SimCity
SimCity is a 1989 city-building simulation developed by Maxis and designed by Will Wright. Players take on the role of mayor, zoning land for residential, commercial and industrial use, building roads, power plants and services, and managing budgets and taxes to grow a thriving city while responding to disasters and citizen needs.
The game was groundbreaking as an open-ended simulation with no fixed win condition, no enemies and no way to truly lose, letting players experiment freely with urban planning as their city grew organically. Its blend of creativity, problem-solving and emergent complexity, where zoning and infrastructure decisions rippled through the simulated population, created a wholly new kind of game experience often described as a software toy.
SimCity essentially founded the city-building genre and inspired countless simulation games and the broader Sim series. The original can be found through re-releases, and its influence lives on in a long line of sequels and successors.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to SimCity, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| TheoTown Indie | € 9,75 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet |
| Cities: Skylines | € 27,99 + in-app purchases | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Micropolis | Free | Not on Steam | PC, Mac, Linux |
| Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic Indie | € 29,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC |
| SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac |
TheoTown Indie
€ 9,75A pixel-art city builder that deliberately recreates the old SimCity feel, and runs on almost anything.
TheoTown runs on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. Not available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Cities: Skylines
€ 27,99 + in-app purchasesThe definitive modern city-builder with vast modding support.
Cities: Skylines runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Micropolis
FreeA free, open-source release of the original SimCity engine.
Micropolis runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic Indie
€ 29,99A deep indie city-builder and central-planning economy sim.
Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition
€ 19,99The last great classic SimCity, with regional play and a mod scene that has kept it alive for two decades.
SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition runs on PC, Mac. Not available on Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
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