Cities: Skylines is that rare game that's actually educational without being preachy about it. Your kid thinks they're just building a cool city, but they're actually learning about municipal budgets, environmental impact, traffic engineering, and the butterfly effect of urban planning decisions.

The game holds up well despite being from 2015—it's still actively played and modded, so it doesn't feel dated. The complexity is both its strength and weakness: it's genuinely engaging for older kids and teaches real skills, but younger players will need help navigating the learning curve.

The lack of monetization garbage is refreshing. No loot boxes, no battle passes, no nagging for your credit card. Just a solid simulation game that respects players' time and intelligence. The modding community is massive, which adds infinite replay value but means you should peek at what they're downloading (most mods are fine, but internet gonna internet).

If your kid loves building, organizing, or problem-solving, this is a fantastic choice. Just be prepared to hear about traffic flow optimization at dinner.