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. oldmanhorton
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I gave this game a 0 because I literally can not play it. I have great internet, a powerful computer, and all of the time in the world. EA's extremely invasive, clunky, and unnecessary DRM system has failed, and I, along with the millions of other people who have purchased and have been let down by this game, are the ones being punished. I have gotten into a few games early in the morning,I gave this game a 0 because I literally can not play it. I have great internet, a powerful computer, and all of the time in the world. EA's extremely invasive, clunky, and unnecessary DRM system has failed, and I, along with the millions of other people who have purchased and have been let down by this game, are the ones being punished. I have gotten into a few games early in the morning, and they were wonderful. My only issue with the game itself is that city size is quite small, but it provides a challenge and i believe that Maxis will fix it eventually. However, EA needs to realize that this is an inexcusable situation. The fact that this game has a 1.7 right now is generous, as most people have been completely unable to play or have lost the cities that they worked for hours on. EA- Please, stop with your childish, anti-consumer tactics. No one likes you, always-on DRM, microtransactions, and especially Origin. No one does. Some people may feel "meh" towards them, but no one likes them. Its such a shame, because games like SimCity, Dead Space 3, Real Racing 3, and Battlefield 3 are legitimately fun games that are hampered by your pathetic services and even worse customer support. You leave consumers in a terrible situation, wanting to boycott your games but being unable to because if only you were not the publisher, people would be in love with many of them. I know the game will work eventually, and at that point id easily give it an 8 or 9. This is solely to drive the score down to make a point to EA that they must stop. And now Amazon stopped selling the game and youre disabling features? Come on, now. Heres to hoping for a better future.… Expand
  2. Mutin1981
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    This must be one of the worst game releases in the history of gaming. Only EA could take a game like Sim City and actually make people angry. Not just disappointed...but ANGRY.
  3. Tunerp5
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Can i log in yes,yes, looks like it is going to happen -DAM NOPE, BUT I CAN WAIT FOR 30 MIN TO TRY TO LOG IN DAM YOU DRM. Why always online DRM for a single player game.
  4. bigjerd
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    The game is a lot of fun when you're actually playing, but I also feel like they've left a lot out for future DLC. Which EA will inevitably charge an arm and a leg for. I really wish there we're more options to build. The specializations are very limited. The whole package seems condensed. The servers are also terrible. I haven't been able to consistently play since launch. VeryThe game is a lot of fun when you're actually playing, but I also feel like they've left a lot out for future DLC. Which EA will inevitably charge an arm and a leg for. I really wish there we're more options to build. The specializations are very limited. The whole package seems condensed. The servers are also terrible. I haven't been able to consistently play since launch. Very dissatisfied with everything.… Expand
  5. Troyhe98
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    EA screwed up this release beyond words. Stay away and screw them buy not purchasing this game. Their customer service is terrible and they refuse to refund customers who purchased the electronic copies digitally. The online DRM screws the legal customers in the end. I will not be playing this game (first SimCity I will have not played).
  6. Bobwaitforitdun
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Server problems/DRM annoying issues aside, I was really disappointed with the core game. Maps are far too small and gaps on the region map between cities are far too vacant. Looks like a city farm with plots of cities growing. You can't place large highways, as they are part of the region and not the cities. No teraforming aside from changes due to civil construction. No Subways so youServer problems/DRM annoying issues aside, I was really disappointed with the core game. Maps are far too small and gaps on the region map between cities are far too vacant. Looks like a city farm with plots of cities growing. You can't place large highways, as they are part of the region and not the cities. No teraforming aside from changes due to civil construction. No Subways so you cant really have alternate transport in your city b/c the map is filled with roads occupying all the space. You literally fill the entire city limit in like 4 hours of play. Then you have to expand vertically after that. No agriculture industry, so clean industry is impossible until you get your tech up. I went back to Sim City 4 to get my fix, and I actually had fun offline. I did like the curved roads, but you cant put any in a city you want to expand, because the map size forces you to grid for efficiency. Now if you had the entire region to edit without switching views, this game may actually have its new features mean something. This day and age, that should be the scale of a Sim City game. Multiple cities all in the same editable instance. If the online requirement is why this was not done, then that was a bad choice and a significant failure for the SIm City franchise, however much I wish it wasn't so. If things change I'll update my score/edit post, but it'll need more than an offline mode to be sure.… Expand
  7. p4rk5y
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    After 4 hours of trying to connect to a server i finally got to play the tutorial only to get 3/4 of the way through it before the server shutting down. Other attempts since then have failed to connect to a server. Online only has ruined this game. From what game i did get to see, graphically was great but not worth wasting hours of time relying on a cloud save or hopeing the servers don'tAfter 4 hours of trying to connect to a server i finally got to play the tutorial only to get 3/4 of the way through it before the server shutting down. Other attempts since then have failed to connect to a server. Online only has ruined this game. From what game i did get to see, graphically was great but not worth wasting hours of time relying on a cloud save or hopeing the servers don't crash/shutdown before a city is even built. This game needs to be available offline to get any decent score from me.… Expand
  8. thepolice
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Doesn't work... plain and simple. I feel like I was cheated. Why am I stuck waiting in a queue for a single player game? Not having local saves is a major issue and I am not confident that EA will be able to fix these issues anytime soon. They should stop selling the game entirely until this is fixed and offer refunds for those who would like one.
