It’s not an exaggeration to say that Cities: Skylines singlehandedly resuscitated the town builder gamer when it arrived in 2015; certainly it additionally made the style related on console with a really slickly dealt with Xbox console port in 2017.
The announcement of Cities: Skylines II promised to take issues even additional: larger cities, redesigned economies, dynamic seasons – even the flexibility to zoom in and observe any citizen, any time.
As I sat right down to play Cities: Skylines II at gamescom final month, I wasn’t eager about any of that; I used to be extra frightened that within the years since I final constructed a city, I’ve forgotten nearly the whole lot I had ever recognized concerning the sport.
Luckily, Cities: Skylines II has your again.
The builders from Paradox led off by sharing that there’s a renewed concentrate on “onboarding,” so whereas the sequel is extra complicated than the unique Cities: Skylines, it’s really simpler to grasp.
Instrumental for brand spanking new and lapsed gamers is the brand new tutorial, a fast, however digestible introduction to highway constructing, zoning (residential, industrial, industrial), and getting buildings powered and related to water and sewage. Crucially, roads embrace energy and water hookups, making preliminary infrastructure and metropolis structure very simple; simply construct the highway the way in which you need it and also you’re good. Suggestions for (barely) extra superior capabilities resembling bulldozing and rezoning wait simply off to the facet so you’ll be able to study them once you want them and never a second earlier than.
Cities: Skylines II is loaded with high quality of life touches that permit gamers to deftly tackle points and concentrate on the enjoyable components of constructing and managing a metropolis. For instance, when getting new techniques up and working, like including in a water pumping station, you see a constructive response (stars coming from close by properties and companies) indicating that sure, issues are related. No extra questioning “did I try this proper?” One other nice function: you’ll be able to substitute roads in place with out bulldozing; cities can begin with smaller roads and improve to increased capability down the road, when your residents demand it. And they’ll demand issues!
In sport social media channel “Chirper” retains you keyed in on what’s happening in your metropolis, good and dangerous. Somebody complaining about housing costs? Your residential zoning demand could also be spiking. You may even click on by means of and study extra concerning the citizen who was tweeting at you.
Regardless of not enjoying the unique in years, with all of those onramps, I received in control in Cities: Skylines II in underneath a half hour. In that point, I had constructed a functioning, rising “Tiny Village” – receiving some rewards together with money, and even a signature constructing, a “pop music mansion.” Taylor Swift is formally invited to relocate to my humble village.
Cities: Skylines II additionally enables you to select your new options through a ability tree, which unlocks as you attain these milestones. Across the time I hit Tiny Village standing, I earned the best to construct roundabouts, site visitors lights, and extra. Primary companies are robotically added, others are solely unlocked as you show your self a succesful metropolis planner. I could have gone loopy with roundabouts, changing each 4 means cease on the town. Don’t prefer it, depart. Or higher but, construct your personal city!
Cities: Skylines II will likely be included into Recreation Go on Day One for Console, PC, and Cloud. And if studying this piqued your Inside Mayor, know that the authentic Cities: Skylines – Remastered is playable now, additionally with Recreation Go.
Cities Skylines II – Final Version
Paradox Interactive
$89.99
Preorder Bonus: Landmark Buildings
Set your Metropolis aside with 9 Distinctive Buildings primarily based on well-known landmarks from world wide. Included can be a map primarily based on the geography of Tampere, dwelling of Colossal Order.
Cities: Skylines II: Final Version offers you entry to the bottom sport, in addition to the Growth Go.
This consists of the San Francisco Set, Seaside Properties Asset Pack (This fall ‘23), two Content material Creator Packs (Q1 ‘24), the Bridges & Ports Growth (Q2 ‘24) in addition to 3 Radio Stations paired with every launch (This fall ‘23, Q1 Q2 ‘24).
Should you can dream it, you’ll be able to construct it.
