Deal | Social conflict at every turn: City builder is just $0.99 on Steam

Across 50 maps, City Life 2008 lets players build modern cities complete with residential neighborhoods, industrial districts, shopping centers and amusement parks. The game's standout feature is its social system. Six distinct population groups each have their own needs – and they don't always get along. If rival groups are settled too close together, tensions can escalate into crime or even riots. At the same time, a successful city must provide enough jobs and public services for every social class. Developed by French studio Monte Cristo, City Life 2008 is currently 90% off on Steam until July 23, reducing the price from $9.99 to $0.99. According to SteamDB, this matches the game's all-time low, most recently seen in May.

In terms of gameplay, City Life 2008 delivers a solid city-building experience. Beyond constructing roads, residential areas and industrial zones, players also have to manage electricity, waste disposal, transportation, education and public safety. More than 360 buildings, numerous scenarios and a free-build mode provide plenty of variety. The economic system remains relatively approachable, making the game accessible to newcomers. The greater challenge comes from balancing the needs and conflicts of the different social groups while planning your city. The game also allows players to import satellite and elevation maps or even create their own buildings using the built-in editor.

City Life originally launched in 2006 before receiving an expanded 2008 Edition two years later. In its review of the original release, German gaming magazine PC Games praised the detailed cities, flexible camera system and the game's unique social mechanics. On the downside, the reviewers criticized the occasionally illogical economy, the lack of a campaign and the limited long-term motivation. The game ultimately received a 7 out of 10.

On Metacritic, City Life 2008 holds a Metascore of 66 and a User Score of 7.3. Steam users have been considerably more positive, with 80% of more than 250 user reviews recommending the game. While there is no official Steam Deck compatibility rating, ProtonDB reports that City Life 2008 runs well on the handheld after a few minor tweaks.

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