Aaron - MrIrelandish
18 June 2023
Timberborn
Timberborn is a simulation and strategy game developed and published by Mechanistry that was originally released in September of 2021. Still in early access and as of May 26th, Mechanistry has introduced us to Update 4 which is truly a game changer.
Mankind has turned the world into a dry wasteland and perished, but there was a species that evolved and adapted to the new landscape. Players will have to pick one of the beaver factions and see how long they can prosper.
Timberborn offers two distinct factions to choose from: the nature-loving Folktails and the industrious Iron Teeth. Each faction features its own unique styles, buildings, and, with the recent Update 4, exclusive food chains. Surviving the recurring droughts is the key to success in Timberborn. Players must stockpile food and maintain the fields and forests even after the rivers dry up. Utilizing dams, floodgates, explosive canal digging, and river redirection, players can bring life back to the desolate wasteland. With limited space available, building upwards is highly recommended as most buildings can be stacked on top of each other. To assist in colony management, players can introduce mechanized beavers to their workforce. By powering and maintaining these efficient workers, players gain valuable assistance in land movement and resource management.
Timberborn's day and night cycle further enhances the immersive experience, allowing players to observe the beavers as they go about their daily lives. Ensuring the well-being of the beavers becomes crucial, as improved stats grant them longevity and increased speed.
For players seeking creative freedom, Timberborn offers a map editor to design customized maps for unique playthroughs. This feature adds replayability and enables players to create their ideal gaming experience.
Timberborn offers a top-down view, typical of god-builder games, which can be freely rotated and zoomed in on, allowing players to have a comprehensive and customizable perspective. The game's water effects are visually stunning, adding beauty and realism to the flowing rivers, dams, and other water-related elements. These impressive visuals, combined with the versatile camera control, enhance the overall aesthetic appeal and immersion of the game.
Timberborn features audio elements that enhance the gameplay experience. When interacting with the beavers, they emit subtle vocal cues, adding a sense of liveliness to the game world. The buildings also have their own unique sound effects, further immersing players in the construction and operation of their colony. Timberborn creates a soothing and immersive atmosphere through its audio design. The game incorporates ambient sounds, such as the gentle flow of river water and the soft whisper of the wind, which further enhance the overall experience. These atmospheric elements add a sense of tranquility to the game world, enveloping players in a serene and immersive environment. Combined with the calming soundtrack, the ambient sounds of flowing water and gentle winds contribute to the overall soothing nature of the game, making it easy to lose track of time while fully engaged in the Timberborn experience.
Overall, Timberborn is a game that should be on your radar if you enjoy these sorts of games. With Update 4, Timberborn has added many more hours of gameplay. I do look forward to seeing where Mechanistry takes the game.
9
10
The Bad
- Great soundtrack
- Amazing water physics
- Highly addictive
- You get to control a faction of industrial age beavers
- Timesink
- Highly addictive