Power’s out, traffic is at a standstill and the citizens are getting grumpy. The solution? That’s up to you, mayor! Based on the classic simulation series, SimCity BuildIt puts you in charge of your own tiny town. Fill it with homes, plunk down shops and utilities, keep everything running and watch your humble hamlet become a sprawling metropolis.

What we love: Unleashing disasters! In past versions of SimCity, tornadoes and giant monsters struck at random; here, you control the chaos by deploying disasters where and whenever you choose. There’s an upside too: Disasters reward you with Gold Keys and Simoleons, which you can spend on specialised buildings like schools and casinos. From the rubble of a meteor strike rises greatness!

Quick tip: Pollution got you down? Be sure to build smoky factories as far away from residential zones as possible. And once you get the chance to go green, take it! Wind and solar arrays won’t irritate citizens even if they’re right next to their homes.

Meet the creator: EA has been SimCity’s steward since the franchise launched in 1989. SimCity BuildIt is the work of Finnish studio Tracktwenty, formerly known as Maxis Helsinki.