Want to play some games? Of course! Who doesn't love games? After a stressful day at work, many designers are likely looking for ways to unwind. Why not try out some fun games? Even if you think you're too grown up to play games, once you find the right one, you'll have as much fun as when you were a kid. For designers, playing games that combine creativity with logic and calculation can not only provide entertainment but also inspire new ideas. Today, I would like to introduce 5 interesting games for designers. Let's see what they are!

1. SimCity (Windows/Mac)
SimCity is a game from the same developers who created The Sims. Did you know that SimCity was the inspiration for The Sims?

In SimCity, players get to plan and manage a city, from zoning residential areas for citizens to live in, to building infrastructure like roads, railways, and public transport. You also create commercial zones for shopping and industrial areas for employment. But don’t think you can place things anywhere you like; your resources are limited. Each construction decision requires careful consideration of whether it meets the needs of the citizens and is placed correctly. The goal of the game is to keep the citizens satisfied. If you make a mistake and their happiness decreases, not only will you have to rebuild, but you might even lose the game!

2. Minecraft (Windows/Mac/Android/iOS)
Even if you haven't played this game, many people have at least heard of it. This is a timeless open-world game from the Sandbox genre, where you explore and gather resources to create whatever you want. Chop down trees for wood, mine rocks for stone, and if you want coal, you’ll have to battle skeletons.

The game provides you with basic tools like axes and bows to help you gather other resources. Some items are easy to find, while others can be quite challenging. If you have a great idea but struggle with resource gathering, the game also has a creative mode that gives players unlimited resources like wood, iron, stone, and coal to create anything they can imagine. Ready to start building a skyscraper?

3. Design This Castle (Android, iOS)
You probably design interiors for homes regularly, right? How about trying your hand at designing a castle instead?

This game is simple and cute, like candy. But be careful; once you start, you might get hooked! You’ll design a medieval castle using hundreds of decorative items. You need to gather resources to convert into money to buy these items, including tables, beds, windows, walls, and much more. The goal is simple: to create the coolest castle in the land.

4. Cities in Motion (Windows/Mac)
If you’re not designing cities or castles, this game focuses on something more specific. Cities in Motion allows you to design the transportation system of a city.

At first glance, this game may seem similar to SimCity, but Cities in Motion focuses solely on public transportation. You’ll manage the transport systems of major cities like Amsterdam, Berlin, Helsinki, and Vienna. You’ll decide where to place trains, trams, ports, buses, and even helicopters. The key question is: how will you improve the transportation system of your city?

5. The Sims (Windows/Mac)
Having recommended SimCity, it would be remiss not to mention its sibling, The Sims. This simulation game allows you to control a character and manage their daily activities. But what I want to highlight for designers is that this game lets you design the character's home.

While building a house in the game requires some in-game currency, there is a special mode for house building where you have unlimited funds and can use any resources available. Whether you want to dig a swimming pool, create a fish pond, or build a tennis court, you can do it all. Plus, there are always new materials, colors, walls, and decorations being added, so you’ll never run out of creative ideas!


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Thanks for the information and images from: www.buildernews.in.th: 5 Games for Designers