Cities Skylines

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 120,179 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • optimization
Cities Skylines Game Cover
Cities: Skylines takes a classic game design template and updates it with minimum fuss and considerable style. It might not be the type of game you’d normally want to take over the family TV, but it’s hard to imagine a better console execution.
Starting at $0Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Xbox Games Store Get on Epic Games Store Get on PS Store

"Cities: Skylines - PlayStation4 Edition" is a city-building simulation game where players create and manage their own metropolis. As mayor, you'll need to balance the city's needs, such as education, water, electricity, and economy, while dealing with traffic simulations and citizen behaviors. With the "After Dark" expansion included, your city will transform with a day-night cycle, offering new challenges and opportunities for leisure activities. Create districts, implement policies, and shape your city to your liking.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 120,179 reviews
gameplay1,609 positive mentions
story232 negative mentions
  • gameplay5,028 mentions

    The gameplay of *Cities: Skylines* is widely praised for its depth and complexity, offering players a rich city-building experience that balances strategic planning with creative freedom. While the game features a steep learning curve, especially for newcomers, many players find it rewarding as they master its intricate mechanics, such as traffic management and resource allocation. The extensive modding community further enhances gameplay, providing countless options for customization and new mechanics, although some players express frustration over essential features being locked behind paid DLC. Overall, the game is considered a standout in the city-building genre, combining engaging mechanics with beautiful graphics and a supportive community.

    • “As the successor to SimCity, it refines and expands on the genre’s core mechanics, offering players a vast and immersive experience of urban planning and management.”
    • “With its deep customization options, intricate systems, and challenging gameplay, Cities: Skylines has become a staple in the city-building genre.”
    • “The gameplay is engaging and addictive; whether you're zoning for residential areas, managing traffic flow, or juggling the city budget, every decision impacts your growing metropolis.”
    • “The gameplay is very weak, and there is no real challenge.”
    • “The core gameplay mechanics are easy to grasp, allowing newcomers to quickly get their hands dirty and start building their dream cities.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are still non-existent, you just build something decent sized and then boredom sets in because there are no gameplay mechanics left.”
  • graphics4,520 mentions

    The graphics of "Cities: Skylines" are generally praised for their vibrant and detailed visuals, which effectively bring the city-building experience to life. While some players note that the graphics can appear somewhat dated compared to newer titles, the game's art style is often described as charming and aesthetically pleasing, especially when enhanced with mods. Overall, the graphics strike a balance between performance and visual appeal, making it accessible for a range of computer systems, though higher-end hardware is recommended for optimal performance.

    • “The game’s graphical style is clean and colorful, making it easy to distinguish different zones and buildings at a glance.”
    • “While the graphics are not hyper-realistic, they strike a good balance between being visually appealing and maintaining smooth performance, even when managing large cities.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, and the attention to detail is mind-blowing.”
    • “The graphics are not impressive, but the game is still very much addictive.”
    • “The graphics are aging, and they were more cartoonish in the beginning.”
    • “The graphics are a little weird on my side compared to other platforms, but it could just be my issue.”
  • optimization1,295 mentions

    The optimization of "Cities: Skylines" has received mixed reviews from players. While many appreciate its generally smooth performance and ability to run well on mid-range systems, especially with smaller cities, significant performance issues arise as cities grow larger, particularly when using numerous mods or DLCs. Players often report that the game can be demanding on hardware, requiring substantial RAM and processing power to maintain acceptable frame rates, especially in densely populated areas. Overall, while the game is praised for its engaging gameplay and modding community, its optimization remains a notable concern, particularly for those with lower-end systems.

    • “While the graphics are not hyper-realistic, they strike a good balance between being visually appealing and maintaining smooth performance, even when managing large cities.”
    • “The game runs smoothly on most systems, with well-optimized performance, even when cities grow into massive metropolises with thousands of inhabitants.”
    • “Despite some performance limitations and a few missing features in the base game, its strengths in design and community support more than make up for that.”
    • “It's not particularly optimized (32GB of RAM is a must if you're running mods), but it runs well enough on any mid-range PC build.”
    • “Used to be good but it gets boring so fast and it's hard to be interested in it when it's so poorly optimized.”
    • “The game is poorly optimized, modding system is horribly implemented.”
  • music1,106 mentions

    The music in *Cities: Skylines* is generally described as calming and atmospheric, enhancing the immersive experience of city-building. However, many players find the default soundtrack repetitive and lacking in variety, often opting to mute it in favor of their own playlists or mods that incorporate music from previous *SimCity* games. While some enjoy the in-game radio stations and humorous ads, others criticize the additional music DLCs as overpriced and unnecessary, suggesting that the base game could benefit from a more diverse and engaging soundtrack.

