Cities Skylines 2 best maps ranked – which map should beginners pick

Want to learn about the best maps in Cities Skylines 2? The latest city builder from Colossal Order lets you pick from a variety of maps, each with their own resources and themes.

Watch out for Cities Skylines 2 natural disasters that depend on a variety of factors. Our Cities Skylines 2 vs Cities Skylines comparison is a good place to start if you’re returning from the previous game.

Best starting maps in Cities Skylines 2

The best maps in Cities Skylines 2 enable you to make the most of the game’s transportation and construction opportunities. They also offer spectacular views and the ability to create cities on your terms. Outside connections are also worth considering when picking a map. Here are the best starting maps in Cities Skylines 2:

1. Waterway Pass – This is by far the best map in Cities Skylines 2. It’s the map I started with and it provides everything a starting player could wish for. Every mode of transport is accounted for and it has a good amount of resources as well. This map offers the highest building space among all maps despite having a river flowing in the middle. The river is a good place for breathtaking bridges as well as water treatment plants.
2. Archipelago Haven – This is one of the more picturesque maps in the game. With plenty of small islands, you can designate islands themselves to certain districts. Just note that cities may not be as organized here as compared to ones on Waterway Pass. This one’s also got every mode of transport available. And you won’t have to worry about resources either. 
3. Lakeland – This one’s an interesting map. For starters, there’s a lake that cuts across the map in a random pattern, forming islands of all sizes. While this makes for some gorgeous bridges, expect plenty of landscaping to make the most of this map’s resources. 
4. Barrier Island – With a massive bridge next to the starting area, expansion makes for some rather interesting city layouts. This map’s got all the resources and outside connections you’ll need as well. As you buy more land in Cities Skylines 2, you’ll be able to design some visually stunning cities here.
5. Mountain Village – Those looking for interesting weather should consider this option. While the building space isn’t as impressive as other maps, there are plenty of natural resources to take advantage of. Your outside connections remain solid here as well.

The best Cities Skylines 2 maps based on specific options

Some factors can help you design cities with a strong foundation. If you have a certain kind of city in mind that would require a certain resource, here are the best maps in Cities Skylines 2 based on specific requirements:

• Buildable area – Tampere has the highest buildable area among the other maps.
• Fertile land – Tampere wins again, with 20.9 square kilometers of fertile land. 
• Ore  – Twin Mountain has the largest ore deposits in the game.
• Oil – Barrier Island is home to the game’s biggest oil deposits. Here’s how to use oil in Cities Skylines 2.

That covers the best maps in Cities Skylines 2. Expect more maps to arrive with DLCs and expansions. The Cities Skylines 2 preorder bonuses in the Ultimate Edition offered players the Tampere and San Francisco maps. Before trying the game, check if Cities Skylines 2 is on Game Pass. Now that you know what map to start on, dive right in and start building your city.