Cities: Skylines II: The Ultimate City Builder That Pushes the Limits
If you have ever dreamed of building your own metropolis from scratch, watching it grow from a tiny village into a sprawling, bustling city, then you already know about Cities: Skylines. The original game was amazing. But the sequel? Cities: Skylines II takes everything that made the first game great and turns it up to eleven.
I have spent countless hours in this game, and let me tell you, the level of detail is insane. You can literally zoom in and follow a single citizen going about their day. They go to work, they go shopping, they have relationships. It feels alive in a way that no city builder has ever felt before.
But here is the honest truth. The launch was rough. The game had performance problems, some bugs, and missing features. But the developers at Colossal Order have been working hard to fix things. So is it worth buying now? Let me break down everything you need to know.
Quick Info Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Paradox Interactive |
| Developer | Colossal Order |
| Release Date | October 24, 2023 (PC) / June 30, 2024 (Xbox Series X/S) |
| Genre | City Builder / Simulation / Strategy |
| Platforms | PC (Steam, Windows Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S |
Detailed Game Description
Let me start with the big picture. Cities: Skylines II is not just a graphical upgrade to the first game. The developers at Colossal Order rebuilt the simulation from the ground up. Everything is deeper, more complex, and more realistic.
The CEO of Colossal Order, Mariina Hallikainen, called it “the most captivating, visually stunning, and intricate city builder ever made”. That is a big claim. But after playing it, I can see why she said that.
The Core Gameplay
You start by picking a map. Each map has its own biome, climate, and natural resources. A desert map will have different challenges than a snowy mountain map. The environment actually matters now.
From there, you build roads, lay down zones, set up power and water, and watch your population grow. But the systems underneath are much more complex than the first game.
The economy is a full simulation now. Every resource is tracked. Goods need to be produced, transported, and sold. If your industrial area is too far from your commercial area, trucks will have to travel long distances, causing traffic and reducing efficiency. You have to think about logistics.
The Citizens Are Real People
This is my favorite new feature. In the first game, citizens were just numbers. You knew how many people lived in your city, but they didn’t have individual lives.
In Cities: Skylines II, every single citizen has their own life . They have a home, a workplace, a family, relationships, and a wealth level. You can click on any citizen and see where they live, where they work, how much money they have, and even what they think about your city.
This makes the game feel completely different. When you build a new school, you can actually see the children who start attending. When pollution makes people sick, you can find the specific citizens suffering. Your decisions have faces now.
There is also a homelessness system. Citizens can become homeless and will gather in parks and other public spaces. You need to build affordable housing and provide services to help them.
The New Progression System
The old milestone system is gone. Now you have a technology tree called the Development Tree. As your city gains XP from just existing and growing, you reach new milestones. Each milestone gives you Development Points. You spend these points to unlock new buildings, services, and features.
This is much better than the old system. You have choices. Do you want to unlock better power plants first? Or do you want to focus on public transportation? Or maybe you want to unlock parks and leisure? You decide based on your city’s needs.
Services and Upgrades
City services have been completely revamped. In the first game, you just plopped down a police station and it covered a circular area. Now, service buildings can be expanded with upgrades.
For example, a police station can get a detective unit that helps solve crimes faster. A school can get an extension for more students. A hospital can add more beds. You have to decide which upgrades are worth the cost.
Power and water are also more realistic. You now need substations to convert high-voltage power from power plants to low-voltage power that houses can use. Water and sewage pipes are automatically placed under roads (except highways), so you don’t have to manually draw pipe networks anymore.
And here is a great quality of life improvement. You can upgrade roads in place. No more bulldozing and rebuilding. Want to turn a two-lane road into a four-lane road? Just click and upgrade. The buildings stay standing.
Graphics and Visuals
The game runs on a new graphics engine, and it shows. The lighting is beautiful. The buildings have incredible detail. You can zoom all the way from a satellite view of the whole region down to a specific person walking down the street.
The dynamic weather and seasons add to the visuals. Trees change color in autumn. Snow covers the ground in winter. Rain makes the streets shiny. It is genuinely beautiful to look at.
The Chirper and Communication
Remember Chirper from the first game? The little bird that gave you annoying pop-ups? It has been completely overhauled. Now it looks like a social media app. Citizens post about their lives, their jobs, and your city. You can even like their posts.
When someone complains about high rent, that is a signal that you need more affordable housing. When someone praises a new park, you know you did something right. It is much more useful and less annoying than the old system.
DLCs and Expansions
The game has a few major DLCs already released or announced:
- San Francisco Set: Included with the Expansion Pass, adds the Golden Gate Bridge, muscle cars, and a San Francisco map.
