Cozy games are a new bread and butter for me. When I’m stressed or feeling frustrated, sometimes I detox with a good cozy game to wind down and reset myself. A new cozy game has caught my attention though that seems like it’ll do things a little differently.

What happens when townspeople react accurately to you showing up out of nowhere, making a ton of money, and making changes to their town? Well, Critterville Goes Bankrupt, developed by Penniless Games, is approaching that idea. Here is what the press release says about the game and its latest trailer:

“Developer Penniless Games released an all-new gameplay trailer for Critterville Goes Bankrupt today. In this town life RPG, you’ll inherit a royal title and lead a cast of critters through an industrial revolution. A dark twist on the cozy genre, Critterville Goes Bankrupt lets players explore a town’s reaction to a random stranger who moved in, started making millions of dollars, and declared themselves a monarch.

In Critterville Goes Bankrupt, you have a mandate to rule as you see fit. Decide whether to restore Critterville to prosperity, find love and climb the social order, or become a ruthless robber baron. The choice is up to you!

Don’t go Bankrupt! The town of Critterville is in bad shape, but you have a mandate to rule as you see fit. Create jobs and hire the locals. Open new shops, hold a bake sale to raise funds, or choose to double the tax rate (again)

• Tend the Land: Balance farming crops with growing a prestigious garden to impress your fellow nobles
• Build your Dream Estate: Inherit a crumbling chateau—decorate, renovate, and expand your home until it is the jewel of Critterville
• Find Romance: Attend high-society soirees and start courtships with six dateable suitors. Fall in love or follow your benefactor’s wishes and forge a political alliance

• Write a Living Story: Characters react to your choices in unpredictable ways. Forget a critter’s birthday and you’ll get sued, tell a ghost story and you’ll start rumors the town is haunted. With hundreds of daily events and dozens of possible neighbors no two journeys will be the same
• Hire your Neighbors: Interview residents of Critterville and assign them to jobs. Go exploring the mines for riches with your best friends, or bribe the mayor for a logging permit. Decide what kind of boss you’ll be: promote your best workers to managers or become a ruthless robber-baron, firing anyone who dares go on strike
• Enjoy Country Life: With a variety of minigames, spend your time fishing, writing letters, exploring the wilds, or dragging your neighbors to court”

I love this concept, because it reminds me of how early Animal Crossing games had villagers who were incredibly mean sometimes, in a fun way. It also has a vibe similar to Fable’s life-sim elements back in the day, so I’m curious to see how unpredictable and chaotic it might be. Let us know what you think of Critterville Goes Bankrupt in the comments.

Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Also, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.

Phenixx Gaming is proud to be a Humble Partner! Purchases made through our affiliate links support our writers and charity!