCity BuilderSandboxManagementBuildingResource Management
- 9
Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 10 player tags including Strategy, Simulation and City Builder; released around the same time (2024).
Build a soviet republic from an impoverished country into a rich industrial superpower in a city builder with intricate production chains and a fully simulated global economy. Manage the lives of your citizens from education to work and party loyalty to criminal activity.
Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic at a glance Released 2024 Studio 3Division Player sentiment 91% positive of 27,164 Price $9.99 StrategySimulationCity BuilderBase-BuildingManagementBuildingSandboxResource Management
- 10
Farthest Frontier
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 10 player tags including Immersive Sim, City Builder and Resource Management; released around the same time (2025).
Protect and guide your people as you forge a town from untamed wilderness at the edge of the known world. Harvest raw materials, hunt, fish and farm to survive. Produce crafted items to trade, consume, equip and fight with as you battle for your survival against the elements and outside threats.
Farthest Frontier at a glance Released 2025 Studio Crate Entertainment Player sentiment 86% positive of 25,411 Price $34.99 Immersive SimCity BuilderResource ManagementTop-DownStrategyManagementBase-BuildingBuilding
- 11
Manor Lords
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 10 player tags including Strategy, City Builder and Simulation; released around the same time (2024).
Manor Lords is a medieval strategy game featuring in-depth city building, large-scale tactical battles, and complex economic and social simulations. Rule your lands as a medieval lord – the seasons pass, the weather changes, and cities rise and fall.
Manor Lords at a glance Released 2024 Studio Slavic Magic Player sentiment 84% positive of 90,905 Price $25.99 StrategyCity BuilderSimulationBase-BuildingManagementBuildingResource ManagementSandbox
- 12
SimCity 4
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 11 player tags including City Builder, Immersive Sim and Base-Building.
SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition includes the bestselling SimCity 4 and the all-new SimCity 4 Rush Hour Expansion Pack. Create the most massive region of cities ever, with a farming town, bedroom community, high-tech commercial center, and industrial backbone.
SimCity 4 at a glance Released 2003 Studio Maxis Player sentiment 82% positive of 9,833 Price $19.99 City BuilderImmersive SimBase-BuildingBuildingSandboxEconomyManagementStrategy
- 13
Mini Motorways
Why it matched: both strategy and puzzle; shares 8 player tags including Strategy, Simulation and Management; released around the same time (2021).
Mini Motorways is a strategy simulation game about designing the road map for a growing city. Build a traffic network, one road at a time, to create a bustling metropolis. Redesign your roads and place your motorways to get everyone where they need to go. How long can you keep the city moving?
Mini Motorways at a glance Released 2021 Studio Dinosaur Polo Club Player sentiment 96% positive of 24,384 Price $9.99 StrategySimulationManagementTransportationBuildingTop-DownCity BuilderResource Management
- 14
Stronghold Crusader HD (2012)
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 10 player tags including City Builder, Building and Base-Building.
The highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling Stronghold, Stronghold Crusader HD throws you into historic battles and castle sieges from the Crusades with fiendish AI opponents, new units, 4 historical campaigns and over 100 unique skirmish missions.
Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) at a glance Released 2013 Studio Firefly Studios Player sentiment 97% positive of 21,059 Price $1.99 City BuilderBuildingBase-BuildingStrategySandboxManagementResource ManagementEconomy
- 15
Dyson Sphere Program
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including Automation, Base-Building and Building; released around the same time (2021).
Build the most efficient intergalactic factory in space simulation strategy game Dyson Sphere Program! Harness the power of stars, collect resources, plan and design production lines and develop your interstellar factory from a small space workshop to a galaxy-wide industrial empire.
Dyson Sphere Program at a glance Released 2021 Studio Youthcat Studio Player sentiment 97% positive of 91,586 Price $19.99 AutomationBase-BuildingBuildingResource ManagementSimulationManagementSandboxCity Builder
- 16
Kingdoms and Castles
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including City Builder, Strategy and Building; released around the same time (2017).
Kingdoms and Castles is a city-building simulation game about growing a kingdom from a tiny hamlet to a sprawling city and imposing castle. Make trade agreements, alliance, and war with neighboring AI controlled kingdoms. Each villager and resource is individually simulated.
Kingdoms and Castles at a glance Released 2017 Studio Lion Shield, LLC Player sentiment 94% positive of 31,404 Price $19.99 City BuilderStrategyBuildingSimulationSandboxResource ManagementBase-BuildingManagement
- 17
House Flipper
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including Simulation, Building and Sandbox; released around the same time (2018).
House Flipper is a unique chance to become a one-man renovation crew. Buy, repair and remodel devastated houses. Give them a second life and sell them at a profit!
