Townscaper Review
Posted: 4 months ago, last updated 2 weeks ago.
Author: Andy Robertson and @JonahMonaghan.
Overview
Like a toy, there’s a fascination in experimenting to see how Townscaper's underlying algorithm will automatically turn blocks into cute little houses, arches, stairways, bridges and lush backyards, depending on their configuration.
As enquiring minds push the game to build ever more complex structures and layouts you can discover more of where the building will take you. Build quaint island towns with curvy streets. Build small hamlets, soaring cathedrals, canal networks, or sky cities on stilts. Block by block.
As you build you create a strange otherworldly building-site soundtrack. Hear waves break against the building, masonry plop into the sea, and new dwellings pop into existence. The sounds and lovely seas-side visuals make this a game as calming as a fidget spinner.
“No goal. No real gameplay. Just plenty of building and plenty of beauty. That's it.”
Now fully released on Steam for PC and Mac, with the addition of automatic garden paths when buildings have entranceways opposite each other.
Details
Rating: Not rated by PEGI or ESRB
Release Date: 30/06/2020
Platforms: Mac and PC
Genres: Creative, Puzzle and Simulation
Developer: @OskSta
Tips
View our choice of games like Townscaper. This game is good if you want to:
Commitment
Players: This is a single player game.
Costs
Age Ratings
No ratings available for this game.
User-Generated Content: This game includes content created by other players, such as maps, outfits and items, that are not reflected in the game rating.
Accessibility
Difficulty
How you can adjust the challenge of play, and assistance the game offers when you fail or get stuck.
Cognitive Pressure
Reaction-time Not Critical: Individual game actions don’t need quick reactions.
Low Pressure: Game tasks aren’t time-limited or with a high emphasis on performance. Or there is a low pressure play-mode available.
Adjust Speed: Adjust the overall speed of the game, or rewind play for a second attempt, to ease reaction times.
Save Anytime: The game automatically saves progress or you can save any time, and not lose progress.
No Unlocking Required: Access any mode, location, character, weapon or vehicle from the start.
Reading
How much reading or listening comprehension is required, and how accessible this is.
No Reading: No reading is required.
Controls
How you control the game, different options for alternative inputs and whether you can remap these settings to suit your needs.
Mouse And Keyboard
Mouse Alone: Can play with just the mouse/mouse button/mouse wheel.
Mouse and Keys: Can play with mouse and multiple keys.
Motion Controls Not Required: You don’t need motion controls to play the game.
Holding Down Buttons Optional: Holding down buttons not required or can be turned off or switched to toggling the action on and off.
Image
How you can adjust the visuals to suit your needs, and offer additional information if you can't hear the game.
Visual Distractions
No Flashes: No flashing strobe effects or you can disable them.
No Screen Shake: No screen shake effect or this can be disabled.
No Busy Backgrounds: No distracting backgrounds or you can make them static or blank.
Head-Up-Display Visibility
Clear Interface: The game navigation, maps and information are clear to read, large or adjustable.
Adjust Head Up Display: Remove or resize head-up display to remove distraction and make more visible.
Audio
How you can adjust the audio of the game and whether audio cues compensate for aspects of the game that are hard to see.
Play Without Hearing: No audio cues are necessary to play the game well
System Settings
Windows has extensive accessibility features. Some, like colour correction, work with games. Lots of accessibility software can be used with PC games, from voice recognition to input device emulators... read more about system accessibility settings.
Supported by PlayabilityInitiative and accessibility contributors: Andy Robertson and @eamongaudio
Games Like Townscaper
The following games are like Townscaper. They address a similar topic or offer a similar way to play. They are good options to play next and also good alternatives to Townscaper for younger age ratings.
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