SimCity 4

 PC
SimCity 4 Image
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 344 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: PLAY GOD - Sculpt mountains, gouge valleys, seed forests, and bring forth animals to create a world imagined only by you. Summon volcanoes, release tornadoes, and call down meteors and ligthening. PLAY MAYOR - Connect a massive region of SimCities, each sharing and competing for resources.PLAY GOD - Sculpt mountains, gouge valleys, seed forests, and bring forth animals to create a world imagined only by you. Summon volcanoes, release tornadoes, and call down meteors and ligthening. PLAY MAYOR - Connect a massive region of SimCities, each sharing and competing for resources. Deploy emergency vehicles and join in the action as they battle blazes, mobs, and more. PLAY WITH YOUR SIMS - Place your Sims in your city to get the inside scoop on what life's really like around town. Feel the rhythm of the city: mellow cruising and commuter hell, noontime crowds and nighttime calm. [Electronic Arts]… Expand
Buy Now
Buy on

Trailer

Play Sound
Please enter your birth date to watch this video:
You are not allowed to view this material at this time.
SimCity 4 Trailer 5

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. Adrenaline Vault
    100
    By providing an impressive level of detail in a game where detail is essential, and by including intuitive enhancements to the player experience, this is one title that should easily land on the “must have” list for any gamer.
  2. Gamezilla!
    96
    The graphics are nothing short of fantastic. Whether viewing the city from a bird’s eye perspective or up close and personal to homes, businesses, or traffic, the level of detail and finesse are obvious.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    The game is such an architectural playground that you can build on it for hundreds of hours and never get bored. [17 Jan 2003, p.87]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. GameZone
    83
    Yes, you are able to import your sims, and yes you can observe their daily routine as they work their way up from the inner-city slums into a high-level corporate position, but then you have to ask yourself why you would want to do that to begin with.
  5. Yahoo!
    80
    It's crushingly addictive, especially with the fascinating new possibilities offered by having your cities trade with each other for resources. Fix the stability, add some scenarios and we might be looking at a five star game.
  6. G4 TV
    80
    SimCity 4 isn't a perfect game. It has a difficult learning curve, so the poor documentation and limited tutorials might frustrate players. And the gameplay suffers from some pacing and balance flaws.
  7. Computer Games Magazine
    50
    Because the game adheres so much to real-world city-building, it's harder and harder to build the city of your dreams. [Apr 2003, p.76]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 36 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 63
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 63
  3. Negative: 3 out of 63
  1. DiogoC
    Jun 28, 2008
    10
    The improved graphics and the marvelous taste of challenge makes this the best SimCity ever!
  2. GOD
    Jan 15, 2003
    10
    Endorsed by me!
  4. WCheffirs
    Dec 8, 2013
    10
    Over a decade on there is nothing that comes close to SimCIty 4. The map size is huge, the detail and graphics are beautiful especially atOver a decade on there is nothing that comes close to SimCIty 4. The map size is huge, the detail and graphics are beautiful especially at night-time and the core of the game is challenging but very rewarding. Starting as an agricultural city with high profit ratios, your city expands and many of the corresponding issues that plague big cities build up till you find yourself trying to juggle all your cities demands. Unlike previous and future SimCity games this one is enthralling from start till...we always which can become a problem for ones social life. I consider this to be a perfect game.… Expand
  5. chronoT
    Mar 10, 2020
    9
    I can honestly admit that I have spent way too much of my life playing this game. I may have taken a few months or maybe even a year break butI can honestly admit that I have spent way too much of my life playing this game. I may have taken a few months or maybe even a year break but going back and playing this game is still fun. The best SimCity to date, far better graphics with an array of options and much improved game play. The mechanics of this game are brilliant and are actually pretty darn realistic in comparison to how a real city may be. Another amazing thing about this game is fact that there are thousands of mods, buildings, and cities available for download online that REALLY adds some serious amount of content. Also, I am more excited about SimCity 5 than any other game coming out, it will be epic!

    -HAHA EA played me (and us all) for a fool! Funny to look back years ago when I was "so exited" about SimCity 5, this really was the era that marks the downfall of quality games coming from EA!

    'Fool me once, shame on ... shame on you. Fool me... You can't get fooled again!'"
    -George W. Bush, Sept, 17th 2002    … Expand
  6. KalanYamato
    Mar 21, 2013
    9
    An incredible game, it has kept me entertained for so many years making cities is very fun and the simulation is quite deep and complex, butAn incredible game, it has kept me entertained for so many years making cities is very fun and the simulation is quite deep and complex, but sitll retaining a fair difficulty level for those less patient (coming from someone who plays in Rush Hour). Great Sim City.… Expand
  7. KevinG.
    Oct 25, 2006
    8
    It took me three goes to get it right but eventually I got my city off the ground. But the budgeting is ridiculous in this game, you should It took me three goes to get it right but eventually I got my city off the ground. But the budgeting is ridiculous in this game, you should have more sources of income to counterbalance the seemingly enourmous drains of utilities, services etc. But other wise a great game maybe too hard for someone not used to the previous titles.… Expand
  8. Nick
    May 3, 2003
    1
    Games crashes after every 5 minutes. Despite fast machine and all patches, divers etc downloaded. Think twice....

See all 63 User Reviews

Trailers

Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Best PC Game of 2003
17
#17 Most Discussed PC Game of 2003
14
#14 Most Shared PC Game of 2003

Current PC Games

Full List »
94 Elden Ring
93 God of War
92 Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
91 The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
90 Rogue Legacy 2
88 NORCO
88 Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster
87 Monster Hunter Rise
87 OlliOlli World
86 Total War: WARHAMMER III
86 Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
85 Tunic
80 Halo Infinite
78 GTFO
78 Wytchwood
77 Dying Light 2 Stay Human
74 Martha is Dead
65 Thunder Tier One
61 Praey for the Gods
46 Babylon's Fall
All Current Games »