Sphere - Flying Cities vs This War of Mine
Sphere - Flying Cities
Sphere - Flying Cities is a city-building game that’s somewhat similar to Frostpunk except that it has a sci-fi theme, and allows for more exploration. Set in a world devastated by an asteroid, the remnants of humanity has managed to invent an anti-gravity machine which allows them to levitate a chunk of earth’s surface and move that piece of floating island around a world enveloped by debris and other dangers.Unfortunately, Sphere – Flying Cities falls short of what it aspires to be. The bugs and glitches aside, the gameplay here feels slow – very unlike the kind of urgency that Frostpunk offers, and the amount of player control over how many workers to assign to a facility is oddly restrictive for a city-builder. Personally, I would recommend keeping this game on your wishlist first and let the devs work on improving their game.
This War of Mine
This War of Mine is an indie, 2D survival management game that, unlike most games in its genre, is set not in a post-apocalyptic world but in a war-torn country. Despite being war-themed, the game doesn't cast you into the role of the brave soldier but of the average citizen trying to make the best of the situation and to survive long enough until the war breaks (if it ever).Due to this twist of perspective, along with the fact that every decision and action you make has consequences, both mentally and physically, on the character who did the deed as well as the team, the game ended up having a very tragic undertone and atmosphere throughout its gameplay. After all, you do have to make some difficult decisions in an effort to keep your people alive. From time to time, special events may also pop up and you will need to make a decision to be involved or to stay out of it.
Survival is also another important aspect of the game, and as such, you will need to scavenge for supplies and ensure that your people are well-fed and watered. Materials, tools, and items you gathered over your trips outdoors can be used to craft something else or be sold for some extra cash. During wartime, people are naturally more cautious and for some, more aggressive. It's wise to be careful whenever you encounter other "people" (they are NPCs), especially armed ones, lest your character get slain and your team stumbles straight into depression.
This War of Mine made headlights and game history with its challenging gameplay and of course, its brutally-honest look at the true victims of war. If you think your heart is ready to go through a rollercoaster of emotions, most of which are of the "sad" sort, then, you simply must give this game a try.