Mastering City Policies in Cities: Skylines 2
Discover the power of policies in Cities: Skylines 2! Unleash your creativity and shape your city with ease as you learn how to set both city-wide and district-specific policies Enhance your gameplay and transform your virtual metropolis with just a few clicks
Cities: Skylines 2 retains the concept of city policies from its predecessor. In the original game, players had the ability to enable or disable policies for both the entire city and specific districts they built. This feature gave players the freedom to, for example, prohibit large trucks from entering residential areas and promote recycling throughout the city.
In Cities: Skylines 2, the policy system has been completely overhauled. Players now have a separate set of policies that can be toggled for individual districts and the overall city. However, the tutorials do not provide clear instructions on where to access these policies and how to effectively implement them.
How to Set City Policies
The City Information menu contains the list of citywide policies. To locate it, simply click on the round button adjacent to the zoning demand bars and select the "City Policies" tab. By activating all five policies simultaneously, players can attain the "Calling the Shots" achievement.
Policy | Milestone Unlocked | Effect |
|---|---|---|
Advanced Pollution Management | Boom Town (6) | |
City Promotion | Small City (10) | More tourists, but more crime around tourist destinations |
High-Speed Highways | Small City (10) | Faster highway traffic, but more highway accidents |
Pre-Release Programs | Tiny Town (5) | |
Taxi Minimum Fare | Grand Village (4) | Taxi rides earn the city more money and discourage citizens from using taxis |
How to Set District Policies
In order to utilize the alternate set of policies, players need to first create a district using the District Creation Tool. This tool becomes available after reaching milestone four, Grand Village, and is represented by a white rectangle icon located next to the zoning tool. Players have the freedom to create districts of various shapes and sizes, although it is advisable to keep residential districts separate from commercial, industrial, and office zones.
To establish policies for a district, players must click on the district's name. This action will bring up a district menu that displays the overall statistics of the district. Within the menu, players will find multiple policy icons that can be toggled on or off. By clicking on the arrow adjacent to the policy icons, a detailed list will appear, providing players with the opportunity to set the exact roadside parking fee.
Policy | Milestone Unlocked | Effect |
|---|---|---|
Combustion Engine Ban | Small City (10) | Fuel-burning vehicles aren't allowed inside the district unless owned by a local business or resident, reducing noise and air pollution |
Energy Consumption Awareness | Tiny Town (5) | Lowers energy consumption in district by 5 percent |
Gated Community | Busy Town (7) | Only businesses and residents are allowed inside the district (not including city services), reducing crime and redirecting traffic |
Heavy Traffic Ban | Boom Town (6) | Heavy vehicles must find routes around district, reducing noise pollution and road wear, and redirecting heavy traffic |
Recycling | Tiny Town (5) | Decreases resource use but also decreases citizen free time |
Roadside Parking Fee | Tiny Town (5) | Increases road income and encourages citizens to park in parking lots |
Speed Bumps | Tiny Town (5) | Lowers vehicle speed in district, reducing noise pollution and accidents but increasing traffic jams |
Although certain district policies are beneficial for all areas, their primary purpose is to divert heavy and noisy traffic away from residential neighborhoods. This measure aims to ensure the satisfaction of residents. However, it is crucial for players to guarantee the presence of an adequate number of medium and large side roads capable of accommodating the influx of heavy traffic before implementing such policies.
Cities: Skylines 2 is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Cities: Skylines 2
Platform(s) PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series SReleased October 24, 2023Developer(s) Colossal OrderPublisher(s) Paradox InteractiveGenre(s) City Builder
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z fan, I am excited about the release of Cities: Skylines 2. I have been a fan of the original game for years, and I am eager to see what new features and improvements the sequel has to offer.
One of the things I am most excited about is the new policy system. In the original game, the policy system was somewhat limited, and it was often difficult to find the right policies for your city. In Cities: Skylines 2, the policy system has been completely overhauled, and it now offers a much wider range of policies to choose from. This will give players more freedom to create the city they want.
I am also excited about the new district system. In the original game, players could only create districts for residential, commercial, and industrial zones. In Cities: Skylines 2, players can now create districts for any type of zone, including parks, schools, and hospitals. This will give players more control over the development of their city.
Overall, I am very excited about Cities: Skylines 2. The new policy system and district system are just two of the many new features that I am looking forward to. I can't wait to get my hands on the game and start building my dream city.
