What is the best game similar to Cities: Skylines II?

The closest game to Cities: Skylines II is Planet Coaster, scoring 91/100 on our similarity scale. They share 11 gameplay attributes, including deep simulation, sandbox freedom and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like Cities: Skylines II?

The three closest games to Cities: Skylines II are: 1. Planet Coaster (91/100, 11 shared attributes) 2. Planet Zoo (90/100, 11 shared attributes) 3. House Flipper (92/100, 11 shared attributes). All share Cities: Skylines II's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 41 candidates across 14 dimensions.

Is Planet Zoo similar to Cities: Skylines II?

Yes, very much so — Planet Zoo scores 90/100 similarity to Cities: Skylines II. They share 11 attributes, including deep simulation and sandbox freedom. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What Simulation games are similar to Cities: Skylines II?

The best Simulation games similar to Cities: Skylines II are Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo, House Flipper and Townscaper. All share the Simulation genre alongside other key Cities: Skylines II attributes like deep simulation, sandbox freedom and single-player focus.

How is similarity to Cities: Skylines II calculated?

We compare Cities: Skylines II against every game in our catalog using 14 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Cities: Skylines II experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

Are there free games similar to Cities: Skylines II?

Yes — Business Tour - Board Game with Online Multiplayer is free and scores well on similarity to Cities: Skylines II. It's a great way to test whether the play style clicks before investing in other paid titles.

41 Games like Cities: Skylines II that you should try

Games like Cities: Skylines II · Find similar →

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

If Cities: Skylines II left you wanting more, this list of 41 similar games is for you. Each one shares part of its essence — deep simulation, vibe relaxing and sandbox world — and is ranked by a similarity score computed across 14 attributes. Planet Coaster comes closest (91/100).

iRank64/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

Top games similar to Cities: Skylines II

41 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Cities: Skylines II. Each one has been evaluated across 14 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Planet CoasterClosest on genre

iRank84

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloMultiplayerCasualRelaxingNarrativeSandbox WorldManagementBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 91%· 72KRAWG👍 74%· 294MC83IGDB83· 12OC85· 58

Year 2016Dev Frontier DevelopmentsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of city builders: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, visual third person and visual 3d, while skipping open world exploration

Surprise, delight and thrill crowds as you build the theme park of your dreams. Build and design incredible coaster parks with unparalleled attention to detail and manage your park in a truly living world. Piece-by-Piece Construction: Planet Coaster makes a designer out of everyone.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression97World93Visuals68

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Steam

#2Planet ZooClosest on world

iRank85

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloMultiplayerCasualRelaxingSandbox WorldOpen WorldManagementBase BuildingExploration

Steam👍 91%· 95KRAWG👍 82%· 135MC81OC81· 67

Year 2019Dev Frontier DevelopmentsPlaytime ~5hOn PC

✓ Same family of city builders: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Where it differs: brings cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping strong narrative focus

Build a world for wildlife in Planet Zoo. From the developers of Planet Coaster and Zoo Tycoon comes the ultimate zoo sim, featuring authentic living animals who think, feel and explore the world you create around them.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Tone74

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Steam

#3House FlipperClosest overall match

iRank75

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloMultiplayerRelaxingCasualNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldManagementBase Building

Steam👍 94%· 109KRAWG👍 76%· 351MC62IGDB62· 4OC62· 27

Year 2018Dev Ultimate Games · PlayWayPlaytime ~7hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are city builders — sharing deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe relaxing

≠ Its own twist: visual first person and visual 3d, while skipping exploration and discovery

House Flipper is a unique chance to become the one-man renovating crew. Buy, repair and upgrade devastated houses. Give them a second life and sell at a profit! At your disposal is a collection of tools and parts.

Where it drifts furthest from Cities: Skylines II: visuals.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Progression97Visuals0

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Steam GOG Xbox

#4TownscaperClosest on visuals

iRank86

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualRelaxingNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldBase BuildingExplorationIsometric

Steam👍 95%· 21KIGDB80· 1OC73· 16

Year 2020Dev Oskar Stålberg · Raw FuryOn Xbox · Android · PC

✓ Both are city builders — sharing sandbox freedom, deep simulation and vibe casual

≠ Its own twist: cozy, relaxing feel and procedural generation, while skipping multiplayer gameplay

Genre100Visuals100Progression81Tone80Game mode78World74

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Steam GOG Epic

#5shapez

iRank96

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualSandbox WorldOpen WorldBase BuildingManagementExplorationIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 15K

Year 2020Dev Tobias Springer · PrismatikaOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Same family of city builders: sandbox freedom, deep simulation and vibe casual

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, procedural generation and crafting mechanics, while skipping vibe relaxing

Do you like automation games? Then you are in the right place! shapez is a relaxed game in which you have to build factories for the automated production of geometric shapes. As the level increases, the shapes become more and more complex, and you have to spread out on the infinite map.

