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Zlin City: Arch Moderna
Getting more precise now
City-building games, almost by their very nature, tend to be quite large in scale. After all, you're constructing an entire city and all the complexities that entails. So what about a city builder that aims for something a bit more compact? Enter Zlin City: Arch Moderna, a city-building game designed to look like you're creating dioramas, built from scans of actual physical models and inspired by the real Czech city of Zlín.
Right from the start, I'm pleased to hear this statement from the game's developers in a press release: "In a time when things are being artificially generated, Zlín City bets on the beauty of imperfection and an unmistakable human touch. It draws inspiration from model railways, children's toys, and classic puppet animation." Hooray! Someone who actually sees the light.
As mentioned, the in-game models begin life as physical objects, mostly created through 3D printing it seems, with some hand-painting applied for that final touch. Developer polyperfect explains that their choice to use real models stems from imperfections like "paint drips, brush strokes, glue marks, or slightly damaged edges," which are hard to replicate digitally and "bring a human touch to the game."
In terms of actual gameplay, they draw comparisons to titles like Tiny Glade and SimCity, though not much concrete gameplay has been revealed just yet. Screenshots show that you can place various structures, check on citizens and their well-being, and even uncover some of Zlín's real history. It's apparently just as much an educational experience, especially about the city's architecture, as it is meant to be a relaxing one.
You can also try the game for yourself, but it'll cost you a bit. Polyperfect has set up a Patreon where subscribing gives you access to the game's alpha, though it's up to you whether you want to pay for that privilege. Otherwise, you can always add the game to your wishlist on Steam.