Game Reviews

This game is a laid back city builder that doesn't demand that you constantly run just ahead of a civilization on the verge of collapse if you don't meet every single need as it pops up. I mean that, it is probably the biggest factor that makes this my favorite city builder. In so many city builders growth is inevitable and uncontrollable, and as your city grows so too do the demands of your people until at last you cannot keep up and everything fails. It becomes a desperate scramble for survival rather than a relaxing experience, and honestly, after a long day, I don't want to feel like I'm managing a crisis. Timberborn does not do this.

You get to choose how fast you grow and providing more for your beavers is a bonus rather than a requirement that spells failure if not met. Want to take it slow and build a massive, sprawling dam network before expanding your population? Go ahead. Want to rush and see how fast you can grow? That's an option too. The game puts you in control, and that freedom is incredibly refreshing. Each stage does get more difficult over time, but the pace is such that you'll likely fail one or two times at most before you get the hang of things. And even if you fail, it's never frustrating, you learn, you adapt, you try again with a better grasp of the mechanics.

The water management system is very clever and introduces a good level of strategy without being overwhelming. It is rewarding, to build dams, to reroute rivers, to make sure your beavers have enough water in a drought. And to see your tiny beaver colony flourish because you planned it? That's a satisfying feeling that few other city builders manage to deliver so consistently.

And let's not forget the beavers themselves. They are adorable. The silliest sounds come out of them when you click them and their little animations and interaction with the environment are so charming. The devs really enjoy putting a heart and soul into these little critters.