Silk Softworks Unveils ShantyTown, A Cozy, One-of-a-Kind Diorama-Building Adventure!

ShantyTown, developed by Erik Rempen under his new studio Silk Softworks, is an upcoming city-building game set to launch on PC via Steam in Q4 2025. Following the success of Kainga: Seeds of Civilization, Rempen brings a fresh and artistic take on urban design, allowing players to craft intricate dioramas in unconventional locations.

In this dreamlike world, players build vibrant spaces such as floating tea houses, mountaintop bathhouses, and bustling nightlife districts within transit pipelines. Each location provides a curated set of objects and limited space, encouraging strategic placement and creativity. With no rigid win-or-lose conditions, the game focuses on imaginative city-building, offering optional objectives for those seeking guidance.

What We Can Expect

• Build the Unexpected: From vertical farms to stilted casinos, let your creativity take the lead as you shape vibrant, ever-evolving urban spaces. Every location is a living diorama, growing organically with every piece you place. But there’s a twist: objects appear three at a time, challenging you to think strategically! Will you prioritize buildings, decor, lighting, or functional upgrades? The choice is yours, and every decision shapes the city’s unique charm.
• Explore and Transform the City: Each location has a story to tell, and you can bring it to life! Watch as an industrial warehouse district naturally transforms into a bustling street food haven, or a forgotten alleyway becomes an art-filled cultural hotspot. Every build reveals more about the world of ShantyTown, evolving as you construct, stack, and shape your surroundings.
• Capture and Share Your Masterpieces: Finished crafting your urban oasis? Snap a picture and add it to your ShantyTown dossier, your personal collection of beautifully crafted neighborhoods! Once it’s full, submit it and complete your journey.
• Vibes, Atmosphere, and Music That Adapts to You: As you build, immerse yourself in a stunning world of light, color, and sound. ShantyTown features an original, dynamically adaptive soundtrack by the prolific vaporwave artist Macroblank, enhancing the mood as your diorama comes to life.

My Thoughts

ShantyTown checks a couple of boxes that might intrigue some players: high quality independent studio and cozy. The effort shines through from the solo developer. I’m hoping to hear more about this title in the future. Check out the trailer and let us know your thoughts!