Cities: Skylines II

The main pros of the game

• Creative Freedom: Players appreciate the ability to design and build cities with more options compared to the original game. Notable features include the ability to upgrade roads with additional elements like trees and tram tracks.
• Atmospheric Music: The game's music enhances the building experience, allowing players to immerse themselves in city creation.
• Improved Systems: The waste management and power systems are more advanced and user-friendly, with automatic connections to roads and pathways.
• Native Mod Support: The game includes in-game mod support, allowing for some customization, although this feature has received mixed feedback.
• Visual Improvements: Many players note that the graphics are better than the first game, contributing to a more engaging experience when the game runs smoothly.

The main cons of the game

• Frequent Crashes: A significant number of players report that the game crashes often, making it frustrating and sometimes unplayable. This issue persists even on high-end systems.
• Performance Issues: Many users experience poor performance, particularly in larger cities. Frame rates drop significantly as city populations increase, leading to lag and stuttering.
• Bugs and Glitches: There are numerous bugs that affect gameplay, including save file corruption and issues with loading saved games.
• Limited Mod Support: While there is native mod support, players express disappointment over the lack of Steam Workshop integration and the incomplete nature of the in-game modding tools.
• Graphics and Aesthetics: Some users find the graphics disappointing compared to expectations, with certain visual elements described as dull or unappealing.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• Basic Features from the Original: Several players note that essential features from the first game, such as bike paths and certain traffic management tools, are missing or not fully implemented in the sequel.
• Improved Traffic AI: The traffic simulation is criticized for being less intuitive and more problematic than in the original game, with issues such as poor pathfinding and unrealistic vehicle behavior.
• Quality of Life Improvements: Players are frustrated by the lack of options to save settings (like turning off radio hosts) and other user-friendly features that were present in the original game.
• Expanded Modding Options: Users desire more robust modding capabilities and a wider variety of assets and tools to enhance gameplay without relying heavily on external mods.

Final Thoughts:

Cities: Skylines II shows promise with its creative building options and improved systems, but it is hindered by significant stability issues, performance problems, and a lack of some beloved features from its predecessor. Many players recommend waiting for further patches and improvements before investing in the game.

Summary generated on: February 3, 2025