What it is
City 2026 is a browser-based city-building game inspired by SimCity 2000. It recreates the classic simulation with low-poly 3D graphics, smog, depth-of-field, and ambient sound effects. The project was built in a few days with AI assistance and shown on Hacker News.
From the developer
In the developer’s own words, from dator.dev.
This is a clone of simcity 2000 I (using Opus 5.5) built over a few days. It started with a single prompt "create a typescript webgl low-poly version (full replica of game logic) of simcity 2000. the original is available here for inspection [...].zip". It then decompiled it using Ghidra and started translating the old native PowerPC code function-by-function. After about 2 hours, using 27 subagents, i had a running version in my browser. After a follow up prompt (make sure all aspects of the game is implemented correctly and accurately), Opus decided to use a PowerPC emulator (Unicorn) and write a harness with faked Mac system calls in Python for verification, running 10,000 game days generating an identical game state. After that it has basically just been polishing, and adding a few subtle modernizations like, smog, depth-of-field and environmental sounds to make it a bit more immersive without killing the original nostalgic vibe. All 3D and vector assets are generated with code by Opus, and the bitmap image assets are generated by GPT Image 2. The music and sounds are not genai because all AI audio models i've tried sound terrible, so the music and sounds are CC-licensed. The music is from Kevin MacLeod, https://incompetech.com/ I created this because I wanted it and to see how capable Opus 5.5 was. It turned out much better than expected, so I figured I'd share it.
Editor takes
“The 10,000-day verification proves the core loop is faithful, but I'd like to see the pacing of upgrades and disasters push me beyond the original's comfort zone.”
“Low-poly WebGL, code-generated assets, plus smog and depth-of-field make this a feast for the eyes, and the ambient sounds nail the retro mood.”
“The real character is the city itself; the subtle smog and depth-of-field give each skyline a wistful, nostalgic tone that no text could match.”
“Built over a few days with subagents, yet this hits the polish bar of a proper jam winner—small scope, perfect replication, no feature creep.”
How to play
Click or tap to start the game and enter the city view. Use the interface to lay out roads, zones, and infrastructure, then manage the needs of your growing city. Gameplay follows the general logic of SimCity 2000-style city builders rather than a guided tutorial.
Tips
- Start with a small road grid and basic power before expanding outward.
- Keep industrial areas separated from residential zones to reduce the impact of pollution.
- Watch your budget and avoid zoning more than your infrastructure can support.
- Add services and utilities early so development doesn't stall.
- Leave room for future roads and upgrades as the city grows.
Questions
Is this the original SimCity 2000?
No. It is an independent browser recreation inspired by SimCity 2000, built with AI-assisted development.
Does it run in the browser?
Yes. The game loads on the provided web page and starts with a click or tap.
Does it require a download?
No download is mentioned; the game appears to run directly in the browser.
Does it use original SimCity 2000 assets?
No. The 3D and vector assets were generated with code, and bitmap image assets were generated with GPT Image 2.
Is it available on desktop or mobile?
The presented version is a web game, and the click/tap start text suggests touch-friendly play, though specific platform support is not detailed.
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