If you want visual variety, look for the Nexl series of mods. Created by a legendary modder in the community, these packs add massive amounts of custom content including:
Before you start downloading, you must understand the file structure. Cities XL Platinum is finicky. One wrong file can crash the loading screen at 87%. cities xl platinum mods
You cannot play large cities without this. If you want visual variety, look for the
To understand the modding achievement, one must recognize the original technical constraints: Early modders (circa 2011-2014) used hex editors and
Early modders (circa 2011-2014) used hex editors and memory scanners (e.g., Cheat Engine) to identify variables. The breakthrough came with XL3DConverter and PAKTool, reverse-engineered utilities that allowed extraction and repacking of game assets.
If you need help finding a specific mod (e.g., a tram system, European buildings, or a diagonal roads mod), let me know and I can point you to the exact download and install steps.
This is the absolute first mod you should install. It acts as a mod manager and quality-of-life improver.