Review: Tiny Glade

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, GeForce Now, Linux

Initial release date: September 23, 2024

Developer: Pounce Light

Engine: Proprietary Engine

Genres: Indie game, Simulation video game, Casual game

Publisher: Pounce Light

My day job is as a city planner, and I regularly utilize city building games to live out my wildest ideas about making a change in society by strategically designing and growing towns. However, there is a satisfaction in simply making things without the tension associated with city builder RTS games such as Against the Storm or Frostpunk 2. I’ve had my eye on Tiny Glade for a while since, while it’s only a little sandbox to build in, the diorama-like artwork and the simplicity of the UI appealed to me. I’m pleased to report that this debut game from a team of two devs has exceeded my expectations.

Tiny Glade is incredibly simple, to the point where it becomes a little too minimalist in some sections. The HUD is stunning, simple, and requires no tutorial. Simply click “new”, select a theme, and start building. Themes affect everything, from the surroundings to the time of year, the weather, the vegetation, and the color palette accessible for your structures. The themes alone offer a wide range of options, and in each design, you may modify not just the time of day on a 24-hour clock, but also the angle of the site to vary where the shadows fall. Even before you get into what you create, there is a lot of personalization in the atmosphere of each build.

Returning to where it all began.

Loading a new map begins with a modest randomly generated building that may spark an idea. Or, if you’re like me, you already have a concept; it’s simple to remove the current trees and stuff in seconds and start over with a blank map. One minor concern I have is that I’d want larger glades; while you can still fit a full (compact) city in one by building up, it will be difficult to create the large open regions that gamers desire. Fortunately, there is no material constraint, so it is only a matter of fitting everything into the available area. Hopefully, that is on the roadmap! There are now over 300 ideas in the official Steam forum and thousands more in the official Discord, so I can only hope that Pounce Light Studio is employing some support after their tremendously successful launch.

Tiny Glade has a very intuitive UI and a lovely HUD; no words appear on the screen, instead using simple and easily recognizable symbols. After only 20 minutes in my initial construction, I felt I had a solid understanding of the controls, and anyone who has played an RTS/management game will recognize the MKB controls for movement and camera control. After putting a building, right-clicking it reveals all of the options for altering your structure to any size, proportions, and angles you want, and once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to build entire little communities in less than half an hour. Thousands of gamers can be found on the official Discord channel, offering aid, tutorials, and sharing their builds. Check it out!

Sometimes we act silly.

Tiny Glade not only allows you to unleash your imagination, but it also enhances it. As you cut out a walkway in front of a house, for example, barrels, crates, lamps, and greenery will appear alongside it, just as they would on a house, but in various places. I’m pleased with how easy a lot of the building is; with so few buttons on the screen, it appears extremely limiting at first. Playing the game for a few minutes will reveal that it is anything but.

For example, do you want stairs? Flatten a building, draw a route to it, and voila, steps. You want a bridge. Create a river, flatten a building, increase the bottom, and add railings. Do you desire a floating building? Don’t worry, stacking structures and then eliminating them will take you straight into the sky! If I sat here and listed every incredible thing Tiny Glade performs by tapping into your intuition, we’d be here for hours.

My entry for the “Wizard School” Daily Challenge is the College of Winterhold in Skyrim! Enjoy.

If you prefer a little structure in your sandbox, Pounce Light has a daily challenge for you. It’s as simple as “Moon Temple” or “Wizard School,” yet it truly inspires creativity. After completing your Daily Challenge, you will be directed to the Discord, which includes a channel where you may showcase your creation, vote on which others you like, and get inspiration for your projects. It’s an unconventional method of developing a community, but it appears to be working so far.

I’d like an official mechanism to vote on my favorite construction of the day, and for the top-rated build to be featured in the game the following day! I’ve seen some people use it to create Dungeons & Dragons maps, which I also tried this week. The completely explorable 3D map of the haunting Abbey was warmly appreciated by my gamers and greatly enhanced the immersion!

Congratulations if you can identify the scene I replicated here. You’re a cool person.

So far, I have very few criticisms for Tiny Glade. For example, I’d like to see more decorations, the possibility to create windmills/waterwheels, and a wider build space. I’d like to be able to create arched bridges and have access to wooden buildings in addition to stone ones. There is already an extremely robust photo mode, one of the greatest ever, but I’d want to see a run option while in first person perspective to help me navigate my large maps. I also sorely need a copy/paste function, which I’m told is on its way. I’d want a way to identify my glades as well, as they’re now saved as photos that must be sorted through. Some people in the Discord are already working on mods, so I’ll have to see how that plays out, but it appears that it has the potential to elevate an already wonderful game to new heights.

Tiny Glade is recommended for everyone who like cozy games, city building, sandbox games, or playing with LEGOs. It’s lovely, relaxing, and full of heart. It accomplishes exactly what it needs to do and is so intelligently constructed that it appears to anticipate what you’re attempting to achieve as you’re figuring it out. I can tell I’ll be spending a lot more time creating these wonderful diorama worlds. Can we build it? Yes, we can.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 81%

Controls: 84%

Aesthetics: 90%

Content: 78%

Accessibility: 83%

Value: 80%

Overall: 83%

CHARMINGLY SIMPLE!

Summary:

“Tiny Glade” provides a calming, meditative experience for individuals who like simple construction and design components in a charming, intimate atmosphere. The gameplay is simple and relaxing, focusing on freeform building without set objectives, making it suitable for players of all ages. Aesthetic aspects shine, with stunning, hand-drawn settings and a soothing soundtrack that make the experience feel like a mini escape. While the content is light and may lack depth for those looking for intricate gaming, it’s ideal for relaxing and constructing your own personal refuge.