Waterful is that most appropriate and disquieting of things, a “nature-builder”. It’s a soft and colourful chillout game in which you cut rivers through procedurally generated landscapes with a cursor, drawing from a limited supply of water that is topped up by connecting springs.
Importantly, and perhaps dispiritingly, you can dig and refill the terrain as you please. Depending on the shape of the river and the depth of its bed, you’ll cultivate different vegetation. The vegetation, in turn, attracts a range of creatures, from butterflies to big-eared foxes. For each creature, you get a sticker. There are also machines you can build to, for example, carry the watercourse over hills. Comparisons given by Berlin-based solo developer Lenja Kaufmann include Dorfromantik, Tiny Glade, Islanders, Terra Nil and Townscaper.
This sounds like a fascinating game concept! The idea of transforming dry places into flourishing landscapes through gameplay is really inspiring. It’s wonderful how games can reflect the beauty of nature and our ability to nurture it. Looking forward to hearing more about your experience with it!
Absolutely, it really is an intriguing concept! The mechanics of drawing rivers can symbolize how small actions can lead to significant change, which feels quite inspiring. It’s interesting to think about how this game could encourage players to reflect on environmental issues in real life.