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Just like the franchise’s first installment,Cities: Skylines 2comes with multiple starting map options. The goal with these terrains is to enable extra creative builds and add an extra layer of freedom to the game. But with more options comes a new challenge:How should players pick the best starting map? But no worries; thisCities: Skylines 2guide reveals the most optimal choices for beginner, intermediate, and even expert players.
List of All Starting Maps in Cities: Skylines 2
The base game comes withten starting mapsranging from flat sunny lands to cold mountainy areas. Here’s the complete list:
16%
21%
31%
39%
41%
42%
49%
Waterway Pass
53%
There are also two premium maps that come with the Ultimate Edition and preorder bonuses:Tamper and San Francisco.
The Best Starting Map for Beginners
In terms of simplicity, the ideal starting terrains areBarrier Island and Lakeland. Barrier Island offers a 41% buildable area as well as easily harvestable resources. Lakeland, on the other hand, comes with a 49% mostly flat zone that accelerates initial growth. (The only downside is that Lakeland has no water path.)
Other options for new players:
The Best Intermediate Starting Maps
Players familiar withcity-building simbasics would benefit from starting inGreat Islands or River Delta. The former offers a large buildable space as well as incredible visuals, while the latter has all Outside Connections and offers a varying temperature range. (The only problem with River Delta is its confusing topography.)
Other good options for intermediate players:
The Best Expert-Level Maps
Cities: Skylinesexperts should start their journey inArchipelago Haven or Sweeping Plains. Despite its limited buildable area, Archipelago Haven is the best complex map. It comes withmultiple terrains, offering a challenging city structure. Sweeping Plains, on the other hand, is mostly cold and rainy with limited flat areas, making it a tough place to start.
Other options for expert players:
How to Pick the Best Starting Map
When choosing a terrain, keep two things in mind:Large buildable area and accessible resources. Any map that offers a great flat land and has harvestable items nearby should be a good place to start. However, since terraforming is free and topographies can be edited, players shouldn’t overthink their choices.
Cities: Skylines 2is available now for PC. Xbox Series X/S and PS5 versions will be released later in the spring of 2024.
