SimCity

 PC
User Score
2.2

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 4557 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 602 out of 4557
  2. Mixed: 428 out of 4557
  3. Negative: 3,527 out of 4557
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  1. Matthewlh
    Mar 15, 2013
    0
    I wanted Sim City, not Sim City Online
    If I wanted to play with other towns it should be my choice
    I should not be forced to play with others
    did I mention that you always have to be online?
  2. joasoze
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Lets take a single player game, shrink it, make it multiplayer og always online. Great idea. This is one of the worst reboot a game series have ever had.
  3. barashin
    Mar 6, 2013
    0
    This game could be great, but I will never know. I have been a Sim City fan since the early 90's, I own all of them (original, 2000, 3000 and 4) and the great thing is as old as they are I can go back and play them whenever I want. Since the new game requires a constant Internet connection to play and therefore will only work for as long as EA keep the servers open you never truly 'own'This game could be great, but I will never know. I have been a Sim City fan since the early 90's, I own all of them (original, 2000, 3000 and 4) and the great thing is as old as they are I can go back and play them whenever I want. Since the new game requires a constant Internet connection to play and therefore will only work for as long as EA keep the servers open you never truly 'own' the game, I will not be buying this game. In 10 years time everyone who bought this game can enjoy their Sim City branded coasters while I go back and play Sim City 4.… Expand
  4. KiwwHi
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    OMG This is such a foutage de gueule as they say in french. Day one DLC is a shame Servers not working at all Game is as complicated as the last Dora The Explorer What a game. Doesn't even deserve a single point.
  5. mearlam
    May 15, 2015
    0
    Playable now after they fixed a load of things but the maps are still way too small to even bother trying.

    Go get cities sky lines if you want a good city building game.
  6. Critical_Fun
    Mar 9, 2013
    0
    The New Coke of computer gaming. Suck on this rating EA. Let this be a message to all the other game companies that try to overreach with DRM and online connection requirements for a single player game. Even without the DRM and server issues, who wants to play simCity with only small maps? Who the hell is making decisions over there? We thought we were getting SimCity and we getThe New Coke of computer gaming. Suck on this rating EA. Let this be a message to all the other game companies that try to overreach with DRM and online connection requirements for a single player game. Even without the DRM and server issues, who wants to play simCity with only small maps? Who the hell is making decisions over there? We thought we were getting SimCity and we get farmville for $60. Video gaming does not have to be a social activity. Especially a game like this.… Expand
  7. d4haxor
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    This game is unplayable. You are placed in a queue for an unspecified wait (mine was almost an HOUR), only to start building and get disconnected due to the unstable servers. This is unacceptable. Paying good money for a game to go through this many hoops, and EA wonders why Spore was so widely pirated. STAY FAR AWAY.
  8. Abr0ham
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    It has finally happened. All practices that have been destroying gaming have culminated in this biblical failure for all the world to see. Ever since the success of Farmville the gaming industry has been trying to cash in on "social gaming" foisting it upon gamers that have zero interest in it. This usually manifests itself as a unused feature or minor inconvenience. It was not until EAIt has finally happened. All practices that have been destroying gaming have culminated in this biblical failure for all the world to see. Ever since the success of Farmville the gaming industry has been trying to cash in on "social gaming" foisting it upon gamers that have zero interest in it. This usually manifests itself as a unused feature or minor inconvenience. It was not until EA combined it with the abomination that is DRM to form the perfect storm of consumer neglect; once a single player classic, now a mandatory social game played on servers that are virtually unusable. EA has once again completely shafted all their paying customers to avoid losing a few bucks to pirates. In the same greedy line of thinking they also criminally under-supplied servers, not wanting to pay for more than would be needed after the post launch population dropoff. The result is a game that is virtually unplayable. Not "this game is so bad that I don't want to play it" unplayable, actually unplayable; the game can not be played at all. If by some miracle you do get into a game, you will not be able to get back into the same game again, because all the save data is on the broken servers. If you've bought this game and cannot get a refund, contact the Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.org/ and file a complaint. It is illegal to offer goods and services that are nonfunctional. This is inexcusable. Literally, they cannot be allowed to make excuses for this. They made the conscious decision to make a game that was one server crash away from bricked, it was their responsibility to make sure that did not happen and obviously it did. I hope they feel most severe repercussions possible to assure that no publisher ever attempts this again.… Expand
  9. Adlerson
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    It would be a good game, I'm sure, IF I could play it. I've had a few hours in it, over the past few days, but having to start over because your progress on this 'Always online DRM' 'feature' isn't saved is becoming old.
    And today I can't get in at all, no matter which server I try, or now many times I try.
    EA screwed the pooch with this one. No more 'always on' DRM! Ubisoft tried and    It would be a good game, I'm sure, IF I could play it. I've had a few hours in it, over the past few days, but having to start over because your progress on this 'Always online DRM' 'feature' isn't saved is becoming old.
    And today I can't get in at all, no matter which server I try, or now many times I try.
    EA screwed the pooch with this one. No more 'always on' DRM! Ubisoft tried and failed, EA should have taken note.    … Expand
  10. Mietitrice
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Want some DRM with your game? No? Too bad. Forced DRM makes it very, very, VERY difficult to play a game that you cant even access the servers on. If you ask me, try and find some DRM free version online if it exists.
  11. CatinHat
    Mar 24, 2013
    0
    Not a sim nor a city building game. They dropped the ball on this game. Way too many bugs and server issues. They devs even tweeted they have no idea how their own game works. http://i.imgur.com/0Qbreq3.jpg

