• We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
From the cold north to the pleasant south and the radiant tropic, we welcome all of you to take a look at the development diary about the different climate themes in Cities: Skylines!

Cities: Skylines features three distinct terrain themes. These include north, sunny and tropic themes. Gameplay-wise the themes do not differ from each other, the effects are purely visual. This way the player can create their favorite maps using any of the themes available.

A theme includes its own set of trees (pine and conifer trees for north, broad-leaved trees for sunny and palm trees for the tropic theme – there are also some overlapping flora found in all of the themes), terrain colors, water texture and lighting conditions. For example, the sun is lower in the north theme and the grass is darker as well. The water is also a darker blue. In comparison the sunny theme has sun higher up in the sky and the lighting reflects more the Central and South European lighting conditions. The grass is greener and the water texture is somewhat more vibrant compared to the north theme. The tropic theme emulates tropical island atmosphere with sand texture that has a nice, slight glow to it when the sun hits it.

North theme
North theme represents the climate of northern countries such as those in Scandinavia. The sun has a bit colder feel to it accompanied with a toned down sky color, the grass is a bit darker as is the color of water. Pine and conifer trees make up the majority of flora but there are also a few broad-leaved trees and bushes to create variation.

Below are a few images of a small industrial town in the north.

NAtLzs3.png


LI5zDSt.png


kqW1LSd.png


vnmydhV.png


Sunny theme
Sunny theme represents central and south European climate. The sun is brighter and a bit warmer in the sunny theme with blue skies, the grass is brighter green giving a more vibrant feel and the color of water is lighter blue. Broad-leaved trees such as alder and beech make up the majority of the flora. Oak trees are included in the sunny tree roster as well as are few bush types.

Sunny metropolis divided by a river.

8TDuw4g.png


wutdyT2.png


7jECj8a.png


Tropic theme
Tropic theme represents both the sunny California type climates as well as tropical island climates. The sun light is of warmer color and the sky color complements it nicely. The grass texture goes for a slightly different shade of green color compared to the sunny theme. The lush palm trees and bushes add to the grass color and create the iconic sunny beaches and tropical islands look.

Last but not least, a city stretching from the highway to the sandy beaches, just like in California.

VE4kFTQ.png


XhGuieX.png


OaEO3Sw.png


- Henkka also known as an artist, designer and level designer at Colossal Order
 

Person012345

Field Marshal
92 Badges
Jan 27, 2010
2.594
914
  • Cities: Skylines - After Dark
  • Europa Universalis IV: Res Publica
  • Victoria: Revolutions
  • Semper Fi
  • Victoria 2: A House Divided
  • Victoria 2: Heart of Darkness
  • Stellaris - Path to Destruction bundle
  • Europa Universalis IV: Pre-order
  • Age of Wonders III
  • Stellaris: Synthetic Dawn
  • Cities in Motion 2
  • Europa Universalis IV: Cossacks
  • Cities: Skylines - Snowfall
  • Europa Universalis IV: Mare Nostrum
  • Stellaris
  • Stellaris: Galaxy Edition
  • Crusader Kings II: Reapers Due
  • Crusader Kings II: Jade Dragon
  • Europa Universalis IV: Third Rome
  • Hearts of Iron III: Their Finest Hour
  • Crusader Kings II: Legacy of Rome
  • Crusader Kings II: Charlemagne
  • Crusader Kings II: The Old Gods
  • Crusader Kings II: Rajas of India
  • Crusader Kings II: The Republic
  • Crusader Kings II
  • Crusader Kings II: Sons of Abraham
  • Crusader Kings II: Sword of Islam
  • Europa Universalis IV
  • Europa Universalis IV: Art of War
  • Cities in Motion
  • Europa Universalis IV: Conquest of Paradise
  • Europa Universalis IV: Wealth of Nations
  • Europa Universalis IV: Call to arms event
  • For the Motherland
  • Leviathan: Warships
  • Hearts of Iron III
  • Stellaris: Leviathans Story Pack
  • Cities: Skylines - Natural Disasters
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Together for Victory
  • Crusader Kings II: Monks and Mystics
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Colonel
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Cadet
  • Stellaris Sign-up
  • Stellaris: Necroids
  • Crusader Kings II: Conclave
  • Crusader Kings II: Way of Life
  • Europa Universalis IV: El Dorado
  • 500k Club
  • Victoria 2
The themes change more than just lighting. There is a change to the ground textures, flora and lighting. The filters in the Options menu change the lighting and certain aspects of the colors but don't affect the actual map details such as terrain textures and tree models. But as a general idea creating an overhaul theme-wise is a lot of work.
Ah, does that mean we can make the sunny theme less blueish, whilst keeping the flora and textures and things?
 

