Build the city of your dreams or build the city you live in. In Cities XL Platinum you can select maps from continents across the world in many different environments. Micromanage the economy, workers, entertainment, marketplace and more... there is always something to build.



Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Cities XL Platinum in Linux with PlayOnLinux.

Note: This guide applies to the Steam version of Cities XL Platinum. Other versions may require additional steps.

Tips & Specs:

Try SteamPlay before using this guide as Valve now uses a fork of Wine called Proton and should run most Windows games.

To learn more about PlayOnLinux and Wine configuration, see the online manual: PlayOnLinux Explained

Mint 18.3 64-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.2.12
Wine: 2.0.3

Wine Installation

Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"


Look for the Wine Version: 2.0.3
Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right


Click Next

Downloading Wine


Extracting

Downloading Gecko


Installed


Wine 2.0.3 is installed and you can close this window

Downloading Steam

Go To: http://www.steampowered.com
Click Install Steam


Do not click "Install Steam Now"
It will automatically install Linux Steam
Select Windows Steam instead
click "Windows" under the green button


Navigate to your desktop
Click Save


PlayOnLinux Setup

Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install


Click "install a non-listed program"


Click Next

Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
Click Next


Name your virtual drive: citiesxl
No spaces
Click Next


Check all three options:

• Use another version of Wine
• Configure Wine
• Install some libraries

Click Next


Select Wine 2.0.3
Click Next


Select "32 bits windows installation"
Click Next


Configure Wine

Applications Tab
Windows Version: Windows 7
Click Apply


Graphics Tab
Check: Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows
Click Ok


PlayOnLinux Packages (Libraries, Components, DLL's)

Check the following libraries:

• POL_Install_corefonts
• POL_Install_d3dx9
• POL_Install_tahoma

Click Next


Note: All packages will automatically download and install

Installing Steam

Click Browse


Navigate to your desktop
Select: SteamSetup.exe
Click Open


Click Next

Click Next

Check: I accept the license...
Click Next

Click Next

Click Next

Click Install

Click Finish

Updating Steam

Click the "X" to close Steam login


PlayOnLinux Shortcut

Select Steam.exe
Click Next


Name your shortcut: Cities XL Platinum
Click Next


Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
Click Next


PlayOnLinux Configure

Back to PlayOnLinux
Click Configure


General Tab
Arguments: -no-dwrite -no-cef-sandbox
This fixes any missing font problems and the Store problem (Windows needs to be set as Windows XP)


Note: Click the + to download other versions of Wine. Click the down-arrow to select other versions of wine

Display Tab
Video Memory Size: Select the size of Memory your video card/chip uses


Close Configure

Launching Steam

Select Cities XL Platinum
Click Run


Note: Click debug to see errors and bugs

Click "Login to existing account"


Login


Find Cities XL Platinum in your Steam Library
Click Install


Uncheck "Create desktop shortcut"
Uncheck "Create start menu shortcut"
Click Next


Click Finish
Wait for Citie XL Platinum to download


Click Play


Optimization

Click Options


Click Video
Adjust:

• Video Quality
• Resolution
• Anti-Aliasing
• Planet
• Water
• Shadows
• Particles

Click OK


Click Advanced
Adjust:

• Life
• Textures
• Buildings Distance
• Trees Distance
• Furnitures Distance
• Vehicles Distance
• Pedestrians Distance

Click OK


Conclusion:
Cities XL Platinum ran perfectly without any real problems. When you launch the game, be patient, it can take about a minute to start the intro videos. After that it runs GREAT on my GeForce GXT 1060. I noticed it can slow down in large cities with the distance settings cranked up to high.

Gameplay Video:


Screenshots: