Before We Leave

Before We Leave is a city-building and resource management game developed by Balancing Monkey Games and published by Team17. Rather than following the familiar formula of military conquest, hostile survival, or competitive empire-building, the game takes a far more peaceful and optimistic approach. Players guide a society of survivors who emerge from underground shelters after generations of isolation and begin rebuilding civilization on the surface. This premise creates a refreshing foundation for a strategy game, focusing on growth, discovery, and cooperation instead of conflict. The gameplay begins on a modest scale as players establish small settlements, gather resources, construct housing, and provide essential services for their population. From these humble beginnings, the game gradually expands into a complex network of industries, transportation systems, and technological advancements. The hexagonal map design encourages thoughtful planning, as efficient city layouts and carefully organized production chains play a major role in maintaining a prosperous society. Every new structure and resource has a purpose, creating a satisfying sense of progression as settlements evolv…

The closest thing I can compare this to is an Anno game, but instead of just building cities on islands on one planet, you are building cities on islands across multiple planets. Also, since different islands and planets have different fertilities/resources, you will have to colonize multiple islands and planets to have access to all resources. There are no real enemies in this game for the most part, except for a few things like gremlins and space whales. However, you won't have to worry about an invading army trying to destroy your stuff. Just build and try to fight off factors like pollution and gloom to make your Peeps happy. So in short, it's a laid-back city builder with cute graphics and giant space whales that are trying to slowly eat your planets.

Fun, wholesome, cozy game!

A Great, Relaxing Strategy Game with a Smooth 100% Completion ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Before We Leave is an absolute joy to play. It stands out in the city-building and 4X genres by focusing entirely on a non-violent, cozy experience. The mechanics are beautifully straightforward and less complex than traditional strategy games, making it incredibly accessible and easy to pick up for anyone looking to unwind. For completionists, the game is a wonderfully smooth experience. The vast majority of the achievement list is not overly difficult, and while one or two tasks offer some challenge, they never feel unfair. Excellent, well-written achievement guides are readily available online, and as long as you follow them, you won't run into any issues unlocking the full 100%. If you want a peaceful, planetary management game that respects your time and rewards your effort, this is highly recommended!

when you end the game of before we leave you find a friendly species of whales that allow you to build on their back.BUT beyond these stars START with you landing on the back of a whale so does that mean that the ending of before we leave is the beginning of beyond these stars?

I have to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of city-building games, but I really, really like this one. At first, I was drawn in by the graphics—very simple and inviting—but after the first two hours, I found myself completely immersed in this little world. I don’t know if it’s the best city-building game ever, but if someone who isn’t even a fan of the genre enjoyed it this much, I think it must be a really great game!