Urbek is easily the best alternative to Cities Skylines 2, and it's less than $5

Since Simcity's long-term dormancy, Cities: Skylines 2 has grasped for the crown of best city builder. But it is far from the only one on the block. Urbek City Builder is a colorful alternative, using voxel-based graphics and some novel mechanical ideas to carve out its own space in the genre. It even has some great DLC to round out the package, if you want it. It's also extra cheap on Steam right now.

The principle gimmick in Urbek: City Builder, besides its unique look, is that is there is no money. You'll have to build each and every part of the city with resources, like food, coal, and skilled laborers. Different resources chain into each other, so you have to be careful not to build too much too quickly. As you progress, you can research tech to process natural resources more efficiently, letting you build your city up faster.

Like the best city-building games, Urbek: City Builder is all about the environment. You can construct your city in one of five different biomes. You'll have to be careful about where you are placing your buildings. Factories will lower the quality-of-life in an area, for example. You can even take a stroll through your city with a first-person view to get a intimate look at the details of what you have built.

You can pick up Urbek City Builder on Steam for $4.74 until July 24. You can also buy a bundle with base game and all its DLC for $11.59.

If Urbek has you yearning for more careful decision-making, check out the best strategy games. If you want more mundane, practical tactics, take a look at our list of the best management games.

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