The Wandering Village offers a refreshing twist on city-building standards. Though it nails many of the genre tropes, it has a few curveballs that keep things fresh and you guessing throughout. This approach removed one of my major gripes about the genre: stagnant and stale gameplay. However, it introduces a new layer of difficulty that may undermine the casual and relaxing nature of the action. Accordingly, it may struggle to strike the right balance for fans of the classic genre mechanics.
This base builder was developed and published by Stray Fawn Studio. It is a single-play Xbox Play Anywhere title that has striking visuals, a pleasant story, and a sense of dread and fear. Furthermore, it has 3 core game modes and a giant beast where your city grows and evolves. At first, I wasn’t sure if this unusual element would work, but boy, oh boy, did it make me smile!
The Wandering Village tells a story of man and beast.
Humans and beasts have lived in harmony and at war for thousands of years. However, The Wandering Village tells a desperate tale of survival and companionship. You control a troubled settlement. These nomads have set up base on the back of a giant turtle-like creature known as an Onbu. This Onbu wanders slowly on a dusty path through varied biomes. Its path leads to many weird and wonderful encounters. Furthermore, there are plenty of hazards as the nomads and the Onbu must learn to live together.
People management, research, resource management, and base expansion are fairly familiar concepts. However, becoming friends with a giant wandering reptile isn’t that usual. Alternatively, you can treat your host as a vessel and nothing more. Barking orders while harvesting resources will only get you so far. Consequently, you must balance your tactics if you wish to thrive and survive.
It’s a joy to play.
The Wandering Village gets most elements spot on. People management is as simple as housing, feeding, and keeping everyone healthy. If you can achieve this, your village will thrive and your people will want to stay. If you fail, your villagers will leave, or they will succumb to illness and death.
Every aspect of this title is a fine balancing act. Choosing the right plants for the correct biomes isn’t easy. Moreover, accepting that you will have to evolve as the Onbu moves ensures a fluid and ever-evolving village. Yes, you can implement some form of control over the beast, but this depends on your relationship and whether you have completed the correct research. In short, you must plan many steps ahead if you want to appease everyone and avoid hostile environments.
The Wandering Village captures every detail.
City-building games tend to be a real nightmare to capture every relevant detail. They are either overwhelming, complex, and horrible to work with, or they are too refined and leave you wanting. Thankfully, The Wandering Village has hit the sweet spot. The cartoon style, smooth camera, and impressive overworld and city overview capture every key detail. Furthermore, the colour palette is pleasant to look at, and the UI is simple to navigate. The result is a well-conceived idea that works on every level.
Though there is tension, drama, and danger, the audio is remarkably calm and pleasant to listen to. As time flies by, you enjoy a range of upbeat and sombre songs. These are complemented by simple sound effects and ambient noises that generate a layer of realism throughout.
Excellent controls.
I was fearful that this would be tough to play on Xbox. City builders tend to be easier to handle on PC, and I was concerned that the gamepad would be clumsy and tough to manage. Luckily, I was wrong. The excellent UI is easy to navigate, and an enjoyable tutorial sets you up with all of the basics.
I could play this for hours, and I don’t believe I’d get bored. Additionally, I can’t imagine any playthrough is the same. There are so many different areas to witness and plenty of biomes to explore. Furthermore, the research tree is massive, and there are different approaches to each scenario. Consequently, this has loads of replay value and longevity.
The Wandering Village is a must-play game.
Available on Xbox Game Pass, The Wandering Village is a must-play game. It hits all the right notes and has a wonderful twist on a well-trodden genre. Furthermore, the story is interesting, and the 3 different game modes help to keep things fresh. Accordingly, if you love the genre and you want something new, I recommend buying it here! Can you strike the right balance? Manage your people, help the Onbu, and thrive together.
