Elvenar with the weeks behind it

Elvenar presents itself as a city builder and plays as a space puzzle. Every house, workshop and culture building occupies ground, the ground is scarce and expensive, and the whole game is a long argument with yourself about what earns the room.

Elves and humans get genuinely different buildings and research, so a second run is not the first repainted. The research tree is measured in weeks by design, which turns out to be the point rather than a flaw.

Nothing can attack your city. It is the calmest game on this page and the easiest to return to after a month away.

Where it earns its place

• Fantasy city-building
• Research & trade
• Faction choice

Go for it when

People who enjoy arranging things and want a long project with no pressure attached to it.

Not worth it if progress only feels real when somebody else is losing.

Settling in here

Choose your race on appearance. Both work, and the real difference is building shapes and flavour.

Spend an entire session rearranging before expanding again. That is the actual game and new players postpone it for weeks.