Increase a metropolis from the bottom up and rework it into the thriving metropolis solely you’ll be able to think about. You have by no means skilled constructing on this scale. With deep simulation and a dwelling financial system, Cities: Skylines II delivers world-building with out limits.
Lay the foundations to your metropolis to start. Create the roads, infrastructure, and techniques that make life doable each day. It is as much as you – all of it.
How your metropolis grows is your name too, however plan strategically. Each determination has an influence. Are you able to energize native industries whereas additionally utilizing commerce to spice up the financial system? What’s going to make residential districts flourish with out killing the excitement downtown? How will you meet the wants and needs of residents whereas balancing the town’s finances?
Your metropolis by no means rests. Like several dwelling, respiration world, it modifications over time. Some modifications will likely be sluggish and gradual, whereas others will likely be sudden and sudden. So whereas seasons flip and night time follows day, be able to act when life would not go to plan.
Essentially the most real looking and detailed metropolis builder ever, Cities: Skylines II pushes your creativity and problem-solving to a different degree. With superbly rendered high-resolution graphics, it additionally evokes you to construct the town of your desires.
Deep simulation.
AI and complicated economics imply your decisions ripple by means of the material of the town. Keep in mind that as you strategize, problem-solve, and react to alter, challenges, and alternatives.
Epic scale, limitless prospects.
Cities: Skylines II enables you to create with out compromise. Now you’ll be able to construct sky-high and sprawl throughout the map like by no means earlier than. Why not? Your metropolis is you.
Cities that come alive.
Your choices form every citizen’s life path, a sequence of occasions that defines who they’re. From love and loss to wealth and wellbeing, comply with their life’s ups and downs.
A dynamic world.
Choose a map to set the local weather of your metropolis. These are the pure forces you will negotiate to broaden your metropolis amid rising air pollution, changeable climate, and seasonal challenges.
Cities: Skylines II
Paradox Interactive
$49.99
Preorder Bonus: Landmark Buildings
Set your Metropolis aside with 9 Distinctive Buildings primarily based on well-known landmarks from world wide. Included can be a map primarily based on the geography of Tampere, dwelling of Colossal Order.
Should you can dream it, you’ll be able to construct it.
Increase a metropolis from the bottom up and rework it into the thriving metropolis solely you’ll be able to think about. You have by no means skilled constructing on this scale. With deep simulation and a dwelling financial system, Cities: Skylines II delivers world-building with out limits.
Lay the foundations to your metropolis to start. Create the roads, infrastructure, and techniques that make life doable each day. It is as much as you – all of it.
How your metropolis grows is your name too, however plan strategically. Each determination has an influence. Are you able to energize native industries whereas additionally utilizing commerce to spice up the financial system? What’s going to make residential districts flourish with out killing the excitement downtown? How will you meet the wants and needs of residents whereas balancing the town’s finances?
Your metropolis by no means rests. Like several dwelling, respiration world, it modifications over time. Some modifications will likely be sluggish and gradual, whereas others will likely be sudden and sudden. So whereas seasons flip and night time follows day, be able to act when life would not go to plan.
Essentially the most real looking and detailed metropolis builder ever, Cities: Skylines II pushes your creativity and problem-solving to a different degree. With superbly rendered high-resolution graphics, it additionally evokes you to construct the town of your desires.
Deep simulation.
AI and complicated economics imply your decisions ripple by means of the material of the town. Keep in mind that as you strategize, problem-solve, and react to alter, challenges, and alternatives.
Epic scale, limitless prospects.
Cities: Skylines II enables you to create with out compromise. Now you’ll be able to construct sky-high and sprawl throughout the map like by no means earlier than. Why not? Your metropolis is you.
Cities that come alive.
Your choices form every citizen’s life path, a sequence of occasions that defines who they’re. From love and loss to wealth and wellbeing, comply with their life’s ups and downs.
A dynamic world.
Choose a map to set the local weather of your metropolis. These are the pure forces you will negotiate to broaden your metropolis amid rising air pollution, changeable climate, and seasonal challenges.