We all have problems. Major, minor, more general or personal. It doesn't matter, because in the end everyone must fight their battles. And this is where video games play a very important role for many people. They offer us everything from the opportunity to relax for a while to exciting moments with other players.
Games called cozy play a very relevant role in this sense. They are experiences created under the philosophy of generating calm, relaxing and creative spaces. Some merely stick to enjoyable mechanics and others add a narrative component to enrich the journey. Unpacking, Stardew Valley and Rusty’s Retirement They are three gems that fit this description perfectly.
Trains, small towns and absolute peace
I recently discovered a diamond in the rough with a lot of potential: Islands & Trainsa cozy-style indie video game developed by Akos Makovics and inspired by other works such as Islanders, from Dorfrom y Townscaper. It still doesn't have a release date, but there is a very cute demo on Steam. His description is very brief, but extremely precise: “Build islands. And trains.”
Build your own small, colorful worlds any way you want. Islands & Trains is a very relaxing sandbox building game. Build small dioramas with a lonely cabin or idyllic villages with dense forests. Put your own railway on your beloved island. Place animals in the landscape and simply watch and enjoy your peaceful creation. Get lost in the search for the most perfect place for all these little pieces. No objectives, no timer, no missions, no stress. Only happy accidents. Build, relax and enjoy.
I played its demo for an hour and a half, the time it took me to do the tutorial and complete my first island very calmly. I had thought of creating something simple, but you know what usually happens with these projects: you start putting one thing there, another here and you end up with a much more ambitious result than what you had in mind.
My original idea was to make a fishing island. Entrance through a pier, a small town in the center and a train that runs around the outside in a circle. The classic of the classics. But at some point I remembered the series Snowpiercerspecifically a scene in which the train goes through a huge curve over a mountain range. It sounded great, but luckily it only took me two minutes to get my feet on the ground.
From then on everything has been improvised. I have let my creativity fly within the possible frameworks to create an island that truly represents a place where I would like to live. And here you have it: a fishing island with everything you need to be more or less self-sufficient. Please note that the content of the demo is limited.
The entrance is at the dock, which has an area for mooring boats. The forest serves as a natural wall to mark the path to the town, which passes under a bridge. The town and recreational areas are located in the center of the island, while the area for livestock and cultivation is nestled to the west.
A mountain wall delimits the southern area, hiding a location away from the town and reserved for camping and wildlife. If you look north, you will see three mountain levels. The second houses the general train station and the third both the lighthouse and a house for the lighthouse keeper and his family.
The train travels through each location on the island to transport and supply. It has two passenger cars, three for wood, coal and fuel and one for loading/unloading, especially useful for the port area. I forgot to add two more, one for miscellaneous merchandise and another for livestock. The island is saved when you exit, so I can always come back to make changes.
I think that Islands & Trains It doesn't do anything exceptional or revolutionary, but that doesn't mean it's an incredibly beautiful and relaxing video game. I am convinced that the final version, which will offer more space and elements, will allow for much more interesting islands. Now, I think it could use some additions (which the studio probably already has in mind) such as a day and night cycle, a lighting system and more elements to make the island feel more alive.
Let me explain. Animals move and other elements have animations to react to the wind. It would be great to see people around the villages and farms, hear the train whistle… Nothing bustling or heavy, just little touches to feel like the island is really alive. Now she feels very lonely. In any case, I think I have found a new refuge for when life gets too difficult for me. I recommend you try it!
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