An urban jungle sounds concrete-related, with accompanying percussion from pneumatic drills and smog-fuelled air. But Kylyk Games’ Zen-like puzzle game is the opposite of all those things, and the only real comparison is the locations where this takes place.
To make the most of space, you’re to position a series of plants around your apartment, maximising their light and humidity needs. Some plants are more demanding than others—needing both—and then you have the black sheep of the bunch that don’t bond well with the others and will affect their mood.
Surely we’re reading into all of this? Not at all. Urban Jungle is somewhat educational (though I don’t think that’s the primary goal here), as it uses real-life specimens, like in Botany Manor, that you’ll find in the common household and perhaps never knew the name, other than cacti.
The rooms are already set up for you in an isometric Unpacking style. These apartments are quite cosy, so you need to maximise the space. Fortunately, you can pick up and move some items around if they’re messing with your feng shui, or perhaps you could reposition a lamp or humidifier so they’re at optimal performance.
All the while this is happening, the lo-fi beats help stablise your flow, and the visuals, too, are delightful. There are three ‘rooms’ in the Urban Jungle demo, though there isn’t a time limit, so you can tinker about with locations that appeal to your eye. Besides the aesthetic elements, you’ll be awarded more points if you follow the plant’s guidelines – get enough points, and you’ll unlock the next area.
There’s no point in waffling about a demo such as this. The best option is to download it yourself, promptly add it to your wishlist, make yourself a cup of tea, and then tend to those plants in your gaff. And no, those plastic Ikea ones don’t count.
