Darwinia (2005)

Developer: Introversion Software
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genres: Indie, Strategy
Rating: 4.0 of 5, 1,130 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 11 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

Guiding a charming, retro-styled digital population through vibrant, surreal landscapes with a mix of strategic planning and direct intervention feels like a playful, thoughtful, and slightly nostalgic god game.

surrealatmosphericcolorfulretro-inspiredtacticalpuzzle-likestrategicstylized

What players say

Players describe Darwinia as a simple, short game that feels more like a puzzle experience because it is nearly impossible to lose. Long-time fans praise its continued updates and Linux support.

Screenshots

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More by Introversion Software

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.