Crux Games' upcoming title, Combolands, is set to merge the addictive combo-chaining mechanics of Balatro with the strategic city-building elements found in Cities: Skylines. The game, currently available in a demo, procedurally generates islands for each run, presenting players with a limited timeframe and action pool to reach population milestones. Success hinges on a novel interpretation of adjacency bonuses, where strategic building placement directly translates into captivating combo chains.
Unlike traditional city builders that focus on realistic population growth or service provision, Combolands amplifies the impact of placing buildings near resource nodes. Initially, this involves foundational structures like hunter's huts near forests or apiaries by flowers, with each successful placement increasing the population. However, as players progress through population tiers, new building options unlock, demanding more complex strategies. Some buildings offer multipliers, while others benefit from proximity to a broader 'nature' category, requiring careful integration into existing combo chains.
The roguelike nature of Combolands means that thresholds for each round become increasingly challenging. Early game strategies of placing buildings for immediate point gains may falter as multipliers, such as those offered by enclosed walls or railroads, become essential. Players may find themselves with limited resources if, for example, they cleared woodland tiles too early, hindering the effectiveness of forestry camps and hunter's huts. The game incorporates a degree of luck, but players can mitigate it through a limited number of action rerolls, building demolitions, and occasional opportunities for extra turns.
Loss is an integral part of the Combolands experience, but it also serves as a gateway to new opportunities. Following a failed run, players can unlock new buildings and progress through fewer 'dry spells' compared to Balatro, according to the developer. The demo currently features two guilds, with the full game promising seven. Guilds influence the types of buildings that appear each turn, with the agricultural guild, for instance, favoring farm-related structures. This variety is expected to open up significant replayability through different starting conditions and building availabilities.
Further progression unlocks in-game shop features, drawing inspiration from Balatro's modifier system. Players can spend in-game currency between rounds to acquire new modifiers that can drastically alter gameplay. These modifiers can provide significant advantages, such as a universal multiplier during the final week of a round, making the choice of modifier crucial for success. The demo has showcased a strategic depth that is engaging without being overwhelming, with a brisk pace that avoids feeling like a significant time commitment.
Combolands is slated for release on August 24 for Windows PC via Steam.