    This was my first SimCity game and last SimCity game.
  12. MrHuckabee
    Mar 5, 2013
    0
    This is why PC games will never, ever be able to compete with consoles. PC games are so concerned trying to counteract piracy they cripple their game. Just to play this game by myself I have to wait until the servers are online and not full. This game does not allow you to save locally; so don't experiment on your city and hope that neither your internet connection or their servers goThis is why PC games will never, ever be able to compete with consoles. PC games are so concerned trying to counteract piracy they cripple their game. Just to play this game by myself I have to wait until the servers are online and not full. This game does not allow you to save locally; so don't experiment on your city and hope that neither your internet connection or their servers go down. My guess is that the maps were downsized because the developers do not want you saving locally, making your saves to the cloud smaller. Same goes for terraforming. Innovation in this game is absent and the enjoyment I have had playing this game was due to not playing a Sim City game in such a long time.… Expand
  13. 0M9H4X
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    This is an offline, single player game that one plays ALONE in front of their computer. I have played Sim City 4 and Sim City 3000 before, and enjoyed them for quite some time. This one however forces you to connect with EAs Servers in order to do anything such as playing an offline game by yourself. That alone is almost reasoning enough for a 0 rating, but it gets better. EAs servers DOThis is an offline, single player game that one plays ALONE in front of their computer. I have played Sim City 4 and Sim City 3000 before, and enjoyed them for quite some time. This one however forces you to connect with EAs Servers in order to do anything such as playing an offline game by yourself. That alone is almost reasoning enough for a 0 rating, but it gets better. EAs servers DO NOT WORK. They cannot be reached, and even if you manage to connect to one (so it lets you play AN OFFLINE GAME) it crashes after taking 10 minutes to load the tutorial which you cannot skip. I have literally not played a single game yet because I AM NOT ABLE TO. This game is a waste beyond believe, I would not recommend it if you can find it for $10. Although I haven't been able to play the game yet, I heard it's not even that good. The CITYS you are supposed to be able to build are supposedly more like nano-villages, and if you want to build bigger and wider you will have to start a new city and connect the two. Online or something I don't get it. Maybe I'd be able to look into it, if the game would function. A definite 0/10.… Expand
  14. atzach
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    City size is too small but that doesn't matter because you won't be able to play the game because "they are working on the servers". Not worth the money, they won't give refunds. It was a big cash grab and and epic failure. EA is a terrible company.
  15. moremodestthanu
    Mar 6, 2013
    0
    Need to cancel out all of the 9&10's. THIS GAME IS A TRAVESTY! Pros: Graphics Cons: EVERYTHING ELSE! Enough yelling, sorry, but I am really disappointing by this game and the ongoing trend of releasing "sequels" with less options and features. Sim City 4 is better in every way other than graphics. Are they serious with how small these "cities" are?

    ... and then you get to the always on    Need to cancel out all of the 9&10's. THIS GAME IS A TRAVESTY! Pros: Graphics Cons: EVERYTHING ELSE! Enough yelling, sorry, but I am really disappointing by this game and the ongoing trend of releasing "sequels" with less options and features. Sim City 4 is better in every way other than graphics. Are they serious with how small these "cities" are?

