Not a city builder / house builder, but Planet Zoo might scratch that itch. Takes a bit to really learn the building mechanics, but people can build amazing things in it.

“Hints” is another name for “charades”

“Light thinks it travels faster than anything, but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it.”

• Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett

I definitely did not think it was a rocket without ever really looking at it closely.