- Beach Properties Asset Pack: Adds beachfront housing and waterfront assets.
- Urban Promenades and Modern Architecture Packs: Content creator packs adding over 30 assets each.
- Bridges & Ports Expansion: The biggest expansion so far. Adds drawbridges, lighthouses, marine industries, and over 100 new assets.
More content is coming. The developers are committed to supporting the game for years.
The Console Situation
The PC version came out on October 24, 2023. But console players had to wait. The Xbox Series X/S version finally released on June 30, 2024. The PlayStation 5 version came later.
One important thing to know. The game is only on current-gen consoles. No PS4, no Xbox One. The old consoles simply cannot handle the simulation.
The game is also available on Xbox Game Pass for console, PC, and cloud. So if you have Game Pass, you can try it without buying it.
What is the System Requirement for Cities: Skylines II?
Now let me be very honest with you. Cities: Skylines II is a demanding game. Much more demanding than the first game. The simulation is deeper, the graphics are better, and your CPU has to work hard.
Do not underestimate these requirements. Many players with mid-range PCs have struggled to get good performance.
Minimum System Requirements (For 1080p / Low Settings)
If you want to just run the game at low settings and accept some performance issues, here is what you need:
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
- Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7-6700K or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
- Memory (RAM): 8 GB
- Graphics Card (GPU): Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 (4 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 480 (8 GB)
- Storage: 60 GB available space
My honest advice: The minimum requirements are not really enough for a good experience. With 8 GB of RAM and a GTX 970, you will get low frame rates, especially once your city grows past a certain size. The game will work, but do not expect smooth performance.
Recommended System Requirements (For 1080p/1440p / High Settings)
For a smooth experience at higher settings, aim for this configuration:
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64 Bit or Windows 11
- Processor (CPU): Intel Core i5-12600K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
- Memory (RAM): 16 GB
- Graphics Card (GPU): Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 (10 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (16 GB)
- Storage: 60 GB available space
Can My PC Run Cities: Skylines II?
Here is the truth. The recommended GPU is an RTX 3080. That is a very powerful and expensive graphics card. Most people do not have that. The GTX 970 from the minimum requirements is an old card from 2014.
The game has had performance issues since launch. Many players have complained about lag, stuttering, and crashes. One user on Metacritic said, “The performance is still ridiculously bad and the game crashes randomly from time to time”. Another called it “a downgrade from CS1” with “horrible” performance.
The developers have released patches to improve performance. But the game is still heavy. If you have a mid-range or budget PC, you will need to lower settings significantly. And even then, very large cities will cause slowdown.
If you have a high-end PC, you will be fine. If you have a console, the Xbox Series X/S and PS5 versions run well.
Here is my practical advice. Before buying, check your PC specs. If you have an RTX 3060 or better and a recent CPU, you can play at medium to high settings. If you have a GTX 1060 or something similar, you will struggle. Consider playing on console or upgrading your PC.
Also, get an SSD. While not strictly required, the game loads much faster and runs smoother from an SSD.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
These are the questions people ask most often about Cities: Skylines II. I have gathered them from forums, Reddit, and the community.
1. Is Cities: Skylines II better than the first game?
In many ways, yes. The simulation is deeper. The citizens are individual people. The graphics are beautiful. The road tools are better. The progression system gives you more choice.
But the first game has years of DLC and mods. Cities: Skylines II is newer, so it has less content right now. Also, the performance issues are real. If you want a polished, complete experience with tons of content, the first game with all DLCs is still great. If you want the best simulation and graphics and are willing to deal with some rough edges, get the sequel.
2. Why is my game lagging or stuttering?
You are not alone. Many players have performance issues. The game is very demanding on both CPU and GPU.
Here are some things to try:
- Lower graphics settings, especially shadows and ambient occlusion
- Reduce the resolution scale
- Close other applications running in the background
- Make sure the game is on an SSD
- Update your graphics drivers
- Check if your CPU is throttling due to heat
The developers have released several performance patches. The game runs better now than at launch, but it is still heavy.
3. How do I build roads properly?
Road building is one of the most important skills in Cities: Skylines II. Here are some tips from experienced players:
- Use a road hierarchy. Highways connect regions. Arterial roads move traffic between districts. Collector roads gather traffic from neighborhoods. Local streets serve individual buildings.
- Avoid creating “stroads.” These are roads that try to be both high-speed arteries and local streets. They cause congestion and accidents.
- Use roundabouts at busy intersections instead of traffic lights.
- Build grid layouts in busy city centers. Blocks help services and people move quickly.
- You can upgrade roads in place. Start with smaller roads and upgrade as your city grows.
