The highly positively rated Steam game 'Urban Jungle' has arrived on XBOX, and we bring you the details.

Urban Jungle is a new relaxing game that recently released on Xbox. The game was developed by Kylyk Games and published by Assemble Entertainment. It originally launched on Steam a little over a year ago, where it has been rated 'Very Positive' by players so far.

This is a charming and relaxing simulation game that invites you to transform ordinary apartments and houses into lush, green havens by smartly placing a variety of plants. It's worth noting that this is not a classic simulation where you'll have to deal with watering or pest control. All you need to do is find the right position for the plants.

The main goal of the game is to place as many plants in the space as possible to fill the meter. The meter is a collection of points needed to complete the level. To earn points, you must place plants. There are dozens of different plants and their variants.

The meter is the green circle you can see in the image above. In each 'round', you choose between two plants which you then place in a specific space.
You can only obtain new plants once you fill the meter (in the case shown in the image when the number goes from 135 to 170). As you can see in the image above with the example of the 'ZZ plant', each plant has its specific requirements. For instance, the 'ZZ plant' needs light, does not require humidity, likes 'Snake plant' and 'Photos', while it doesn't particularly like the 'Alocasia' plant. The way you position the plants and meet their needs earns you certain points. In the image, you can see that the plants have points (from left to right) 15, 30, 30, 20, 30, which we can say is really good plant positioning because the points can be significantly lower if you do not meet the plants' requirements. Sometimes this requires you to plan in advance which plants you will be placing.

Within each chapter, you have certain optional tasks that need to be completed, and if you complete them within each chapter, at the end of the game, you receive the 'Completionist' achievement worth 90 GS.

At the end of each chapter, you receive an overview where you can see the total score, the total number of plants placed, and the number of completed optional tasks that are not mandatory for progressing through the game.

The story itself is easy to understand and of small scope. Ayta moves abroad with her mother to find better economic opportunities. From Ayta's childhood, through college and working in a corporation, her mother always emphasizes that she should do exactly what she did: go to college and find a reliable job. However, throughout her life, Ayta can never give up on plants. When her mother suffers a serious fall, Ayta returns to live with her, quits her job, and decides to start a plant-selling business. The story is told through environmental details rather than long dialogues, allowing players to witness the unspoken struggles in Ayta's life. The game sets its emotional rhythms well, but it doesn't always manage to complete them. The game starts strong in its cultural storytelling but fails to maintain the same depth throughout the process, which feels like a missed opportunity.

Each segment of Ayta's life is depicted through a 3D room that we must organize and decorate, especially with greenery. Players earn points by placing plants and must reach a certain score threshold before moving on to the next stage. There are goals along the way to the total score that earn us coins and a round of new plants that we can choose each time. By completing certain tasks, players earn additional coins, which can help us acquire rarer and more expensive leaves.

This game has a certain puzzle quality through plant placement. As mentioned earlier, each plant has its preferred conditions: some thrive in humidity, others need more light, and certain plants grow best alongside specific types of other plants. Careful placement is therefore not just a matter of aesthetics but affects the score you receive in each space. You need a certain number of points to unlock the next chapter, so it's important to learn what a plant likes and what it doesn't. You can also spend time completing tasks to earn coins and expand Ayta's plant collection in her journal, which adds a sense of progress.

Urban Jungle is a visually stunning game that is relaxing and meditative. Many reviewers have already pointed out that it is essentially an Unpacking game for plant lovers, providing a similar meditative experience.

The sound is just what you would expect for this type of game, being relaxing and designed to blend into the background.
The game features subtle sound effects that bring life to every space. The rustling of leaves, the quiet hum of the humidifier, and the soft purring of Aytina's cat contribute to the pleasant feel of the game. By clicking on the cat, it moves through different poses, and if you pet the cat 20 times during the game, you earn an achievement on Xbox called 'Who's a Good Boy?' which grants you 25 GS.

To summarize the key points. The main features of the game are:

- plant decoration: the main point of the game is arranging a diverse selection of plants in your apartment. You can place each plant in different spots, challenging you to find the optimal arrangement to enhance the comfort and aesthetics of the room

- puzzle elements: although the game primarily focuses on decoration, it also includes puzzle elements. You will need to think strategically about where to place each plant to maximize the comfort and visual appeal of your home, thereby unlocking new plants

- relaxing atmosphere: Urban Jungle is designed as a stress-free experience. There are no time limits or high-pressure scenarios. You can freely move plants and adjust your arrangement at your own pace

- story through the environment: the game's narrative is subtly woven into the environment. As you progress, you will uncover parts of a touching story that unfolds through various stages of the main character's life

- interactive elements: in addition to plants, you can interact with other objects like lamps and humidifiers to change the ambiance of your apartment, further enhancing the feeling of comfort

And finally, let's highlight what we think could be improved. Primarily, it concerns the story that begins with the grandmother telling (teaching) about what Ysyakh is (Yhyakh is a festival that celebrates the rebirth of nature after a harsh winter, the victory of life, the beginning of the New Year in the Republic of Sakha. The historical celebration is marked on June 21, on the day of the summer solstice) and in this cultural, let's call it storytelling, everything stalls, which is actually a real shame. Here, a continuation of education about local customs, ways of life, culture, and heritage would definitely be an added plus. There is a huge opportunity during the game itself for this to be good and educational, while on the other hand, not being tedious. The game has certain mechanical shortcomings, such as sometimes making it difficult to place plants, which is crucial since the positioning of plants is valued with a certain number of points. Additionally, it is worth noting that it is not possible to move multiple plants at the same time.

Conclusion: this is an excellent indie game from a small development team that you should definitely acquire and play if you enjoy relaxing games, especially if you love plants and interior design. Moreover, it is worth emphasizing that there is no limit to placing plants, so you can literally turn your space into a true little Urban Jungle!