81 Tiles is a Cities: Skylines 1 mod that unlocks the whole 9×9 map instead of the 25 tiles the base game allows. Subscribe on the Steam Workshop, enable it in Content Manager, then buy the extra tiles in the Areas view — and keep a backup save, because big maps cost performance.
準備 · What you need
- 81 Tiles ↗ — the original mod by BloodyPenguin, as used in the video — check the Workshop for the currently maintained version
81 tiles is the full size of every Cities: Skylines map, but the base game only lets you build on 25 of them. The 81 Tiles mod removes that limit, so a real-world map — a whole valley, a coastline, a Shinkansen corridor — fits in one save.
What 81 tiles actually means
A Cities: Skylines 1 map is a 9×9 grid of tiles. Each tile is 1.92 km wide, so the full map covers roughly 17.3 × 17.3 km.
| Setting | Tiles | Approx. area |
|---|---|---|
| Base game | 25 (5×5) | 9.6 × 9.6 km |
| 81 Tiles mod | 81 (9×9) | 17.3 × 17.3 km |
The outer ring is where most real-world maps put their best features: the next town, the mountain pass, the other end of the rail line. Without the mod they stay scenery.
Installing the 81 Tiles mod
- Subscribe to the mod on the Steam Workshop. The video uses the original mod by BloodyPenguin; it has been continued by other authors since (the 2023 mods guide links a newer version) — pick the one the Workshop lists as compatible with your game version.
- Start the game, open Content Manager → Mods and enable it.
- Load your city (or start a new one).
- Decide how you want to play:
- Unlock everything at once — all 81 tiles are available from the start. Good for real-world rebuilds and creative builds.
- Buy tiles over time — the vanilla approach, and the one used in the video: the city still unlocks land as it grows, it just doesn’t stop at 25.
What to plan before you expand
- Outside connections run to the map edge. With 81 tiles your highways and rail lines reach them directly, which changes where traffic enters the city.
- Services scale with area. Fire, police and garbage coverage that worked for 25 tiles will leave gaps on 81.
- Performance depends on what you build, not on tile count. A sparse rural ring costs little; a second downtown costs a lot.
- Back up your save before the first purchase. Buying tiles is one-way.
When to use it
The mod shines on real-world maps, where the reference area rarely fits into 25 tiles. It’s the first step of the workflow in Realistic maps and street overlays. For a normal sandbox city, 25 tiles is plenty for most players.
What about Cities: Skylines II?
Cities: Skylines II starts from a much larger buildable area than CS1, so most players never miss the edge. Mods that unlock the last border tiles exist on Paradox Mods — check their compatibility after every game update.
Watch the original tutorial
The 2021 video walks through installation and both ways of unlocking tiles. Use the chapters below to jump to a step.
Video chapters
- 0:00Intro
- 1:50The standard map size of 5×5 squares
- 2:43Where the 81 Tiles mod by BloodyPenguin is installed
- 3:03Where to find the mod
- 3:28Activating the 81 Tiles mod
- 4:04Freedom of choice — all 81 tiles unlocked from the start
- 6:00The vanilla approach — buying tiles over time (my approach)
Clicking a chapter starts the video above at that point.
FAQ
How many tiles does Cities: Skylines allow without mods?
The base game lets you own 25 of the map's 81 tiles, a 5×5 block in the middle. The 81 Tiles mod opens the remaining 56.
Can I add 81 Tiles to an existing city?
Yes. Enable the mod, load the save and the extra tiles become purchasable. Make a copy of the save first.
Does 81 Tiles slow the game down?
The mod itself is light. What costs performance is what you build on the extra land: more buildings, citizens and vehicles to simulate.
Is there an 81 Tiles mod for Cities: Skylines II?
CS2 already gives you far more buildable area than CS1. Mods that unlock the remaining border tiles exist on Paradox Mods — check the current compatibility before installing.
