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: 9.2k

Links:  Steam Store  SteamDB

Mixed(56%)
detailed city-building
improved graphics
modding community
road-building tools
Iceflake Studios
powerful PC needed
visuals vs. performance
Iceflake improvements
performance issues
traffic AI
missing features
mod compatibility
expensive DLCs
The general sentiment of the reviews highlights a game with high potential and engaging gameplay but is held back by performance issues and incomplete features. Players acknowledge improvements made by Iceflake Studios, yet the game suffers from technical challenges that affect playability. Enthusiasts recommend patience and mods to enhance the experience, as the game continues to evolve positively, though it remains unfinished in several key areas.

Positive Points

  • The game offers a highly detailed and immersive city-building experience that is captivating and addictive for many players.
  • There has been a significant improvement in the game's performance and stability due to the efforts of Iceflake Studios, making it more playable and enjoyable.
  • The graphics and visual style of the game are praised, with realistic details and lighting effects that enhance the overall experience.
  • Players appreciate the extensive modding community and the ease of access to user-generated content, which enhances gameplay and customization.
  • The road-building tools and traffic management systems are considered superior to its predecessor, offering more flexibility and realism.
  • Negative Points

  • The game suffers from severe performance issues, with frequent crashes, low frame rates, and high hardware demands, even on high-end PCs.
  • Some players find the traffic AI to be poorly implemented, leading to unrealistic and frustrating traffic jams.
  • The game lacks certain features and content compared to its predecessor, requiring players to buy DLCs to access a full experience.
  • Modding on platforms like Paradox Mods has complications, and players have reported issues with mod compatibility and management.
  • Some fundamental mechanics and features feel underdeveloped or flawed, particularly in simulating realistic city functions and economic systems.
  • Mixed Points

  • While there have been gameplay and performance improvements, the game still requires a powerful PC to enjoy smoothly.
  • The graphics are generally praised, but some players report that the improved visuals do not sufficiently compensate for performance issues.
  • The game's development and updates have notably improved under Iceflake Studios, but there are still many unresolved bugs and optimization issues.
  • Common Themes

  • A key theme in player reviews is the expectation and comparison to the original Cities: Skylines, with many expressing the game feels incomplete without DLCs.
  • There is a significant divide between players who enjoy the detailed city-building and those who are frustrated by technical issues.
  • The modding community is highlighted as a crucial component of the game's appeal, offering enhancements that the base game lacks.
  • Updated 8/7/2026, 12:02:30 AM UTC