Kainga: Seeds of Civilization
i previously did a hastily anger fueled review after losing my thinker to walking into the water and ending my game but after another 14 hrs can say nothing has changed and my thinker had died a few more time this way. The road map will be very delayed to add new content as alot of the games current content needs alot of bug fixes, i’ve never played a game with so many bugs early access or not i’ve played plenty of pre release games too with less bugs then this.
Do not buy until Dec/Jan and even then unless rolling in $ wait for a sale. the sheer amount of bugs and stuff that just doesn’t work will turn you off the potentionally great game
– Real player with 37.2 hrs in game
Read More: Best City Builder Roguelite Games.
This game has so much potential but really needs to be balanced in order to stave off some real frustrations. The RNG aspect of the game really works against the player in most cases, and the enemy tribes start off ahead and are a real hindrance to get your tribe out of the mud. They attack or demand tribute almost immediately, and 9 times out of 10 despite how big the map is, you spawn right next to them. Aside from the tutorial there’s no “starting area” to get your feet wet and learn the game. One map has half of the inspiration areas inaccessible (including the inspiration that allows these areas to become accessible, the other map has hardly any resources, and if you don’t “draw” the right tech after inspiration, you’re screwed. Because of all of this, it took me 20 attempts to pass the first challenge. A third map is unlocked later, but is harder still.
– Real player with 32.6 hrs in game
Tinytopia
A nice little builder game, not overly complicated so that you have too much resource juggling at once.
‘Cute’ graphics and catchy background music.
The BALANCE levels are a nice distraction from the usual building rules.
HOWEVER . .
Controls can be a bit annoying:
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Using SPACE+Mouse to move map !
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Constantly having to select MOVE for every item rather than it being a ‘sticky’ option, when you need to reorganise the town.
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A snap to grid would be nice so that you can line everything up cleanly (existing snap only works for building stacking/upgrades).
– Real player with 22.5 hrs in game
Read More: Best City Builder Building Games.
The game play loop is satisfying. Each level has a certain list of criteria that needs to be fulfilled, but it never feels like a grind. The best part of the game, besides building your own personalized little cities, is the building combination mechanic. Each successful combination has a satisfying little sound effect, and the more you progress the more combinations you discover. Without a doubt, one of the most charming projects I’ve come across in a while. I expect to have all of the achievements within the next 5-7 hours of in game time. but I plan to build in the sandbox plenty more after that.
– Real player with 22.0 hrs in game
Knights and Merchants
Great Nostalgia, as I played the original game ~2000 when I was a kid. If you already played this game, you can’t do much wrong buying it again, it contains both campaigns (The Shattered Kingdom [TSK] & The Peasants Rebellion [TPR]) which should take ~50hrs of raw speedrunning if you still know the concept of the game.
There is a problem though: This is NOT the original game from 2000! It’s a remake with a hell of new bugs and changes (esp. if you played TSK and didn’t own the Gold Edition)
Some things I noticed:
– Real player with 148.3 hrs in game
Read More: Best City Builder Colony Sim Games.
If The Settlers and Dark Souls had a love child, it would be Knights and Merchants.
I never got to play this when it was originally released in 1998, and I regret it, but the mistake has now been rectified!
K&M is an old school RTS/city economy builder hybrid. The concept is simple, the graphics a little dated, but still good enough, the sounds are simple and your minions make cute little comments when ordered to do something. The UI is easy to understand and on the surface, it seems a simple game.
– Real player with 140.4 hrs in game
Moon Tycoon
Way better than I remember it being. Got on again today and I’m having a blast! Oh the memories.
– Real player with 33.2 hrs in game
STOPPED WORKING, FOLDER EMPTY - EVEN AFTER UN-INSTALL- RE-INSTALL
– Real player with 24.9 hrs in game
Sweet Transit
Sweet Transit takes place in a strange world wherein trains dominate the transportation industry. However, some radical citizens begin calling for cars and other more “inefficient” innovations. You play the head of government-financed settlers and are tasked with proving once and for all that trains are the final stage in the evolution of transport. You must thereby build a self-sufficient colony with trains as the only means of transportation.
Start with only one warehouse and connection to the outside world. Build a village that will later grow into a sprawling city. Fulfill inhabitant needs so they in turn happily pay taxes and prepare to work. Employ that workforce within farms and factories to keep up with the demand for goods and services. And most importantly, build smart rail networks to support your ever-expanding colony.
Key Features:
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Procedural generation! Each new map will provide you with new challenges.
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Cities! Build villages and grow them organically until they can become cities.
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People management! Your citizens have needs and get tired as they work.
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Production! Both simple and advanced production chains will engage your mind.
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Factories! Design your farms and factories to fit the landscape and your needs.
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Trains! Trains can be assembled in any variation to accommodate your route needs.
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Rail networks! Build rails using puzzle-like rules and signaling to direct traffic.
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Progression! Unlock everything while expanding and ramping up production.
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Modding! Add new structures/trains/rules, or change gameplay with new progression and visuals.
Dreamstones
I recommend Dreamstones on sale to fans of brickbuster games or someone looking for a unique mostly chill game. It is a unique cartoonish brick busting RPG with city builder elements and a lighthearted text narrative driven story, which I completed in ~20 hours. Here is what you need to know:
+Game is mostly chill with its vibe & music when you are not focused on the last stage of a level trying to get the last few required blocks (nightmare cubes)
+As a brick buster, over time there are lots of active and passive abilities that modify stats or cause certain things to happen. It seems the different types of powerup capsules have an equivalent active ability can be earned or unlocked.