    ... and then you get to the always on DRM Day 1 DLC atrocities. You know people are going to want to play the game on day 1, why you suck so much, EA? Aren't you making enough money ruining all of the other franchises? I just want to pull my hair out.    … Expand
  16. kaitgamer
    Mar 6, 2013
    0
    Just incredible..

    Over the years i've purchased many games.. I played the original Sim City The stupidity, greed and incompetence of these people is amazing... I am an easy to please gamer and love all types of games... i was wary when i pre-ordered.. but i was so interested I made the plunge... Shame on EA, shame on Origin, and i don't give maxis a pass either...they hooked    Just incredible..

    Over the years i've purchased many games.. I played the original Sim City

    The stupidity, greed and incompetence of these people is amazing... I am an easy to please gamer and love all types of games...

    i was wary when i pre-ordered.. but i was so interested I made the plunge...

    Shame on EA, shame on Origin, and i don't give maxis a pass either...they hooked up with these people..they made the choices to destroy a game franchise that stood on top of all others.. I actually did get to play for 45 minutes last nite...the experience is uncompelling and the how anybody thought the tiny areas to build your city was a good thing beggars belief...

    its a shame.. basically i just spent $60 to reinstall Sim City4.    … Expand
  17. tylerstravis
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    The most expensive countdown clock ever. Seriously, how can a game be reviewed if you aren't even able to play it. It's outrageous that a company would try this.
  18. Chongychoo
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    What a crock. “Generating wave of unhappiness”? indeed
    So much for confidence in fixing the problems b4 the UK launch. I can’t get in to play at all. I have every error imaginable
    Failed to load Friend Unable to load region and city data at this time SimCity server are down attempting to reconnect Thousands of very angry and frustrated customers. Nice going EA. Heads must roll for    What a crock. “Generating wave of unhappiness”? indeed
    So much for confidence in fixing the problems b4 the UK launch. I can’t get in to play at all. I have every error imaginable
    Failed to load Friend
    Unable to load region and city data at this time
    SimCity server are down attempting to reconnect

    Thousands of very angry and frustrated customers. Nice going EA. Heads must roll for the millions you have made from the real hard working sims out there. Shame on you. Oh btw. Fool me once.... nah NEVER again. Nil point    … Expand
  19. ApoACD
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Game is ok, but not THAT much. Everything else, Adios EA. No more BF3, lets forget about BF4 and the like. I'm done with them. If it's not on Steam, i'm not buying.
  20. Attanar
    Mar 10, 2013
    0
    Bought the game before it was released. HUGE MISTAKE. Have been having lots of problems to even start a game, when I eventually did I lost all progress because it wasn't saved properly.

    EA tries to sell it as a "multiplayer" game, but its clearly a single player with just a few limited (and completely unecessary) interaction between cities. Clearly a poor excuse to get you eat the whole    Bought the game before it was released. HUGE MISTAKE. Have been having lots of problems to even start a game, when I eventually did I lost all progress because it wasn't saved properly.

    EA tries to sell it as a "multiplayer" game, but its clearly a single player with just a few limited (and completely unecessary) interaction between cities. Clearly a poor excuse to get you eat the whole huge DRM.

    Tired of stupid game companies forcing you to deal with even more stupid DRMs? Then DO NOT buy this game. I'm asking for a refund, that's the only way these guys will ever stop treating us like idiots.    … Expand
  21. BadEnglishGuy
    Mar 19, 2013
    0
    John Riccitiello leaves his job in EA and accorinig to ancient Russian proverb:
  22. Jimbo364
    Mar 5, 2013
    0
    As if the always-online DRM wasn't enough, there was a queue to play single player. This is a disgrace to the SimCity franchise. The city size is a joke, probably will be DLC to get more land to build on. Don't buy this trash.
  23. Sneetches
    Mar 6, 2013
    0
    TL;DR Here lies the corpse of SimCity, slain by the dishonorable EA.

    Don't even waste your time or your money, let alone give another cent to EA, please just don't do it. You're basically paying for a neutered SimCity that removes many key features in exchange for "Always online" to play a strictly SINGLE PLAYER GAME. Besides the Always Online, DRM, bad graphics, neutered gameplay, full    TL;DR Here lies the corpse of SimCity, slain by the dishonorable EA.

