Cities: Skylines 2: A New Era for City-Building Sims
Review by Pierre Herubel
October 24, 2023
Cities: Skylines 2, available on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC, is the ultimate city-building simulator for those who seek to conquer the world through industrialization or simply want to explore and enjoy a captivating urban simulation. As a seasoned player of city-building sims, I often found myself frustrated with the excessive realism that some games offer. However, Cities: Skylines 2 manages to strike the perfect balance between realism and enjoyable gameplay.
Unlike its predecessor from 2015, which had a steep learning curve, Cities: Skylines 2 is intuitive and easy to grasp. This is largely due to its outstanding user interface, which seamlessly guides players through every aspect of city-building. With this user-friendly interface, players can fully immerse themselves in the new features and mechanics without being overwhelmed by the intricate details. The game effortlessly connects buildings to essential utilities such as sewage, water, and electricity, freeing players to focus on the bigger picture.
One of the most appealing aspects of Cities: Skylines 2 is the ability to shape the destiny of your city. Starting with a small village, players can gradually expand their town and witness the transformation into a bustling metropolis. As your city grows, so do your ambitions. Trade becomes a priority, and managing industrial actions and public services become essential. It is immensely satisfying when your city becomes profitable, allowing you to upgrade services and invest in the well-being of your citizens.
Managing budgets and trade may not sound like the most exciting gameplay elements, but Cities: Skylines 2 manages to make it surprisingly engaging. The game’s detailed services and trading features add a layer of realism to the experience, making every decision feel significant. The user interface provides accessible charts and information to effortlessly keep track of budgets, taxes, and trade activities. As I shifted my city’s focus from industrial to technology, I found myself immersed in the intricacies of managing trade and budgets.
Beyond the technical aspects, Cities: Skylines 2 also offers the opportunity to dive into personal stories within your city. Each citizen has a name, occupation, and family, allowing players to check on their well-being and address their needs. This attention to detail makes it hard not to care for your population and strive to create the best living environment for them. The in-game social media platform and radio provide additional insights into the problems and challenges faced by your community.
While Cities: Skylines 2 offers a fantastic gameplay experience, there are some minor bugs and graphical issues. In my playtime, I encountered the game buffering when set to high graphics settings and witnessed instances of characters phasing through buildings and cars. However, these issues did not significantly impact the overall experience, and the game’s developer, Paradox Interactive, has acknowledged these faults and promised to address them promptly.
Overall, Cities: Skylines 2 sets a new standard for city-building sims. Its smart AI, well-designed trading systems, and attention to detail bring the game to life. With numerous maps and endless design possibilities, the game offers immense replayability. Whether you’re a fan of the genre or new to city-building sims, Cities: Skylines 2 is a must-play. It strikes the perfect balance between guidance and freedom, allowing players to craft their dream cities without feeling overwhelmed.
In terms of accessibility, while there are no specific accessibility settings, there are tools available to tailor the gaming experience. Players can adjust the quality of illuminations, switch between day and night visuals, and customize the UI style and transparency to suit their preferences.
Before purchasing or installing Cities: Skylines 2, it is important to check the performance requirements and ensure compatibility with your system. While I experienced slight buffering issues on high settings with a 3070Ti graphics card, lowering the graphics settings resolved these problems.
After spending 25 hours in Cities: Skylines 2, I can confidently say that this game is a true masterpiece in the city-building genre. Its blend of accessibility, attention to detail, and engaging gameplay make it a standout title. Step into the world of Cities: Skylines 2 and let your imagination shape the city of your dreams.
