For city-building aficionados, joy is found in details—the rhythm of urban life, the precision of each block, the thrill of watching your simulated streets come alive. Enter Metropolis 1998, a solo passion project from Yesbox Studios that channels the golden era of city-builders with both pixel-perfect charm and astonishing depth. Thanks to a newly expanded free demo on Steam, there’s never been a better moment to unleash your inner urban planner.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Yesbox Studios |
| Release Date | Q4 2024 (full release planned) |
| Genres | City-builder, Simulation, Strategy |
| Platforms | PC (Steam) |
At first glance, Metropolis 1998 pulls inspiration straight from the playbooks of SimCity 3000 and the cozy nostalgia of Rollercoaster Tycoon. But don’t be fooled by the retro graphics—this city-builder is no mere throwback. Yesbox Studios has packed an impressive amount of complexity into a download that loads in seconds, offering layers of city management that most modern titles only dream about.
The real magic lies in its construction system. Forget zoning bland blocks—here, you design each building room by room, customizing interiors and placing every desk, sofa, and lamp by hand. This micro-level approach extends to your citizens, too. Every resident has a unique name, a job, desires, and a daily routine that plays out in real time. With a target of simulating over 100,000 people and vehicles at launch, your city will feel more alive than ever as you peer inside its bustling homes, shops, and offices.
The latest demo update, available now on Steam, expands the playable map, adds smooth edge scrolling, and improves tooltips for newcomers. New audio cues offer satisfying feedback as you build and manage your dream city. For anyone disappointed by recent genre heavyweights like Cities: Skylines 2, Metropolis 1998 is a refreshingly vibrant, low-friction alternative that values both looks and granular simulation.
Despite being a solo project, the level of polish on display is remarkable. Yesbox Studios is clearly aiming to create a city-builder that immerses you not just in urban planning, but in the day-to-day stories of your citizens. With a full release planned for late 2024, fans of the genre have good reason to be excited.
Will Metropolis 1998 become the next beloved city-building classic? If Yesbox Studios continues to refine its detailed, people-first simulation, it just might join the ranks of the greats. Until then, the free demo is an easy recommendation for anyone who loves watching their digital skylines come to life—one room at a time.
TL;DR: Metropolis 1998 brings back classic city-building with room-by-room construction and fully simulated citizens. The expanded free demo is now live, and the full release is set for Q4 2024.
Source: Yesbox Studios via GamesPress