EcoGnomix

Original ideas are not always easy to describe. EcoGnomix describes itself as a roguelike and city-building game. That doesn’t quite cover it. Above all, it is a whimsical puzzle tactics game that starts out absurd but simple – and then delves into adventurous depths.

Basically, the goal is to take a small team of little gnomes underground and harvest hexagonal fields where chickens, trees, and other resources grow. When placing our goblins, we have to keep an eye on who is standing on whose toes, where annoying enemies are patrolling, which floor tiles are about to break away, and how hungry the bats are getting. After our journey into the depths, we resurface and invest our resources.

EcoGnomix mixes elements from tactical, puzzle, and building games. Because we are familiar with many of the game mechanics from elsewhere, it is not too difficult to get started. And because we haven’t played this combination before, the result feels new. The look of the game and the accompanying audio world also contribute to its unique atmosphere: because everything in the world looks like it’s made of clay, we don’t question the logic of the absurd scenario, but are busy trying to get enough food for the bats.