6 Ways to Fix Regular In-Game Cities: Skylines 2 Crashing on a Windows PC

All games crash now and then, but it seems Cities: Skylines 2 crashes more than most, if player reports are anything to go by. Many players have posted on Reddit and elsewhere about Cities: Skylines 2 crashing all the time when playing it. This is what one player had to say: “Hey ya, I’ve been playing Cities Skylines 2 for a month or so… My game has started crashing to the desktop after 2-10min max, every time.” These are some ways you can fix regular in-game Cities: Skylines 2 crashing on a Windows PC.

Read also: 6 Ways to Fix Cities: Skylines 2 Not Launching on a Windows PC

Verify the Game Files

First, try running a verification scan for corrupted or missing Cities: Skylines 2 files that might be causing the crash. Applying this potential fix will likely resolve the crashing if corrupted files are causing it. You can apply a verification scan to fix Cities: Skylines 2 crashing by going through the steps on this Steam page.

The Verify integrity of game files

Reduce the Game’s Resolution to 1080p Resolution

Some players say reducing the game’s resolution to 1080 has fixed the Cities: Skylines 2 crashing for them. Are you playing Cities: Skylines 2 at a higher resolution than 1080p? If so, select Options > Graphics in your Cities: Skylines 2 game. Then, lower the Screen Resolution setting to 1920 x 1080.

In addition to lowering the resolution, the game’s developer also recommends players disable the Volumetrics and Depth Field graphical settings for better Skylines 2 performance. Try lowering those options if the crashing persists with the resolution set at 1080p. This official Cities: Skylines 2 optimization guide provides more details.

Set a Frame Rate Limit

Setting a frame rate limit is a potential fix for Cities: Skylines 2 crashing, which many players confirm can work. Applying this possible fix can address crashes caused by higher frame rates. If your PC has an NVIDIA graphics card, you can set a frame rate limit with the NVIDIA Control Panel like this:

1. Right-click a space on the desktop to select the NVIDIA Control Panel context menu option.
2. Next, click the Manage 3D Settings navigation option.
3. Select the Program Settings tab.
4. Next, choose the Cities: Skylines 2 game in the Select a program to customize drop-down menu.
5. Click the Max Frame Rate Mode drop-down menu.
6. Next, click the On radio button.
   
   

   The Max Frame Rate option

7. Drag the slider on the bar to set a frame rate between 20-60 FPS. The best frame rate limit to set depends on your GPU, but some players say 30 FPS has worked for them.
8. Press the settings OK button.
9. Click Apply to save the new frame rate limit.

Start Cities Skylines 2 in Safe Mode With Skyve

Some players confirm that starting the game in safe mode can fix Cities: Skylines 2 crashing. This troubleshooting method is more widely confirmed to fix in-game crashing that occurs when players try to load game saves. However, you’ll need to install the Skyve mode to apply this possible resolution. This is how you can start Cities: Skylines 2 in safe mode with that mod:

1. Start Cities: Skylines 2 and select Paradox Mods from the game’s menu.
   
   

   The Paradox Mods menu option

2. Enter Skyve in the Paradox Mods search box.
3. Select to install the Skyve mode.
   
   

   Skyve in Paradox Mods

4. Restart Cities: Skylines 2.
5. Select Options in Cities: Skylines 2.
6. Next, select Skyve and click the Install Skyve button.
   
   

   The Install Skyve option

7. Exit Cities: Skylines 2 again.
8. Start the Skyve mod in Windows.
9. Select Utilities in the Skyve mod window.
10. Click the Launch in Safe Mode option.
    
    

    The Launch in Safe Mode option

11. Press Play in the launcher window.

Disable Mods and Steam Workshop Assets

Conflicting Steam assets and game mods can sometimes cause Cities: Skylines 2 to crash. To address this possible cause, try disabling Steam assets and game mods. You can disable them by setting a Steam launch parameter like this:

1. First, run the Steam program and enter its Library tab.
2. Right-click Cities: Skylines 2 (in the left sidebar) to select Properties.
3. Input -noWorkshop -disableMods inside the launch options box.

The -noWorkshop -disableMods launch parameter

Update Graphical Drivers

Cities: Skylines 2 is a game with quite advanced 3D graphics for which some players might need to upgrade their GPU drivers to remedy crashing. You can update a graphics driver with third-party software or manually. This KeenGamer guide provides instructions for updating graphics drivers in alternative ways.

The NVIDIA driver download page

Regular in-game Cities: Skylines 2 crashing on Windows PCs has spoiled that game for many players. However, the resolutions discussed above have been effective crash remedies for some Skylines 2 players. If you need more possible resolutions for the crashing, try sending a support ticket to the su*****@**********za.com email or from this Paradox page.