Cities Skylines Airports DLC Review

Cities Skylines had taken a relatively long break from its previously-regular major DLC release schedule ahead of the announcement of Airports. In fact, the previous add-on, Sunset Harbour, was released almost a full year prior to the release of the latest instalment, brokering much speculation about the possibility of a successor to the fan favourite and critically acclaimed city builder. For now, however, Paradox has welcomely declared their ongoing commitment to the title, and Airports has promised to be a major evolution of players’ now long-standing megalopoli.

Aside from its obvious focus on the DLC, the content of Airports does in fact represent one of the biggest game segment overhauls that Cities Skylines has seen to date. Previously, airports in the game formed just another structure in the wider transport system. With this DLC, the airport zone of your city becomes a massive construct with many moving parts, making air transit and its related functions a key sector of your wider operations. With its own sub-management systems and functions beyond many of the more simplistic zoning options in Cities, Airports promises much to the avid long-term player. With a mixed history of DLC efficacy, however, some may be dubious about the value-for-money that this premium (£10.29 at the time of writing) add-on…

One factor that does make Airports interesting is the modular nature of the airport zone. Previously utilised in the post-launch park and campus zones for Cities, the modular sub-sectors of the cityscape have thus far represented some of the more positively received additions to the base game. Creating the airport zone requires a little more tactical consideration than its predecessors, though, primarily due to the need for entirely flat ground (and a fair bit of it) for the construction of runways. Getting one of these down is not too difficult, but laying your second, third and beyond can become a land management puzzle in its own right. Add to this the numerous structures and interconnected internal transit routes for the airport to properly and efficiently function (and of course, look pretty) and the pre-planning of your layout is perhaps more important than it has ever been beyond the standard base game mechanics themselves.

Once you have the base structures necessary for your airport to function on a basic level, a new system of sub-management becomes available to you. On the face of things, much of the airport functions automatically and seamlessly aside from other mass transit options and existing systems such as tourism. Making the airport a key part of your economic structure and personal to your city, however, are very much actions available and determinable by the player. Control of aspects such as the internal network of the airport and indeed the pricing of your new transport superstructure are in your hands, but this is a very basic level of management versus the systems of the base game. From a personalisation perspective, the visual schemes and even the airport logo can be changed by the player themselves, adding an element that has perhaps been somewhat lacking in Cities Skylines’ past. These elements are perhaps oversold in the DLC’s description but are pleasant nonetheless.

If anything, Airports stands out as a demonstration of what the Cities team could achieve in a spin-off management game focussed on the infrastructure directly. As a part of Cities, it is a welcome addition but another fairly small package in terms of what players receive. The ideas behind the DLC, however, are interesting and exciting. Knowing the level of management systems that the Cities team can achieve, and the realism that these emulate, make any possibility of future associated management games an exciting prospect. Elements such as the “levelling-up” of your airports as your city develops and the custom management options demonstrate that some level of thought is already in place to this end.

Ignoring future speculations and focussing on the DLC pack itself, Airports is yet another welcome and well thought out addition to Cities Skylines, but one which comes with a relatively hefty price tag when considered in terms of the quantity of its content. Avid fans will enjoy and appreciate the somewhat overdue offering and the support of the game that it represents, and Airports does stand out from some of the less enticing add-ons we have seen in the past. Nevertheless, as I have noted for previous releases, the best “middle” option for obtaining these extras remains to wait for a sale and reap the rewards at that time. Airports is a solid further evolution of Cities, but one which is valid to wait for a little longer on behalf of your wallet.

• Publisher: Paradox Interactive
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows

DLC was reviewed on PC

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