7.5 /10 22

Cities: Skylines II aims to be the ultimate city simulation, offering unprecedented scale and depth compared to its predecessor. Developed by Colossal Order, it introduces deep economic systems, seasonal climates, and smarter traffic AI right out of the box. While the launch was marred by performance issues, patches throughout 2024 and into 2025 have stabilized the experience significantly. It positions itself as a “next-gen” title that demands high-end hardware to simulate thousands of citizens’ daily lives. Readers will learn how the new road tools, zoning options, and progression systems make this the most realistic city builder to date, despite the technical hurdles.

How to Play Cities: Skylines II

You play as the mayor, designing a city from scratch. You must manage infrastructure, zoning, services, and the economy to grow from a village to a megapolis.

1. Controls – Uses standard mouse and keyboard controls. The UI is cleaner but denser than the first game. Tooltips are vital for understanding the complex new economic layers.
2. Progression – You earn XP (Milestones) to unlock new buildings and zones. Development Points are used to unlock specific tech trees like advanced power plants or high-density transit.
3. Combat/Mechanics – There is no combat. The “enemy” is traffic jams, budget deficits, and natural disasters. The core loop involves zoning areas, providing services, and balancing the budget.
4. Tips – Don’t expand too fast; service upkeep costs are brutal. Use the new road tools to build roundabouts early to prevent traffic bottlenecks. Pay attention to wind direction for industrial pollution.

Who Should Play Cities: Skylines II

This is for simulation purists who want to manage every detail of a city, from tax rates for specific industries to bus line schedules.

• Player 1 – Fans of the original Cities: Skylines who want deeper simulation without needing 50 mods installed.
• Player 2 – Urban planning enthusiasts who enjoy designing realistic road networks and managing public transit logic.
• Player 3 – PC gamers with powerful rigs looking for a visually stunning sandbox game to push their hardware.
• Skip if – You are playing on an older PC or laptop without a dedicated GPU; the game is extremely demanding.

Cities: Skylines II Platform Performance

Performance has improved since launch but remains heavy. Console versions for PS5 and Xbox are currently delayed, targeting a Summer 2025 release.

Cities: Skylines II System Requirements

The requirements are steep. An SSD is practically mandatory, and high RAM is needed for large cities.

Similar Games to Cities: Skylines II

If the complexity or performance of CS2 is too much, these alternatives offer different takes on city building and management.

• Cities: Skylines (Original) – The predecessor. Still excellent, runs on potatoes, and has 10 years of DLC and mods available.
• SimCity (2013) – Easier and smaller scale, but has a charm and visual style that some players still prefer.
• Frostpunk 2 – A survival city-builder where moral choices and resource scarcity matter more than traffic flow.
• Manor Lords – A medieval city-builder focusing on organic growth and tactical battles, offering a different historical vibe.

Cities: Skylines II vs Competitors

CS2 is in a league of its own regarding scale, but competitors often offer better performance or more focused gameplay loops.

Cities: Skylines II Story & World

There is no narrative story mode. The “story” is the one you create as your city grows. The world is defined by the map you choose—mountainous valleys, archipelagos, or flat plains. The game features a radio host who comments on your city’s state (e.g., complaining about traffic or praising services), adding a layer of immersive, dynamic storytelling that reacts to your gameplay decisions. The tone is generally optimistic but grounded in the logistical realities of urban management.

Cities: Skylines II Multiplayer & Online

Like its predecessor, this is a strictly single-player simulation focused on your personal creativity and management skills.

• Single Player Only – Complete focus on solo city building and management.
• No Co-op – You cannot build a city with a friend simultaneously.
• Paradox Mods – The new modding platform allows for cross-platform mod sharing (once consoles launch).
• Leaderboards – None. The goal is personal satisfaction, not competition.

Cities: Skylines II DLC & Expansions

Paradox has an extensive roadmap. Several asset packs have been released, with major expansions planned following the delayed console launch.

• Beach Properties – An asset pack that was released (and made free after backlash) focusing on waterfront housing.
• Bridges & Ports – Upcoming major expansion focusing on maritime infrastructure and drawbridges.
• Expansion Pass – Includes access to the first few waves of DLC, offering savings for committed players.
• Free Updates – Regular patches adding new assets, bug fixes, and performance improvements are ongoing.

Cities: Skylines II Community & Support

The community is massive and passionate, often critical of performance but deeply engaged in creating mods and assets.

• Official Forums – Paradox Plaza is the main hub for bug reports and developer diaries.
• Reddit/Discord – The r/CitiesSkylines community shares amazing builds, traffic solutions, and troubleshooting tips.
• Mod Support – “Paradox Mods” is the integrated solution, replacing Steam Workshop to support future console mods.
• Updates – Patches are frequent, addressing simulation speed and LOD issues as the game matures.