River Towns

About

In River Towns, you place differently shaped buildings and make them fit into a limited area. Combine unique districts into a vibrant living city and help restore our River Towns. Puzzle a River TownEach of the three districts has its own set of shapes which are shuffled randomly. This makes every game you play a new and unique puzzle to solve. The different district's unique and vibrant archi…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 56 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

Engaging and addictive gameplay that combines Tetris-like mechanics with strategic city-building elements, making it fun to play and replay for higher scores.
Visually charming with beautiful graphics and soothing music, creating a relaxing atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
Offers a variety of challenges and mechanics that keep the gameplay fresh, allowing for both casual play and deeper strategic planning.

Some players may find the lack of an undo function frustrating, as one misplaced tile can significantly impact the outcome of a level.
While the game is generally easy to pick up, achieving perfect scores can become quite challenging, which may deter some casual players.
The narrative is light and may not provide enough depth for those looking for a more story-driven experience.

gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The gameplay is a relaxing blend of town-building and puzzle mechanics, reminiscent of Tetris but without the frantic pace, allowing players to unwind while progressively tackling more complex challenges. Players engage in strategic placement of building pieces to maximize points and bonuses, with evolving mechanics and new shapes keeping the experience fresh and engaging. The serene visuals and gentle ramp-up in difficulty contribute to a satisfying and enjoyable puzzle-solving experience.
- “Great game, calming gameplay when you want to wind down and chill, enjoy with some coffee.”
- “Puzzle game that combines clever mechanics, serene visuals, and gratifying progression, all with the aim of turning desolate landscapes into flourishing cities.”
- “The gameplay starts simple, doesn't go from 0 to 100 kph on you and progressively gets more challenging as you start to figure things out.”
- “At its core, the gameplay involves placing Tetris-like building pieces to maximize points.”
- “Smart positioning and maintaining district-specific clusters lead to bigger bonuses, while later levels introduce tighter spaces and new mechanics that add complexity.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and cute aesthetic, creating a visually appealing experience that enhances gameplay. Players appreciate the serene visuals and charming animations that bring the city-building elements to life, contributing to a comforting and enjoyable atmosphere. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics and engaging mechanics makes for a delightful puzzle game experience.
- “Graphically a cute, vibrant 'board' where you place randomized Tetris-like tiles to achieve objectives in a way that maximizes your score (tiles of a color are better together; the more bridges, the better... and so on).”
- “The graphics and music are very pleasant, and it's great seeing the buildings pop up and link together when you place a tile.”
- “The art style is pleasantly colorful and inviting, complemented by small animations that bring the city to life.”
- “It just has the aesthetics of a city builder.”
- “Graphically a cute, vibrant 'board' where you place randomized Tetris-like tiles to achieve objectives in a way that maximizes your score.”
- “Puzzle game that combines clever mechanics, serene visuals, and gratifying progression, all with the aim of turning desolate landscapes into flourishing cities.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The music in the game is generally praised for its soothing and comforting qualities, enhancing the overall aesthetics alongside the visuals. While many players enjoy the music, some note that it can be minimal during gameplay, suggesting the need for an external playlist for a more engaging experience.
- “And the music is very soothing.”
- “Aesthetics are terrific, with lovely, comforting music and visuals.”
- “The graphics and music are very pleasant, and it's great seeing the buildings plop up and link together when you place a tile.”
- “The background music is almost nonexistent during gameplay—better have an external playlist ready.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The story in Rivertowns is described as intriguing but ultimately shallow, serving more to enhance the game's atmosphere than to provide depth. Players encounter short narrative snippets during stages, which contribute to an overarching concept, while side missions add gameplay variety without significantly enriching the story.
- “I backed Rivertowns on Kickstarter because the concept sounded good and the story was interesting.”
- “Each stage comes with a short narrative snippet, contributing to an overarching but shallow story that’s more about atmosphere than depth.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The game's atmosphere is characterized as relaxing and immersive, supported by light narrative elements that enhance the experience. While the overarching story is considered shallow, it effectively contributes to the overall ambiance of the game.
- “While the narrative is light, it enhances the game’s relaxing yet immersive atmosphere.”
- “Each stage comes with a short narrative snippet, contributing to an overarching but shallow story that’s more about atmosphere than depth.”
- “The game tries to create a haunting atmosphere, but it often feels forced and lacks genuine immersion.”
- “While the visuals are striking, the overall atmosphere feels empty and fails to evoke any real emotional response.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly on various platforms, including the Steam Deck, and is praised for its engaging and addictive puzzle gameplay.
- “Runs great on the deck too and is a really chill and addictive puzzler.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the game offers significant replayability, as striving to achieve all three score goals for each level encourages multiple playthroughs, even if perfect scores aren't necessary.
- “The game offers a lot of replayability as you can aim for perfect stars, adding an extra challenge to each level.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh, thanks to the various strategies you can employ, enhancing the game's replayability.”
- “With multiple paths and outcomes, the game encourages you to replay levels to discover all the secrets and achieve different scores.”

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River Towns
$13.49
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