SimCity BuildIt Design Challenges Guide
SimCity BuildIt Design Challenges Guide
Design Challenges let you build a themed city and have it judged, and this SimCity BuildIt Design Challenges guide explains how to enter, what counts, and how to earn rewards. They are the creative side of SimCity BuildIt: instead of growing the biggest city, you build the best city for a theme, and other players vote on it.
What Design Challenges are
Design Challenges are events where you build a city to a theme, submit it, and earn rewards through blueprint-based progress, according to the game’s own homepage content on this site. They run in seasons — community guides mention Design Challenges Season 64 and Season 65 as recent examples — and each season has its own themes. You build in a separate Design Challenge city, not in your main capital, so your main city is not affected by what you build for a challenge.
How to enter
Open the Design Challenges section in the game, pick the current challenge, and build to the theme. The theme tells you what the judges — other players — are looking for: a beach resort, a mountain town, a festival city, and so on. Use the buildings, parks and decorations that fit the theme, and do not fill the space with random buildings that ignore it. A small, well-themed city usually scores better than a large, messy one.
What counts — and what does not
Community guides note an important detail: the people in the houses in a Design Challenge city do not count toward your global population, but the Experience Points (XP) you earn from upgrading those houses do count toward your global Mayor Level. That means Design Challenges are a real source of XP, even though they do not grow your main city’s population. Build and upgrade homes in the challenge city to earn XP, and use the challenge as a low-risk way to try layouts you would not risk in your capital.
Rewards
Design Challenge rewards include Platinum Keys, according to community guides, as well as other items and currencies depending on the season. The game wiki lists Platinum Keys among the rewards for Design Challenges, alongside Contest of Mayors, Event Tracks and Club Wars. Rewards depend on how your design is rated, so a thoughtful, themed build earns more than a rushed one. Check the challenge screen for the current season’s rewards before you start building.
Tips for a good design
Build to the theme first and to size second. Use parks, plazas and specializations that match the theme. Leave space — a crowded city with no breathing room looks worse than a smaller city with clear streets and open areas. Place a focal building or landmark where it draws the eye, and keep the layout clean. Then submit and move on; do not keep rebuilding the same challenge when the next one is already open.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is building your normal city in a challenge and ignoring the theme. The second is spending too long on one challenge and neglecting your capital city, contest assignments and cargo. Design Challenges are a side event, not the main game. Spend a focused session on each one, collect the XP and rewards, and return to your main city.
FAQ
What are Design Challenges in SimCity BuildIt?
Themed building events where you build a separate challenge city and earn rewards based on how it is rated.
Do Design Challenge homes count toward population?
No. Community guides say the people in challenge homes do not count to global population, but XP from upgrading them does count toward Mayor Level.
What rewards do Design Challenges give?
Platinum Keys and other items, depending on the season, according to community guides.
Do Design Challenges affect my main city?
No. You build in a separate challenge city, so your capital is untouched.
How often do Design Challenges run?
In seasons. Check the in-game challenge screen for the current season and theme.
Start at our homepage — and read our best layouts guide on this site for layout ideas that also work in Design Challenges.