Summerhouse launched this week and is the work of solo indie game dev Freidemann. The Berlin-based minimalism specialist has previous worked on the great ISLANDERS (2019).

There’s a similar feel at work here. It’s a small-scale building game and a, “Love letter to the feeling of long lost summer afternoons.”

Indeed to that. Yes, this means it’s a cosy video game! Look beyond that initial horror and here’s a artistically very pleasing, enjoying creative game.

Design Little Communities in The Chillout World of Summerhouse

Yeah, so this one reminds us a bit of artistic architecture creator Townscaper (2019). Summerhouse is a creative game, where you’re provided with tools to build idyllic locations.

You get a set of different locations to choose form (Mount Fuji style location, urban environment etc.) and the game chucks you on in.

It’s then up to you to start designing some basic architecture. There’s a load of objects and other stuff to pick from, which lets you head on off and design, cultivate, and whatever else! No pressure, just create whatever you please in your own time.

It’s all very accessible and in no time we’d done this.

Yes, the all-important option to switch between a sunny day, rainy day, or night is there. Hurray for that inclusion.

Players can craft entire neighbourhoods of tiny wee cottages, hotels, and small businesses. Other than that… there are no rules!

No objectives. No high scores.

It’s just you, the options the game provides you with, and the chance to head in to Summerhouse and design idyllic locations. Fun for creatives, but the impressive thing about the game is its capacity to draw you in, keep playing, and cultivating your community.

As you can see below, you can get quite advanced with your neighbourhood.

Relaxing, eh? As it should be! There’s enough show here to make an excellent complement to games such as Townscaper.

Summerhouse is designed for short bursts of play, really, and that super cheap buying price means it’s not got 100s of hours of gameplay.

However, it’s more than a welcome distraction.

The type of game you’ll return to from time to time for the relaxing joy of it. Designing some fancy little idyll to wind away 30 minutes here and there? That’s where this one excels and we can recommend its artistic marvels.