PC download charts: 'Cities: Skylines,' 'Battlefield Hardline,' 'Elder Scrolls Online'
City builder supreme "Cities: Skylines" enjoys more time in the sun, reaching the top of the Steam chart in its second week on release, while "Battlefield Hardline" and a re-launched "Elder Scrolls Online" are also popular among the PC games-buying crowd come Monday, March 23, 2015.
What appears to have been serendipitous coincidence saw simulated city builder "Cities: Skylines" release the same week that Maxis, the developer behind genre-creating franchise "SimCity," was shut down.
It might not be the Game Of All Time, but "Cities: Skylines" is certainly beating "SimCity" at its own game, according to the enthusiastic community reception.
Players can also make their own content for sharing, from individual buildings and artistic motorway interchanges to under-the-hood enhancements -- one former Maxis employee, Brian Shannon, has even taken to Patreon to successfully fund his asset-making exploits.
Channeling some "Game of Thrones" sentiment, at least in terms of logo design, the multiplayer "Reign Of Kings" opens up a medieval world where taxes can be levied, prisoners taken, and grand sieges made. It's on Steam as an Early Access title.
"Battlefield Hardline" released the previous week as well, and on GameStop the law enforcement version of a military combat franchise shoots up to top spot.
By contrast, MMO adventure "The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited" has been around since April 2014, but on March 17 it dropped the requirement for a monthly subscription, prompting a new round of interest.
Steam* (steampowered.com)
1. Cities: Skylines (=)
2. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (=)
3. Grand Theft Auto V (=)
4. Reign Of Kings (new)
5. Ori and the Blind Forest (-1)
*Steam chart based on revenue rather than units.
GameStop US (gamestop.com)
1. Battlefield Hardline (+6)
2. Cities: Skylines (+1)
3. The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited (n)
4. Star Wars: The Old Republic 2400 Cartel Coin (r)
5. World of Warcraft Game Card 60 Day (+3)
GamersGate US (gamersgate.com)
1. Shadowrun: Dragonfall Director's Cut (r)
2. Yosumin! (new)
3. Cities: Skylines (-1)
4. Tomb Raider: Game of the Year (r)
5. Just Cause 2 (r)
GOG (gog.com)
1. Pillars of Eternity: Hero Edition (+6)
2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (+1)
3. Legend of Grimrock 2 (r)
4. Outlaws + A Handful of Missions (n)
5. Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb (n)
Desura's Most Popular (desura.com)
1. Depth Hunter 2: Ocean Mysteries (+1)
2. Depth Hunter 2: Deep Dive (-1)
3. Five Nights at Freddy's (=)
4. Dominions 4: Thrones of Ascension (=)
5. Annex: Conquer The World - free (=)
Itch.io (itch.io)
1. Kenney: Asset Pack (+2)
2. The Static Speaks My Name (new)
3. Little Party (+3)
4. KeeperRL alpha (=)
5. VA-11 HALL-A (-3)
