SimCity is abandoned, but Cities: Skylines II is here for all our city-building needs

Can you believe it's been almost a decade since the last SimCity game came out? While EA may have left us city-builder fans in the dust, Paradox stepped up with the excellent Cities: Skylines, which launched back in 2015. And now it's finally almost time for Cities: Skylines II!

Besides a huge boost to the graphics, Skylines II boasts a number of exciting additions. The game will feature a more complex weather system where the climate changes across seasons and based on how a map is laid out. Those maps will be up to five times bigger than the first game, and players will have more control over zoning and city utility services. There's even a whole new progression system, including skill trees to help differentiate cities from one another.

If you're excited to start planning your next virtual city, you don't have to wait much longer. Cities: Skylines II launches on PC on October 24, 2023 for $49.99. There will also be an Ultimate Edition available for $89.99, which includes an expansion pass, a San Francisco building set, several unique radio stations, and more, all of which will be released bit by bit over the next year. Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 versions of the game are planned for launch sometime next year.

Holding out to see how big an improvement Skylines II is over the first game? We hear you, and we'll have more thoughts on that soon. One of TapTap's editors will be checking out Cities: Skylines II and sharing a quick review near launch day.