Colossal Order, the developers behind Cities Skylines 2, have been diligently working to improve their challenging sequel since its launch. Their latest effort arrives as the first significant expansion, ‘Bridges and Ports.’ This new DLC, now available, introduces a wealth of features designed to enhance city-building, including fresh map types, customizable harbors, diverse maritime industries, scenic parks, functional lighthouses, bustling leisure piers, and a collection of 20 unique bridge types, even movable ones like drawbridges and lift bridges. Despite the substantial content offered, many players are feeling short-changed by the $20 price point, especially given the existing shortcomings in the base game experience.
Creating a sequel to one of the most beloved city-building games on PC was always an ambitious task. While the hope remains that Colossal Order can elevate Cities Skylines 2 to the standard of its predecessor, it’s clear there’s a long journey ahead, with the game’s current Steam review score reflecting an underwhelming 53% positive rating. After enduring two delays, the ‘Bridges and Ports’ expansion has finally arrived, bringing with it a noticeable surge of positive sentiment regarding its new features. However, even the most enthusiastic feedback is tempered by a crucial reservation: it’s challenging to justify paying nearly half the cost of the base game for an expansion when the fundamental gameplay experience still feels incomplete.
Setting aside the cost momentarily, the ‘Bridges and Ports’ expansion genuinely feels like a positive stride toward Cities Skylines 2 realizing its full potential. The infrastructure additions are both meaningful and impactful. The ability to establish ports, utilize ships and ferries, and develop maritime industries like fishing significantly broadens the scope for creating intricate and satisfying urban centers. Furthermore, the new bridge mechanics introduce an engaging layer to traffic management, requiring players to strategically pause road traffic to accommodate passing boats.
Despite these welcome additions, there’s an lingering sense that some of these features merely fill gaps that should have been present in the core game from the start. As a premium package, it doesn’t quite measure up to the depth and impact of the original Cities Skylines’ ‘Industries’ DLC. Moreover, two years post-launch, Cities Skylines 2 continues to struggle with persistent performance issues, frequent crashes, and a notable absence of features that were mainstays in its highly successful predecessor.
A significant point of contention is the delayed release of the Cities Skylines 2 asset editor, which Colossal Order decided to postpone until after the completion of this new expansion. Modding and player-created content were instrumental to the immense success of the original game. Prioritizing a paid DLC featuring new assets over delivering essential editing tools first has understandably caused considerable friction within the community.
Since its release, the ‘Bridges and Ports’ DLC has garnered a ‘mixed’ rating on Steam, with only 64% of reviews recommending it – a familiar sentiment for Cities Skylines 2. One user’s feedback encapsulates the general feeling: ‘It’s a good DLC, no doubt about it. The new features are solid and genuinely improve the game… but it’s hard to ignore that many of these things should’ve been part of the base experience from the start, which makes it feel a bit overpriced. On top of that, the core game still suffers from many of the same issues it had at launch. It’s a shame, there’s quality here, just released under the wrong circumstances.’
The Cities Skylines 2: Bridges and Ports expansion is currently available for $19.99 / £16.99. Players who purchased the CS2 ultimate edition will find it included as part of their package, which originally retailed for $89.99 / £74.99.
For those looking to significantly alter their Cities Skylines 2 experience, numerous community-made modifications offer extensive possibilities. Alternatively, if you’re exploring other titles, a wide array of excellent management games are available.
Are you satisfied with this new expansion for Cities Skylines 2, or are you holding out for more fundamental improvements to the base game? We’d love to hear your thoughts!