    • “The game's soundtrack deserves a special mention, providing a soothing and immersive backdrop to the urban symphony you're orchestrating.”
    • “Very relaxing, the soundtrack is just spot on, overall another great title that will be remembered as one of the greatest simulation games in history!”
    • “The soundtrack is soothing and matches the game's calming pace, while the sound effects and animations breathe life into your city.”
    • “The music is very annoying and gets repetitive very quickly, so I tend to just turn it off and listen to my own.”
    • “The only downside is the in-game music is incredibly irritating, but mute the music and put your own on, and it's great.”
    • “The music gets stale and repetitive quickly, and the sound effects are pretty irritating with the constant chirping, sirens, etc.”
  • story1,063 mentions

    The consensus among users is that "Cities: Skylines" lacks a traditional story or campaign mode, focusing instead on sandbox gameplay where players create their own narratives through city management. While some players appreciate the freedom to build and manage without a prescribed storyline, others express a desire for structured missions or objectives to enhance engagement. Overall, the game is characterized as a city-building simulator that prioritizes gameplay mechanics over narrative depth.

    • “The makers' attention to detail is also incredible; each individual building, pedestrian, and car comes with its own story, and everything is really wonderfully integrated.”
    • “Every brushstroke on the landscape, every policy enacted, every district crafted, tells a story.”
    • “For me, this included crafting my city as a beacon of hope, promoting wealth and fortune inside the circular center, with increasing levels of poverty along the further radius of the expanding city; allowing me to adapt my building time to telling a dark, fictional story about my city.”
    • “The lack of a campaign or story mode is what keeps me from sinking more hours into the game, but that does not make it worse for the general public in my opinion.”
    • “There is no story in this game, as it's a sandbox game.”
    • “The only real mission is to survive and not lose all your money. From time to time your citizens give you small quests which you can complete.”
  • replayability700 mentions

    Cities: Skylines is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, largely attributed to its open-ended gameplay and extensive modding community. Players can create unique cities with endless customization options, and the availability of user-generated content significantly enhances the experience, making it virtually limitless in replay value. While some players note that the base game can become repetitive without mods, the overall consensus is that the game offers countless hours of engaging gameplay, ensuring it remains a favorite among city-building enthusiasts.

    • “With access to a plethora of user-generated content, including new assets, mods, and gameplay enhancements, the replayability is virtually limitless.”
    • “Cities: Skylines boasts an extensive modding community that significantly enhances the game's replayability.”
    • “The dynamic nature of the game ensures that no two cities ever feel the same, guaranteeing endless replayability.”
    • “The game needs a refresh, maybe a 2.0 modern version, one that we don't need all those mods to make the game more playable.”
    • “While to a certain extent it is true, the replayability of this game is heavily increased and the gameplay itself is enhanced with the addition of community contributors who created some pretty amazing mods, which is one of the reasons I am now addicted to this game.”
    • “Once you max out a single city, it's not that different creating a second city, so not much replay value there.”
  • stability640 mentions

    The stability of the game is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly as cities grow larger and more complex. While some players find the game enjoyable and manageable with mods, others express frustration over the extensive troubleshooting required to maintain functionality. Overall, the game is described as "buggy" and "unstable," with many recommending caution, especially for those who are not comfortable with modding or technical fixes.

    • “The game runs great, even though it is quite old.”
    • “Runs great on my mid-range PC (Ryzen 3600 with an RTX 2060 and 16GB RAM) and I have nearly 300 combined assets and mods, and it runs great.”
    • “Fantastic city builder, runs great on Linux - well optimized and stable.”
    • “I cannot even launch the game, no matter how many times I go on Reddit and try the 1000th troubleshooting method; the launcher will not work (Paradox launcher is not a valid Win32 application).”
    • “Unfortunately, I invariably quit around the same time – once your city becomes large and complex enough it becomes a buggy mess, and you spend 90% of your time in the game un-glitching roads and public transport routes.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess (reportedly even without mods!), and with mods of course it's even worse.”
  • grinding569 mentions

    The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be both tedious and rewarding, often requiring significant time investment to manage city infrastructure, traffic, and resource allocation. Many players find the micromanagement aspects, such as setting up public transport routes and resolving traffic issues, to be particularly grindy, especially in larger cities. However, some appreciate the depth and complexity of the gameplay, noting that while it can feel repetitive, it also offers satisfying moments of city-building success.

