City-Building Done Right: Learning Foundation with City Planner Plays

I’ve been a fan of city-building games for years, drawn to the blend of strategy, creativity, and the satisfying rhythm of watching a settlement grow. From meticulously planning road layouts in Cities: Skylines to managing survival in Frostpunk, I love the challenge of building something from the ground up. 

But Polymorph Game's Foundation feels different.

After finally diving in over the weekend—despite having picked it up in Early Access in 2023—I found myself completely losing track of time. Somehow, four hours vanished out of thin air. The way villages grow organically, without a rigid grid, gives the game a unique feel, and balancing resources and villager needs is incredibly rewarding. Add in its gorgeous visuals, and I can already tell this is a city-builder I’ll be spending a lot more time with.

Of course, learning a new game like Foundation can be a challenge, and that’s where great content creators make all the difference. I’ve followed City Planner Plays (@cityplannerplays.bsky.social) for years—first for his Cities: Skylines content and later for his deep-dive How-To guides in other games. His approach is what makes him stand out: clear, structured instructions, useful background context, and a willingness to show his own mistakes when they serve as valuable lessons.

This post is as much a learning tool for myself as it is a guide for anyone new to the game. 

Below, I’ve broken down City Planner Plays’ step-by-step instructions for starting a village, prioritizing buildings, and setting up a successful economy. 

If you’re diving into the game for the first time (or coming back like me), this should help you get started—and I highly recommend checking out his full video (below) for even more insights.

How to Start Your Village in Foundation | by City Planner Plays

A step-by-step guide based on City Planner Plays' gameplay.

1. Choosing Your Map and Territory

• When starting a new game, you can customize your map (coastal, river, hilly, etc.).
• Recommended starting location:
• A territory that includes water, trees, and stone for essential resources.
• Consider picking a coastal spot for future fishing opportunities.

2. What to Do First?

After selecting your territory:

1. Place your Village Center

•  This acts as the hub of your settlement.
• Avoid placing it too close to essential resources like trees or berries to prevent accidental destruction.

2. Build a Builder’s Workshop

• This structure allows you to construct buildings.
• Place it slightly away from the Village Center, near future industrial areas.
• Assign at least two villagers as builders.

3. First Buildings & Placement

To establish a strong foundation for your village, follow this build order:

1. Lumber Camp (for wood)

• Place it near dense tree clusters but far enough from housing areas to avoid pollution.
• Assign two workers and use the paint tool to mark tree-cutting zones.

2. Gathering Hut (for food – berries)

• Place it near berry bushes but close to the Village Center for efficiency.
• Assign two gatherers.

3. Stone Cutter Camp (for stone)

• Locate it close to a stone deposit.
• Assign two workers.

4. Well (for water)

• Place it centrally near planned residential areas.

5. Marketplace (to distribute food)

• Essential for feeding villagers and increasing happiness.
• Start with a food stall and assign a market tender to sell berries.
• Place it near the Village Center for accessibility.

4. Expanding & Unlocking Trade

Once your village has basic resources:

• Unlock a Warehouse: Stores logs, planks, and essential materials.
• Build a Sawmill: Converts logs into planks (needed for trade & construction).
• Set up Trade Routes:
• Open the Royal Book → Trade Routes.
• Sell planks to earn gold.
• Buy tools (since you don’t produce them yet).
• Ensure you always have at least 10 tools in storage.

5. Encouraging Immigration

• Immigration depends on:
• Low unemployment (assign workers where needed).
• Happiness (ensure food, water, and housing are available).
• Build more residential areas using the paint tool (instead of zoning or placing individual houses).
• Houses will appear naturally in desirable locations.

6. Taxation & Managing Economy

• Build a Manor House (for governance & taxation).
• Include a Tax Office to collect gold.
• Adjust tax rates in the Royal Book → Taxation (be careful not to decrease happiness too much).
• Prioritize trade to offset costs.
• Selling planks & fish is an early game strategy.

7. Long-Term Village Planning

Industry Relocation

• Move Lumber Camps, Sawmills, and Warehouses far from residential areas.
• Set up Forester Camps to regrow trees and maintain a renewable wood supply.

Food Diversity

• Unlock fishing and place a Fishing Hut near fish-rich water.
• Farms & Bread Production (wheat farm → windmill → bakery).
• Place wheat farms on flat land.
• Keep windmills near farms to reduce travel time.
• Place bakeries in town centers to ensure quick food distribution.

Upgrading Homes & Decorations

• Villagers level up to commoners if their needs are met (food variety, housing quality, etc.).
• Use decorations (trees, benches, archways) to increase desirability.
• Upgraded homes require fortifications & services.

Key Tips from City Planner Plays

✅ Plan early for expansion – Select your location wisely with future trade and resource expansion in mind.
✅ Use the Paint Tool – Define work and residential areas strategically.
✅ Manage worker assignments efficiently – Track unemployment & reassign workers as new jobs open up.
✅ Trade for tools early on – Tools are crucial for buildings and not initially produced.
✅ Balance taxes & happiness – Use levies strategically to raise quick gold but avoid overburdening villagers.
✅ Monitor production efficiency – Assigning extra workers to buildings speeds up output.
✅ Relocate buildings when needed – Move warehouses, lumber camps, and sawmills for better efficiency.
✅ Invest in food variety – Expanding to fish and bread production improves happiness.

✅ Plan for decorations & upgrades – Commoner-level homes need better aesthetics and infrastructure.

✅ Check trade values – Be mindful of profit margins when selling vs. buying goods.