KeanoManu

First Lieutenant
35 Badges
Jan 29, 2007
259
59
  • Cities: Skylines - Snowfall
  • Victoria 2: Heart of Darkness
  • 500k Club
  • Cities: Skylines
  • Europa Universalis IV: El Dorado
  • Europa Universalis IV: Pre-order
  • Europa Universalis IV: Common Sense
  • Cities: Skylines - After Dark
  • Europa Universalis IV: Cossacks
  • Victoria 2: A House Divided
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Cadet
  • Cities: Skylines - Natural Disasters
  • Cities: Skylines - Mass Transit
  • Cities: Skylines - Green Cities
  • Cities: Skylines - Parklife Pre-Order
  • Cities: Skylines - Parklife
  • Cities: Skylines Industries
  • Cities: Skylines - Campus
  • Europa Universalis IV: Wealth of Nations
  • Crusader Kings II
  • Europa Universalis III
  • Europa Universalis III: Chronicles
  • Europa Universalis III Complete
  • Divine Wind
  • Europa Universalis IV
  • Europa Universalis IV: Art of War
  • Europa Universalis IV: Conquest of Paradise
  • Cities in Motion 2
  • Hearts of Iron III
  • Heir to the Throne
  • Europa Universalis III Complete
  • Europa Universalis III Complete
  • Europa Universalis IV: Res Publica
  • Victoria: Revolutions
  • Victoria 2
1. The buildings are shared from one theme to another. In other words: there are no "themed buildings" in that there is no North building set or Tropical building set.

Will building themes be available later? Could be important for modding.
It would be nice to build a small city center/distrcit in say German style and then surround it with modern buildings.

2. One person thinks the Tropical theme colors look good, another thinks they should be either toned down or changed. It is impossible to please every view on the matter but luckily there will be modding possibilities and I am fairly sure the lighting will be one of the more straightforward to be altered by the mods. Also, you can alter to certain degree the existing themes mid-game by accessing the Options and over-riding the filters.

Fair enough. That was just my personal opinion. :)
 

charlesnew

Colonel
10 Badges
Aug 20, 2014
1.096
93
  • Cities: Skylines Deluxe Edition
  • Cities: Skylines
  • Cities: Skylines - After Dark
  • Stellaris
  • Stellaris: Leviathans Story Pack
  • Cities: Skylines - Mass Transit
  • Cities: Skylines - Parklife Pre-Order
  • Cities: Skylines - Parklife
  • Cities: Skylines Industries
  • Cities in Motion 2
Am I the only one who likes the sunny theme most? :(

Well, some of us have been here for a while. It used to be like the northern theme in the early screenshots. But it changed. So I guess we still like it more.
 

MN121MN

General
4 Badges
Nov 12, 2012
1.785
139
  • Cities: Skylines
  • Stellaris Sign-up
  • Imperator: Rome Sign Up
  • Age of Wonders: Planetfall Sign Up
Hmm.... while I find Sunny theme quite interesting, I find it a bit weird if the building style doesn't really match the theme, but oh well.

