Tranquil Isles, the lo-fi city builder from one-man indie developer Tom Daly in partnership with publisher Future Friends Games, has entered its playtesting phase on Steam.

This cozy title combines elements of Islanders and Townscaper, retaining the strategic mechanics of other rouge-lite city builders while leaving behind the combat and micromanagement mechanics typically associated with the genre. Instead favoring a chill, relaxing vibe free from the building constraints of grid placement.

In Tranquil Isles, players can instead focus on building an aesthetically calming city on a procedurally generated island or archipelago. Each island features various visual biomes from icy tundra to sweltering deserts. Unlock color themes as you build towns and create the island community of your dreams.

Players can enjoy a sandbox mode that allows for city building that is restricted only by the boundaries of your island, or a rogue-lite mode where managing resources is key to constructing the largest city possible. The game offers a peaceful gameplay experience without the threats of combat or politics. Instead, compete with others on the leaderboard for the highest town score.  

For more information you can follow Future Friends Games on TikTok or the Tranquil Isles YouTube page.

Tranquil Isles will release later this year on Steam, but the playtest is available today for those eager to check it out.