4. How do I manage my budget in the early game?
Early game budget management is crucial. Here is what works:
- Pause the simulation when you start building. Do not let the clock run while you are planning. But do not build too much before unpausing. Citizens are not moving in or paying taxes when the game is paused.
- You get cash bonuses when you reach milestones. Use these wisely.
- After unlocking taxes, increase taxes on higher education levels. Wealthy citizens can afford it and will not complain much.
- Do not build services you do not need yet. Wait until citizens demand them.
5. How does public transportation work?
Public transport is essential for reducing traffic. Here are the basics:
- Buses are cheap and effective for starting out. But too many buses on the same line can cause congestion.
- Metro (subway) is the most effective system but expensive. It is worth the investment.
- Put metro stations at major intersections first. Then zone high-density within a five-minute walk. This creates natural ridership.
- Use buses to feed into metro lines. Buses bring people from neighborhoods to the metro stations.
- Passenger trains are better for tourism and connecting distant parts of your city, not for daily commutes within the city.
- Cargo trains help industrial districts by reducing truck traffic.
6. How do I get more citizens to move in?
You need empty houses and high approval. Build more residential zones. Also check your approval rating. The main factors that attract new residents are:
- Low taxes
- Good coverage of services (healthcare, police, fire)
- Low pollution
- Available jobs
If your approval is low, fix the problems first. No one wants to move to a polluted, high-crime city with no jobs.
7. Can I play Cities: Skylines II on PS4 or Xbox One?
No. The game is only on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The old consoles do not have enough power to run the simulation.
8. Does Cities: Skylines II have mods?
Yes, but the modding system is different from the first game. The first game used Steam Workshop. Cities: Skylines II uses Paradox Mods, which is built into the game. This works on both PC and console.
Many popular mods from the first game have been ported or recreated. The modding community is active, though not as large as the first game yet.
9. Is the game worth buying in its current state?
This depends on your patience level and your PC.
If you have a high-end PC and you love city builders, yes. The core game is solid and enjoyable. The simulation is deep. The graphics are beautiful.
If you have a mid-range PC and are sensitive to performance issues, wait. The game still has optimization problems. Read recent reviews before buying.
If you want a completely polished experience with no bugs, wait another year or two. The developers are actively patching the game, but it is still rough around the edges.
10. What are the best beginner tips for Cities: Skylines II?
Here are some tips that will save you frustration:
- Do not build too fast. Pause the game, plan your initial roads, then unpause and let citizens move in before expanding.
- Keep water and sewage separate. Place your water pumping station upstream from your sewage drain pipe. Otherwise, you poison your citizens with their own waste.
- Zone mixed-use. Do not put all residential in one area and all commercial in another. Mix them. People walking to shops reduces traffic.
- Put metro stations before high-density zoning. This creates transit-oriented development and prevents traffic nightmares.
- Upgrade roads instead of bulldozing. You can replace roads in place. Much cheaper and faster.
- Pay attention to Chirper. The social media posts tell you what your citizens need. Complaints about high rent? Build more affordable housing. Complaints about noise? Add trees or sound barriers.
- Separate truck traffic from commuter traffic. Industrial areas should have their own access to highways. Do not force trucks to drive through residential neighborhoods.
11. How do I get the true ending or win the game?
There is no “winning” in Cities: Skylines II. It is a sandbox. You set your own goals. Some players aim to reach the highest population possible. Others want to build a beautiful, realistic city. Some focus on making a profitable, efficient machine.
The game does not end. You can keep building forever. That is the point.
12. Will there be more DLCs?
Yes. Paradox Interactive is known for supporting their games for years with DLCs. The Bridges & Ports expansion is out. More content packs and expansions are planned. The game has a long future ahead of it.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy Cities: Skylines II?
Let me be direct with you. Cities: Skylines II had a rough launch. The performance problems were severe. Many features were missing. The community was angry.
But a lot has improved since October 2023. The developers have released multiple patches. Performance is better. Bugs have been fixed. New content has arrived.
Is the game perfect now? No. Performance is still not great on lower-end PCs. Some features from the first game’s DLCs are still missing. The modding scene is smaller.
But here is the thing. When the game works, it is incredible. The simulation depth is unmatched. Watching individual citizens live their lives is fascinating. Building a beautiful, functioning city is deeply satisfying.
If you have a powerful PC or a current-gen console, and you love city builders, buy Cities: Skylines II. You will get dozens, maybe hundreds of hours of enjoyment.
If you have an older PC, try the game on Game Pass first. See if it runs well on your system. Do not spend full price without testing.
If you want a polished, complete experience with no compromises, stick with the first game for now. It is still great. Come back to the sequel in a year.
For everyone else, Cities: Skylines II is the future of city building. It just needs a little more time to fully realize its potential.
