Products at a Glance
Minimum system requirements for Cities Skylines 2
- CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (4GB VRAM) or AMD Radeon RX 480 (8GB VRAM)
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 60GB
- OS: Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Recommended system requirements for Cities Skylines 2
- CPU: Intel Core i5-12600K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB VRAM) or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (16GB VRAM)
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 60GB
- OS: Windows 10 Home 64 Bit or Windows 11
How we picked
For this guide, we have looked at several gaming laptops, considered the minimum system requirements to run Cities Skylines 2, and picked some of the best laptops available. We have selected these gaming laptops based on specs like CPU, GPU, refresh rate, and other important factors. Also, we are always looking for new products to add to our guide and keep it updated – so check back here again.
Product Reviews
- 13th-Gen Intel Core i9 processor
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU
- 17.3-inch QHD display
- Expensive
The MSI Raider GE78 HX is the best laptop for Cities Skylines 2, but it comes at a very hefty price. But despite that, we think it is a strong contender for one of the best Intel 13th gen laptops.
This premium laptop combines a 13th-Gen Intel Core i9 processor with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card, which should be more than sufficient to run Cities Skylines 2, along with other AAA games.
The laptop comes with a 2 TB SSD, which should provide adequate storage space for games, programs, and personal files. Plus, you get 32 GB of RAM, so you can expect faster performance while running demanding games, loading applications, and booting up.
On the outside, the MSI laptop sports a 17.3-inch QHD+ display, which can be suitable for regular gamers. Plus, you get a 240Hz refresh rate, which should be sufficient for running Cities Skylines 2 and other demanding AAA titles at 1440p settings.
- Intel Core i7-13650HX processor
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU
- 165Hz refresh rate
- Mediocre battery life
Next on our list is the ASUS ROG Strix G16, a mid-range gaming laptop for playing Cities Skylines 2 with a smooth gaming experience.
The laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7-13650HX processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, which meets the thresholds of playing the most demanding AAA titles at the highest settings possible.
As far as cooling is concerned, you get Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on the CPU and three fans, which should support your long gaming sessions.
Along with this, you get 512 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM, so you should be able to get sufficient storage for multimedia files and load apps faster. Although this laptop meets Cities Skylines 2’s recommended system requirements, you can opt for more RAM and SSD to run even more demanding video games.
The Asus laptop sports a 16-inch display with FHD resolution, which should deliver clear and sharp visuals while playing Cities Skylines 2. Much like some of the best RTX 4060 gaming laptops, this one has a 165Hz refresh rate, which is enough to run most video games smoothly. You also get support for adaptive sync, which should eliminate screen tearing for an even better gaming experience.
- 16-inch 4K display
- 4K at 120Hz & FHD at 240Hz
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- Expensive
If you want to play Cities Skylines 2 in 4K resolution, then the Razer Blade 16 will fit the bill for many people.
This premium laptop boasts the latest hardware – a 13th-Gen Intel Core i9 HX processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, so you should be able to game, create, and multitask without experiencing any lag or screen-tearing issues.
The laptop comes with 1 TB SSD and 32 GB of RAM, which should be sufficient to play Cities Skylines 2. However, if you want to play other more demanding games, you can consider getting more RAM and SSD.
Perhaps the highlight of Razer Blade 16 is the display. The laptop has a 16-inch Dual-Mode Mini LED display with 4K resolution, which should give you stunning, incredibly detailed graphics. Plus, you can game in 4K at 120Hz and even switch to FHD and game with a 240Hz refresh rate.
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU
- 144Hz refresh rate
- Military-grade durability
- Mediocre webcam
If you want a gaming laptop within your budget, then we think that the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 is a good option.
The budget-friendly laptop features an Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card, which perform well when playing Cities Skylines 2 on low settings.
Plus, you get a 512 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM combination, which should deliver fast memory and sufficient storage for games as well as everyday tasks. In case you need more storage, you can always use the additional SSD slot.
As far as visuals are concerned, you get a 15.6-inch FHD display with a 144Hz refresh rate, which is something that some of the best laptops under $1000 have. Plus, you also get support for Adaptive Sync, which should reduce screen tearing when frame rates are unstable.
How to pick the best laptop for Cities Skylines 2
To make your shopping easier, we have made a quick checklist of a few pointers.
CPU
As per the minimum requirements, you can run Cities Skylines 2 on an Intel Core i7-4790K or an AMD Ryzen 5 1600X processor. However, for a better experience, you can go for an Intel Core i7-9700K or an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X.
But if you’re looking to invest in a laptop with the latest processors, look for Intel i9 13th gen or AMD Ryzen 9 7950X.
GPU
If you look at the minimum system requirements, you need an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 or an AMD Radeon RX 470 to play Cities Skylines 2. But to get the best out of the game, you can consider getting a laptop with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti or an AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT processor.
If you’re planning to play demanding games, then you should consider getting a GPU from the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3000 series or the AMD Radeon 6000 series. And if you want a maxed-out gaming laptop, you can consider investing in the NVIDIA GeForce 4000 series or the AMD Radeon 7000 series.
RAM
Now, you can run Cities Skylines 2 on a laptop with 8GB of RAM – and most gaming laptops tend to have at least 8GB RAM, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding a laptop with this amount of RAM. However, if you play other video games that are demanding, consider getting 16GB RAM or more.
Our Verdict
If you want the best and maxed-out laptop for Cities Skylines 2, then we think that the MSI Raider GE78 HX is a great option. It is a premium laptop that comes with the latest CPU and GPU, that is, a 13th-Gen Intel Core i9 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card – a combination that should run most AAA games effortlessly. Plus, you get 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD to run games faster and provide enough storage.
In addition to this, the laptop sports a 17.3-inch QHD+ display, so you can expect high-quality visuals. Further, you get a 240Hz refresh rate that should run Cities Skylines 2 and other demanding AAA titles smoothly.