Townscaper

Pros

• A simple and relaxing alternative to traditional city builders
• Beautiful art design inspired by Scandinavian architecture
• Completely free of in-app purchases and ads

Cons

• Lack of direction may not appeal to some players
• Limited variety of buildings to choose from

Townscaper's elegant and simplified approach to city management proves that simulations don't need to be stressful to be engaging. It succeeds at this largely based off of its willingness to abandon win and lose conditions and to emphasize a sense of play above all else. Essentially a Lego set that responds organically to where you place pieces, Townscaper is happy to give you a few tools and trust you to figure out how to use them creatively and responsibly.

Each city can be broken down into a series of blocks, and each of those blocks can be populated by any number of different buildings or other structures. The joy comes from the realization that each of these blocks changes their nature based off of what is in their proximity. As your town grows, so will the shape of the individual blocks and the neighborhoods surrounding them. Creating a neat and orderly labyrinth of urban efficiency isn't just discouraged. It's actually difficult to achieve. Though the touch controls are themselves precise, your ability to micromanage your town is going to become less and less effective as your town grows bigger. But claustrophobic and winding streets are part of the charm and the wonder of building in the first place.

At first, satisfaction comes from the sense of discovering what sort of new structures and shapes your urban planning will lead to — but that will eventually blossom into a confident understanding of the game's logic. There are strict and simple rules defining why each block takes the shape it does, and expert players will learn that they can predict the flow of the city before they've even put the pieces on the board. The aesthetics for Townscaper are based on the colorful, terraced villages of Italian hilltops and the similarly vibrant building that appear in Scandinavian architecture. The final layer of satisfaction comes from simply looking at what you've created. No matter how closely you've observed the rules the computer follows, you're sure to find yourself surprised by something within the settlement you've created. Fortunately, you can. In the same way that you can paint blocks of houses with a swipe of your finger, you can also walk through the streets of your virtual town up close and personal.

The graphics here are simple in a way that fits the tone of the game, and in a way that's going to remain timeless for years to come. While everyone's villages follow the same rules, you can be assured that they're also each uniquely their own. Though there are no challenges or missions to drive you forward, the sense of zen that Townscaper offers makes it a satisfying game to lose a few hours in.

Pros

• A simple and relaxing alternative to traditional city builders
• Beautiful art design inspired by Scandinavian architecture
• Completely free of in-app purchases and ads

Cons

• Lack of direction may not appeal to some players
• Limited variety of buildings to choose from