Preview of Urban Jungle Demo on Steam
A Cozy Oasis
As someone who loves cozy simulation games and enjoys the calming vibe of greenery, I was excited to give Urban Jungle a try. Developed by Kylyk Games and published by Assemble Entertainment, this game is all about relaxation. Playing the demo left me feeling way more chilled out than my usual attempts to keep houseplants alive!
Story
Right now, the story is pretty simple. You follow the main character through different stages of life, starting as a kid, moving to a new town, and then heading off to college.
In chapter one, you’re spending the summer with your grandma, who shares her love for plants with you. When your mom comes home and tells you that your family has to move away for work, growing plants becomes a way to keep that connection with Grandma.
You get a few choices in dialogue, like how to react when your mom shares the moving news. You can choose to be excited or upset, but it seems like her response doesn’t change. The story is not super developed at this point. And honestly, that’s okay. I didn’t need an in-depth story for this game because that’s not the point!
Gameplay
The gameplay centers around arranging a bunch of plants throughout various rooms, allowing for a surprisingly immersive experience as players strive to create the coziest room ever.
In addition to arranging plants, you can also move small objects around your room. So, if a pile of books is in the way of where you want to put your cactus, you can tidy that up first. This is helpful because the main character is a bit messy, and I ended up organizing my shelves just as much as my plants!
Each plant has specific needs, likes, and dislikes. For example, a cactus loves bright light, doesn’t need humidity, enjoys being near succulents, but isn’t a fan of spider plants. Every time you place a plant, you get a score based on how well you meet its needs. So, putting a cactus near a lamp scores you a 5, but if you move it away from the humidifier, it can score 10. Grouping compatible plants together can bump up those scores even more.
Getting scores with your plants helps you earn money to buy more, plus it lets you move on to the next chapter. Each chapter has a total score you need to hit. If you’re not quite there, you can either grab some more plants or keep rearranging what you already have to level up your scores.
Players can also complete chapter objectives to gain more coins for plants. Objectives are as cozy as the rest of the game, like “Pet the Cat.” Yes, please!
This game should get a perfect score just for remembering to let players pet the cat!
Overall
I really love the game’s easygoing vibe. There are no time limits or stressful challenges—just you, your plants, and the simple joy of creating a snug home. The gentle puzzles get you thinking about placements without the pressure of typical puzzle games. The colorful, vibrant visuals are gorgeous and pull you into a lovely world that feels so cozy. The demo is short, only about 30 minutes, and as I wrapped up the final chapter, I found myself wishing for more. I can’t wait for the full game, which is coming later in 2025.
Check out the demo, free on Steam!
Related: Reviews by Michelle Jones
I'm a completionist gamer who just needs to find that one last object and clear that final dungeon. I love all video games, from open world sandboxes on a console to a mindless match three on my phone. In addition to gaming and writing, I am a graduate student working on a thesis about the ancient Icelandic Sagas. Feel free to ask me anything about Vikings.
More Stories
KONAMI Reveals SILENT HILL f: A Terrifying New Episode in the Legendary Horror Series
astragon Reveals Highly Realistic and Immersive Firefighting Simulation, Firefighting Simulator: Ignite
GTA Online this Week Features St. Patrick’s Day Presents, Double Rewards on Arms Trafficking Missions, Plus More