the later versions still require roads; but it's possible to create a barest minimum of roads to service freight & industry only and then build lots of train stations and bus stops
It's very intimidating at first, but there are loads of difficulty options. The standard option plays more or less like Tropico, but on the "realistic" mode, you need to actually source the materials and labour whenever you build any building. So you either need to import workers and resources, or else have a supply chain for every possible material including concrete, steel, and wood. And also have enough labourers who don't have other jobs that they can work on construction sites. That's when it becomes more like Factorio.
i wish all city/economy building games had a stronger destruction-by-social/political-means game play elements beyond city/economy building like tropico has in balancing your islands' political factions from couping or voting you out of office; both internal and world superpower backed rebellions; industry induced pollution & resource depletion; social engineering espionage; pirate attacks; economy & military crippling crime or corruption in your police, military and government officials; protests escalating into rebellions or economic disruptions; and military invasions & economic sanctions from those superpower countries if you don't comply sufficiently with their interests.
i know that city skylines includes natural disasters like tropico does and that helps with the appeal to me; but i never tried the other 2. do they have anything like those things i described?
I've heard the upcoming Frostpunk 2 will have faction politics as one of the core mechanics.
There's also Suzerain. It's not a city builder but it definitely involves delicately balancing different factions in order to not get overthrown in a coup.
Pedestrian roads with tram lines are amazing, but my complaint is that you can't add the grass or tree modifiers to them. Pedestrians only get concrete...
The economy works better now and they just released smaller assets for schools, firehouses, more parks, etc. Still no bikes. Performance is better and barely playable on my amd 8700g apu.