    • “There is no grinding or FOMO in this game, just you and your ideas for a metropolis!”
    • “While it can be frustrating when roadways become overly congested, I found that fixing roadway issues was actually enjoyable and not too tedious.”
    • “Very enjoyable, no tedious bits like a lot of other city builders.”
    • “Waiting for infrastructure to be built or resolving issues like traffic congestion can sometimes feel tedious.”
    • “I got bored of constantly having to build more roads and laying pipes to keep up with increasing population; it just got really tedious after a while.”
    • “The game quickly becomes a traffic manager as soon as any major population size is met, and it's really tedious.”
  • humor350 mentions

    The humor in "Cities: Skylines" is often described as quirky and situational, with players finding amusement in the absurdities of city management, such as citizens drinking contaminated water or the chaos of traffic jams. While some reviewers note that it lacks the whimsical charm of earlier city-building games like SimCity, many appreciate the game's ability to generate funny moments through its mechanics, in-game tweets, and the creative chaos that ensues from player decisions. Overall, the game is seen as both entertaining and capable of providing a good laugh, especially when players embrace the more ridiculous aspects of city planning.

    • “Highly addictive and hilariously fun—just try not to feel too guilty when your traffic plans turn into gridlock from hell.”
    • “It's always funny to build a giant city for hours just to throw meteors and tsunamis on the city later.”
    • “The in-game jokes and situations are hilarious!”
    • “And street construction is not funny, because if you don't want to have rectangular roads, the tool that helps you edit the roads is not really pretty to use.”
    • “You're not funny!”
    • “This is a great game, but you guys really need to fix this. I think a lot of players are having trouble with this, and I also really hope that you guys can fix this in the next update or before the new DLC comes out.”
  • monetization274 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it as a "cash grab" due to the excessive number of overpriced DLCs and the introduction of a launcher that bombards users with ads. While some DLCs are appreciated for enhancing gameplay, the overall sentiment is that the monetization practices detract from the experience, making it feel exploitative and frustrating for players who have already paid for the base game. Many reviews express a desire for a more balanced approach to content expansion without the aggressive push for additional purchases.

    • “The real issue is the monetization; be prepared to buy the game almost four times over to have the full experience.”
    • “This game is a slightly buggy but wonderful simulation that focuses on how a city behaves like a living, breathing organism, and with a wonderful lack of microtransactions, I would say this is a great game that anyone who enjoys seeing their city grow and coming up with creative solutions to problems would thoroughly enjoy.”
    • “The game plays great despite being almost 10 years old, but the company's monetization strategy is aggressive.”
    • “While it's commendable that Paradox has continued to enrich the game with exciting content, many of these DLC packs are prohibitively priced and often feel more like piecemeal monetization than expansions that genuinely enhance the overall experience.”
    • “The real issue is the monetization... be prepared to buy the game almost four times over to have the full experience.”
  • emotional92 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is frequently described as a profound rollercoaster experience, where players feel a deep attachment to their cities, often leading to moments of joy and heartbreak. Many users express feelings of nostalgia and pride in their creations, while also experiencing frustration and sadness when faced with disasters or setbacks. Overall, the game fosters a strong emotional connection through its engaging mechanics and community support, making it a memorable experience for players.

    • “It's an emotional rollercoaster, where the highs of a thriving city are matched only by the lows of your first major traffic gridlock.”
    • “I built a city, a meteorite fell, destroyed it, I cried.”
    • “Even through the emotional torture, I just can't help myself but fall deeper in love.”
    • “I cried.”
    • “The game failed to evoke any real emotions.”
    • “I felt completely disconnected from the characters.”
  • atmosphere89 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Cities: Skylines" is widely praised for its captivating realism, vibrant graphics, and immersive sound design, which together create a relaxing and engaging environment for players. The game's detailed visuals, day/night cycle, and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the city-building experience, making it a perfect choice for those looking to unwind. While some critiques mention a lack of charm in certain aspects, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to draw players into a lively and beautifully crafted world.

    • “The combination of a relaxing atmosphere and engaging gameplay makes Cities: Skylines the perfect game to unwind with after a long day.”
    • “The various neighborhoods, landscapes, and buildings are lovingly crafted, creating a vibrant atmosphere within the game world.”
    • “The atmosphere and charm is really something special and keeps you hooked for hours.”
    • “Only big drawback is the total absence of any form of atmosphere or charm; it's really bland and soulless.”
    • “- there comes a time when you're thousands of hours in when you have long got your money's worth and the atmosphere of the game feels hollow, almost liminal.”
    • “There's also DLC for radio stations and 'concerts' with 'music and images' provided from three licensed musicians, but you can only place one concert building in your city anyway, and the citizens just kind of stand around like bored drones, as if they don't really want to be here.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The reviews indicate that the character design is a significant aspect of the game, showcasing unique and visually appealing characters that enhance the overall experience. However, there is limited feedback on the depth of character development, suggesting that while the designs are strong, the narrative growth of the characters may not be as fully realized.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

82% average critic score

Buy Cities Skylines

Play time

71hMedian play time
290hAverage play time
10-404hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 623 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News