i think this game is finally ready to review. it came out in october 2023, but it hasn’t really… worked. it’s been so rough that paradox and colossal order recently split, with the franchise moving to iceflake studios in 2026.
the launch was a mess. performance issues made it nearly unplayable for many, and even on high-end hardware the game struggled. missing features that were standard in cities: skylines 1 (with its expansions) were notably absent. missing mod tools were their “biggest regret” according to co’s ceo—they simply ran out of time.
and yet—i keep coming back. there’s something compelling about the core loop when it works. the new road tools are genuinely great. the economic simulation has more depth. the zoning system makes more sense.
what’s changed recently
the bike patch dropped in late november, adding bicycles as a core transportation option. it’s… almost broken the game? the pedestrian and cyclist pathfinding creates these massive crowds that clog up streets in ways that feel deeply unintended. classic cs2.
but the real game-changer is asset mod support. the editor is still in beta, but modders can finally create and share custom content through paradox mods. it’s already changing the game overnight—new buildings, tools, and assets are flooding in. this is what made cs1 great, and it gives me hope.
hoping for a good 2026 for this game. iceflake has their work cut out for them, but if they can get performance sorted and build on what the modding community is already creating, there’s a great city builder hiding in here somewhere.
i do really love this game. i just wish it loved me back.