Townscaper
Developer(s)Oskar Stålberg
Publisher(s)Oskar Stålberg
Platform(s)
Release
  • Windows, macOS, Switch
  • August 26, 2021
  • iOS, Android
  • October 20, 2021
  • Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Web
  • December 1, 2021
Genre(s)City-building game
Mode(s)Single-Player

Townscaper is a city builder game by Oskar Stålberg. It was released for Windows and Mac in August 2021. A port to the Nintendo Switch was released in August 2021 when the Steam version left early access.[1][2] The mobile version was released in October 2021.[3][4] It was later ported to Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and web browsers (as a demo) in December 2021.[5][6] It features low poly graphics and a simple, minimalist user interface.

Gameplay

Townscaper has no inherent objective or story and has been described by developer Stålberg as "more of a toy" than a game.[7] Users construct an island town by placing and removing colored blocks on an ocean. Various "rules" dictate these blocks' appearances, with some appearing as spires and others as balconies. This method of rule-based decoration allows arches, gardens, and stairways to be created without specific user instruction.[8]

Setting

Townscaper takes place on a large distorted grid set in an infinite sea.[7] This allows for towns that feel more organic and unstructured when compared to similar games that are based on regular grids.

Development

Townscaper was developed by Swedish[9] developer Oskar Stålberg, who previously worked on Bad North. Stålberg gave a talk at the IndieCade Europe 2019 event during development, showcasing some of the game's features, including terrain generation and procedural building design.[10]

Reception

The PC edition of Townscaper received a critic score of 86% according to review aggregator Metacritic, indicating generally favorable reviews.[12] The Nintendo Switch edition received a score of 63%, indicating a mixed or average reception.[11]

Natalie Clayton of PC Gamer wrote: "Townscaper may not have the complexity of a Cities: Skylines, but its quaint towns littered with cobbled streets and old churches, dockyards and lighthouses feel more instantly homely than the sterile American-styled metropolises of "real" city-builders."[14]

Christian Donlan of Eurogamer wrote: "[...] but met on its own terms, diving in when you've a few spare minutes to lay down a new neighbourhood, Townscaper is an absolutely joyous little time waster that's kept me busy since it first hit early access last year (opens in new tab). Now that it's out for real, I don't doubt it'll keep popping back in for a quick vacation for many months to come."[15]

Tilly Lawton of Pocket Tactics wrote: "Townscaper serves up a gorgeous, illustrative art style, serene sound design, and a simple concept that’s sure to put you at ease."[16]

See also

  • Islanders, a minimalist city-builder released in 2019

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Graham (August 27, 2021). "Cute town building toy Townscaper has left early access". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  2. ↑ Whitehead, Thomas (August 26, 2021). "Townscaper Is Out Now On Switch eShop". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Townscaper Coming to Android and iOS October 20" (Press release). GamePress. September 21, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  4. ↑ Orr, Aaron (September 22, 2021). "Townscaper heading to iOS and Android on 20 October". PocketGamer. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  5. ↑ Phillips, Tom (December 1, 2021). "The beautiful Townscaper is now available to try in your browser". Eurogamer. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  6. ↑ Peppiatt, Dom (December 2, 2021). "Townscaper is the latest surprise addition to Xbox Game Pass". VG247. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Morrison, Geoffrey (July 17, 2020). "A game for our times: Townscaper". CNET. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  8. ↑ O'Connor, Alice (July 1, 2020). "Lovely town-building toy Townscaper is out in early access". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Oskar Stålberg". Twitter. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  10. ↑ Organic Towns from Square Tiles - a talk by Oskar Stålberg at Indiecade Europe 2019. IndieCade Europe. March 17, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020 – via YouTube.
  11. 1 2 "Townscaper for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Townscaper for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  13. ↑ Madnani, Mikhail (October 20, 2021). "'Townscaper' iOS Review – Relaxing Brilliance". TouchArcade. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  14. ↑ Clayton, Natalie (August 27, 2021). "Townscaper review - A pleasant toy for building your own idyllic seaside getaways". PC Gamer.
  15. ↑ Donlan, Christian (September 2, 2021). "Townscaper review - a city-builder without rules". Eurogamer.
  16. ↑ Lawton, Tilly (September 8, 2021). "Townscaper review – a tincture of pure tranquillity". Pocket Tactics.
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