Cities: Skylines II
Simulation
Single-player
Steam Achievements
Full controller support
Steam Cloud
Family Sharing

Raise a city from the ground up and transform it into a thriving metropolis with the most realistic city builder ever. Push your creativity and problem-solving to build on a scale you've never experienced. With deep simulation and a living economy, this is world-building without limits.

Developers: Iceflake Studios Colossal Order
Publishers: Paradox Interactive
Release Date: Oct 24, 2023
Price (USD): $34.99
Current Players: 8.9k

Links:  Steam Store  SteamDB

Mixed(53%)
graphical improvements
immersive experience
traffic systems
modding possibilities
district management
traffic management
modding essential
AI behavior
graphical vs resource
content updates
performance optimization
game-breaking bugs
resource-heavy
missing features
DLC focus
The reviews reveal a game with graphical and simulation depth that many have found engaging and rewarding. However, there are significant performance issues, with frequent crashes and bugs affecting even high-end PCs. The community is divided as some players find the extensive modding capabilities essential to enjoyment, while others see them as a necessity rather than a choice. Overall, while some see improvements over time, others feel disappointed with the reliance on DLCs and the perceived neglect of foundational issues.

Positive Points

  • Many players praise the game's graphics and aesthetic improvements over its predecessor.
  • The game provides a deep and immersive city-building experience, allowing players to engage in extensive urban planning and management.
  • The updated road and traffic systems, alongside with district management, add layers to the gameplay, which many players enjoy.
  • There are extensive modding possibilities, which is appreciated by the community and adds replay value.
  • Despite its issues at launch, some players acknowledge significant improvements and bug fixes over time.
  • Negative Points

  • Performance optimization remains a key issue, with frequent reports of crashes and lag, even on high-end systems.
  • The game is criticized for being a resource-heavy and poorly optimized experience, with significant hardware demands.
  • There are frequent reports of game-breaking bugs, including disappearing saves and graphical glitches.
  • The game lacks certain content features that were standard in its predecessor, such as specific management tools and customizations.
  • The release has been marred by a focus on DLCs over fixing fundamental gameplay and performance issues.
  • Mixed Points

  • The road and traffic management systems are seen as both an improvement and a source of frustration due to AI behavior.
  • While the graphical improvements are praised, some players note that they do not justify the high resource requirements.
  • Players have mixed opinions on the usage of mods, where many see them as essential for a good experience, but they also frequently break with updates.
  • The updates and patches have improved stability for some, but others find the game still lacks essential fixes.
  • Common Themes

  • Traffic management remains a contentious aspect, both for its complexity and issues with AI pathfinding.
  • The game's development journey is frequently critiqued, with a common consensus that the game felt unfinished on release.
  • There is a heavy reliance on community-created mods to enhance and fix the gameplay experience.
  • The base game is viewed by many as lacking comprehensive content, making some feel DLCs fill gaps that should exist in the core offering.
  • The game evokes strong emotions, with many players expressing both frustration and potential enjoyment if improvements continue.
  • Updated 2/19/2026, 12:02:19 AM UTC