Lego Skylines, the upcoming city builder from Iceflake Studio and Paradox Interactive, offers a distinct twist on the established Cities: Skylines formula, focusing on deeper customization and a more guided campaign experience. A recent preview build allowed for an extended look at both early and late-game scenarios, revealing a game that prioritizes individual household needs and decorative freedom.
Unlike its predecessor, Lego Skylines places greater emphasis on individual households, requiring players to cater to specific needs beyond basic housing. The campaign mode introduces players as a master builder tasked with fulfilling requests from citizens and local figures, providing a structured introduction to city management. This approach contrasts with Cities: Skylines' more open-ended initial experience.
Customization and Appeal
A key differentiator highlighted in the preview is the "appeal" needs category for houses. This is addressed through a variety of decoration items, categorized by themes such as cozy, nature, and formal. Players can fulfill these needs by placing items like flower patches, ponds, statues, and benches. Initial attempts at decoration can result in disjointed aesthetics, but the game encourages creative placement and thematic coherence to improve neighborhood appeal. The ability to choose from multiple housing styles, including "Bricktorian" suburbs and beach homes, further enhances the customization options.
Beyond decorative props, the game retains core simulation elements such as power, water, and garbage disposal services. Players can upgrade service buildings to increase their range, though this often comes with higher running costs or increased pollution. Policies, taxes, and budget planning are also present, though their depth was not fully explored in the preview.
Simulation Balance and Leisure
Despite the focus on customization, some late-game simulation balance issues were noted. In a city of 2,000 people, a preview build struggled with accumulating trash and low "highly educated" population percentages, even with multiple schools and garbage disposal centers. The preview suggests these are balance concerns that can be addressed through adjustments.
Leisure and happiness mechanics are unique, with more leisure locations unlocking better venues and opportunities for city-wide events. This system allows for the creation of unofficial districts based on entertainment themes, such as combining music venues with bohemian items or creating upscale uptown areas. Industries in Lego Skylines also operate differently, producing color-coded goods that local shops require to function profitably. This system appears to require less space than in Cities: Skylines, allowing for more condensed industrial zones.
Lego Skylines is set to adapt the core city-building experience while introducing more robust customization features. The game does not currently have a release date. A preview build showcased a skate park, a large city vista, and a windmill in a farm district.