Colossal Order's 2023 sequel simulates every citizen as an agent with a household, a job, an education level and a daily route between them. Twenty milestones gate progress from Tiny Village to Megalopolis, handing out 432 expansion permits and 232 development points along the way. The Economy 2.0 patch reworked rent, production and taxation after launch, so a lot of the advice written in the first months no longer matches the game.
Cities: Skylines II features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lakeland | First city, beginner friendly | Grain fields, abundant fresh water, wide flat building room | Farming region |
| 2 | Sweeping Plains | First city, beginner friendly | Flat unrestricted building space, mild climate, easy highway access | Farming region |
| 3 | Barrier Island | Second or third city | Fishing industry, ship connections, coastal land value | Forestry town |
| 4 | Great Highlands | Experienced builders | Heavy forest cover, dramatic terrain, forestry specialisation | Forestry town |
| 5 | Waterway Pass | Intermediate | Large buildable area, river freight routes, mixed resources | Forestry town |
Lakeland: Starting Area
European theme with a cold climate swinging roughly from minus 15 to 26 degrees, plenty of flat land and extensive grain resources around the lakes. Heating demand in winter is the main thing to plan for.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | First city, beginner friendly |
| Key Rewards | Grain fields, abundant fresh water, wide flat building room |
| Recommended Build | Farming region |
| Key Equipment | Water Pumping Station |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Agent based citizen simulation. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Sweeping Plains.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Sweeping Plains: Early Game
North American theme with a temperate climate and mostly flat terrain, which removes almost every terrain excuse for a bad road layout. Resources are moderate rather than rich.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | First city, beginner friendly |
| Key Rewards | Flat unrestricted building space, mild climate, easy highway access |
| Recommended Build | Farming region |
| Key Equipment | Water Pumping Station |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Milestones and expansion permits. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Water Pumping Station if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Barrier Island.
Barrier Island: Mid Game
North American theme with a warm coastal climate and fish resources offshore. Land is split by water, so bridges and ferry routes become part of the plan rather than decoration.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Second or third city |
| Key Rewards | Fishing industry, ship connections, coastal land value |
| Recommended Build | Forestry town |
| Key Equipment | Water Pumping Station |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Coal Power Plant becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Development tree upgrades for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Great Highlands: Late Game
European theme with a cool climate and mountainous terrain that limits buildable space badly. Forest resources are strong, which makes it the natural forestry map if you can handle the slopes.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Experienced builders |
| Key Rewards | Heavy forest cover, dramatic terrain, forestry specialisation |
| Recommended Build | Forestry town |
| Key Equipment | Coal Power Plant |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Coal Power Plant should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Land value and pollution mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Waterway Pass.
Waterway Pass: Endgame
North American theme with an extreme climate range from about minus 5 to 36 degrees and a large buildable area along a river passage. Power demand swings hard in both directions across the year.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Key Rewards | Large buildable area, river freight routes, mixed resources |
| Recommended Build | Forestry town |
| Key Equipment | Coal Power Plant |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Office and services hub for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Lakeland → Sweeping Plains → Barrier Island → Great Highlands → Waterway Pass. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Cities: Skylines II Guides
- Cities: Skylines II Cities: Skylines II Overview
- Cities: Skylines II Best Builds
- Cities: Skylines II Tier List
- Cities: Skylines II Walkthrough
- Cities: Skylines II Beginner's Guide
- Cities: Skylines II Tips & Tricks
- Cities: Skylines II Weapons Guide
- Cities: Skylines II Combat Guide
- Cities: Skylines II Boss Guide
- Cities: Skylines II Crafting Guide
- Cities: Skylines II Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Cities: Skylines II, check out these related guides:
- Cities: Skylines Maps & Locations: city-builder game with similar mechanics
- Manor Lords Maps & Locations: city-builder game with similar mechanics
- Timberborn Maps & Locations: city-builder game with similar mechanics