  9. sund
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    cant play the game!
    if you log, sometimes crashes
    if you try to create, the serveres cant handle you request
    even playing the tutorial, if you must change the city, the tutorial stops
  10. Phakt
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Metacritic, how much did EA pay you to write this tripe? Even when the game works it is a baby's toy. It's great for a preschooler. Also, you have to be online to play single player? That is sickening. Sorry, not only did EA lose a customer, you lost a site visitor.
  11. LinuxColonel
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I spent 90 dollars on a single player game that DOES NOT WORK WHATSOEVER DUE TO SERVER ISSUES. Since the 30 hours that have gone by since I bought it, I havent had a single opportunity to actually play the game.
  12. ramonfelipe
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Always on DRM is retarded, and can turn a great game into complete crap. Hopefully they are still in time to reconsider this strategy and apply a patch to allow offline play.
  13. Riker148
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Very small plots compared to the original games and always online DRM makes for one disappointing game. Shame really, I was really looking forward to playing this but all I am looking for now is a refund.
  14. Edwinreyne
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    This game has only one con: YOU CANNOT PLAY IT. The launch is nothing but another Diablo III disaster, and maybe even worse. It has been three days since I purchased the game, Origin said I spent 35 hours playing it, while 34 of which are spent trying to connect to the server. If you have not bought it yet, I suggest don't do so until EA figures out a solution to the server issue.
  15. kbar33w
    Mar 16, 2013
    0
    This is a revisal of my last review. I can now log into the servers but when I am playing the servers will have issues with my city and force me to roll back and undo an hours of work. Essentially I play for 3 hours then get sent back one. This is a highly annoying and glitchy problem. If I could just play this game on my computer alone and not use EA's servers almost all of the issues IThis is a revisal of my last review. I can now log into the servers but when I am playing the servers will have issues with my city and force me to roll back and undo an hours of work. Essentially I play for 3 hours then get sent back one. This is a highly annoying and glitchy problem. If I could just play this game on my computer alone and not use EA's servers almost all of the issues I have had and continue to have would not happen. TL;DR Maxis/EA needs to stop feeding out lines of PR BS and listen to their customers, this game is broken.… Expand
  16. LordZargum
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I played for 6 hours and then I crashed the game (I have a PC gaming from 3000 euro). On my return I had lost everything, plus you can only play ONLINE, the servers are always full and people like me who took the deluxe version spending 80 euro, in these hours can not play!
