Cities in Motion

59%
Game Brain Score Based on 354 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Cities in Motion Game Cover
A transitory pleasure that polishes up nice. But it lacks variety and competition, and is just a little bit too difficult.
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Rendered in rich detail, four of the world’s greatest cities - Vienna, Helsinki, Berlin, and Amsterdam - await the steady hand of a planner to manage their transportation needs in Cities in Motion. Overseeing the changing needs of people from 1920 to 2020, it’s up to you to manage everything from buses, trams and subway trains to maximize profits while pleasing commuters.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

59%
Audience ScoreBased on 354 reviews
gameplay11 positive mentions
stability7 negative mentions
  • Cities in Motion offers a unique focus on public transportation management, allowing players to create and optimize transit networks in beautifully rendered cities.
  • The game features a variety of transportation methods, including buses, trams, and subways, providing players with multiple strategies to manage their transit systems effectively.
  • Many players find the game addictive and rewarding, especially once they grasp the mechanics and can successfully manage their transportation networks.
  • The game suffers from a steep learning curve, with many players finding the tutorial inadequate and the interface unintuitive, leading to frustration.
  • There are significant issues with traffic management, as adding more vehicles often leads to congestion rather than improved service, making it difficult to maintain a profitable operation.
  • Numerous bugs and performance issues have been reported, including crashes and poor optimization, which detract from the overall experience.
  • gameplay29 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by intricate economic mechanics that can lead to bankruptcy if not carefully managed, alongside a confusing tutorial and interface that detracts from the overall experience. While the graphics are praised and some players find the mechanics rewarding once mastered, many express frustration with the game's outdated systems and repetitive tasks. Overall, the gameplay offers potential enjoyment but suffers from a lack of polish and clarity, making it challenging for new players.

    • “The game has a simple tutorial to get you used to the gameplay, and it provides a nice selection of maps to play on, whether for the campaign or sandbox modes.”
    • “Immersive intelligent gameplay, leaving you wondering just where you can run that extra underground line...”
    • “The game has intricate economic mechanics which, if not monitored, lead to a rapid bankruptcy, but there is no real way to automatically keep track until everything begins to collapse.”
    • “Confusing tutorial, confusing gameplay.”
    • “The interface isn't really that helpful and most of the game mechanics are either really broken or just didn't work at all.”
  • graphics27 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their detail and beauty, remaining impressive even a decade after release. Players appreciate the vibrant visuals that enhance the gameplay experience, particularly in the context of managing public transport systems. However, some users note occasional performance issues and interface bugs, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “Did I mention the beautiful graphics and the extremely appealing idea of creating public transport in an existing city?”
    • “Phenomenal graphics.”
    • “Beautiful graphics, excellent mechanics, makes recent games like Train Fever and others primitive at best.”
    • “Low quality graphics, plot, and role play.”
    • “The graphics in the game are not the best and there are some slowdowns too, but being able to see individuals waiting at the stops as well as seeing your vehicles moving around the city from the game's top-down view is certainly quite mesmerizing.”
    • “The only problem is it doesn't support some graphics cards, so you'll need to make sure your system can run it first.”
  • story18 mentions

    The game's story is structured around a series of missions set in a specific city, offering a well-paced campaign that includes various character backstories and historical details. While the missions are engaging and provide a steady stream of objectives, some players find the graphics and plot lacking, and the gameplay can become repetitive despite the interesting quests. Overall, the story-driven aspect is appreciated for its depth and variety, though it may benefit from additional features to enhance gameplay.

    • “The campaign relies on a series of missions in a particular city, providing rewards and unlocks as the player progresses.”
    • “Every little detail is simulated, from the kinds of aircraft you see flying by being appropriate to the time period, to each character having a whole story when clicked on.”
    • “Unlike some similar games, it's also very well paced and structured - you get a regular stream of missions like a casino owner who wants to bring in tourists, or even a secret agent who needs some changes to your network.”
    • “Low quality graphics, plot, and role play.”
    • “Another problem is that the side missions they propose to you are not money makers.”
    • “The gameplay could get repetitive after a while since it's all basically the same stuff - lay tracks, or plan bus routes, or build metros - but the quests in the campaign help mix it up a bit.”
  • stability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report no significant glitches, others highlight persistent bugs and a problematic user interface. The mechanics may feel slightly outdated, and issues like rapid city gridlock at launch detract from the experience. Caution is advised for potential buyers due to these stability concerns.

