Cities Skylines II Master Plan

What you need to know

A solid master plan gives you a clean city layout, traffic‑safe roads, and zoning that can grow without major redesigns. It focuses on a clear road hierarchy, separating zones, and planning districts so traffic stays smooth as the population rises.

Step by step

1. Start with a simple road hierarchy – lay out a primary arterial road that will carry most traffic, then add secondary roads branching off it, and finally local streets for residential blocks. Keep each level distinct so vehicles can move efficiently between them.
2. Separate zones by function – place residential, commercial, and industrial zones on different sides of the arterial road or in separate districts. This reduces unnecessary trips across the city and helps keep traffic patterns predictable.
3. Design traffic‑safe intersections – use roundabouts or well‑spaced traffic lights at key junctions where secondary roads meet the arterial. This prevents bottlenecks and makes the flow smoother as the city expands.
4. Create districts with clear boundaries – outline each district (residential, commercial, industrial) using natural or built barriers like parks, rivers, or dedicated service roads. Clear borders help you manage services and keep traffic contained within each zone.
5. Plan for expansion – leave space along the arterial for future extensions. When the city reaches higher populations, you can extend secondary roads and add new districts without having to redo the core layout.
6. Test and adjust – as you build, watch traffic flow and make small tweaks to road connections or zoning placement. The guide is meant to be updated, so feel free to refine the plan as you learn what works best in your city.

Tips

• Keep visual layouts simple; complex road webs often lead to traffic jams.
• Use the same hierarchy pattern in every new district to maintain consistency.
• When adding new zones, mirror the existing layout to avoid creating dead‑ends or confusing routes.
• Regularly check how traffic moves between districts; adjust intersections if congestion appears.
• Treat the master plan as a living document—update it when patches change game behavior or you discover better configurations.