one dataset · paper, tables, graph, wiki
simgrammar the grammar of simulation

core loop

draw roads and zone along them -> citizens move in, commute, and shop along computed routes -> population milestones unlock services and map tiles -> set district policies, taxes, and budgets -> fix traffic with road hierarchy and transit -> expand

design notes

Colossal Order carried the road and transit systems of its Cities in Motion series into a full city builder, so every citizen and vehicle is an agent taking the fastest route and congestion is read directly from visible jams. Zoning cells are generated along whatever road geometry the player draws, freeing layouts from a fixed grid, and districts let the player apply policies and tax rates to painted areas. Paradox approved the project after the reception of SimCity (2013), the game was built for Steam Workshop mods, and widely used mods replace core systems such as traffic rules.

relations

18 stored edges
influenced by
uses

Public transit lines

Player-drawn bus, tram, train, metro, ferry, and taxi lines carry passengers, cut congestion, and earn fares.

core
uses

Road networks

Road type sets lanes, speed, and zone frontage; network geometry such as interchanges and one-way systems decides throughput.

core
uses

Traffic congestion

Each citizen takes the fastest route to work or other destinations; poor road design shows up as visible jams that delay services and deliveries.

core
uses

Zoning

Zoning cells follow the shape of drawn roads; residential, commercial, industrial, and office zones develop and level up.

core
uses

Agent pathfinding

Citizens and vehicles path individually through roads, paths, and transit.

supporting
uses

Education and workforce

Elementary (300), high school (1,000), and university (4,500) capacities move citizens through four education levels that higher-level jobs require.

supporting
uses

Fluid pipe networks

Water and sewage pipes; sewage released upstream contaminates downstream intakes.

supporting
uses
supporting
uses

Land value

Services and parks raise land value, pollution and noise lower it, and land value helps buildings level up.

supporting
uses

Lifecycle and aging

Citizens age and die; an initial cohort moving in together can age into a wave of deaths that overloads hearses.

supporting
uses

Milestone unlocks

Population milestones unlock services, zoning types, policies, and purchase of up to 25 map tiles.

supporting
uses

Modding API

Steam Workshop and a mod-friendly architecture; mods add assets, maps, and new behavior.

supporting
uses

Policy toggles

District policies restrict development types, set district tax rates, or make transit free.

supporting
uses
supporting
uses

Service coverage

Service buildings reach buildings by network distance and dispatch vehicles.

supporting
uses

Travel mode choice

Citizens choose between walking, driving, and the player's bus, tram, train, metro, ferry, and taxi lines when routing to destinations, so new lines shift demand off roads.

supporting

backlinks

computed from other records

claims

1 with sources
c01medium

Cities: Skylines is credited with reviving the SimCity style of city builder after SimCity (2013).

src-wikipedia-city-building-game, src-wikipedia-cities-skylines

sources

3
Wikipedia contributors (2026). Cities: Skylines. Wikipedia
Cities: Skylines Wiki contributors (2026). Education. Cities: Skylines Wiki (paradoxwikis.com)
Wikipedia contributors (2026). City-building game. Wikipedia

provenance

runs in log/runs
2026-10-24
created2026-10-24-catalog-gacatalog
2026-10-24
reviewed2026-10-24-review-fixesmaintenance