    Don't even waste your time or your money, let alone give another cent to EA, please just don't do it. You're basically paying for a neutered SimCity that removes many key features in exchange for "Always online" to play a strictly SINGLE PLAYER GAME. Besides the Always Online, DRM, bad graphics, neutered gameplay, full servers that don't enable you to even play, and just about everything else that could go wrong, this game could have been released for free and been just as bad. All the critic scores having an average of 91 could make me puke, welcome to the current state of paid reviews.I can go dig out the disk (well you don't need one actually) for SimCity 2000 right now and play it. What are the chances, that in 13 years, that you'll be able to play this pile of garbage? EA will have to cancel the servers or release an offline version, but I wouldn't even bet on those scumbags to do that.    … Expand
  24. gustavohw
    Apr 11, 2013
    0
    Broken game design, stupid DRM, ULTRA-FOCKING SLOW PATCHES. I'm not even going to talk about NISSAN DLC, PLEASE MAXIS, get your together. Buy Cities in Motion 2 instead.
  25. SandMan13
    Mar 16, 2013
    0
    Pretty terrible game to put it nicely. Small city limits, dumb sims, broken region interaction and much much more await you in this joke of a game. Not only do you always have to be online, but the servers can literally eat some of your cities so that they no longer exist. Oh, you spent 5 hours on that city? Too bad it's gone. Save yourself the trouble and just avoid this game. So manyPretty terrible game to put it nicely. Small city limits, dumb sims, broken region interaction and much much more await you in this joke of a game. Not only do you always have to be online, but the servers can literally eat some of your cities so that they no longer exist. Oh, you spent 5 hours on that city? Too bad it's gone. Save yourself the trouble and just avoid this game. So many game breaking problems it's unreal.… Expand
  26. sabersin
    Mar 11, 2013
    0
    Always online DRM for what's essentially a single-player experience. Please Gamers, vote with your money. Stop providing EA sales figures that their executives use to justify continued anti-consumerist practices. There are lots of fine, gamer-friendly, indie games out therefor you to spend your time and money on. Don't forget, EA turned off server support for Madden and FIfa 2011 already.Always online DRM for what's essentially a single-player experience. Please Gamers, vote with your money. Stop providing EA sales figures that their executives use to justify continued anti-consumerist practices. There are lots of fine, gamer-friendly, indie games out therefor you to spend your time and money on. Don't forget, EA turned off server support for Madden and FIfa 2011 already. Those games are only 2.5 years old and have lost their online support. EA is quite willing to shutdown servers for their games to force you to buy newer versions. What happens when SimCity's servers are shutdown in a few years? You won't be able to play a game that you bought. Actually, strike that. You didn't purchase a game. You purchased a service from EA. A terrible one at that. Can you imagine any other service that's so intrusive and shoddy? I wouldn't pay for it.… Expand
  27. Krillz0r
    Mar 6, 2013
    0
    Worthless. Anti-consumer DRM that forces you to be online when you play, which means that when the servers go down (like today) you can't play. Yes you read it right. You can't play your single-player game because the servers are down.
  28. TrueGamerOz
    Mar 9, 2013
    0
    This is what happened to SimCity, EA do what EA does best, destroy franchises, they've destroied three seperate franchises in three months (Including SimCity), not bad even at EA standards. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-LE0ycgkBQ
  29. Goatee
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    This is actually a score for meta critic itself. Reviews of sim city show EXACTLY why meta critic should be considered invalid. Have a great day NOT playing simcity.
  30. NT1997
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    After 3 days of trying to connect to their stupid servers, I end up coming here to give this game a 0. The launch is worse than D3. The Always online DRM is a complete failure. EA! listen! I understand online DRM is to counter piracy. But it is also annoying your paying customers at the moment because your stupid server cannot handle the overwhelming traffic.
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013
21
#21 Most Shared PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 75 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 39 out of 75
  3. Negative: 10 out of 75
  1. PC Master (Greece)
    Jun 5, 2013
    65
    Given enough patches and DCLs, SimCity might eventually become the game that should have been on its release and justify the ambiguous choices that its developers made. [May 2013]
  2. Games Master UK
    May 9, 2013
    68
    Hints at great things but is limited by small cities and promises it can't deliver on. [June 2013, p.80]
  3. Hyper Magazine
    May 9, 2013
    40
    There's more problems with this game than I have words. Looks great though. [June 2013, p.80]
See all critic reviews »