Simulation games allow players to build and manage virtual cities, and the genre has evolved over time to allow players to become mayors of entire cities, architects of futuristic societies or creators of transportation networks. Some of the best simulation games include City Skylines, which offers a level of flexibility unmatched by other city-building games, SIMCITY which has undergone several evolutions over the years, and Transport Tycoon, a game revolving around the management and development of a transportation infrastructure. Other options include Cities: Skylines Snowfall, which features snowfall and Tropico 6, a game set in a tropical paradise where players take on the role of a dictator running an island nation.
From Airports to Cities: A Guide to the Best Simulation Games for Urban Planning
Simulation games revolving around city building and management have been popular among gamers for many years. The genre has evolved over time, allowing players to become mayors of entire cities, architects of futuristic societies, and creators of transportation networks that span entire regions. Whether you’re an urban planning enthusiast or just enjoy tweaking and optimizing, there’s a city simulator out there for you. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the best simulation games for urban planning.
City Skylines
City Skylines is a modern classic in the genre of city-building games, earning rave reviews and a cult following since its launch in 2015. The game offers a level of detail and flexibility unrivaled in other city-building games, allowing players to design a city virtually from the ground up. The game provides a wide range of tools to create and manage your city, including road-building, zoning, taxation, public services, environmental policies, and more. The game also supports mods, which add even more depth and auto-making features to an already extensive game.
SIMCITY
SIMCITY is a veteran of the simulation games genre, first released in 1989. The game has undergone several evolutions and improvements over the years, including the latest iteration, SIMCITY 2013. The series remains a fan favorite among gamers who love the thrill of building and managing a thriving metropolis. Players can build city infrastructure, manage public services, and deal with crises that arise, such as natural disasters, environmental hazards, and economic recessions. The game also features a learning mode or tutorial, making it an excellent choice for first-timers to the genre.
Cities: Skylines Snowfall
If you love City Skylines, then you likely will enjoy Cities: Skylines Snowfall, a new game expansion released in 2016. This game features all the complexity of the original, including road building, zoning, and city services. However, it adds some exciting new elements to the mix, like snowfall and various weather conditions, that can all impact your city’s functioning. As a player, you have to manage road crews and snow removal, add thermal heating plants to keep your city functioning in the colder months, and more.
Transport Tycoon
Transport Tycoon is a game revolving around the management and development of a transportation infrastructure that spans cities and regions. It was originally released in 1985 under the name “Chris Sawyer’s Transport Tycoon” as a 2D point and click game. Still, later releases evolved into 3D simulations. Players can create transportation networks for people and cargo, manage fleet maintenance and upgrades, and deal with economic and environmental obstacles. The game provides users with a level of detail typical of simulation games, including considerations like vehicle routing and optimization, demand and supply balancing, and more. Transport Tycoon has a new sequel, Transport Tycoon World, launched in 2014, which provides significant improvements in graphics and new challenges; however, it has largely failed to replicate the success of the original.
Tropico 6
Tropico 6 is relatively new to the city-building genre, having been released in 2019. The game is specifically set in a tropical paradise, and players take on the role of a dictator running an island nation. The game provides players with features now familiar to the genre, such as city building and management, infrastructure building, and resource management. However, there’s a twist, as players must also deal with threats to their regime, including foreign powers seeking to overthrow them, corrupt officials, and citizens looking for more freedom.
The Bottom Line
The genre of simulation games has come a long way since the inception of the first SimCity. While City Skylines is a clear favorite of the genre, there are many other great options to discover. Whether you’re looking for a realistic city-building simulator, a transportation management game, or a tropical tyrant’s experience, there’s no doubt that there is a game out there for you.