Could Spiralburst Studios adaptation of My City solve the awkwardness of campaign board games?

Even though we never quite got as far as reviewing it, My City was already a quiet triumph in the tabletop space — a legacy game from Reiner Knizia that managed to distill decades of urban development into a breezy, tile-laying campaign.

Originally published by Kosmos a few years ago, My City offered players a chance to build, evolve, and personalise their own city across 24 episodes, with each game introducing new rules, new scoring conditions, and permanent changes to the board. Now, Spiralburst Studios has brought that experience to iOS — and the result is a streamlined, surprisingly robust adaptation that plays beautifully on both iPhone and iPad.

The core gameplay remains intact. Each episode tasks players with placing polyomino-style building tiles onto a personal grid, following simple placement rules and aiming to maximise their score. The campaign unfolds gradually, layering in new mechanics and challenges as you progress. On the tabletop, this meant stickers — lots of them. Boards were customised, tiles were altered, and player supplies evolved over time. It was tactile, charming, and irreversible.

On iOS, that legacy structure has been reimagined. There are no stickers, no permanent changes, and no physical components to modify. Instead, the app tracks your progress digitally, allowing for multiple campaign runs, solo play against AI, and online multiplayer. It’s a smart pivot — one that trades permanence for replayability. And in practice, it works. The campaign structure is easy to follow, the interface is clean, and the game feels just as satisfying in digital form.

The iPhone version is perfectly playable, with intuitive touch controls and crisp visuals that lose little for being on a smaller screen. That said, I spent most of my time with My City on tablet. The larger screen makes tile placement more comfortable, and the added space allows for a clearer view of your board and objectives. It’s the ideal format for longer sessions for obvious reasons, and if there was a local multiplayer mode (ie hotseat) it would also make sense when needing to pass the device. As it stands, there is no local multiplayer mode that I can see, and that could be a minor oversight for some.

Visually, the app preserves the charm of the original. The art is clean, straightforward and colourful and the animations are subtle enough to enhance the experience without distracting from the puzzle. The UI is responsive, and the game offers helpful prompts without feeling intrusive. It’s a polished package, and Spiralburst Studios deserves credit for translating Knizia’s design with care and clarity.

Gameplay-wise, the AI is competent — perhaps too competent. There’s no difficulty setting and right from the outset, the computer opponent can feel punishingly efficient. It’s not unbeatable, but it does demand precision and forward planning. For players new to the game or looking for a more relaxed experience, this might be a sticking point. Still, for seasoned puzzlers, it adds a layer of challenge that keeps the campaign engaging.

The lack of physical legacy elements might disappoint purists, but it also opens the door to greater value. You’re not locked into a single campaign. You can replay episodes, experiment with different strategies, and challenge friends without worrying about worn boards or depleted sticker sheets. It’s a different kind of legacy — one built on flexibility rather than permanence. As someone who really does not like “damaging” board games and has real trouble with the legacy concept as a result, implementations like this are conceptually perfect, and I’ve really enjoyed my time with My City as a result.

In closing then, My City on iOS is a thoughtful, well-executed adaptation that captures the spirit of the original while embracing the strengths of digital play. It’s accessible, replayable, and surprisingly deep, with a campaign structure that rewards both casual engagement and strategic mastery. Whether you’re building on a train or curled up with an iPad, it’s a city worth developing — just be prepared for an AI that doesn’t pull its punches.

My City’s mobile adaptation is available now for iOS.