Timberborn

Timberborn is a colony-building game set after humanity has turned Earth into a dry wasteland and died out. Beavers have adapted and evolved in its place, and players take control of one of two factions: the Folktails, who lean towards a nature-friendly approach, or the Iron Teeth, who are more industrial. Each faction has its own buildings, technology and gameplay traits. The aim is to keep the colony alive through cycles of wet, dry and toxic seasons, which means stockpiling food and maintaining fields and forests even after rivers run dry, using both natural water sources and artificial irrigation.

Water management is central to the game, which uses 3D water physics and terraforming. Players can build dams, floodgates and aqueducts, dig canals and tunnels with explosives, and reshape the terrain. Because space is limited, buildings can be stacked vertically, with platforms, bridges, a power grid, ziplines and tubeways used to connect the settlement. Wood is the main resource and is turned into machinery such as water wheels, lumber mills, engines and mechanised pumps, while more advanced structures need metal recovered by scavengers from the ruins of the old world.

Other systems include automation, using sensors, relays and counters to create self-controlling dams and factories, and bots, which are mechanised beavers that can work around the clock and be sent into hazardous areas once powered and maintained. As the population grows, the beavers require a balanced diet, entertainment and decorations, and end-game monuments can be built to help restore the Earth. Timberborn includes a set of maps, a map editor for creating and sharing custom maps, and official mod support for player-made content.