SimCity is a series of open-world city-building games originally designed by Will Wright. The series was designed by Maxis and its first title, SimCity, was released in 1989 and spawned several versions for worldwide distribution. The success of SimCity has spawned many other simulation titles such as the very popular Sims series.

In SimCity, players are tasked with building and developing a city, while maintaining its happiness value and maintaining stable computing. In SimCity 2000, SimCity 3000 and SimCity 4, players are also able to change the landscape before building a city.

Players must define areas and each area is restricted to a development type. The development of areas is not done directly by the player, but requires certain conditions to be met, such as electricity supply, adequate transport hubs, and suitable taxation. The green residential areas are for citizens to live in, the blue commercial areas develop shops and offices; the yellow industrial areas establish factories, research institutes and farmland. The game has three population densities: low densities correspond to small buildings, medium densities correspond to small and medium-sized buildings, and high densities correspond to tall buildings.

Developed in Colita, California, USA, the game mechanics are heavily based on the development of California in the 20th century. For example, the player has never developed a greenfield development, cars are the default means of transport, there are earthquakes, land use is separated, there are commercial and industrial sites, and policies can be made to declare a city a nuclear free zone.