Cities: Skylines

Cities: Skylines is a city-building and management simulation game developed by Colossal Order and published by Paradox Interactive. It was released on March 10, 2015, for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux. The game was later ported to consoles, including Xbox One on April 21, 2017, PlayStation 4 on August 15, 2017, Nintendo Switch on September 13, 2018, and Google Stadia on May 17, 2022. A remastered edition was released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on February 15, 2023.

In Cities: Skylines, players take on the role of a city planner, tasked with developing and managing a city from the ground up. The game offers a sandbox mode, allowing for creative freedom, and a scenario mode with specific challenges. Players manage various aspects of city life, including zoning, road placement, taxation, public services, and public transportation. The game also features a dynamic simulation of over a million citizens, each with their own daily routines and needs. A notable aspect is the game's support for user-generated content, enabling players to create and share custom assets and mods.

To promote Cities: Skylines, Paradox Interactive leveraged its existing community and the game's modding capabilities. The game was showcased at various gaming conventions, and early access was provided to influencers and content creators to generate buzz. The inclusion of Steam Workshop support allowed for a thriving community of modders, which helped sustain interest in the game long after its release. The game's availability on multiple platforms also expanded its reach to a broader audience.

Upon release, Cities: Skylines received widespread acclaim for its depth, attention to detail, and the freedom it offered players. Critics praised the game's complex simulation and the level of control it provided over city planning. The game's performance was noted to be superior to that of its contemporaries, particularly the 2013 SimCity reboot. User reviews were overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the game's replayability and the satisfaction derived from building and managing a city.

The game's success led to the release of numerous downloadable content packs, which introduced new features, buildings, and gameplay mechanics. These expansions included content such as new maps, transportation options, and specialized districts, further enhancing the game's depth and replayability. The DLCs were generally well-received, with many players appreciating the additional content and the continued support from the developers.

As of June 2022, Cities: Skylines had sold over twelve million copies across all platforms, solidifying its position as a leading title in the city-building genre. The game's enduring popularity can be attributed to its robust modding community, regular updates, and the continuous addition of new content. In October 2023, a sequel, Cities: Skylines II, was released, building upon the foundation laid by its predecessor and introducing new features and improvements.