I think it's fair to say that living in a big city can be hazardous to one's health.

If the noxious smog that envelops your bustling metropolis doesn't get you, then the OBnoxious white van drivers screeching around every blind corner probably will.

But what if you could become chief city planner for a month and make sweeping changes to your municipality's transport and enterprise infrastructure at the drop of a hat?

With G5 Entertainment's Virtual City Playground installed on your iPhone, that's precisely what you can do.

This freemium city-building simulation goes live on the App Store this Thursday (20th October), and contains 10 exclusive landmarks, 68 unique decorations, and 87 quests.

Don't be put off by the mention of the f-word, either, readers: while the game does employ IAP and in-game currency for gaining energy and unlocking content, you can quite happily complete it without ever reaching for your wallet.

When the premium version of Virtual City Playground debuted on iPhone a year ago, Andrew initially dismissed it as just another one of those life-sapping, formulaic farm-management titles.

He was quickly won over, though, by the impressive artwork and the user-friendly menu system, awarding it a coveted 5/5.

Let's see later this week if the free-to-play edition can build on Virtual City's excellent reputation.