    • “I was expecting a lot from this game (since it's the same developer for CS); the graphics are not bad, but the user interface was terrible and buggy!”
    • “Don't buy if you're about to; it is very old but still buggy.”
    • “Looks good, but at launch has been pretty buggy, with cities rapidly deteriorating into gridlock - making subways one of your only viable options.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly with its engine not being well-suited for multi-core processors, leading to severe performance drops in large cities. Despite these technical shortcomings, players still find enjoyment in the gameplay, which encourages experimentation with transportation networks. Overall, while the potential is evident, the lack of optimization detracts from the experience.

    • “Cities in Motion has some very helpful information overlays for the city, as well as useful graphs and charts of your company's performance at all levels.”
    • “It is still a very fun game, where you need some trial and error to find out what is the most optimized transportation network.”
    • “It's a shame that the game is so badly optimized, but its potential is unlimited.”
    • “The biggest one by far is technical—the game is not optimized well, and games in large cities with developed transport systems slow down to a crawl even on my top-of-the-line PC.”
    • “Optimization is also very poor.”
  • music6 mentions

    The music in the game is praised for its realism and enjoyable soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience with pleasing jingles and a relaxed atmosphere. However, some users noted issues with the ability to turn off the music, as menu music continues to play despite settings adjustments. Overall, the soundtrack complements the game's focus on various European cities, contributing to a fun and challenging experience.

    • “Loved it to bits! Ever since I got it, the great realism, fantastic soundtrack, and fun gameplay make it a challenging experience.”
    • “The sound design is exactly what you're expecting, with pleasing jingles and chimes over a mostly relaxed soundtrack.”
    • “The game focuses on Helsinki, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Vienna throughout a fantastic campaign with enjoyable music.”
    • “It also takes the kind of patience that is normally required to learn to play a musical instrument.”
    • “Turned off music in the settings, but the menu music plays anyway.”
    • “The sound design is exactly what you're expecting as well, with pleasing jingles and chimes over a mostly relaxed soundtrack.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game emphasizes a complex economic model where players must manage various financial elements, including employee wages, ticket prices, and advertising, to ensure company survival amidst competition and economic fluctuations. While the game offers features like improved train stations and advertising options, players may find it challenging to maintain profitability without careful management, especially during downturns. Overall, it is recommended to purchase the game on sale for better value.

    • “Add to that your control over wages, ticket prices, and advertising, plus a full economic model for the city that can change the business landscape during recessions and crises, and you may very well have trouble grasping why you're not making any money.”
    • “This had some more features like advertising, better train stations, they actually looked and worked better in this game.. but overall good game if you get it on sale...”
    • “We have a total management on vehicles/stations maintenance, salaries, advertisement and so on...”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Overall, the game is considered highly replayable, with many users recommending it for its engaging gameplay. While some players note that it doesn't offer extreme replayability on its own, the availability of various mods significantly enhances the experience and adds to its longevity.

    • “Highly replayable and highly recommended.”
    • “There are also some great mods out there that add a ton of replayability to the game.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    Reviewers highlight that while the game may lack the features and flexibility of its predecessor, it compensates with a superior atmosphere, more visually appealing cities, and an overall more enjoyable gaming experience.

    • “It may not have the features or flexibility of CIM2, but what it does have is a much better atmosphere, prettier cities, and it's just a much more fun game.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and tiresome, detracting from the overall enjoyment despite its decent gameplay.

    • “Decent game, but it is tedious and becomes tiresome.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
    • “I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which made the game feel like a chore.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its chaotic and entertaining scenarios, which arise from various approaches to problem-solving, leading to hilarious outcomes.

    • “The chaos that ensues is both entertaining and hilarious, showcasing the many different ways to approach challenges.”
    • “The humor in the game keeps you engaged and makes even the most frustrating moments enjoyable.”
    • “I found myself laughing out loud at the clever jokes and unexpected situations throughout the gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

67% average critic score

Buy Cities in Motion

Play time

28hMedian play time
43hAverage play time
1-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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