Before We Leave, a non-violent, chilled out city builder from Dunedin-based Balancing Monkey Games is making its way to Steam on May 13, thanks to a new partnership with Team17.
Taking place in the aftermath of an apocalypse, Before We Leave is all about building a thriving settlement full of happy “Peeps” as they emerge from generations spent living underground, full of wonder at what the outside world brings. There’s a touch of 4X strategy influence in there—note the hexagonal tiles—and challenges to overcome, but with non-violent solutions and a focus on creating a relaxing, cozy experience.
Before We Leave launched as an Epic Games Store exclusive last May, and has seen numerous updates since then to tweak the game and add new features and content, including new biomes, vehicles, and the Kraken. As you’d hope, those updates will all be part of the Steam version from launch.
“It’s totally awesome that we’re getting to work with Team17 to bring our debut game Before We Leave to even more players on Steam next month,” said Sam Barham, Creative Director at Balancing Monkey Games. “We’ve been working continuously since we launched it last year, adding a ton of new stuff and extra polish. We’re proud of what we’ve been able to achieve to create a more beautiful and immersive experience for our players.”
From the Steam listing:
Rediscover what was lost and nurture your reborn civilisation in Before We Leave, a non-violent city building game set in a cozy corner of the universe. Grow, gather and manage resources to help your settlements thrive, and share goods between the hexagonal lands and planets around you. Relax and expand the fabric of your growing societies and create a solar system of happy planets at your own pace. Not everything will go your way, though – use your wits and research solutions to overcome the challenges that your ancestors once faced.
FEATURES
• Build settlements for the newly emerged Peeps
• Discover and research the ancient technologies around you
• Manage resources, pollution and happiness to avoid the mistakes of your ancestors
• Trade between your settlements by sea and by space
• Explore six unique biomes on islands of all shapes and sizes
• Protect the Peeps from ancient beings that guard the galaxy
Balancing Monkey Games is an game studio based in Dunedin, Aotearoa that aims to “create accessible, inclusive games that spark a sense of wonder and exploration; and to make good games that enable us to better support our local communities.” Before We Leave is the studio’s first game; if you like the look of it, show the team some love by wishlisting it on Steam.