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Relaxing and gorgeous city-builder Dorfromantik is out now

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Dorfromantik is a masterful blending of genres to create something you don't often see. Bringing together elements of tile matching with a city-builder, it sure is a peaceful way to game. Note: key provided by the developer.

Played on Linux with Proton (and it works well on the Steam Deck too), this might actually be my new favourite way to unwind. No issues discovered at all, a true out of the box experience on Linux. Developed by Toukana Interactive, it has similar basic mechanics to Islanders and Home Wind with you matching up new buildings or areas (tiles) to keep on expanding, and build up a score to unlock more types of tiles. This is probably my favourite so far though by miles.

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In fairness, Dorfromantik while having some similar basics to the aforementioned games, does it quite differently overall. You're building the world as you go, with each tile you place down near the border giving you more area to place down tiles and it just keeps on going. It offers three things I love: the endless replay value and (in the nicest possible meaning) mindless clicking that looks good. Then, you also have the strategy element to it (if you want it), to keep beating the high score with careful tile placement.

Some tiles give you little mini-quests like having more matching tiles linked up, doing so will give you even more to continue that never-ending expansion. Once you really get going you end up discovering new biomes, and there's also some special pre-place tile objects that can give you tasks to complete over a longer period allowing you to unlock even more of the game to continue, once again, that never-ending expansion.

When you place down tiles and they link up it's wonderful, seeing how they can all blend together.

You won't find any traditional strategy elements here. There's no territory issues, no combat, no resource building or anyone that — just peaceful tile placing. Absolutely wonderful. This is practically as close to perfection as a game can get and not something I ever say lightly and extremely rare for me to come close to saying.

Available to buy on Steam. Also on GOG if you want to try with Wine.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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7 comments

Nezchan May 2, 2022
It's worth noting that the original version of the game on Itch did have a native Linux version. So there's a good chance the dev will be willing to release a version of the full game, since they didn't change engines as far as I'm aware.
soulsource May 2, 2022
We can hope, but do they have a real incentive to make one, given the game is running perfectly fine with Steam Play?
Liam Dawe May 2, 2022
QuoteNo ETA, as our testing showed the Proton compatibility layer is working splendidly, so Linux lives among the "Platforms we could port to" herd for now - But is perfectly playable via Steam/Proton.
I now this is not likely the reply you'd want to see, but this opened up more opportunities and dev time to improve the game before release.
No plans for a Native build currently.
robvv May 3, 2022
On the Steam Store page they have a quote from the GoL article, for a non-native game. The irony
tuubi May 3, 2022
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Quoting: robvvOn the Steam Store page they have a quote from the GoL article, for a non-native game. The irony
I think you're just seeing the curator recommendation, not something on the store page itself.
robvv May 3, 2022
Quoting: tuubi
Quoting: robvvOn the Steam Store page they have a quote from the GoL article, for a non-native game. The irony
I think you're just seeing the curator recommendation, not something on the store page itself.

I've just gone back and, yes, it's the curator recommendation! Oh well, still amused me
14 May 7, 2022
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QuoteAvailable to buy on Steam. Also on GOG if you want to try with Wine.
If you really want the GOG version instead of Steam, here is what I do with Windows games:

1. Use minigalaxy to download+install the game. It will use Wine automatically. But don't launch it. (I mean, you can see if it works.)
2. Download and extract Proton (Lutris edition) into your Lutris runners folder.
3. Set the game up in Lutris and point it at the binary/executable that minigalaxy installed. Go to the Lutris website and read one of the installer scripts to get an idea what options you should set up in Lutris manually.
3a. Select Proton as the Runner for the game in Lutris.
4. Launch via Lutris

That's a lot of hassle that I'm not sure is worth it. But it's up to you. It was the best way to get the GOG version of Frostpunk working for me.
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