I got to try out SteamWorld Build at GDC before the title was made public. I am extremely excited about this cute entry into the SteamWorld universe. I love city builders, and with my limited exposure to the title, I already know Build is taking all of my free time. If you are a fan of the genre, go wishlist SteamWorld Build.
Build takes place after the events of Dig 2. The planet is dying, and you must make a final push to escape it. With the help of your citizens, you must gather resources, build your town, and fight off the wildlife that endangers our town. Can you escape before it is too late?
At first glance, Build can seem overwhelming with how much there is to manage. You have to build a city, keep your workers happy, mine resources, and defend your base all at once. The game does a fantastic job at easing the player into its mechanics, and once you get used to them, the management isn’t bad The pacing of this game can be stressful if you aren’t actively planning your moves, but the pacing of the game was rather relaxing. You will have plenty of time to maneuver between your tasks, and the game does a great job of alerting the players about what needs to be done.
There is a story to this game, but it acts more as a tutorial as it guides you through the different mechanics. Each section of the story will have you unlock and repair buildings that will open up more of the game. The main draw of this game will be its sandbox mode, where you will have the freedom to build and establish your base without restrictions. I recommend going through the story to at least get a basic understanding of its fundamentals.
The game is all about managing your base. Your base is split into different levels. At the top, you have a town of your design where you will recruit your workers. Below the town, you will mine for resources and defend against monsters. You will spend most of your time moving between levels to make sure all your worker’s needs are met while advancing your base.
My favorite thing about this game is the art. The steampunk western aesthetic is adorable. I love the art in the SteamWorld games, and the translation from 2D to 3D art was done beautifully. The art for this game was done by the same people that did the costumes for Little Big Planet, and they did a fantastic job. I spent most of my session admiring all the little details that went into the design. The world reminds me a lot of the Ork aesthetic in 40k where everything is made from recycled metal, except here it’s cute. I loved watching the little robots complete their chores or interact with buildings. The small details make me see the passion there is for this game and have me excited to see a finished product.
I didn’t get to play SteamWorld Build enough to have a fleshed-out opinion, but I am very excited by what I experienced. If you like city builders or are looking to get into one, Build is worth looking into. The game will be available on all consoles and PC. Go try out the demo on Steam or Epic Games. There is no release date yet, but you can wishlist it on Steam, Epic Games, GOG, and Playstation.
Shoutout to the devs that took the time to show me the game and answer all my questions. Keep up the good work!
Make sure you join the official SteamWorld Build Discord server to stay up-to-date on all the news. It is a very active server that occasionally has giveaways. You can also follow them on Twitter
Best Student Game: Slider
This year’s winner of the IGF award for Best Student Game went to the cute 2D adventure puzzler, Slider. Use the power of a magical artifact to change the world around you to solve puzzles, aid humanity, and save your cat. The game has nine regions to explore, each full of increasingly difficult puzzles. This game has tactical combat, grids, and time travel.
I didn’t get to play Slider during my time at IGF, but I did see people play it. The puzzles are unique, and I am a huge fan of pixel art. There is no release date for Slider, but there is a free demo you can try. I will be trying the demo and return with some more impressions then. Until then, head over to Steam and try it for yourself. Don’t forget to wishlist it if you like it.
*Feature image taken from press release
GDC Recap: Project Timi: Sasha’s Curse
During GDC I got to try one of the cutest little rhythm puzzlers I’ve ever played, Project Timi: Sasha’s Curse. Project Timi has you play as Timi as she uses her powers to go into dreams, searching for the evil corpo cat, Sasha. Use her powers to solve puzzles and bring Sasha to justice!
This game is super cute! Shoutout to the game’s artist for creating such an adorable character and world. The music is also nicely done and helps create the game’s whimsical tone. The gameplay is a ton of fun. It reminds me a bit of Captain Toad, but the rhythm mechanics make it a unique experience. This game starts easy but slowly increases in difficulty as you learn new mechanics and get closer to catching Sasha. I know the demo I tried wasn’t a finished product, but it felt incredibly polished and ready for consumption. Shoutout to the whole team for all the work and love they’ve already put into this game.
I will be adding this game to the list of games I need to try because I am hooked. It is too early for a price tag, but you can and should Wishlist it on Steam. Project Timi: Sasha’s Curse will be released on the PC and the Nintendo Switch.
I want to thank the team for chatting with me and answering all my questions. Keep up the great work! Go follow them on Twitter.
Excellence in Design: The Case of the Golden Idol
This year’s winner of the IGF’s award for Excellence in Design went to the quirky mystery game, The Case of the Golden Idol. Take the role of the detective as you gather clues, pick your suspects, determine motives, and solve the mystery of twelve gruesome murders. The game has a unique art style that grows on you the more you play. The music is soothing, and its unique gameplay can be relaxing if you like solving mysteries. I felt overwhelmed by the amount of freedom I was given to solve the mystery, but I can see myself obsessing over this title if I had more time to explore it at my own pace.
If you love mysteries, this is a great one to look into. You can get your copy on Steam or GOG for $17.99. I suggest you at least try the demo and keep an open mind. I didn’t get enough time with this title to decide if I like it, but I will be adding The Case of the Golden Idol to the list of games I need to try. I will let you know how it goes if I can ever find the time.
Excellence in Audio: The Forest Quartet
This year’s winner of the IGF award for Excellence in Audio was a delightful little puzzle adventure game, The Forest Quartet. Take control of a recently deceased singer, Nina, as she travels into the minds of her old bandmates, attempting to reignite their love for music as they grieve for their lost friend. Can you solve the puzzles that will help the band move through the stages of grief?
The Forest Quartet’s minimalistic style and music score create a soothing gaming experience, but one that leads to a powerful narrative. While I was only able to play the game for a bit, I was struck by its pleasing art and music. I love Jazz, so there might be some bias in my assessment. If you love jazz or are in the market for a new puzzle game, The Forest Quartet is worth looking into. I didn’t play it enough to be able to critique it, but I am at least interested to try it out. Hopefully, I can find the time. The Forest Quartet is available on Steam and PlayStation for $9.99. PlayStation has it on sale for $7.49 ($5.99 for gold members) until March 29, 2023.