Platform: PC, Xbox, Playstation

Developers: Live Motion Games

It's time to build your dream house, brick by brick, with a pinch of sweat added to the mix! 

What Does Builder Simulator Entail?

If you've always dreamed of building your house from scratch, Builder Simulator is the game for you. With this game, you can create a plan, buy the necessary materials, and construct the perfect residence, brick by brick. Initially, it may seem easy, but don't let it fool you. The game offers a specially designed tutorial that will guide you through all the twists and turns of construction work. But as you gain more experience, the challenges become more demanding.

When beginning a large construction project, it all starts with a simple pencil and a piece of paper. In the Builder Simulator, your first task will be to design a house on a drawing board. You can choose your design's lines, curves, squares, and layout. Your imagination is your only limit, so let it run wild and create the best building possible! However, if you need help with a design idea, don't worry; there are a variety of pre-made projects to choose from, as well as ones uploaded by the community.

(Photo- Before and After)

What is Gameplay Like?

You'll see five options under game mode when you access the main menu. I suggest starting with the tutorial section before diving into any other game mode. This is because there's a lot to learn, and the tutorial will cover everything you need to know about building your home. Starting with the foundations and ending in being able to furnish your newly built home. Plus, you'll enjoy the company of a funny little robot who will guide you through the process.

Once you've completed the tutorial, there are four additional game modes to explore. The first one is Contracts, where you'll work for clients. Initially, the jobs will be minor, but they'll become more challenging and time-consuming as you advance. There are 17 contracts to complete, with more to follow in the future. It's important to keep track of your expenses since you'll need to factor in the cost of materials and other expenses.

My favourite game mode is Sandbox, where you can build freely without worrying about the cost as well as the option of different locations to build. I decided to go big when creating my home, but it became tedious after placing countless blocks. However, I later discovered that I could skip a stage in sandbox mode, which made my previous struggle pointless. It's important to note that skipping stages is not possible in contract mode, so be prepared to put in the effort.

There are two additional game modes available, namely Interior Design and Planner. In Interior Design, you can focus solely on decorating the interior without bothering about construction, which is a fantastic feature. As someone with a penchant for interior design, I found it enjoyable. One of the most intriguing aspects of the game is the ability to scale furniture and decorations according to your preferences, which is uncommon in this genre. The Planner mode, on the other hand, enables you to design the layout of houses in a straightforward and easy-to-use manner.

(Photo- Planner Game mode)

Pros and Cons

Starting with Pros:

• The tutorial is clear and concise, with an added bonus of comedy commentary.
• Hours of playability.
• Graphics are beautifully done.
• A good amount of contracts to go through.
• Interior design adds more depth to the game.
• The freedom of creativity is spot on.
• Auto-complete for steps you don't like in sandbox mode.
• The game is stable.

Now for Cons:

• Does Become Repetitive.
• At times it is very tedious.
• Other than decorating there is no skill involved.
• No plumbing or electrical wiring, which you would think would be in a builder simulator game.
• I found the wheelbarrow to be really temperamental when trying to hold it.
• You can not deviate from what the game wants you to do. You have to do everything in steps.

(Photo- Comedy Genius, Bill Derr)

My Overall Opinion

The only thing I found boring about this game was when it came to placing blocks and putting down the mortar. Even with the addition of levelling and mini-game, which allows you to add more blocks and mortar at a time, it didn't help make it any less tedious. The saving grace in sandbox mode is that you can skip it, but you must suck it up in contract mode. Even though the game is based on building, I liked that you can paint and decorate the interior. 

The game does well in teaching you the core mechanics and what tools to use, and even after finishing the tutorial, you still have the helpful guide in the left-hand corner. So, if you are ever stuck on what needs doing next, you can look at it.

This game will give you hours of fun, especially for players who love games such as House Flipper or who love creativity as a whole. Therefore, I give it my stamp of...

 Highly Recommend