Cities XL 2012

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 73 reviews
  • optimization
  • graphics
  • grinding
Cities XL 2012 Game Cover
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Cities XL 2012 is a single-player strategy game offering around 10 hours of playtime, where you can build and manage cities of various sizes and types, with over 1000 buildings and structures. As a virtual mayor, maintain economic balance, manage transportation, pollution, and social services, and trade between cities for large-scale financial success. Enjoy extensive detail and freedom in city creation with 62 realistic maps and 300 new buildings.

  • PC
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 73 reviews
graphics3 positive mentions
optimization2 negative mentions
  • Graphically superior to other city builders, offering beautiful visuals and a solid soundtrack.
  • Provides a sandbox-style gameplay experience with a variety of environments and challenges to explore.
  • Has a dedicated modding community that enhances gameplay with new features and customization options.
  • The game suffers from significant performance issues, including freezing and low frame rates, especially with larger cities.
  • Controls and road-building mechanics are unintuitive and frustrating, making city planning cumbersome.
  • It feels outdated and lacks the depth and polish of other city-building games, leading to a generic experience.
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game suffers from significant performance issues, particularly in the late game, requiring players to restart it every few hours for smoother gameplay. Despite these optimization challenges, many users still find the core gameplay enjoyable, particularly in managing city finances and citizen happiness.

    • “Despite late game performance issues (restart game once every few hours for smoother performance), I've spent many hours balancing my city's financial health with the happiness of its citizens and found it to be highly enjoyable.”
    • “Don't get this game; it has performance issues.”
    • “Despite late game performance issues (restart the game once every few hours for smoother performance), I've spent many hours balancing my city's financial health with the happiness of its citizens and found it to be highly enjoyable.”
  • graphics3 mentions

    The game's graphics are praised for their beauty and superiority over other city builders, offering an upgraded visual experience compared to older titles like SimCity 4. However, some users feel that it lacks certain finesse and depth, leaving it feeling somewhat incomplete.

    • “Graphically, it's a beautiful game, but there's something missing when compared to the seemingly 'dated' SimCity 4.”
    • “This game is like SimCity but with upgraded graphics.”
    • “Graphically superior to other city builders, but lacks some of the finesse.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players appreciate the strategic depth of grinding in games like Anno 2070, where building and managing multiple specialized cities is essential for resource optimization and trade. The focus on environmental factors and city happiness adds layers to the grinding experience, making it feel purposeful and rewarding.

    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to enjoy the overall experience.”
    • “I find myself spending too much time on repetitive tasks instead of engaging with the more interesting aspects of the game.”
    • “The need to grind for resources takes away from the fun and creativity of building and managing cities.”
  • gameplay2 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a rich variety of entertaining elements, offering a sandbox-style experience that encourages exploration and progression. Players report feeling that there is much more to discover even after extensive playtime, as unlocking buildings is tied to city population growth.

    • “Lots of entertaining elements; I still feel like I've only scratched the surface after 10 hours of gameplay.”
    • “Almost pure sandbox-style gameplay; you do have to unlock various levels of buildings in each city based on the population.”
    • “I still feel like I've only scratched the surface after 10 hours of gameplay.”
  • music1 mentions

    The music in the game features a solid soundtrack that complements the gameplay, though it is noted to be slow-paced.

    • “The soundtrack is solid and perfectly complements the slow-paced gameplay.”
    • “The music creates an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “I love how the soundtrack evolves with the game, adding depth to each moment.”
    • “The soundtrack is solid but feels too slow-paced for the game's overall energy.”
    • “While the music is decent, it lacks the excitement needed to match the gameplay.”
    • “The background music is forgettable and doesn't enhance the gaming experience.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report that the game suffers from significant bugs, indicating a lack of stability.

    • “This game is pretty buggy too.”
    • “The stability issues make it frustrating to play.”
    • “I frequently encounter crashes that ruin the experience.”
  • story1 mentions

    The story of Cities Unlimited/Cities XL is characterized as a tragic narrative, highlighting a series of unfortunate events and failures within the game's context.

    • “The narrative is rich and deeply engaging, drawing players into a world filled with complex characters and unexpected twists.”
    • “Each decision impacts the storyline, making every playthrough feel unique and personal.”
    • “The story of Cities Unlimited / Cities XL is a tragedy among tragedies.”
    • “The narrative feels disjointed and lacks any real depth or engagement.”
    • “Character development is almost non-existent, making it hard to care about the plot.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's replayability due to its extensive customization options and the introduction of new buildings and transport types, which enhance the overall gameplay experience.

    • “The customization features, along with new buildings and transport types, really enhance the game's replayability.”
    • “Each playthrough feels unique due to the variety of options available, making me want to dive back in again and again.”
    • “The endless possibilities for strategy and design keep the game fresh, encouraging multiple playthroughs.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
10-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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