For architecture and design nerds, even playing video games is about buildings, community, and design. Designers tend to notice textures, colors, circulation, volume, light, shadow, and everything that is ‘architectural’ about the video game. Hence, video games are not only entertaining, but often they also become a source of inspiration. The simulations and visuals of a game fuel the creative tank of an architect. Here is a list of video games that will transport you to a new world of architecture that is irresistibly fun. Say ciao to your bored hours.

1. Minecraft by Mojang

Were you that child who played Lego so religiously that your parents always pictured you becoming an architect? Well, Minecraft is a game that transports you to a digital world of Lego. Build houses, streets, underground bunkers, and create your own cities with different cubes that showcase different materials. It is said that avid Minecraft fans have recreated most famous buildings like the Taj Mahal and Burj Khalifa with their cubes and pixels.

2. SimCity

Being an amazing mayor who renders world class facilities and keeps its citizens or the “Sims” happy is what Simcity game is all about. Create skyscrapers, parks, buildings, gardens, bridges, public and civic facilities, and everything that you want in your dream city. Not only this, but one can also make policies, decide taxes, plan land use, and lay out the zoning. All in all, this urban planning game is pure fun.

3. Project Aura by Pixel Quality Games

In Project Aura, you become a leader of a Colony of Climate Disaster Survivors. Owing to global warming, earth becomes uninhabitable and mankind lives in artificially generated environments or colonies. You have to manage one such artificial colony where garbage from Earth has to be retrieved to build a habitat capable of survival.

4. Super Mario Odyssey by Nintendo

A cult classic, Super Mario Odyssey game has evolved in a manner which architects can certainly adventure upon. Explore different kingdoms with immense architectural details in Mario’s globe-trotting journey. Underwater kingdoms to Desert Cities along with the New Donk City make your adrenaline rush to save your princess.

5. Hidden Folks by Adriaan de Jongh and Sylvain Tegroeg

If you are a detail-junkie, Hidden Folks has the power to keep you hooked with its intricately crafted hand-drawn environments. This game expects the player to find people and objects from highly complex and monochrome animated environments.

6. Design Home by Glu Mobile

In the year 2020, this game recorded more than 1 million daily users.

This fun home-decorating game is a great pick for all those who love decorating homes. Amazing 3-D visuals of decor brands and real furniture have been the major qualifying factors that put this game on this list. Shop all the virtual décor and inventory in real life from a Design Home inspired store. Earn a discount, get items delivered, and watch your own creations come to life.

7. INFRA by Loiste Interactive Ltd.

INFRA game is sited in the Scandinavian city of Stalburg, where the player acts as a structural engineer who is entrusted with finding structural defects and relevant documents in the city. As the city's infrastructure fails, the player has to solve a variety of electric and mechanical puzzles to save the city. Not only this, but at times, a decision whether to save the city or its citizens has to be made at the player's prudence.

The architecture of a video game is a game-changer for designers. Play these cult-classics and enjoy while observing and learning!

Video games for Architects and Design Nerds