Cities: Skylines II
Cities: Skylines II launched on October 24, 2023 for PC (Steam), with console versions planned later. From Colossal Order and Paradox Interactive, it rebuilds city sim fundamentals. You manage simulation depth across services, traffic, weather, and terrain, then fight bottlenecks with tools that expose where the city chokes.
Ultimate Edition — what’s included
- Base game
- Expansion Pass: Waterfronts bundle with:
- San Francisco Set
- Two Creator Packs
- Bridges & Ports expansion
- Three Radio Stations paired with the above releases
Review
The draw is the simulation map. Systems talk to each other more cleanly, and the data views make problem‑solving feel like detective work instead of busywork. Road tools are calmer, zoning is quick, and the early game builds without that old stop‑start wobble. When a district hums, it feels earned.
Performance was rough at launch, but patches improved stability and streaming. On big cities, you still need a strong CPU. DLC cadence has been messy, though Bridges & Ports looks like the first confident step toward the vision the team pitched.
Caveats: UI clicks stack up during long sessions, and traffic can spiral fast if you are sloppy with lanes. If you enjoy tuning systems, it pays off. If you want instant spectacle, it will feel slow. Still, the bones are strong.
Verdict: deep, demanding city sim with tools that reward patience.
PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 Home 64‑bit | Windows 10 Home 64‑bit or Windows 11 |
| CPU | Intel Core i7‑6700K or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X | Intel Core i5‑12600K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GeForce GTX 970 4 GB or Radeon RX 480 8 GB | GeForce RTX 3080 10 GB or Radeon RX 6800 XT 16 GB |
| Storage | 60 GB available space | 60 GB available space |
