Town to City is a 2025 city-building video game developed by Dutch studio Galaxy Grove and published by British publisher Kwalee. Set in a stylised, Mediterranean-inspired version of the 19th century, the game emphasizes a gridless building system and a relaxed aesthetic. It was released in early access for Windows on 16 September 2025 via Steam.
Gameplay
Town to City is a city-building game with both a guided story/campaign mode and a sandbox mode. The campaign introduces systems through progressively unlocked objectives, while sandbox play can reduce or disable some constraints (such as happiness or money) to focus on creativity and town beautification.
A central feature is its gridless placement system, allowing roads, buildings, and decorations to be placed freely to create organic layouts with winding streets and plazas. Players expand housing and services to attract new residents and meet individual and class-based needs through amenities, employment, and infrastructure. Decorative tools (such as lighting, flowers, trees, and parks) and an in-game photo mode support the game’s presentation-focused playstyle. As population grows, players can develop multiple towns and connect them through regional growth and trade systems, with additional economic elements such as farming and tourism.
Development and release
Town to City was announced on 30 January 2025 by Kwalee and Galaxy Grove alongside an announcement trailer; Galaxy Grove founder Joost van Dongen described the project as an attempt to reimagine aspects of the city-building genre. A playable demo was made available during Steam Next Fest in June 2025.
In late August 2025, the publisher confirmed the early access release date as 16 September 2025. The game subsequently launched in early access on Steam for Windows on that date.
Reception
DLCompare described the game as emphasizing creative freedom and a low-pressure management loop, with campaign guidance and a more open-ended sandbox mode.
References
External links
- Official website
Gamer24h Editor's Take
Town to City caught our attention with its unique design and has shaped up to be a must-play masterpiece candidate thanks to the depth of its experience. The visionary approach of developer Galaxy Grove, combined with the expertise of publisher Kwalee, has resulted in an exceptionally refined product. Its innovative take on the City-building genre offers a breath of fresh air for fans of the category. All in all, the Gamer24h team stands firmly behind our rating. This is a unique journey you won't want to miss.