Preserve (v1.0.22 & ALL DLC)

A living landscape takes shape one carefully placed card at a time, turning ecological balance into a calm but surprisingly thoughtful puzzle. Preserve is a nature-building strategy game where forests, wetlands, savannas, reefs, and alpine regions must support the plants and animals that call them home. Its mood is peaceful and colorful, yet every decision carries weight as mismatched habitats can leave an ecosystem incomplete. Rather than conquering territory or managing a city’s economy, the focus rests on creating places where nature functions as a connected whole.

Players place terrain, vegetation, animals, and environmental features onto a growing board, aiming to satisfy each species’ habitat needs while maintaining harmony across the map. Positioning matters: creatures benefit from the right neighbors and suitable landscapes, encouraging players to think ahead before committing valuable cards. The standout twist is vertical expansion, which allows habitats to be stacked into layered natural networks instead of spreading only outward across a flat map. A card upcycling system gives unwanted cards a second purpose, letting players work toward spectacular natural wonders such as redwood groves, lavender fields, and snow-covered mountain ranges.

Different biomes bring their own visual identity and ecological problems, from land-based forests to vibrant Caribbean reef environments, so the game does not feel like the same puzzle repeated with new colors. Harmony and puzzle modes provide structured challenges, while Creative mode removes restrictions for players who simply want to design attractive miniature worlds at their own pace. Photo mode fits the experience well, offering a way to preserve particularly satisfying landscapes once every layer and species falls into place. Fans of Dorfromantik, Terra Nil, or relaxed tile-laying board games should find a familiar appeal here, though Preserve’s stacked maps and animal-focused ecosystem rules give it a distinct identity.