ShantyTown

About

This game is inspired by my love for densely built cities around the world—the kind of places where every wall, alley, and rooftop tells a story. You’ll be encouraged to build upwards, fill the smallest gaps, and find clever ways to place light sources or decorations to bring your creations to life.

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8
Based on
377 reviews
Country Compatibility:
Languages:
Developer:
Erik Rempen
Publisher:
Kinephantom Games
Release date:
16 April 2026
Genre:
Recent Steam reviews:
Very Positive (52)
All Steam reviews:
Very Positive (377)

Game features

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Description

This game is inspired by my love for densely built cities around the world—the kind of places where every wall, alley, and rooftop tells a story.

You’ll be encouraged to build upwards, fill the smallest gaps, and find clever ways to place light sources or decorations to bring your creations to life.

You’ll step into the role of a surveyor, building and photographing 20 distinct locations, each with its own mood and identity. Be it the warm glow of the Hotpot Casino, the charmingly cramped spaces of the Marshlands Pipe, or the solitude of the Lighthouse, every space gives you a new perspective.

How you place things together is entirely up to you.

Upgrades are available for larger structures like buildings and gates, but they’ll need a bit of care to reach their full potential. By providing light, utilities, and decorations, places like shops, apartment blocks, or gates can evolve into detailed spaces. Completing an upgrade unlocks new objects and decorations, giving you even more ways to shape the town.

When you finish a location, frame the shot, take a pic, then add it to your dossier before moving to your next blank canvas.

Each location presents a unique set of objects and a limited space to build within. Whether it’s food trucks, neon signs, or industrial smokestacks, players must carefully fit everything together to create a dense, living space that feels right.

This is a casual game through and through. There are no wrong answers here. Remember to make each placement personal, and every messy little corner adds to the charm.

With ShantyTown's added Creative Mode, you have unlimited building options with every unlocked location and item that you've acquired throughout your journey through ShantyTown.  Stack buildings hide, wide, and in any direction. We've also included a Blankspace with an enormous sandbox space to design custom towns and shops to your heart's desire. Design custom creations with no restrictions whatsoever.

  • Unique decorations across every map

  • Discover each location’s story as you build

  • A warm, relaxing soundtrack crafted by vaporwave artist Macroblank

  • Optional goals to guide your creativity

  • Peaceful, atmospheric scenery to unwind with

  • In-depth camera settings to frame your creations

  • Hidden objects waiting to be found

  • No time or pressure. Please, enjoy everything at your own pace.

Recommended system requirements

minimum*

OS:
Windows 10+
Processor:
Dual Core CPU, Intel i5 or better
Memory:
8 GB RAM
Graphics:
512MB VRAM, OpenGL 3.0 support
DirectX:
Version 12
Storage:
2 GB available space
Additional Notes:
Have Fun!

recommended*

Not specified

User reviews

boslee123
Recommended | 18 Jun 2026
26.9h played

This is a fabulous game! I played it 2 times through back to back, to get all the items. It combines world building with puzzle solving and it's addictive and a hoot! I would recommend this game to anyone, it is very

Helpful: 0
ladyxmas
Recommended | 02 Jul 2026
14.6h played

I really enjoyed this game! There were a few things I found annoying (like being unable to move windows after you place them), but overall it was a very charming campaign. I have not started playing the creative mode as

Helpful: 3
Froglegg_s
Recommended | 16 Jun 2026
6.2h played

Amazing game!! Very bright and happy, but calming. I lose track of time so fast on this game, HIGHLY recommend.!!!! Contrary to some other comments... I play this game mainly on my steam deck, and the controls/gameplay

Helpful: 0
noachai
Recommended | 17 Jun 2026
38.6h played

Honestly I fell in love with this game with just the trailer and it didnt disappoint!!! Each stage has its own challenges and i really enjoyed navigating them while also being able to freestyle. The game balances

Helpful: 2
t_h_izzle
Recommended | 05 Jul 2026
18.3h played

This one is an excellent alternative to city builders with intricate mechanics and, nightmare fueling stakes, and massive scale. ShantyTown is also able to pull of a less formal decorator that invites imperfections and

Helpful: 2
Brauni
Recommended | 18 Jun 2026
12h played

The vibes are immaculate in this game. I wish there was even more areas to build because I've already done multiple ones over again. I like how it's not just building, there's objectives and a story. The aesthetic of

Helpful: 0