Face-off
Civilization VII or Cities: Skylines II?
Two long-haul PC favourites with big add-on bills. Which one earns its extras?
Sid Meier's Civilization VII
From £49.99 · 31 h
Cities: Skylines II
From £41.99 · 54 h
Both are games you play for years rather than finish, both launched to divided reviews, and both are sold with a long tail of paid add-ons. Neither is cheap once you want everything.
Civilization VII is a turn-based strategy game about the whole of history; Cities: Skylines II is a real-time city builder. This comparison is about what you get for your money over time.
Round by round
State of the game
Civilization VII has been transformed by free updates in 2026. Cities: Skylines II still suffers performance problems in large cities, which its developer describes as ongoing work.
EdgeCivilization VII
Depth
Cities: Skylines II's traffic and economy simulation is deeper than anything else in its genre. Civilization VII's ages and crises give each campaign a clear shape.
EdgeCities: Skylines II
Platforms
Civilization VII runs on PC, Mac, every current console and Apple Arcade. Cities: Skylines II is Windows only.
EdgeCivilization VII
Everything at list price
Civilization VII: £59.99 plus £140.10 of add-ons, £200.09. Cities: Skylines II: £41.99 plus about £124.80 of add-ons and a £37.99 pass for mostly future content, £204.78.
EdgeCivilization VII
Cheapest way in
Cities: Skylines II's base game is included in PC Game Pass. Civilization VII is in no subscription, but it is half price on Switch until 29 September.
EdgeCities: Skylines II
The money, side by side
Their full bills are almost identical, at about £200 each. The difference is how you can start: Cities: Skylines II on PC Game Pass for £10.99 a month, Civilization VII in a sale. Steam bundles soften both, and Cities: Skylines II's Collection bundle is a permanent 15% saving on its add-ons.
Our call
Civilization VII is the better buy today, because its updates have fixed more of its problems and it runs on almost anything. Cities: Skylines II is worth trying through PC Game Pass if you love city builders and have a strong PC, but do not buy its expansion pass in advance.
Full Civilization VII review · Full Cities: Skylines II review