So I've put a handful of hours into the new SimCity, and while I don't think it's a bad game, in fact I think it's pretty good, it's not what I am looking for at the moment. So here's my dilemma. Do I go back to SimCity 4 which I loved when I was younger, or go the CitiesXL Platinum route? Does SimCity 4 hold up well enough if I was a young teen when it first came out? Is CitiesXL a worthy alternative? Is there another game that fits the bill I'm not thinking of?

Any help would be appreciated.

SimCity 3000. Done.

@winternet: Never played a SimCity before 4.

Everybody has their favorite, SimCity 4 is great for terra-forming and really digging into the complicated side of city building, but it can be daunting for the first few hours.

But it looks great doing it. I would start there, it can be had for less than $5 if you catch it at the right time on sale on Amazon or Steam.

I also really like the Tropico series.

Simcity 4 is still a good game and doesn't actually look that terrible for its age. I would say Simcity 2000 but that might be a bit tough for someone just starting. They tell you very little about what to do.

@squidc00kie: I personally think 3000 is more elegantly designed than 4. And 2000 is pretty old by now and it feels. 3000 at least doesn't feel that old. That said, I haven't played 3000 in a long while.

Anyone have any experience with Anno 2070 or the Tropico series? I know they're different but could they scratch the same itch?

Those are both good games. I didn't play a ton of Anno, but I enjoyed what time I spent with it. Tropico I've spent a good amount of time playing and it is a lot of fun as well.

I don't know if I could personally say either is better than Sim City, but they're worth a look for sure.

I busted out my 'ol copy of Simcity 4 since all the Simshitty talk has got me worked up for the games of yore. I have to say I think it's the pinnacle of the series. They messed up not building Simcity more from there.

Mayor Jeff Gerstmann of Petaluma in my SimCity 4 game is telling you that SimCity 4 is still pretty great. And let me tell you about Petaluma... boy what a shit hole! Heavy industries, trailer park community and one ginormous landfill. It serves it's purpose. Mayor Drew Scanlon from neighbor Concord seems to like having Petaluma nearby.

Go live in Concord people.

@pr1mus: People talking about SimCity is the greatest thing about SimCity.

@squidc00kie: Sim City 4 still holds up rather well. The version on Steam has all the updates and expansions so the better roads/mass transit does help. I've gave Cities XL a lot of tries but it doesn't run very well once your city gets big in my experience and I have a rather beefy system. So if you liked Sim City 4 I'd say, play Sim City 4.

Cities XL does a lot right. There are huge city areas, nice 3D graphics, zooming to street level, terraforming, curved roads, etc. Just be warned that it lacks the charm and polish of a Maxis game. Bugs, clumsy menus, and bad translation remind you that you're playing a B-level game, but it does scratch that city building itch.

You might also want to check out Anno 2070/1701, and Tropico 4. They're different than the city building in SimCity and Cities XL, but fun in their own ways.

@squidc00kie said:

The Anno games are great, but they don't offer the same thing as SimCity (or even that similar an experience imo). Cities XL is closer, but still not a great alternative (or at least it wasn't - I haven't checked the latest releases).

The problem is no other games really nail that feeling of the city being a living thing like old SimCity games used to. In most other city-bulders you build the city and it's built, and that's kinda it. The addictive part of SimCity was that you set the framework and managed the conditions, and then watched the city flourish or not. It was more like gardening than building.