– Real player with 26.9 hrs in game
6/10
Dreamstones is an interesting take on the genre of brick-breaking games, combining both the “usual Arkanoid gameplay” with RPG elements, that is well done in some ways but also sadly has a considerable number of issues, mainly regarding level design and game design.
The game is fun and manages quite well to combine RPG and brick-breaking elements where you deal with a lot of different bricks, monsters, equip weapons, use skills, level up and a lot more. So far, so good - the game does that much well. The soundtrack is also well done (albeit a bit repetitive) and the game’s graphics are very well done. Also, the game is pretty long (I got 25h total for 100% completion), with new block types and enemies showing up as the game progresses, with a boss battle at the end of each area.
– Real player with 25.2 hrs in game
Laruaville 11 Match 3 Puzzle
This is a great Match 3 game. The story is better than most Match 3 games.
It’s every bit as good as Laruaville 7 and Cursed House, all by the same company. The mechanics are very similar with a few new additions.
The whole point of each Match 3 level is to figure out what to do. There is a hint system if you need help, and it’s good. Remove all of the gold coins, and the level ends. Interspersed between Match 3 boards are mini-games like Rush Hour, Spot the Difference, Hidden Object, Mahjong, etc. You can choose Relaxed, Timed, or Limited Moves. I prefer limited moves as it’s more like a puzzle.
– Real player with 15.7 hrs in game
A good game with just enough difficulty to make you think. If you’re familiar with their “Cursed House” series this is similar. I enjoy playing them all.
– Real player with 10.8 hrs in game
Academia : School Simulator
I am a huge fan of Rimworld, I really enjoyed Prison Architect and plus, I’m a teacher. So I was pretty excited about this game.
I’m giving it a hesitant thumbs up on the premise that it will deliver on its promises as it progresses through EA. It’s very bare bones at the moment but I’m hopeful that it will live up to its potential as its exactly the kind of game that I would love if it were much, much bigger.
As a teacher, I do have some feedback on the academic side of things for the developers:
– Real player with 163.6 hrs in game
TL;DR
It’s fine, but not worth $20 because it has very little replay value.
Overview
Academia: School Simulator is a game. It’s challenging to call it a good game, but it certainly isn’t a bad one. I originally purchased this game after seeing it on youtube and being interesting in a school sandbox game, in which I could do a variety of things from build the best school, to making a living hellscape. Academia: School Simulator, did not meet those expectations.
Story
I don’t truly demand story in every game I play, but I feel like this could use a little… anything? I dunno even just a: Gramps left me his inheritance and I was told to spend it on his dying wish: building a school. Whatever, moving on.
– Real player with 98.7 hrs in game
SimCity™ 4 Deluxe Edition
Ever thought you could make a better city? Pah, I could be a better Mayor; well now you can! SimCity 4 is just that and offers this opportunity and lets you sit in the chair titled “mayor”. I’ve definitely clocked up more hours in the days I installed this on ME and XP.
SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition is another one of those games that has been created by EA… EA? Not again you say - except this time.. EA has really created a game and has polished it up to its standards. SC4 is one of the older prequels to ‘Societies’ and the 2013 SimCity relaunch; released after Sim City 3000, it showed off superb graphic capabilities at the time and invented new ways to enjoy building a simulated city, where you play as the city’s major, managing the: finances, housing stock, roads, ports, resident satisfaction, transit, and employment.
– Real player with 567.8 hrs in game
Ah, SimCity 4, the best, in my opinion, of all of the SimCity games. The graphics are dated, being that this was released around fifteen years ago, but don’t let that deter you. Play times depend on how much you enjoy city building games. I myself have spent 2-4 hours today playing it.
The U-Drive-It mode is pretty cool, as it lets you drive through your transportation system with a variety of vehicles, but can get annoying over time with the other cars.
The regions are a nice addition, as you can have cities depend on each other, plus some of the regions come in the shape of several real-life cities, albeit with no structures. In the same vein, importing and exporting cities & regions are useful. If you have a sprawling metropolis and want to share it with the world, you can! Have a police state with stations on every corner? You now can show it to your friends and family!
– Real player with 325.6 hrs in game
Empires in Ruins
Edit: The developer is super chill, and is looking to patch out the bugs soon. This is still a hard game with hit-or-miss writing and an imperfect UI, but serious props to anyone who can indie dev something this complex. Check it out if there isn’t something in the review that’s a dealbreaker for you.
This is a very “yes, but…” recommendation.
Empires In Ruins is a thing I should like. It’s a tower defense with a 4x strategy layer, and where you can econ yourself into an easier TD situation, or TD yourself out of a bad economy.
– Real player with 27.9 hrs in game
**This is a short excerpt of my longer analysis and review (available in English and German). I would recommend reading the full text or watching the YouTube Video (German Voiceover, many subtitles)
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Empires in Ruins Test / Review
Empires in Ruins Review – Conclusion and opinion**
For an indie game of a small team just entering early access, the game is already surprisingly polished. The campaign includes a very entertaining story and for strategy fans an appealing game depth.
– Real player with 13.4 hrs in game