Source: Love Mac | Software download link: Cities: Skylines for Mac
Cities: Skylines is an in-depth city-building simulation game, and the Mac version offers native support through Steam or the App Store. This guide will walk you through its interface, complete workflow, and operation tips in detail.
1. Core Interface and Workspace Overview
The main game interface is divided into six core areas:
- Top Information Bar: Displays key data such as city funds, population, and date.
- Left Toolbar: A vertically arranged icon menu containing construction tools such as zoning, roads, districts, and public facilities.
- Bottom-Right Information Panel: Dynamically displays detailed information and parameters for the currently selected building or tool.
- Bottom Center Button Bar: Entry points for management functions such as pause/play controls, policies, budget, and statistics.
- Top-Right Minimap and View Options: Provides switching between data layers such as traffic, pollution, and land value.
- 3D Main View Area: The area occupying 80% of the screen, where you control the camera with the mouse and keyboard for construction and observation.
2. Complete Operation Workflow from Creation to Export
1. Creating a New City
Steps:
- Launch the game and click “New Game” in the main menu.
- Choose a terrain from the map selection screen (you can use the built-in maps or maps subscribed to via the Steam Workshop).
- Set the game difficulty (this determines your starting funds and unlock conditions).
- Click “Create Game” to enter the loading screen.
Path: Main Menu → New Game → Map Selection → Create Game
2. Initial Area Planning and Construction
Steps:
- Build your first road: Click the “Roads” icon in the left toolbar (or press
R), and start drawing a two-way, two-lane road from the highway connection point. - Zone residential areas: Click the “Zoning” tool (or press
Z), select “Residential” (green), and drag along both sides of the road to designate the area. - Supply water and electricity: Select “Electricity” and “Water” from the left toolbar, and place wind turbines and water towers (make sure the pipes cover the area).
- Start the flow of time: Click the “Play” button at the bottom center (or press
Space), and residents will begin moving in.
Shortcuts: Roads (R), Zoning (Z), Electricity (E), Water (W), Pause/Play (Space)
3. City Development Stage Operations
Steps:
- Unlock new areas: When the population reaches a milestone (e.g., 500 people), click the “Buy Land” button at the edge of the map to expand your territory.
- Plan industrial and commercial zones: Use the zoning tool’s yellow (commercial) and blue (industrial) areas, and make sure traffic connections are smooth.
- Build public services: Place facilities from the “Healthcare”, “Fire”, and “Police” categories in the left toolbar.
- Manage traffic: Use the “Public Transport” tool (or press
P) to lay out bus routes, and analyze congestion points through the “Traffic Info View” (press5).
4. Final Adjustments and Export
Steps:
- Save the game: Click the top menu “File” → “Save” (or press
Cmd + S) to store your progress. - Export city screenshots/statistics:
- Screenshot: Press
Cmd + Shift + Sto enter photo mode, adjust the angle, and then click “Screenshot”. - Statistics: Click the “Statistics” button at the bottom (or press
F7) to view detailed reports on population, traffic, and more.
- Screenshot: Press
- Return to the main menu: Click the top menu “File” → “Return to Main Menu” to end the current session.