I wonder if you could add "Winter theme" here, or even themes are moddable ... I could see a "Mars theme" or "HD theme" being pushed out by modders...
 

charlesnew

Colonel
10 Badges
Aug 20, 2014
1.096
93
  • Cities: Skylines Deluxe Edition
  • Cities: Skylines
  • Cities: Skylines - After Dark
  • Stellaris
  • Stellaris: Leviathans Story Pack
  • Cities: Skylines - Mass Transit
  • Cities: Skylines - Parklife Pre-Order
  • Cities: Skylines - Parklife
  • Cities: Skylines Industries
  • Cities in Motion 2
Hmm.... while I find Sunny theme quite interesting, I find it a bit weird if the building style doesn't really match the theme, but oh well.

I wonder if you could add "Winter theme" here, or even themes are moddable ... I could see a "Mars theme" or "HD theme" being pushed out by modders...

Well, I wonder what an "HD Theme" would look like...
 

finaldest

Sergeant
41 Badges
Dec 10, 2011
73
0
  • Cities in Motion 2
  • Cities in Motion
  • Cities: Skylines Deluxe Edition
  • Stellaris: Apocalypse
  • Island Bound
  • Surviving Mars: Digital Deluxe Edition
  • BATTLETECH - Digital Deluxe Edition
  • Cities: Skylines - Parklife Pre-Order
  • Cities: Skylines - Parklife
  • Stellaris: Distant Stars
  • Surviving Mars: First Colony Edition
  • Cities: Skylines Industries
  • BATTLETECH: Flashpoint
  • Stellaris: Megacorp
  • Prison Architect
  • Surviving Mars: First Colony Edition
  • Cities: Skylines - Campus
  • Stellaris: Lithoids
  • BATTLETECH: Heavy Metal
  • Prison Architect: Psych Ward
  • Stellaris: Federations
  • Cities: Skylines - Green Cities
  • 500k Club
  • Cities: Skylines - After Dark
  • Cities: Skylines - Snowfall
  • Stellaris: Galaxy Edition
  • Stellaris: Galaxy Edition
  • Stellaris: Digital Anniversary Edition
  • Stellaris: Leviathans Story Pack
  • Cities: Skylines - Natural Disasters
  • Stellaris - Path to Destruction bundle
  • Cities: Skylines - Mass Transit
  • BATTLETECH
  • Surviving Mars
  • Stellaris: Humanoids Species Pack
  • Stellaris: Galaxy Edition
  • Stellaris: Ancient Relics
  • BATTLETECH: Season pass
  • Stellaris
  • Stellaris: Synthetic Dawn
  • Cities: Skylines
Like the northern and tropical themes. Want a winter theme like yesterday so hope that comes later:happy:.

Where is the desert theme as I was looking forward to playing on that first.
 

Lee Saxon

Captain
11 Badges
Feb 19, 2014
445
271
  • Europa Universalis IV
  • Europa Universalis IV: Art of War
  • Europa Universalis IV: Wealth of Nations
  • Europa Universalis IV: Res Publica
  • Cities: Skylines
  • Pillars of Eternity
  • Europa Universalis IV: Common Sense
  • Europa Universalis IV: Cossacks
  • Stellaris Sign-up
  • Age of Wonders III
  • Europa Universalis 4: Emperor
Neat! A non-essential but cool feature.

I hope eventually they're able to have different sets of buildings for the various themes; that would make this a much more important feature. I think Sunny should be mediterranean/Venice architecture, Tropical should be SoCal/Miami [post modernist nightmares, which is basically the buildings in the game now], and North should be a little more conservative or old fashioned, maybe Tudor cottage houses or Paris-like.

thanks for the update!

I think I'm going to roll with the north theme, it seems most realistic to me out of the three.

Depends where you live! Sunny is much more true to living here in New Orleans, but would probably look strange to someone from the gloomy hellscape of the Pacific Northwest :p
 
Last edited: