Developers have attempted to replicate the success of LocalThunk’s acclaimed roguelike poker game, Balatro. While some experiments fall short or display unprincipled approaches, Combolands: Roguelike Citybuilder from Crux Games represents a worthy effort. By merging the engaging aspects of Balatro’s roguelike mechanics with strategic city planning akin to Cities: Skylines, the game promises a captivating experience.
In city-building games, adjacency bonuses often reward strategic thinking. For instance, Civilization 7 incentivises players to optimise production and food bonuses. Similarly, Cities: Skylines assesses population satisfaction based on access to amenities like libraries. In Combolands, adjacency bonuses are fundamental to gameplay.
Players begin on a procedurally generated island, with each session offering a unique layout and resource distribution. They have eight weeks to achieve a population goal, utilising limited actions each week. Initial actions, mainly focused on establishing the city’s economy, include positioning hunter’s huts near forests. The game rewards resource accumulation, leading to population growth, albeit through a fantastical logic that prioritises gameplay over realism.
As players advance, more building types become available, necessitating strategic adjustments. Some buildings provide production multipliers, while others thrive due to proximity to natural elements. Balancing these options becomes crucial as players approach more challenging objectives.
Much like in Balatro, the difficulty increases progressively, requiring meticulous planning. Past strategies can become burdensome as players must incorporate new elements to enhance efficiency. While setbacks, such as unsuccessful runs, are common, they often lead to new opportunities. The demo indicates a more forgiving approach compared to Balatro, with players gaining new buildings and incremental progress after defeats.
Players will unlock additional features throughout gameplay, including a shop to purchase modifiers that can significantly impact success. The tactical requirements provide an enjoyable challenge, enhanced by a brisk pace that prevents the experience from feeling laborious. Combolands is set to launch in its full version on August 24 for Windows PC via Steam.
Test Your Understanding
How much do you know?
