Metropolis 1998 isn’t just another city builder. It’s SimCity 2000 rebuilt with 2026 technology. Solo developer Chase at Yesbox Studios created a pixel-perfect retro masterpiece where you design every single building room-by-room, then watch 100,000 individual citizens live full lives inside them. The latest Reddit reveal hit r/Games with fresh demo footage showing interiors, traffic AI, and granular citizen demands.
PC Gamer called it an instant wishlist addition. No zoning nonsense – citizens demand specific businesses (‘Need 3 grocery stores, 2 coffee shops’). Build them pixel-by-pixel or drag pre-fabs. Advanced pathfinding handles massive cities without slowdowns. Free Steam demo proves the concept works flawlessly.
Build Like The Sims, Manage Like SimCity
Core innovation: total building freedom. Draw walls, add doors, place furniture, design multi-floor homes, shops, fire stations. Save as blueprints for instant reuse. Citizens move in, get jobs, start families. Peek inside any building to watch them eat, sleep, argue, relax.
- Individual citizen simulation (work, shop, socialize)
- Real-time traffic (100K+ vehicles, no lag)
- Granular demand system (“Need dentist office”)
- Interior/exterior camera modes
- Blueprint sharing system
- Disasters (earthquakes, pandemics, recessions)
Roadmap Promises Chaos
1.0 launch features bank robberies, police chases, visible crime. Post-launch aspirations include Sims-like citizen control, zombie outbreaks, economic crashes. Demo update added terrain editing, lunch breaks, vehicle variety, potato graphics mode.
‘Watch bank robbery unfold, police chase crooks through streets.’ – Developer roadmap
| Now (Demo) | 1.0 Launch | Post-1.0 Dreams |
|---|---|---|
| Building interiors | Crime system | Sims citizen mode |
| 100K pathfinding | Disasters | Zombie pandemic |
| Granular demand | Traffic AI | Economic crashes |
Solo Dev Magic
Chase coded custom pathfinding for 100K+ agents. Godot engine delivers buttery performance. Multiple r/Games posts show steady progress since 2023 reveal. Dev answers every comment, ships demo updates monthly.
PCGamesN: ‘Perfect Cities: Skylines 2 alternative.’ PC Gamer: ‘Most interesting city builder wishlist addition.’ itch.io demo confirms hype. Steam Next Fest showcases crushed it.
Why It Works
SimCity 2000 nostalgia + modern simulation depth. Building system scratches The Sims itch inside city management framework. Performance-first design scales to megacities. Active roadmap shows long-term vision.
Citizens aren’t sprites – they have names, schedules, relationships. Grocery store demands spike when families grow. Traffic jams form organically. Bank heists create chaos you watch unfold. Every system interconnects.
FAQs About Metropolis 1998
Demo available now?
Free Steam + itch.io demos. Full building system, citizen simulation, massive maps. Regular updates.
Solo developer?
Yes – Chase/Yesbox Studios. Custom pathfinding engine, Godot-built, monthly progress.
Release date?
Early Access 2026 target. Steady roadmap, no crunch announced.
100K citizens performance?
Custom pathfinding algorithm. Demo handles 10K+ flawlessly. Scales smoothly.
Mods or blueprint sharing?
Blueprint system confirmed. Steam Workshop post-launch likely.
Cities: Skylines killer?
Retro aesthetic + granular control differentiates. Performance-first design.
Console versions planned?
Godot portable. Switch 2 viable given performance claims.
90s Dreams, 2026 Reality
Metropolis 1998 delivers SimCity 2000 soul with Cities: Skylines simulation depth. Solo dev outperforms AAA studios. Room-by-room building, visible crime, 100K citizens – features checklist crushes competition.
Demo proves execution matches ambition. Regular updates show commitment. Steam wishlist essential. Bank robberies await. Pixel cities expand. Yesbox Studios redefines genre expectations one citizen at a time.