Whiskerwood

Whiskerwood is a city-building and colony management game in which the player leads a group of mice sent by ship to settle untouched islands under the rule of cats. Each island is procedurally generated, and space is limited, so the player is expected to build vertically, both upwards and underground into cliffs and mountains. Terraforming allows land to be flattened, burrows to be dug for housing and storage, and water to be drawn inland to power industry. Climate affects the colony, with storms lowering morale and cold fronts threatening harvests and lives, so pipe networks carrying heated water and steam are used for climate control and stockpiles can be protected underground. Crops have specific growing conditions, such as mushrooms in damp caverns and wheat in sunlight and fertile soil.

The colony must supply core structures, logistics networks, healthcare, heating and maintenance, and its citizens will leave if their daily needs are not met. Each mouse has individual attributes and belongs to one of several guilds that shape its preferences, strengths and weaknesses; some prefer living underground or alone, some tolerate pollution, and some can serve as sailors or ship captains. Ships can be built to trade with distant islands, dismantle pirate havens, collect floating salvage and defend supply lines, while the colony also prepares its own defences.

The game includes 40 commodities spanning raw materials such as ore, timber and wheat, processed goods such as ropes, coats and meals, and luxury items such as spices, teas and furniture. Goods are moved using conveyor belts, ramps, elevators and slides, and research labs unlock new buildings, resources and policies, allowing progression from mouse-powered to steam-powered industry. The player must balance the wants of the mice against the demands of the cats, choosing between motivating statues of the feline overlords that raise output at the cost of morale, or parks and fountains that prioritise happiness. Failing to fulfil shipments brings violent reprisals from the cats’ henchmen, and the game raises the possibility of eventual resistance against their rule.