Micropolis — Play Micropolis Online Free
The actual SimCity — the original Maxis simulation, released as open source and hand-ported line-by-line to JavaScript.
Micropolis is the GPL-released original SimCity simulation; this is Graeme McCutcheon's micropolisJS port (GPLv3 + Micropolis Public Name License), embedded unmodified from its official page.
Keyboard Controls
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Mouse | Select tools, zone, build, and inspect tiles |
| Toolbar icons | Roads, zones, power, transit, parks, and disasters |
| Arrows / edge-scroll | Move around the map |
Quick Answer
Micropolis is the original SimCity — the 1989 Maxis city simulator whose source code was released as open source and hand-ported to JavaScript as micropolisJS. This page embeds the porter’s official build, so you can zone, tax, and disaster-test a city in your browser for free, no download. It is the real classic simulation, complete with the newspaper and Godzilla.
How It Works
Click Launch and choose a map difficulty
Build a power plant, then roads and R/C/I zones near it
Watch the population and budget panels; raise taxes carefully
Save your city from the toolbar — it stays in your browser
Key Facts
- The original SimCity simulation, released under the GPL
- Hand-ported to JS/HTML5 by Graeme McCutcheon (micropolisJS)
- Complete classic gameplay: zoning, power, taxes, budget, disasters
- Loads instantly — a fraction of a megabyte
- Embedded unmodified from the porter’s official site
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Micropolis really the original SimCity?
Yes. In 2007 Maxis released the original SimCity source under GPL; it was cleaned up into the "Micropolis" codebase (the name SimCity itself stayed with Electronic Arts), and Graeme McCutcheon hand-ported that simulation to JavaScript as micropolisJS. The traffic, land value, and growth models you are playing are the authentic 1989 logic.
Why is it called Micropolis and not SimCity?
The SimCity trademark belongs to Electronic Arts, so the open-source release uses the name Micropolis (the project’s internal codename) under the Micropolis Public Name License, which governs how the name is used. The game itself is the original simulation, legally distributable as free software.
How does it compare with modern city builders?
It is the 1989 design, unapologetically: small maps, chunky graphics, and systems simple enough to hold in your head — which is exactly why cities are fun to optimize. Play IsoCity or OpenTTD on this site when you want modern rendering and bigger systems; play Micropolis to experience where the genre began.
Does it save?
Yes — the port saves cities in your browser’s local storage on your device, and offers save files you can reload later. Nothing is uploaded to anyone.