  17. smiley73
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Worst game launch in my 20+ years of gaming. I would return the game if possible. Maybe that's why EA bothered to launch an unprepared platform. The game was completely unplayable during the first day (crashed constantly). On the second day, the game was palyable only in fifteen minutes increments, before the servers went down. Now into the third day post-launch, the servers have beenWorst game launch in my 20+ years of gaming. I would return the game if possible. Maybe that's why EA bothered to launch an unprepared platform. The game was completely unplayable during the first day (crashed constantly). On the second day, the game was palyable only in fifteen minutes increments, before the servers went down. Now into the third day post-launch, the servers have been taken down for maintnenance at 5pm eastern standard time, with no expected complete time projected on the EA forums. Real good business there. I think I will vist the BBB website next.… Expand
  18. Reavings
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I would first like to say that the few minutes of personal play and videos, such as those on youtube, portray a great game. Now for the good stuff... it is a glitched pile of excrement that requires a third party program and servers that do not work. I have suffered threw crapy launches before with WAR and SWTOR (both EA games maybe there is a pattern...) Now there may be a day when thisI would first like to say that the few minutes of personal play and videos, such as those on youtube, portray a great game. Now for the good stuff... it is a glitched pile of excrement that requires a third party program and servers that do not work. I have suffered threw crapy launches before with WAR and SWTOR (both EA games maybe there is a pattern...) Now there may be a day when this game could be a 9 or even a 10 but it is not that game, it is the game that i have on my computer now that does not work. Point, break, period. Any and all arguments on the contrary are farts in the wind.… Expand
  19. QuarianEngineer
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Only EA would make a single-player game that requires online DRM. This game completely deserves a zero because I can't even play it, and I have been trying to play for the past 3 days.
  20. Hitmehard
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    The game is fun, refreshing and detailed. WHEN IT WORKS.
    It doesn't work, the servers are off-line 9 of out 10 times and when they go offline mid-session you get booted out of your game.

    0/10 for a extremely bad launch. Had this been a game without the need for "always online" it'd been A+ for sure.
  21. neophilus
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    EA disabling "non-criticcal gameplay features" to try to save their servers just proves they've sunk this game with useless crap that nobody asked for. No existing SimCity fans wanted an online-only multiplayer based city building game that has a fraction of the available building space as previous games in the franchise.

    Everyone loved SimCity 4 all they had to do was update the    EA disabling "non-criticcal gameplay features" to try to save their servers just proves they've sunk this game with useless crap that nobody asked for. No existing SimCity fans wanted an online-only multiplayer based city building game that has a fraction of the available building space as previous games in the franchise.

    Everyone loved SimCity 4 all they had to do was update the engine and reskin it and they would have had the perfect game. Instead the bloodsucking leeches at corporate forced this DRM-disguised-as-value online connectivity that they are obviously too incompetent to execute properly. It smells like some desperate bid to fight piracy but the only people who are going to suffer are paying customers while the pirates will probably crack some much better version of this dumbed down excuse for a city building simulator. SimCity 4 will never die, it will flourish long after the corpse of SimCity DRM 2013 "The Great EA Cashgrab" has decomposed into the rotten corporate hole it was spawned from.    … Expand
  22. Adz7991
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Right, so after owning this poor excuse for a game (sorry, EA, how dare i presume to 'own' this game, i am merely allowed to play it occaisionally due to your good graces) for about 24 hours, I have been unable to play it AT ALL. I have not been able to even access the tutorial! I have been able to get into the Getting Started screen, about 3 times after continuously trying for almost allRight, so after owning this poor excuse for a game (sorry, EA, how dare i presume to 'own' this game, i am merely allowed to play it occaisionally due to your good graces) for about 24 hours, I have been unable to play it AT ALL. I have not been able to even access the tutorial! I have been able to get into the Getting Started screen, about 3 times after continuously trying for almost all of those 24 hours, but the tutorial just says unavailable at this time and to try again later. When is later? 2-3 weeks? Or half an hour? Occasionally, after failing to launch the tutorial, it will take me to the start screen, where the Play button and the SimWorld buttons don't work. All I have gotten for my $80 purchase so far is a pretty installer screen, another icon on my Origin account and a holographic box the CD came in. Somehow, I feel ripped off. If I released a product, then shipped an empty box with a note saying "terribly sorry, but we experienced technical issues so you'll get the product in a couple weeks" after promising a certain shipping date, I would not be in business very long. I estimate I have spent roughly $2000 on Maxis products alone through EA from Sim City 2000, 3000, 4 and every The SIms game with all expansions plus microtransactions, but this $80 on Simcity5 will be the last Maxis and EA receive from me. I will no longer purchase University Life, or any other expansions or stuff packs, and the excitement I felt over the announcement of The SIms 4 is now dead. I and the whole gaming community require a profound apology for this debarcle, may I suggest upgrading everyone who has bought this fancy icon a free upgrade to the digital deluxe edition as well, or at the very least some sort of refund. EA should feel very proud of one thing though. I'm sure this will go into the history books as the worse product launch in history. Congratulations.… Expand
  23. ahunter10
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Not only should you not buy this game (it flat out does not work), you should also discredit any Review Site that gives this game a passing grade.
