So, there's this new game called Whiskerwood that just dropped a demo on Steam, and it looks pretty interesting. I'm talking about a city-builder where you're basically a mouse mayor, setting up colonies for some demanding cats. Yeah, it's an allegory, but the real draw is the intricate factory building with conveyor belts all over the place.

Your job is to manage everything from resource gathering to healthcare for your mice citizens. But, of course, it's not that simple. The cats want their stuff, and your mice have needs, so you've got to find that sweet spot to keep everyone happy. Imagine playing the Circle of Life theme song in the background while you figure it out.

Vertical Villages and Specialized Squirrels

Because you're building on islands, you'll need to get creative with space. I'm talking about building up mountainsides or digging underground to expand your production. It's not quite as crazy as having your city collapse due to physics, but those mouse factories do look pretty cramped. Each of your mice has their own skills and preferences, too. Some don't mind working in the dark, while others can handle the pollution. So you will have to strategize accordingly.

For those of you who feel bad about making virtual animals suffer, there's a chance to overthrow the cats later in the game. The game simulates a ton of stuff, like different growing conditions for crops. For example, you'll need damp caves for mushrooms and sunlight for wheat. If your starting area isn't ideal, you can even use hot water pipes to create greenhouse environments. On top of all that, there's naval combat! You can send out mouse ships to explore, but watch out for pirates.

Whiskerwood is going into early access soon, and if you're into games like Timberborn or Against The Storm, this might be right up your alley.