Want to craft your own little domain without the pressure of scrambling for resources? Then you’ll be happy to hear that Islanders, one of the most chilled-out city builders of all time, is getting a sequel in the shape of Islanders: New Shores. Imagine Cities Skylines 2 or Manor Lords, but without the stress, the traffic, and feudal struggling.
It makes a strange kind of sense that it’d take five years for Islanders to get a sequel. After all, there’s nothing rushed about this minimalist city-building game, which had us hooked in the best possible way. We called it “The gaming equivalent of listening to lo-fi music on a Sunday afternoon” and we’re hoping that Islanders: New Shores can deliver more of that relaxing tropical vibe.
One of the greatest parts of the original Islanders: you don’t spend half your time harvesting resources. Instead, this minimalist strategy game’s points-based system lets you concentrate on the little things, like building placement and the grumpy souls who, for some reason, don’t want a circus in their backyard.
This sequel promises to retain the chill of the original, but to also fold in new features, building options, and more. That includes ‘boons’, special power-ups that will crop up on each stage and offer unique abilities. One boon, for example, will let you duplicate buildings, regardless of how many points you’ve accrued.
The game will also launch with sandbox mode and photo modes, plus optional Twitch integration. We’re not sure if we’d trust Twitch not to suddenly turn the ocean into lava, but it could certainly make Islanders: New Shores streams more gripping for viewers.
Islander: New Shores is penciled in for a summer release, and if you’ve not experienced the joys of the original it’s an amazing 75% off on Steam, making it $1.24 / £1.19. You’ll have to be fast, though, because that deal ends Saturday March 1.
Looking for another strategy fix to test your leadership skills? We’ve rounded up the best RTS games, or if it’s Islanders: New Shores’ chill factor that’s piqued your interest, we’ve got the best relaxing games.
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