A fascinating new survival city builder has arrived on Steam this month, promising to challenge players with the intricacies of building and maintaining a thriving medieval settlement amidst the complexities of the natural world. Developed by the new studio Kerzoven, Of Life and Land puts a unique spin on the genre by deeply simulating the delicate balance between humans, animals, and the environment.
Unlike many traditional city builders, Of Life and Land doesn’t just focus on managing resources and expanding your population. At the core of the game lies a rich simulation of ecology, climate, and the intricate interdependencies between all living things. Both your villagers and the local wildlife must contend with the need for water, food, and other basic necessities to survive and thrive.
“The big change from other colony or city builders is that Of Life and Land really cares about the details of environment, behavior, and weather,” explains the developers. “How these variables affect people and animals is the baseline of the simulation—both people and wild animals have homes, form groups, need social interaction, and need food, water, and sleep. They also need a healthy temperature range and weather to live comfortably. Plants, too, need the right temperature and enough water to thrive.”
This level of detail means players must carefully consider the impact of their actions on the local ecosystem. Wiping out too many prey animals or polluting the environment can have disastrous consequences, as the delicate balance of nature is disrupted. On the flip side, players must also be mindful of not letting predator populations spiral out of control.
Even the smallest details matter, such as ensuring your villagers can move around safely in hot environments without succumbing to heatstroke. Placement of buildings, clothing, and shaded paths all play a role in maintaining the well-being of your settlement’s inhabitants.
“One of the simplest, but coolest, examples is in making sure your little settlers can get around in hot environments without getting heatstroke,” the developers noted. “Making sure you have the right clothing to protect from the sun is important, but so is smaller stuff like minimizing transport distance so they can spend most time inside, or making sure longer paths are alongside the cooler air near a river and have trees planted nearby for shade and heat absorption.”
With its rich simulation, charming low-poly art style, and wealth of customization options, Of Life and Land offers a captivating and challenging take on the city builder genre. As the game continues to evolve through its Early Access phase, players can look forward to an ever-deepening experience that puts the delicate balance of the natural world at the heart of building and sustaining a thriving medieval settlement.
