If you’re looking for a city-building game that leans more into comfort than complexity, Folklands might just be your next peaceful escape. Developed by the indie team at Brömantik, this charming little title has just launched in Early Access, and it’s already showing strong potential for fans of chill, cozy strategy games.
A Calming Start in a Crowded Genre
When it comes to relaxing games, city builders often lead the charge. But while many start off gently, they tend to ramp up the difficulty and micromanagement until things get overwhelming—sometimes turning what began as a peaceful escape into a stressful experience. Think Frostpunk or Cities: Skylines, where managing a city often becomes an exercise in crisis control.
Folklands, however, sets out to do the opposite. It offers a soothing, stripped-back take on the genre that prioritizes simplicity and ease of play.
First Impressions: Simplicity and Nostalgia
From the very first minutes, Folklands gives off a warm, nostalgic feeling—almost like the early moments of Age of Empires II, minus the warfare. The visuals are clean and minimalistic, with an inviting aesthetic that draws you in without overwhelming you.
There’s no real storyline, no intense military action, and no complex lore. Just you, your randomly generated map, and the simple joy of building a village from scratch.
Build, Expand, and Grow Your Village
You begin by constructing your town center, which acts as the foundation of your settlement. From there, you’ll gradually add new buildings like stone quarries, lumber mills, and houses. As you provide shelter, food, and water, more villagers will arrive. Once your population reaches certain milestones, you’ll unlock new tiers of development, allowing for more advanced structures and systems.
It’s a gentle gameplay loop that rewards patience and creativity—perfect for players who want to build without pressure.
Dynamic Missions and Trading Systems
As your village grows, other groups on the map will occasionally approach with requests or trade deals. Some are peaceful resource exchanges in return for coins, while others may spark conflict or tension if ignored or declined.
This mechanic adds a nice touch of unpredictability. While Folklands isn’t a combat-heavy game, these interactions introduce light narrative and strategic decisions that keep things interesting.
Solo or Multiplayer? Your Choice
While Folklands offers a full single-player experience, it also supports multiplayer. In this mode, each player manages their own village, with options to trade or compete with one another.
That said, the solo mode shines the brightest. There’s something deeply satisfying about slowly expanding your settlement and watching villagers go about their routines. It’s almost meditative.
Easy to Learn, Hardly Ever Frustrating
Unlike many city builders that hit players with dozens of mechanics right from the start, Folklands takes a simple, intuitive approach. The game is easy to learn, even for those new to the genre. And even as your village grows and things become more complex, it never feels punishing or overwhelming.
Even in Early Access, the game’s core systems work smoothly. It lacks the rough edges many early releases suffer from—and most importantly, it avoids the trap of being “relaxing” in name only.
A Safe Haven Between Action Games
I first played Folklands after a few intense rounds of Call of Duty Zombies, and it honestly felt like stepping into a safe, quiet space. Watching villagers chop wood, carry supplies, and build homes was surprisingly therapeutic. It’s the kind of game you can play to unwind, clear your mind, or just enjoy a few peaceful hours away from chaos.
The Charm of Simplicity – But for How Long?
To be fair, Folklands doesn’t bring anything drastically new to the city-building genre. Its appeal lies more in simplicity and polish than innovation. But that charm has a limit. After a few days of play, the experience can start to feel repetitive, even with randomly generated maps and mission variety.
For Folklands to truly compete with bigger titles, the developers will need to add more depth, content, and progression before its full release.
Final Thoughts: A Peaceful Start with Room to Grow
Folklands is a rare kind of game—one that invites you to relax without asking too much in return. It doesn’t aim to challenge you with harsh mechanics or overwhelming micromanagement. Instead, it offers a gentle, mindful experience that’s surprisingly rewarding in short sessions.
If you’re looking for a city builder that won’t stress you out, Folklands is absolutely worth a try. Let’s just hope that by the time the full version is released, the game will have enough content and variety to keep us building for hours on end.