    It is a failure.
  24. lew2501
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    The first thing about a game that every single one of them needs is for it to work, this does not its inexcusable, how can they spend all this time developing a game and then for it not to work, did they not expect for more than 5 people to play it a one time or something, worst thing is though EA wouldn't refund me saying its not in their policy, i stuck with EA through Mass Effect butThe first thing about a game that every single one of them needs is for it to work, this does not its inexcusable, how can they spend all this time developing a game and then for it not to work, did they not expect for more than 5 people to play it a one time or something, worst thing is though EA wouldn't refund me saying its not in their policy, i stuck with EA through Mass Effect but this stupid DRM thing for a single player game is ridiculous, when will you listen to anything anyone says i am fed up with it and i seriously hope you rethink your entire business strategy or just leave the video game market which you've already left in tatters, i would not care if North Korea went through with its threats and nuked EA, in fact i would be overjoyed at the prospect of it, so Kim Jong Un if you somehow can read this nuke EA into the stone age for the good of the world please.… Expand
  25. DaCleric
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Unable to play due to server at capacity. In a single-player game. This is ridiculous. Simplified gameplay that does not provide as deep an experience as any of the previous SimCity games and what will happen when EA decides that the servers are too expensive
  26. Bartiemus
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Have not been able to play due to the always on DRM do not buy this game as it is broken. Even with it being broken EA will not give me a refund I repeat do not buy this game.
  27. payingcustomer
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    The game is an utter disaster. Treating paying customers like vile criminals with absolutely draconian DRM that does not work. I've had only played it for 3 Hrs when it crashed saying I NEEDED to be connected to the internet to play on my own. DO NOT BUY THIS GAME. You will be thrown into the vast abyss of people who can't play the the THEY BOUGHT AND PAYED FOR. A disgrace to gaming and aThe game is an utter disaster. Treating paying customers like vile criminals with absolutely draconian DRM that does not work. I've had only played it for 3 Hrs when it crashed saying I NEEDED to be connected to the internet to play on my own. DO NOT BUY THIS GAME. You will be thrown into the vast abyss of people who can't play the the THEY BOUGHT AND PAYED FOR. A disgrace to gaming and a disgrace to a paying customer.… Expand
  28. drdichotomy2000
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I wish I could rate this game lower than zero. EA has acted dishonestly. I will never pay for an EA product again. Please join the boycott. These people don't need any more of your money.
  29. simcityfail
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Absolutely unacceptable and disgraceful launch from Origin. It's not so much that it's an always online game.... although that is also ridiculous... you should be able to play a single player game offline....I just can't deal with paying good money to waste my damn time waiting to load this bloody game. The issue had bloody well be temporary, It's a damn shame. unbloodyacceptable.
  30. MichaelTom
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I created a metacritic account just because of this game.
    Online connection required to play at all times. WTF I have one. WHY doesn't this play? I purchased this for $86.49 with all the bells and whistles, I should have just gotten a hand
    job from the illegal on the corner. I guess I have to spend hours trolling thru EA forums looking for someone saying "we are aware of the bull****    I created a metacritic account just because of this game.
    Online connection required to play at all times. WTF I have one. WHY doesn't this play? I purchased this for $86.49 with all the bells and whistles, I should have just gotten a hand
    job from the illegal on the corner. I guess I have to spend hours trolling thru EA forums looking for someone saying "we are aware of the bull**** and are working hard to fix it" A game to be played by people to manage a city and EA can't even manage a release?
    26 awards this thing received for what making more money than a ponzi scheme...
    Get Bernie back he'll get this going!! GET ME MY MONEY BACK!

    EA you trash producing hack company! and Maxis you made a deal with the devil.
    Anyone who thinks this game is good I sell you my unplayable copy sounds like a sweet deal to me.    … Expand
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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 »