#toukana interactive

let's start with Islanders.

it's a super great minimal city builder. I love the aesthetic and the style. it's got some really slick building rules where the buildings interact with each other and you gotta get the plus-minus leaning way over the plus. I like Islanders as something to play when I just wanna lean back, chill with some music in the background and play something stress-free.

will recommend for those who want something that you can coast through while chilling out.

now Dorfromantik is a different beast.

the style is just as lovable. especially the trees and the houses. the little boats and trains move on the rivers and tracks. it's great. while Dorfromantik might seem like simple tile placement, once you get into a deep run (which I would say is about 9000+ points), you're gonna get really focused. not only do you have to pay attention to all six sides of a piece for that perfect, "chef's kiss"-like placement, you have to keep in mind the pieces you have left, the tasks you have open, and the parts you need to close.

Dorfromantik gives me both a greater feeling of satisfaction, but also a greater frustration. the randomized tiles just irks me, at times giving me the opposite of what I need. and those river/track tile mix are the bane of my existence. makes me feel like I'm bad at the game, tho that may definitely be the case.

will recommend for those who love overthinking every single tile placement.