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"Snowfall", Cities: Skylines's second paid DLC, comes out Feburary 18th alongside a free update that adds weather and temperature to the base game. There's no better way to prepare for the snow to fall than by starting a brand new urban development project on one of the best custom maps of the past year.
After all, thanks to the efforts of BloodyPenguin and the modding community at large, we won't even need to abandon our old cities when Snowfall hits.
There are so many breathtaking custom maps forCities: Skylines that I had trouble highlighting only a handful. With so much variety, you're bound to find the perfect map to start your next project on.
I followed two rules during my escapades through the jungle of the Steam Workshop:
- No Hogging the Spotlight - One map per mod author
- Natural Geography - The map must look realistic (none of this)
The following maps were all reviewed with the updated81 Tiles mod, but a 25 tiles mod is recommended for anyone with a perpetual fear of falling off the edge of the Earth (and anyone with a dated rig).
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Raven Bay by Kold
Map Theme: European
Download Map: Steam Workshop
Raven Bay is a great custom map for new players, thanks to the abundance of building space. You start on the coast and can choose to build your city North towards the mainland or South to the isles lining the coast.
The map author was kind enough to include an intricate highway system that spans across the entire map, so you'll never be without a main road. The shipping lines weave so well you can practically build a harbor anywhere.
This map was clearly built with a 25 tile mod in mind, but you can easily soak in its splendor without it. If you like designing cities along coasts and across nearby isles, this is the custom map for you.
Sedina, IT by duch*ess Gummybuns
Map Theme: Tropical
Download Map: Steam Workshop
Sedina is a gorgeous bay map with plenty of mountains and water — which means there isn't a lot of land you can build on. You must plan your city carefully if you hope to get the most out of this map.
A 25 tile mod is highly recommended to enjoy this custom map; there isn't enough land to justify playing on the 9 tiles that Cities: Skylines limits you to.
A couple of things to note:
- The map was built with a few modded textures, but they are not required to play on it.
- The mod author didn't name the save file; it appears as "New Map" when you start a new game.
Dragon Bay by MrMiyagi
Map Theme: Tropical
Download Map: Steam Workshop
Let's face it, if you know anything about custom maps in Cities: Skylines, you were expecting to see a MrMiyagi map inthis list somewhere.
Dragon Bay is based off the breathtaking landscape of Guilin, China. It features a long, snaking river (in the shape of a dragon) and plenty of farmland to grow all the rice you'll ever need. The winding highways provide your citizens and tourists with a wonderful countryside view.
The 25 tiles mod is recommended to fully experience the grand Chinese vista.
Kitakyushu by 1Runar
Map Theme: Tropical
Download Map: Steam Workshop
This awe-inspiring Japanese landscape is a wonderful custom map for someone in need of beautiful cherry blossoms and a challenging start. The map is well-designed, and the resources intuitively spread out.
You can happily play this map with Cities: Skylines' base 9 tiles, but an 81 tile mod would allow you to stretch out to the edges of the map where extra building plots lie hidden.
Den Drommel -Z- by Zakerias
Map Theme: Temperate
Download Map: Steam Workshop
Den Drommel is a flat peninsula with plenty of building space and room to spread out. This custom map is for those aspiring to create a large city, especially with the 25 tiles mod.
Notably, a shipping line runs up one of the rivers, so you can place harbors all around the map. The isles surrounding the peninsula add a nice flair and make for a decent challenge should you desire a small town set aside with only boat and plane connections.
Isla Malaya 2.0 by Vexcarius
Map Theme: Tropical
Download Map: Steam Workshop
This custom map offers breathtaking scenery and all the challenges of building a city on an island. Inspired by the Philippines and Southeast Asia, it was handcrafted with urban development in mind. Even its beaches are flat enough for you to build on.
Never tried your hand at tourism in Cities: Skylines? This is the perfect map to give it a whirl.
Mira by MWG
Map Theme: Temperate
Download Map: Steam Workshop
If there is a perfect beginner's map, it's Mira. You don't need any extra assets to play it properly -- you won't even want a mod to expand your tiles. This custom map only has 9 tiles of usable land.
The lush hills of Japan are a perfect place to build a small town and learn the many quirks of Cities: Skylines.
7th Island by EyeSketch
Map Theme: Tropical
Download Map: Steam Workshop
This custom map is set on the fringes of a steep cliff, with a series of islands at its base. It has a deceptively large area for building, and is great for making sprawling cities and towns with the 25 tiles mod.
The gorgeous waterfall that overlooks the isles is a fantastic place to plop down a few dams and profit from over 1000MW of electricity each. There's even a road that winds up the cliff in case you would like to place an airport or something across the river.
Angel Falls by crackerjack
Map Theme: Tropical
Download Map: Steam Workshop
Angel Falls is has an abundance of terrain to develop on. It's practically impossible to run out of room on this custom map (with the population limit and all).
If you would like to make a city without the chaos of high density, this map gives you plenty of room to stretch your legs — especially if you manage to make it to the top of the cliff.
You can build something on each tile, so the 81 tile mod is recommended if you desire to exploit every nook and cranny.
Raerei Cove by Eva
Map Theme: Tropical
Download Map: Steam Workshop
No one can deny that Raerei Cove is a work of art. There is precious little land to build on and only one highway connection, which may cause some problems. But it hasn't stopped it from winning the hearts of many custom map enthusiasts since the very beginning.
This map is perfect for those who have grown bored with the average routine of starting a city from scratch. There is no better place in Cities: Skylines for a miniature island paradise.
Tenasi River by Scotland Tom
Map Theme: Boreal
Download Map: Steam Workshop
The winding Tenasi River reaches all corners of this custom map. The surrounding lands are extremely hilly and offer a special challenge for urban development.
The main river is wide enough for ships to sail through, allowing access to a harbor should you wish it. A 25 tile mod is recommended; each tile has its unique set of quirks that keep the map exciting, no matter how far you expand.
Aegean Strait by Khandor
Map Theme: Temperate
Download Map: Steam Workshop
This narrow strait, based on landscapes around Chalkida, Greece, is a great custom map for people looking to get into building suburbs. Its beautiful, hilly terrain encourages creative, segmented design.
The 25 tile mod is highly recommended to cozily stretch out across the Greek-inspired terrain. Your cims will love you for it.
New Map by You
Map Theme: Any
Creating and nurturing your own custom map to build your next city on is undeniably satisfying. Nothing can quite compare to seeing a map you poured your heart and soul into populate and grow and function before your very eyes.
If you haven't dived into the map editor yet, I encourage you to give it a whirl next time you boot up Cities: Skylines. It's incredibly intuitive -- you'll be molding and carving epic landscapes in no time at all.
What are your favorite custom maps? Have you created any maps for Cites: Skylines? Share maps with us in the comments bellow!
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