Our website is reader supported and contains affiliate links, we shall earn a small commission if you make a purchase by clicking them.

Can I run Cities: Skylines?

The System Requirements for Playing Cities: Skylines

Do you want to know the specifications that are needed to run Cities: Skylines on your PC? Well, you just have landed in the right place. Not only would we share the minimum required specs, but we’ll also share the recommended specifications for running it.

Minimum System Requirements Recommended System Requirements
Memory 4 GB 6 GB
Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 or AMD Radeon HD 6770 AMD Radeon HD 7870 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760
CPU Intel Core2 Duo T7300 @ 2.00GHz or AMD 3015e Intel Core i5-3470 @ 3.20GHz or AMD Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
OS Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1 (64-bit) Microsoft Windows 7/8 (64-bit)

Check if you can run the game?

What is Cities: Skylines ?

Cities: Skylines is one of the popular Strategy, Simulation games developed by Colossal Order Ltd. and was published by Paradox Interactive. Released in 10 Mar 2015, it has a huge number of players who regularly play it. With the perfect processor, GPU, and RAM, you can assemble a device powerful enough to play at the game at 720p and 1080p.

Although you can go for some high-end GTX, RTX, or even mid-range AMD Radeon GPU to play this game, you would require a minimum of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 or AMD Radeon HD 6770 to hit decent fps at every given presets. Inherently, to run Cities: Skylines smoothly, your computer/PC/Laptop must have the minimum/recommended system requirements.

For playing Cities: Skylines at HD settings, the Intel Core2 Duo T7300 @ 2.00GHz or AMD 3015e is the lowest rated processor. However, it isn’t recommended to get a system that just has the minimum CPU, after all you’ll be playing other games and doing other tasks too. In our opinion, it’s best to consider getting the Intel Core i5-3470 @ 3.20GHz for being able to run the game smoothly and lag-free.

For better performances at high to ultra 1080p settings, consider purchasing the Intel Core i5-3470 @ 3.20GHz which is 642% better as compared to the Intel Core2 Duo T7300 @ 2.00GHz and flaunts a mark score of 4643. If you have an AMD-powered gadget, the AMD 3015e is a good choice as the recommended CPU.

A dedicated GPU is necessary for smoother visuals while running the Cities: Skylines, as Strategy, Simulation titles require the device to decipher the intricate textures. Therefore, you would require NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 or AMD Radeon HD 6770 with G3D mark score of 1228 / 1247 as the bare minimum components for running this game at 720p presets.

If you want to explore the Cities: Skylines is its entirety, you must get hold of AMD Radeon HD 7870 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 GPU or even better processing components, especially to handle the game at 1080p, hitting decent fps, consistently.

Although we would urge you to get a minimum of 4 GB for handling the Cities: Skylines files, textures, renders, and game-playing data, 6 GB ensures that you can indulge in other processes sans lags. In case you’re planning to play other games, then make sure that your system has the recommended RAM for those games.

Cities: Skylines requires the Windows OS for the best game-playing experiences. Any other operating system won’t be able to support the game. Also, if your OS isn’t compatible with the game, then either switch to Windows or feel free to check out the Cities: Skylines alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the minimum required specifications?

According to the official website, the minimum specifications required to run Cities: Skylines include: Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1 (64-bit), Intel Core2 Duo T7300 @ 2.00GHz or AMD 3015e CPU, 4 GB RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 or AMD Radeon HD 6770 GPU .

What are the recommended specifications?

Having the recommended specs ensures a lag-free and smooth gameplay. According to our testing, the recommended specs for running Cities: Skylines are Microsoft Windows 7/8 (64-bit) operating system,Intel Core i5-3470 @ 3.20GHz or AMD Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE CPU, 6 GB RAM, and AMD Radeon HD 7870 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760GPU.

Is the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 suitable for playing Cities: Skylines ?

Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is 2468% faster than the minimum required CPU i.e. Intel Core2 Duo T7300 @ 2.00GHz or AMD 3015e thereby allowing you to run the game. However, you should make sure that you also meet the GPU, RAM, and Storage requirements.

Is 6 GB RAM enough for smooth gameplay?

Yes, You only need 4 GB to run this game, but having 6 GB shall surely ensure a smooth Cities: Skylines experience.

I have 4 GB RAM, should I upgrade?

Although, 4 GB RAM is enough for running Cities: Skylines, but for a smooth gaming experience, it’s suggested to atleast have 6 GB RAM.

Is NVIDIA Quadro FX 5800 GPU capable of running the game?

No, The NVIDIA Quadro FX 5800 GPU is 9% slower than the minimum required GPU i.e. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260. So, you can’t use it. In case you’re looking for one, you should consider checking our Cities: Skylines GPU recommendations.

Can I run Cities: Skylines on a MacOS?

Sorry, Cities: Skylines is not compatible with MacOS. To play this game, you’ll need to switch to a Windows device.

Are there any alternatives to Cities: Skylines?

Yes, there are many games like Cities: Skylines, A few of the popular ones are: Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5), Valorant, Warzone, Fortnite, Red Dead Redemption 2.