Underplayed Gems

Isles & Tiles (2025)

Isles & Tiles cover
Developer
Birdworks
Platforms
Windows, macOS
Genres
Indie, Simulation, Strategy
Rating
4.1 of 5, 16 player ratings
Typical playtime
about 1.9 hours
Where to get it
Steam

More by Birdworks

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

A contemplative turn-based puzzle of balancing island expansion, colony growth, and resource management against the constraints of a card deck.

turn-basedresource managementstrategicdeliberatetacticalcolony buildingproceduralpuzzle-like

What players say

Players enjoy the core deckbuilding and tile-laying loop, calling it a relaxing hex puzzle akin to Dorfromantik with resource management. The six scenarios feel samey to some, and higher difficulties highlight balance problems. Others note card text bugs and a lack of variety that holds the game back.

Screenshots

Isles & Tiles screenshot 1Isles & Tiles screenshot 2Isles & Tiles screenshot 3Isles & Tiles screenshot 4Isles & Tiles screenshot 5Isles & Tiles screenshot 6

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More by Birdworks

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.