Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to what people ask about Buck City.

Is there a city builder like SimCity for iPhone without ads?

Yes. Buck City is a city builder for iPhone and iPad in the tradition of SimCity: you zone residential, commercial and industrial land, build services, set taxes and manage a budget while the city reacts. It has no ads, no account and no subscription. It is free to try, and one optional purchase ($5.99 in the US) removes the trial limits for good. Buck City is an independent game, not affiliated with SimCity or its publisher.

Is Buck City a free city builder with no ads?

On the web it is completely free: the full game at buck-city.com, with no ads, no account and nothing to buy. On iPhone, iPad and Mac it is free to download and try, with no ads, and one optional purchase unlocks the full game.

Does Buck City have in-app purchases?

One, on Apple devices only: the Full Unlock, $5.99 in the US (other stores show their local price). It is a one-time purchase, not a subscription, and there is nothing else to buy. It removes the free trial's limits (about 30 minutes of play or 2,500 residents, whichever comes first) and adds the mixed "Every culture" style. All eight culture packs, regions and the full simulation are part of the free version. The web version has no purchases at all.

Can I play Buck City in the browser?

Yes. Go to buck-city.com and play. It is the full game, free, with no download, no account and no time limit. It runs in a current web browser on a computer, tablet or phone. Your cities are saved in that browser.

Is Buck City available as a city builder for Mac?

Yes. Buck City is a native Mac app on the Mac App Store, for Macs with Apple silicon (M1 or later) running macOS 12 or later. It plays with keyboard and mouse and works offline. If you bought the Full Unlock on iPhone or iPad, the Mac version is unlocked too, because it is one purchase across all three. You can also play the web version in any Mac browser.

Is Buck City an offline city builder?

Yes, on iPhone, iPad and Mac: the apps play fully offline, with no connection needed and your cities saved on the device. The free web version needs a connection to load.

Is Buck City a cozy city builder?

It can be. On Easy, every tool is unlocked and disasters are rare and mild, so you can simply build, with a soundtrack that is generated as you play and a day-and-night cycle. On Medium and Hard the economy pushes back: approval, budgets, fires and earthquakes all matter. You choose the difficulty for each city.

Is Buck City a city builder with a real economy?

Yes. Residential, commercial and industrial demand respond to jobs, taxes, services and land value, and the game shows you why. You set a tax rate for each zone, issue and repay municipal bonds, choose one of five governance models and nine ordinances, and make permanent City Charter choices. Run out of money and the city goes bankrupt; lose the residents' approval and you are recalled.

Does one purchase cover iPhone, iPad and Mac?

Yes. Buck City is a universal purchase: buy the Full Unlock once with your Apple ID and it works on your iPhone, iPad and Mac. On a new device, use Restore purchase in the Menu.

What languages is Buck City in?

The game is in English, German and French. It follows your device or browser language, and you can switch in the Menu. The App Store page and these pages are also in Spanish, but the game itself is not yet.

Do I need an account? Where are my cities saved?

No account, ever. Cities save automatically every minute, and you can keep named saves. Everything stays on your device or in your browser. To move a city, open the Menu, choose Share, then Copy share link: the link rebuilds the city anywhere.

Which devices does Buck City run on?

iPhone and iPad with iOS or iPadOS 15 or later; Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 12 or later; and any current web browser at buck-city.com.

What happens when the free trial ends on iPhone, iPad or Mac?

The city pauses and is kept. You can look around, share a postcard of it, and keep playing Today's City for free. Buy the Full Unlock to carry on building with no population cap and no clock. Or play the full game in a browser at buck-city.com.

How is Buck City different from other city builders?

Three things: named citizens with homes, jobs and daily routines that you can follow (and whose complaints point at the tile that caused them); an economy that explains itself ("Why homes?", "Why?" on every tile); and a city newspaper, the Gazette, written from what is really happening. It also runs on a phone, and it is free on the web.

Is Buck City related to SimCity or Cities: Skylines?

No. Buck City is an independent game made by one developer and published by Commonwealth Business Systems LLC. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Electronic Arts, Maxis, Paradox Interactive or Colossal Order. If you enjoyed those games, Buck City plays in the same genre.

Who makes Buck City, and how do I get help?

One developer, published by Commonwealth Business Systems LLC. Email hello@commonwealth-systems.com; every message is read. See also the support page.