The people of Sea, Sun & Salt

The whole experience is cosy, with the right amount of challenge. It never tips into the intensity of a hardcore city builder. It’s complex enough to make you think about your choices, but never punishing, and it allows room for mistakes. The systems are simple and intuitive, with mechanics introduced progressively and organically. The controls are polished and responsive. There’s no configuration or keybinding support, and the game could definitely benefit from some keyboard shortcuts. That said, the selection tool is so well tuned that even in a late-game clusterf*ck of buildings, I never once accidentally selected or deleted the wrong one. Well done here. I would also love a bit more freedom with camera movement, such as more zoom out and free tilt. The aesthetics are spot on. Everything is charming, including the way softer architectural elements move in the wind. The music is lovely. It might become repetitive over time, but I played an entire playthrough without really noticing. Windmills, however, feel oddly choppy and stand out like a sore thumb. It is noticeable enough that I suspect they are already being worked on. Buy it now for a solid 10 to 15 hours of gameplay, then cross your fingers for future updates that improve replayability. At the moment, the island is always the same in each playthrough. It is not procedurally generated. This guarantees a well-balanced experience, but it also means that once you have finished your first run, subsequent playthroughs offer significantly less novelty.