Genre100World84Progression83Game mode78Visuals77Tone65

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualRelaxingSandbox WorldManagementBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 97%· 15K

Year 2024Dev Mister Morris GamesPlaytime ~18hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Stands apart with cozy, relaxing feel, fantasy world and setting scifi, while skipping strong narrative focus

Rusty's Retirement is an idle-farming simulator designed to sit at the bottom of your screen allowing you to work on other tasks while caring for your farm! Grow crops: Plant crops and watch Rusty get to work as he waters, nurtures, and harvests.

Where it drifts furthest from Cities: Skylines II: visuals.

Genre100Progression97World92Game mode77Tone68Visuals46

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloMultiplayerCasualSandbox WorldManagementBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 89%· 73KRAWG👍 72%· 587MC83IGDB81· 12OC80· 62

Year 2015Dev Double Eleven · Introversion SoftwarePlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, visual 2d and visual topdown, while skipping vibe relaxing

Prison Architect is a person construction and management simulator developed by Introversion Software. It is a two-dimensional top-down simulator where it is the player's responsibility to build new prison blocks, cells, facilities, manage the staff such as wardens, guards and so on.

Where it drifts furthest from Cities: Skylines II: tone and visuals.

It predates Cities: Skylines II by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Progression98World93Tone41Visuals41

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualRelaxingSandbox WorldManagementBase BuildingEarly Access

Steam👍 97%· 14K

Dev tobspr Games · Gamera GamesPlaytime ~6hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are city builders — sharing deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, procedural generation and setting space, while skipping strong narrative focus

Dive into a factory-building game where the focus is on just that — building huge factories! Construct sprawling multi-level factories and min-max your layouts without limits. Shapez 2 is tailor-made for enthusiasts who crave the thrill of optimizing production lines and perfecting automation.

Where it drifts furthest from Cities: Skylines II: visuals.

Genre100Tone93Progression80Game mode75World66Visuals0

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Steam

#9Dyson Sphere Program

iRank93

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldBase BuildingExplorationManagementEarly Access

Steam👍 98%· 91KRAWG👍 85%· 84

Year 2021Dev Youthcat Studio · Gamera GamePlaytime ~8hOn PC

✓ Same family of city builders: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and open world exploration

≠ Stands apart with setting space, setting scifi and visual 3d, while skipping vibe relaxing

Dyson Sphere Program is a sci-fi simulation game with space, adventure, exploration and factory automation elements where you can build your own galactic industrial empire from scratch. In the distant future, the power of science and technology has ushered a new age to the human race.

Where it drifts furthest from Cities: Skylines II: visuals.

Genre100World100Progression100Game mode72Visuals0

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualNarrativeSandbox WorldManagementBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 91%· 4.4KRAWG👍 79%· 70IGDB90· 1

Year 2016Dev Raylight Games · Toplitz ProductionsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of city builders: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Where it differs: brings setting cartoon, crafting mechanics and visual topdown, while skipping vibe relaxing

BUILD UP YOUR OWN GAMES EMPIRE Form your own game studio in the early 1980s starting in a small garage. Develop your own game concepts, create a team and develop megahit video games. Research new technologies, train your staff, upgrade your offices, moving up to bigger and better locations.

Genre100World91Progression84Tone79Game mode78Visuals66

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Steam GOG Xbox

#11Jurassic World Evolution

iRank80

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldManagementBase BuildingExplorationIsometric

Steam👍 87%· 55KIGDB74· 13OC71· 99

Year 2018Dev Frontier Developments · Universal PicturesOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and setting scifi, while skipping vibe relaxing

Where it drifts furthest from Cities: Skylines II: tone.

Genre100World100Progression100Visuals100Game mode78Tone27

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualRelaxingOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationBase Building

Steam👍 92%· 44KIGDB70· 10OC75· 70

Year 2019Dev Pathea Games · Team17On PS4 · Android · PC

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Stands apart with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and survival mechanics, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from Cities: Skylines II: visuals.

