Cloud Gardens

What it is

Cloud Gardens is a simulation and puzzle game about turning abandoned urban scenes and manufactured landscapes into plant-covered dioramas. Plant seeds, arrange discarded objects and build structures for nature to reclaim. Its sandbox mode has no goals, while a multi-chapter campaign asks you to balance natural growth with the objects in each scene: vegetation must cover every object before you can move on. The game combines gardening, landscape building and organic puzzles in a serene 3D space, with room to find your own solutions. Creative mode lets you build freely, and you can unlock a catalogue of objects and plantlife. Completed dioramas can be downloaded as looping videos and shared with other players. Generative soundscapes are by Amos Roddy. Developed and published by Noio, Cloud Gardens released in 2021 for Windows and macOS. Steam features include single-player, full controller support, Steam Cloud and Family Sharing.

What players like, and what they don't

Who it suits

Cloud Gardens suits players who enjoy arranging miniature landscapes, growing plants and solving low-pressure puzzles. Its goal-free sandbox and creative mode also fit players who want to make and share dioramas at their own pace.

Cloud Gardens centers on creative diorama building, with a campaign for players who want structure and puzzles. Its relaxed sandbox and shareable looping videos make it suited to unhurried, creative play.