House Flipper at a glance Released 2018 Studio Empyrean Player sentiment 94% positive of 111,507 Price $24.99 SimulationBuildingSandboxImmersive SimManagementEconomyBase-BuildingRealistic
- 18
Planet Zoo
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including Management, Simulation and Building; released around the same time (2019).
Build a world for wildlife in Planet Zoo. From the developers of Planet Coaster and Zoo Tycoon comes the ultimate zoo sim. Construct detailed habitats, manage your zoo, and meet authentic living animals who think, feel and explore the world you create around them.
Planet Zoo at a glance Released 2019 Studio Frontier Developments Player sentiment 91% positive of 97,527 Price $44.99 ManagementSimulationBuildingSandboxCity BuilderEconomyRealisticResource Management
- 19
Jurassic World Evolution 2
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including Building, Simulation and Management; released around the same time (2021).
Jurassic World Evolution 2 is the much-anticipated sequel to Frontier’s highly successful Jurassic World Evolution. This bold new era in the Jurassic World Evolution game franchise builds upon the ground-breaking and immersive 2018 management simulation.
Jurassic World Evolution 2 at a glance Released 2021 Studio Frontier Developments Player sentiment 90% positive of 47,023 Price $59.99 BuildingSimulationManagementSandboxStrategyCity BuilderEconomyResource Management
- 20
Foundation
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including City Builder, Simulation and Strategy; released around the same time (2025).
Foundation is a grid-less, laidback medieval city-building game with a focus on organic development, monument construction and resource management.
Foundation at a glance Released 2025 Studio Polymorph Games Player sentiment 87% positive of 24,163 Price $23.44 City BuilderSimulationStrategySandboxResource ManagementManagementEconomyBuilding
- 21
Stronghold: Definitive Edition
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including City Builder, Strategy and Sandbox; released around the same time (2023).
Greetings sire! Your stronghold awaits you. Build a castle economy, besiege unforgettable villains and return to the 'castle sim' that started it all. Experience this classic RTS with upgraded visuals, modernised gameplay, Steam multiplayer and a new campaign.
Stronghold: Definitive Edition at a glance Released 2023 Studio Firefly Studios Player sentiment 87% positive of 10,346 Price $4.49 City BuilderStrategySandboxBuildingEconomyBase-Building2DSimulation
- 22
Northgard: Definitive Edition
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including Strategy, City Builder and Simulation; released around the same time (2018).
Northgard: Definitive Edition is a critically acclaimed real-time strategy game based on Norse mythology. Lead your clan, uncover the secrets of a mysterious newfound continent and defeat your enemies to conquer the Throne!
Northgard: Definitive Edition at a glance Released 2018 Studio Shiro Games Player sentiment 85% positive of 68,673 Price $34.99 StrategyCity BuilderSimulationBase-BuildingBuildingEconomyManagementModdable
- 23
Railway Empire
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including Strategy, Simulation and Management; released around the same time (2018).
In Railway Empire, you will create an elaborate and wide-ranging rail network, purchase over 40 different trains modelled in extraordinary detail, and buy or build railway stations, maintenance buildings, factories and tourist attractions to keep your travel network ahead of the competition.
Railway Empire at a glance Released 2018 Studio Gaming Minds Studios Player sentiment 83% positive of 9,712 Price $29.99 StrategySimulationManagementEconomyBuildingSandboxTransportationCity Builder
- 24
X4: Foundations
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including Simulation, Sandbox and Economy; released around the same time (2018).
Your journey to building a vast space empire begins behind the controls of a single ship. Explore, trade, fight, and build as you rise to command fleets, stations, and entire economies in a living, fully simulated universe that reacts to every decision.
X4: Foundations at a glance Released 2018 Studio Egosoft Player sentiment 80% positive of 30,064 Price $49.99 SimulationSandboxEconomyFlightCapitalismBase-BuildingStrategyManagement
Common questions
What game is most like Airport CEO?
Prison Architect, on the evidence we have. It both strategy. That is a statement about overlap, not a promise you will like it as much: two games can share every tag and still feel different to play.
How is "similar to Airport CEO" decided?
By overlap on the tags Steam players applied to each game, the formal genres, the themes both sit in, and whether the same studio made them. Tags carry the most weight because players write them, so they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are ignored: matching on "Singleplayer" is matching on nothing. Every entry below shows exactly what it matched on.
Are these ranked by quality?
No. They are ordered by how much they overlap with Airport CEO. Where two games overlap equally, the better received one goes first, but that only moves a game a place or two. Each entry shows its own player sentiment so you can weigh that separately.
Do you get paid for these recommendations?
No. The order is computed from tag and genre overlap and nothing else. No placement here can be bought, and a game appearing high on this page is a statement about resemblance rather than an endorsement.