Genre100World100Game mode78Tone62Progression56Visuals0

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Steam GOG Epic

#13Space Colony: Steam Edition

iRank78

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagementExplorationIsometric

Steam👍 80%· 658MC74IGDB77· 3

Year 2015Dev FireFly StudiosPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Same family of city builders: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings cozy, relaxing feel, setting space and setting scifi, while skipping vibe relaxing

Half way across the galaxy with limited resources, a mega corporation looking over your shoulder and a ragtag crew expecting a pay cheque, it's up to you to survive and turn a profit. You have a base to build and hostile alien threats to neutralise, but ignore your crew and the colony is doomed.

Where it drifts furthest from Cities: Skylines II: tone.

It predates Cities: Skylines II by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Progression100Game mode77Visuals67Tone32

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Steam GOG

#14WorldBox

iRank95

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloRelaxingSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagementIsometricEarly Access

Steam👍 95%· 54K

Year 2018Dev Maxim KarpenkoOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with sandbox freedom, deep simulation and vibe relaxing

≠ Stands apart with deep RPG systems, cozy, relaxing feel and procedural generation, while skipping vibe casual

Where it drifts furthest from Cities: Skylines II: tone.

Genre100Progression97Game mode77World75Visuals58Tone47

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Steam itch.io

#15Tropico 5

iRank77

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloMultiplayerSandbox WorldBase BuildingExplorationManagementIsometric

Steam👍 79%· 14KIGDB72· 14OC76· 52

Year 2014Dev Haemimont Games · Kalypso MediaOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are city builders — sharing deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Stands apart with deep RPG systems, historical setting and co op, while skipping vibe relaxing

It predates Cities: Skylines II by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Visuals100World92Progression91Game mode66

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Steam GOG Epic

Complete list of Cities: Skylines II alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Cities: Skylines II, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

Dorfromantik

Puzzle · Simulation

Two Point Hospital

Simulation · Sandbox

Cities: Skylines

Simulation · Sandbox

SimCity

Simulation · Sandbox

Children of the Nile

Simulation · Sandbox

Tropico Reloaded

Simulation · Sandbox

Cities in Motion

Simulation · Sandbox

Tropico 3

Simulation · Sandbox

Mad Games Tycoon 2

Simulation · Sandbox

Megastore Simulator

Simulation

Tycoon City: New York

Simulation · Sandbox

Minami Lane

Simulation · Puzzle

Mini Motorways

Simulation · Puzzle

Caesar III

Simulation

The Promised Land

Adventure · Simulation

Concrete Jungle

Simulation · Puzzle

X-COM: Terror From the Deep

Turn-Based Strat · Roguelike

Stronghold 2

RTS · Simulation

CivCity: Rome

Simulation

Stronghold 2: Steam Edition

RTS · Simulation

City Life 2008

Simulation

Stronghold Crusader

Simulation · Sandbox

Europa Universalis III

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Cult of the Lamb

Adventure · RPG

Business Tour - Board Game with Online Multiplayer

Turn-Based Strat · Deck Builder

Black & White

RTS · Puzzle

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Recent releases similar to Cities: Skylines II

Newest titles in the list, for anyone who has already played the classics.

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Rankings in the same genre

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Cities: Skylines II?: The closest game to Cities: Skylines II is Planet Coaster, scoring 91/100 on our similarity scale. They share 11 gameplay attributes, including deep simulation, sandbox freedom and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Cities: Skylines II?: The three closest games to Cities: Skylines II are: 1. Planet Coaster (91/100, 11 shared attributes) 2. Planet Zoo (90/100, 11 shared attributes) 3. House Flipper (92/100, 11 shared attributes). All share Cities: Skylines II's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 41 candidates across 14 dimensions.
Is Planet Zoo similar to Cities: Skylines II?: Yes, very much so — Planet Zoo scores 90/100 similarity to Cities: Skylines II. They share 11 attributes, including deep simulation and sandbox freedom. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Simulation games are similar to Cities: Skylines II?: The best Simulation games similar to Cities: Skylines II are Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo, House Flipper and Townscaper. All share the Simulation genre alongside other key Cities: Skylines II attributes like deep simulation, sandbox freedom and single-player focus.
How is similarity to Cities: Skylines II calculated?: We compare Cities: Skylines II against every game in our catalog using 14 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Cities: Skylines II experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.
Are there free games similar to Cities: Skylines II?: Yes — Business Tour - Board Game with Online Multiplayer is free and scores well on similarity to Cities: Skylines II. It's a great way to test whether the play style clicks before investing in other paid titles.