SimCity

About SimCity (SNES)

SimCity is a 1991 city-building simulation developed by Maxis and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It reached Japan in April 1991 and North America in August 1991, becoming the first console version of Will Wright’s landmark 1989 computer game. Nintendo added exclusive features, including a helpful advisor and new disasters.

You are the mayor of a blank map, tasked with turning empty land into a thriving city. Zone residential, commercial, and industrial areas, build roads and power plants, fund police and fire services, and keep citizens happy. With no enemies to defeat and no final boss, success is measured by population, balance, and survival through disasters.

Detailed Gameplay

SimCity on SNES is a relaxing but deep simulation where every choice affects growth, traffic, pollution, and happiness. You build in real time and watch citizens move in.

Zoning and Growth

• Zone residential areas for homes, commercial zones for shops and offices, and industrial zones for factories.
• Connect zones with roads and power lines, since unpowered or isolated zones will not develop.
• Balance the three zone types, because too much industry pollutes homes while too little work leaves citizens jobless.
• Raise land value with parks, trees, and nearby water to attract wealthier homes and businesses.

City Services and Budget

• Fund police stations, fire departments, hospitals, and schools to keep citizens safe and healthy.
• Set tax rates carefully, since high taxes raise money but drive citizens and businesses away.
• Build power plants, starting with coal and later adding cleaner options as your budget grows.
• Watch the budget window each year and adjust spending before services collapse.

Transportation and Pollution

• Lay roads and rail lines to cut traffic, which otherwise chokes growth and lowers land value.
• Build seaports and airports in large cities to boost trade and commercial growth.
• Keep industry away from homes to limit pollution, or plant trees as a buffer.

Disasters and Dr. Wright

• Face fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, and monster attacks, including a giant Bowser rampage.
• Send police and fire units to disaster zones, then rebuild roads and power quickly.
• Try scenario mode, with preset cities and goals such as rebuilding after a flood or quake.

Game Highlights

• Nintendo exclusive touches: Dr. Wright, Bowser disasters, and scenario cities set the SNES version apart.
• True mayor freedom: No set story, so you shape every city from empty map to metropolis.
• Living simulation: Traffic, pollution, crime, and land value interact in visible, logical ways.
• Scenario challenges: Timed goals test rebuilding, budgeting, and disaster recovery skills.

Controls

Play SimCity on the SNES controller as follows:

• D-Pad: Move the cursor across the city map and through menus.
• B: Confirm a selection, place a building, or zone an area.
• Button A: Cancel a selection or return to the previous menu.
• Y: Open the build menu and switch between tools and zones.
• X: View city information, maps, and charts for your city.
• L/R: Scroll through tool options or speed up time in some menus.
• Start: Pause the game and open the main options menu.

Tips and Strategies to Win

• Start small with a compact town, then expand roads outward instead of zoning a huge empty grid.
• Keep industry downwind and away from homes, with parks as a buffer between zones.
• Raise taxes only a little at a time, and lower them when population growth stalls.
• Build power capacity before new zones, since blackouts stop growth and anger citizens.
• Save before trying a risky expansion or a disaster-heavy scenario, so you can retry cleanly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is SimCity on SNES different from the computer version?

A: Yes, Nintendo’s SNES version adds Dr. Wright as an advisor, a Bowser monster disaster, and exclusive scenario cities not found in the original computer game.

Q: How do you win in SimCity?

A: There is no final boss or ending. You win by growing a large, balanced, happy city, completing scenario goals, and reaching milestones like megalopolis status.

Q: Can I play SimCity online for free?

A: Yes, you can play SimCity online free in your browser on this page, with no download or installation needed. Just load the game and start playing.